Guest guest Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 What does "Purascharana" mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 , "Karen and Mike" <karenborak@e...> wrote: > What does "Purascharana" mean? Purascharana means "prefatory rite" according to Swamiji. Typically this means the chanting of a certain number of mantras before beginning a fire ceremony. It can also loosely mean a sankalpa to chant a certain mantra for a certain number of times for a certain number of days ( example - Om Namah Shivaya -108 times for 100 days so that at the end you would have done more than 100000 reps of the mantra). In our group, if you remember we took a Purascharana of Om Namah Shivaya 1000 times each day along with learning of one chapter of Chandi each week. I am not sure how many people ARE doing the 1000 names of Lord Shiva - er um , I am certainly guilty of skipping the Purascharana part. I think in the group's archives for March 2004, we have had a lot of input on this topic from several people. JAI MAA Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 thnx for going over this, it has been on my mind. as y'all know, with the move some things changed, it affected the daily sadhana. so tha ability to sit and do say the sankalpa with the calendar and the laser prints of the sankalap were not there, but most often, i did have the capacity to say the 1000x mantra, it was pretty accessible to do. latha, anyone, can you say if this is right/wrong: the Purascharana itself is the DOING of the vow, and the sankalpa is the saying-what-i-will-do part [deshe, titau, mandire, the calendar, etc.] you just explained for karen and mike? is the term "sankalpa" sometimes used both for the doing and the saying-what-i-will-do? steve , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > , "Karen and Mike" > <karenborak@e...> wrote: > > What does "Purascharana" mean? > > Purascharana means "prefatory rite" according to Swamiji. Typically > this means the chanting of a certain number of mantras before > beginning a fire ceremony. It can also loosely mean a sankalpa to > chant a certain mantra for a certain number of times for a certain > number of days ( example - Om Namah Shivaya -108 times for 100 days > so that at the end you would have done more than 100000 reps of the > mantra). > In our group, if you remember we took a Purascharana of Om Namah > Shivaya 1000 times each day along with learning of one chapter of > Chandi each week. I am not sure how many people ARE doing the 1000 > names of Lord Shiva - er um , I am certainly guilty of skipping the > Purascharana part. > > I think in the group's archives for March 2004, we have had a lot of > input on this topic from several people. > > JAI MAA > Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > In our group, if you remember we took a Purascharana of Om Namah > Shivaya 1000 times each day along with learning of one chapter of > Chandi each week. I am not sure how many people ARE doing the 1000 > names of Lord Shiva - er um , I am certainly guilty of skipping the > Purascharana part. Mantra isnt a toy to play with. Mantra is the form of Devata in sound. One should never make a sankalpa and let go in the middle. Making a purascharana sankalpa and forgetting about it is attended with undesirable consequences. Take a small sankalpa or just do japa without a purascharana sankalpa. Special rules apply when doing purascharana. There are many rules like one should not travel(or atleast comeback that day itself), should not eat outside i.e eat food cooked by oneself or their mom or their spouse etc., Above is general and not directed at you Latha. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Dear Members: Purascharana means chanting of the mantra as many hundred thousand times as the number of letters in the mantra. Basically one Purascharana equals 100,000 times the number of syllables in the Mantra. For example, the Japa of the Sadakshara Mantra of Shiva (i.e. 6 syllabled Mantra, OM-Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya) should be done 600,000 times. , "Satish Arigela" <satisharigela> wrote: > , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> > wrote: > > In our group, if you remember we took a Purascharana of Om Namah > > Shivaya 1000 times each day along with learning of one chapter of > > Chandi each week. I am not sure how many people ARE doing the 1000 > > names of Lord Shiva - er um , I am certainly guilty of skipping > the > > Purascharana part. > > Mantra isnt a toy to play with. Mantra is the form of Devata in > sound. One should never make a sankalpa and let go in the middle. > Making a purascharana sankalpa and forgetting about it is attended > with undesirable consequences. Take a small sankalpa or just do japa > without a purascharana sankalpa. > > Special rules apply when doing purascharana. There are many rules > like one should not travel(or atleast comeback that day itself), > should not eat outside i.e eat food cooked by oneself or their mom > or their spouse etc., > Above is general and not directed at you Latha. > > Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 , "Jose Enrique Rosa" <master4114> wrote: > Dear Members: > > Purascharana means chanting of the mantra as many hundred thousand > times as the number of letters in the mantra. Basically one > Purascharana equals 100,000 times the number of syllables in the > Mantra. > > For example, the Japa of the Sadakshara Mantra of Shiva (i.e. 6 > syllabled Mantra, OM-Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya) should be done 600,000 >times. According to Sharada Tilaka, a mantra shastra text, the number for Panchakshari is 24,00,000. According to Chandra Jnana agama and Shiva Purana it is 20,00,000. Choice should be that recommended by one's teacher. The teacher will recommend the appropriate number based of the condition of the sadhaka. Some teachers prescribe 1 crore(10 millions). There are some who prescribe 500,000. Purascharana doesnt end with repetition. It is to be followed by x/10 homa, x/100 tarpana, x/1000 marjana and x/10000 Brahmana bhojana (feeding of Brahamanas) If unable to or not qualified to do homa etc., it is to be compensated by doing japa twice the prescribed number. Along with rules outlined in previous post one should also follow strict brahmacharya if one undertakes a purascharana sankalpa. There is another kind of purascharana which I heard from a learned scholar. It is done by starting the japa at sunrise and doing japa till next sunrise. This is very hard and not recommended in general, I was told. Rgds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 There are other sources that state the following: "Purascharana is repetition of the Mantra Akshara-Laksha, one lakh of times for each letter." http://www.yoga-age.com/amrita/japa.html , "Satish Arigela" <satisharigela> wrote: > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > <master4114> wrote: > > Dear Members: > > > > Purascharana means chanting of the mantra as many hundred thousand > > times as the number of letters in the mantra. Basically one > > Purascharana equals 100,000 times the number of syllables in the > > Mantra. > > > > For example, the Japa of the Sadakshara Mantra of Shiva (i.e. 6 > > syllabled Mantra, OM-Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya) should be done 600,000 > >times. > > According to Sharada Tilaka, a mantra shastra text, the number for > Panchakshari is 24,00,000. According to Chandra Jnana agama and > Shiva Purana it is 20,00,000. > Choice should be that recommended by one's teacher. The teacher will > recommend the appropriate number based of the condition of the > sadhaka. Some teachers prescribe 1 crore(10 millions). > There are some who prescribe 500,000. > > Purascharana doesnt end with repetition. It is to be followed by > x/10 homa, x/100 tarpana, x/1000 marjana and x/10000 Brahmana bhojana > (feeding of Brahamanas) > > If unable to or not qualified to do homa etc., it is to be > compensated by doing japa twice the prescribed number. > > Along with rules outlined in previous post one should also follow > strict brahmacharya if one undertakes a purascharana sankalpa. > > There is another kind of purascharana which I heard from a learned > scholar. It is done by starting the japa at sunrise and > doing japa till next sunrise. This is very hard and not recommended > in general, I was told. > > Rgds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 , "Jose Enrique Rosa" <master4114> wrote: > There are other sources that state the following: > > "Purascharana is repetition of the Mantra Akshara-Laksha, one lakh of > times for each letter." > > http://www.yoga-age.com/amrita/japa.html Shri Jose, That is also true. But for panchakshari my earlier mail applies. Likewise some special rules apply to other mantras too, which may be a little different from general rules. They probably forgot to mention that it should be followed by homa and other things. The problem is that a good number of them are not even aware of things that go hand in hand with some practices(just like me not being aware of some other things). Hope that clarifies. regards > > > > , "Satish Arigela" > <satisharigela> wrote: > > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > > <master4114> wrote: > > > Dear Members: > > > > > > Purascharana means chanting of the mantra as many hundred thousand > > > times as the number of letters in the mantra. Basically one > > > Purascharana equals 100,000 times the number of syllables in the > > > Mantra. > > > > > > For example, the Japa of the Sadakshara Mantra of Shiva (i.e. 6 > > > syllabled Mantra, OM-Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya) should be done 600,000 > > >times. > > > > According to Sharada Tilaka, a mantra shastra text, the number for > > Panchakshari is 24,00,000. According to Chandra Jnana agama and > > Shiva Purana it is 20,00,000. > > Choice should be that recommended by one's teacher. The teacher will > > recommend the appropriate number based of the condition of the > > sadhaka. Some teachers prescribe 1 crore(10 millions). > > There are some who prescribe 500,000. > > > > Purascharana doesnt end with repetition. It is to be followed by > > x/10 homa, x/100 tarpana, x/1000 marjana and x/10000 Brahmana > bhojana > > (feeding of Brahamanas) > > > > If unable to or not qualified to do homa etc., it is to be > > compensated by doing japa twice the prescribed number. > > > > Along with rules outlined in previous post one should also follow > > strict brahmacharya if one undertakes a purascharana sankalpa. > > > > There is another kind of purascharana which I heard from a learned > > scholar. It is done by starting the japa at sunrise and > > doing japa till next sunrise. This is very hard and not recommended > > in general, I was told. > > > > Rgds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 It is good to know the scriptures and traditions of sadhana, but it is important to recognize that it is the satguru and the parampara that determines what is necessary for any practice, above even the recommendations of scripture. Chris , "Satish Arigela" <satisharigela> wrote: > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > <master4114> wrote: > > There are other sources that state the following: > > > > "Purascharana is repetition of the Mantra Akshara-Laksha, one lakh > of > > times for each letter." > > > > http://www.yoga-age.com/amrita/japa.html > > Shri Jose, > > That is also true. But for panchakshari my earlier mail applies. > Likewise some special rules apply to other mantras too, which may be > a little different from general rules. > > They probably forgot to mention that it should be followed by homa > and other things. > > The problem is that a good number of them are not even aware of > things that go hand in hand with some practices(just like me not > being aware of some other things). > Hope that clarifies. > > regards > > > > > > > > > > > > , "Satish Arigela" > > <satisharigela> wrote: > > > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > > > <master4114> wrote: > > > > Dear Members: > > > > > > > > Purascharana means chanting of the mantra as many hundred > thousand > > > > times as the number of letters in the mantra. Basically one > > > > Purascharana equals 100,000 times the number of syllables in > the > > > > Mantra. > > > > > > > > For example, the Japa of the Sadakshara Mantra of Shiva (i.e. > 6 > > > > syllabled Mantra, OM-Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya) should be done 600,000 > > > >times. > > > > > > According to Sharada Tilaka, a mantra shastra text, the number > for > > > Panchakshari is 24,00,000. According to Chandra Jnana agama and > > > Shiva Purana it is 20,00,000. > > > Choice should be that recommended by one's teacher. The teacher > will > > > recommend the appropriate number based of the condition of the > > > sadhaka. Some teachers prescribe 1 crore(10 millions). > > > There are some who prescribe 500,000. > > > > > > Purascharana doesnt end with repetition. It is to be followed by > > > x/10 homa, x/100 tarpana, x/1000 marjana and x/10000 Brahmana > > bhojana > > > (feeding of Brahamanas) > > > > > > If unable to or not qualified to do homa etc., it is to be > > > compensated by doing japa twice the prescribed number. > > > > > > Along with rules outlined in previous post one should also > follow > > > strict brahmacharya if one undertakes a purascharana sankalpa. > > > > > > There is another kind of purascharana which I heard from a > learned > > > scholar. It is done by starting the japa at sunrise and > > > doing japa till next sunrise. This is very hard and not > recommended > > > in general, I was told. > > > > > > Rgds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > It is good to know the scriptures and traditions of sadhana, but >it > is important to recognize that it is the satguru and the parampara > that determines what is necessary for any practice, above even the > recommendations of scripture. Above is correct. That doesnt mean that one should do things prohibited in the scriptures because their teacher asked them to do so. Those very scriptures which told you to follow satguru and parampara mention what is there in previous mails in this thread. There are statments both in Vaidic and Tantric traditions(same scriptures which ask one to follow satguru and parampara), stating that one should not do things prohibited in scriptures even if their teacher asks them to do so. A satguru doesnt stray from the scripture. > > Chris > > > , "Satish Arigela" > <satisharigela> wrote: > > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > > <master4114> wrote: > > > There are other sources that state the following: > > > > > > "Purascharana is repetition of the Mantra Akshara-Laksha, one > lakh > > of > > > times for each letter." > > > > > > http://www.yoga-age.com/amrita/japa.html > > > > Shri Jose, > > > > That is also true. But for panchakshari my earlier mail applies. > > Likewise some special rules apply to other mantras too, which may > be > > a little different from general rules. > > > > They probably forgot to mention that it should be followed by homa > > and other things. > > > > The problem is that a good number of them are not even aware of > > things that go hand in hand with some practices(just like me not > > being aware of some other things). > > Hope that clarifies. > > > > regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 Dear Satish: your posting is a contradiction. there is a Puertorican saying that goes as follow: "con la boca es un mamey" This is what your postings remidn me of. , "Satish Arigela" <satisharigela> wrote: > , "Chris Kirner" > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > It is good to know the scriptures and traditions of sadhana, but > >it > > is important to recognize that it is the satguru and the parampara > > that determines what is necessary for any practice, above even the > > recommendations of scripture. > > Above is correct. That doesnt mean that one should do things > prohibited in the scriptures because their teacher asked them to do > so. Those very scriptures which told you to follow satguru and > parampara mention what is there in previous mails in this thread. > > There are statments both in Vaidic and Tantric traditions(same > scriptures which ask one to follow satguru and parampara), stating > that one should not do things prohibited in scriptures even if their > teacher asks them to do so. A satguru doesnt stray from the > scripture. > > > > > Chris > > > > > > , "Satish Arigela" > > <satisharigela> wrote: > > > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > > > <master4114> wrote: > > > > There are other sources that state the following: > > > > > > > > "Purascharana is repetition of the Mantra Akshara-Laksha, one > > lakh > > > of > > > > times for each letter." > > > > > > > > http://www.yoga-age.com/amrita/japa.html > > > > > > Shri Jose, > > > > > > That is also true. But for panchakshari my earlier mail applies. > > > Likewise some special rules apply to other mantras too, which > may > > be > > > a little different from general rules. > > > > > > They probably forgot to mention that it should be followed by > homa > > > and other things. > > > > > > The problem is that a good number of them are not even aware of > > > things that go hand in hand with some practices(just like me not > > > being aware of some other things). > > > Hope that clarifies. > > > > > > regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 Dear Jose/Satish, At this point, I must request you two gentlemen to take this offline. Thank you JAI MAA Latha , "Jose Enrique Rosa" <master4114> wrote: > Dear Satish: > > your posting is a contradiction. there is a Puertorican saying that > goes as follow: > > "con la boca es un mamey" > > This is what your postings remidn me of. > > , "Satish Arigela" > <satisharigela> wrote: > > , "Chris Kirner" > > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > > It is good to know the scriptures and traditions of sadhana, but > > >it > > > is important to recognize that it is the satguru and the parampara > > > that determines what is necessary for any practice, above even the > > > recommendations of scripture. > > > > Above is correct. That doesnt mean that one should do things > > prohibited in the scriptures because their teacher asked them to do > > so. Those very scriptures which told you to follow satguru and > > parampara mention what is there in previous mails in this thread. > > > > There are statments both in Vaidic and Tantric traditions(same > > scriptures which ask one to follow satguru and parampara), stating > > that one should not do things prohibited in scriptures even if their > > teacher asks them to do so. A satguru doesnt stray from the > > scripture. > > > > > > > > Chris > > > > > > > > > , "Satish Arigela" > > > <satisharigela> wrote: > > > > , "Jose Enrique Rosa" > > > > <master4114> wrote: > > > > > There are other sources that state the following: > > > > > > > > > > "Purascharana is repetition of the Mantra Akshara-Laksha, one > > > lakh > > > > of > > > > > times for each letter." > > > > > > > > > > http://www.yoga-age.com/amrita/japa.html > > > > > > > > Shri Jose, > > > > > > > > That is also true. But for panchakshari my earlier mail applies. > > > > Likewise some special rules apply to other mantras too, which > > may > > > be > > > > a little different from general rules. > > > > > > > > They probably forgot to mention that it should be followed by > > homa > > > > and other things. > > > > > > > > The problem is that a good number of them are not even aware of > > > > things that go hand in hand with some practices(just like me not > > > > being aware of some other things). > > > > Hope that clarifies. > > > > > > > > regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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