Did you ever feel the need of a guru or an angel or deva who would be with you eternally?
One on who you could rely upon or look up to to take you further in the path of spirituality. A guardian angel who would help you through out your life.
Ever read the lives of great sages and saints and how they have been blessed to have see the living presence of their choosen deva like the great Saint of modern times Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who could converse with Divine Mother Kali.
Yes, if this idea intrigues you then it is worth reading the passages below. They lead us towards having such a blessing in our lives.
Here comes the need of a Mantra. Here is an info that has been collected from various sources.
Mantra Siddhi is the ultimate state of Mantra japa. When we take up chanting a Mantra and continue doing it over a period of time with the discipline as mentioned in the coming paragraphs this state of Mantra Siddhi happens with the blessing of the presiding deity of the Mantra. The key is to continue the practice without anticipating or setting up a date for this to happen, this happens when the time is ripe and inner vehicles have been purified. It could take days, months, years or even a lifetime. The benefits are believed to be carried over from past lives to future lives.
For a Mantra Siddha, an etheric form of the Devata, manifests and becomes an eternal friend. This Devata would help the siddha until self-realization, if that is the goal which is pursued. It is a great facility on the path to truth to have a friend who never fails, who guides, directs and even advises of one’s pitfalls. This is the essential secret of every mystic in India. He accomplishes a mantra, gains the presence of an Angel or an adept and progresses rapidly thereafter and in turn becomes a helper to the society at large.
Here is what I could read and gather from various sources, I do not claim these writings to be mine. My humble attempt is just to introduce to you our tradition & spiritual practices, May the Lord and Guru in you guide you further.
Let us try to understand more about Mantra in the words of Masters.
According to Swami Sivananda, great sage of Rishikesh who started Divine Life Society:
"Mantra Yoga is an exact science. 'Mananat TrayateIti Mantrah'-by the Manan (constant thinking or recollection) of which one is released from the round of births and deaths is Mantra."
You may want to read a priceless book written by Swami Sivananda on "Japa Yoga".
Here is what another ageless Master from Himalayan transition says about Mantra Yoga:
"He who knows Sound, knows All".
“Mantrams are collection of phrases, words and sounds which by virtue of rhythmic effect achieve results that would not be possible apart from them” Understanding Mysticism of Mantra- "Mananat Trayate Iti Mantraha"
- Master Djwhal Khul.
References to this Master can be found in the teachings of Master E.K (Ekkirala Krishnamacharya). Master Djwhal Khul provided telepathic instructions to Alice A Bailey and inspired several writings on occult practices.
Coming back to our topic on Mantra.
According to Master Parvati Kumar in his book "Mantram".
The Mantra bestows triple benefits:
1) Protects the chanter
2) Provides correct direction to chanter
3) Illumines of mind of the chanter
It is said that there are 35 seed –sounds or “beejaksharas”
These Beejaksharas are very powerful for the newly initiated they are to be practiced under the guidance of adepts hence are further diluted to form Mantras. There is a certain level of discipline that one needs to observe when working with Mantras hence they are further diluted to form Hymns. These Hymns are further simplified and diluted to create Bhajans so that common people can sing the same.
Keys to utter a Mantra are:
The scientific practice of mantram is called Tantra. The symbol for the mantram is called Yantra.
The regular contemplation of the mantram as per the keys would lead to sub-conscious uttering of the mantram. It then gradually becomes as regular as respiration and keeps working sub-consciously, building a bridge from conscious layer of mind to the unconscious layers(deeper layers) leading to the subjective, intuitive field of the soul.
Procedure to Utter Mantra:
Mantra can be uttered silently inside for self-purification. While doing so:
Mantra is meant for mental purification. A pure mind eliminates the impurity of emotional & physical bodies.
Importance of Hibernation
Silence & secrecy are the basic qualities of the esoteric practice. It will enable the hibernation of the mind for the related transformation. Quality of withdrawal enables prevalence of hibernating conditions. A truth seeker too should learn to be silent, secretive in his practices & not to allow any publicity to take place.
A caterpillar transforms into a butterfly only through hibernation.
Mantras & the Centres (Chakras)
Students should not work with lower chakras. The lower centres are like ferocious beings, when tackled, the student would attract their attack and student is too weak to counter them.
Students would find it difficult to regulate them once awakened.
Appropriate Utterance
Before one practices any Mantra, OM should be uttered 3,5 or 7 times.
Practice Mantra Vocally for a while
Then practice mentally
Contemplate on the sound of Mantra
Conclude with peace invocation: Loka SamastaSukhino Bhavantu uttered 3 times & them Om Santih Santih Santhihi
5 regulations:
Posture for Practice
The hands should be folded in the lap and the feet crossed.
Guru Shishya parampara
The Master-disciple relation is rich, in the sense, the presence of a Master causes the alchemy in the disciple, just like the presence of the magnet causes magnitisation of the iron piece.
For the iron piece to get magnitised without the presence of such a magnet, is difficult, though not impossible.
For faster progress on this path "Purascharana" is recommended by Swami Sivananda in his book on Japa Yoga.
METHOD OF MANTRA PURASCHARANA
Every Mantra has a Rishi who gave it to the world; a Matra, a Devata, the Bija or seed which gives it a special power, the Sakti and the Kilakam or the pillar.
The repetition of a Mantra with rigid spiritual observances a fixed number of times to obtain quick spiritual progress is known as Mantra Purascharana. It can be performed for material progress too. The practitioner should observe certain rules and undergo strict dietetic discipline to ensure quick Mantra Siddhi.
During the Purascharana take only fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, roots, barley and Havis-Anna (rice cooked with ghee, sugar, milk). A Sadhaka can live on pure Bhiksha (alms) also. If you can live on milk alone during the period of Purascharana it is highly laudable. You can have Mantra Siddhi even by repeating the Mantra a lakh of time
You can select any Mantra for Purascharana. YourGuru Mantra or Ishta Mantra is the best. Sandhyatime, sunrise, sunset, midday are all recommended for Japa. Repeat the Mantra as many lakhs of times as there are letters in the Mantra. You can do half of that number. In no case the number should be less than a lakh.
Sit facing East or North during Japa. Select Siddha, Padma, Svastika or Virasana for Japa. Never sit for Japa with a loaded stomach. Have fixed timings for Japa. Take a bath before you start, if possible, or at least wash hands and feet. Perform Achamana or sipping of Sanctified Mantra water. Deer skin, cloth, blanket, Kusa grass or tiger skin can be used as seats while doing Japa. Spatika, Tulasi, Rudraksha Malas can be used for counting the number of Japa. Have a Mala with 108 beads or half or one-fourth that number.
Sleeping on coarse bed (strictly avoiding cushions and the like), observing strict celibacy, worshipping the deity three times a day, bathing thrice daily, abandoning oil bath, meat, fish, onion, garlic, tea, coffee, chillies, tamarind, observing silence or restricting the speech to a minimum, observing Ahimsa, speaking Truth, shunning all luxuries, one should perform the Purascharana. You should avoid as far as possible absent-mindedness, laziness, spitting during Japa, relaxation of hands and legs, sleeping during the day, mixing with undesirable persons, contact with women, receiving of gifts, looking at obscene pictures, speaking lies, the company of passionate men, chewing of betels, smoking, drinking etc., too much talk, speaking ill of others, finding fault in others, harming others in thought, word or deed, during the period of Purascharana. You should not dissipate your energy during Japa by looking hither and thither unnecessarily by shaking the body, by laughter etc.
Do the same number of Japa every day without variation. Homa or Havan should be performed after every lakh of Japa or at the end of the Purascharana.
After completing the Purascharana perform Homath the number of Japa, Tarpana (water libations) ththe number of Homa, Marjana (sprinkling) th the number of Tarpana and feeding of Brahmins th the number of Tarpana. You can do feeding and charity according to your capacity if you cannot adhere to the above strictly.
Does "Purascharana" appear to be difficult? Don't lose heart or postpone your progress for some future date. You can get started with something easier like Mantra Writing.
MANTRA-WRITING LEADS TO MEDITATION
Of the various methods of Japa described in the scriptures Mantra-writing is the most efficacious. It helps the aspirant in concentrating the mind and gradually leads to meditation.
BENEFITS...
Concentration-Distractions are minimised as the mind, tongue, hands and eyes are all engaged with the Mantra. This increases the power of concentration and efficiency in work.
Control-The mind is controlled by the power of Mantra and it will work better and quicker for you.
Evolution-Due to repeated innumerable impacts of the Mantra on the subconscious mind, subtle, spiritual impressions are made, which hasten the Soul's progress in evolution.
Peace-If you are disturbed due to worries or untoward incidents, the mind will get calm and peaceful.
Force-A mighty spiritual force is generated in course of time in the atmosphere of the place, where you write Mantras or keep the notebooks. It helps in secular and spiritual progress.
Conclusion-Begin today. Do not procrastinate. Give it a sincere trial. Be a master of your mind, not its slave. Write from one to three pages a day. Follow the rules as far as possible if you want quicker results.
RULES FOR MANTRA-WRITING
Select a Mantra, or Name of God, and write it with ink in a notebook daily in any script on 1 to 3 pages.
Sit in the same place at the same time daily. If possible, keep it under lock and key.
Write after a bath, or after washing hands, feet, face and mouth.
Sit in one pose throughout. Don't move till completed.
Observe silence, and avoid talks, engagements, or calls.
Fix the eyes on the notebook. Don't move till completed.
Repeat the Mantra or Name mentally while writing.
Fix the mind on the form and attributes of the Lord, while writing the Name or Mantra.
Adopt one uniform system of writing, top to bottom or left to right.
Write each Mantra or Name completely at a time and not in parts.
Don't change Mantra or Name. Select one and stick to it for life.
Preserve all completed books near your place of worship.
May the Guru within us bless us on this path.
Lokah samasta sukhino bhavantu, Om Santih Santih santihi.
I once again bow before the masters mentioned in the passages above and offer this blog to their divine lotus feet.
Wonderful advice and information Gopi Sir! I used to write Sri Rama Nama in the past which unfortunately has stopped now. I will restart the practice.
ReplyDelete