PSYCHOLOGY OF MANTRA YOGA
SADHANA
Mantra Yoga is an exact
science. 'Mananat Trayate Iti Mantrah-by the Manan (constant thinking or
recollection) of which one is released from the round of births and deaths is
Mantra.'
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.
A Mantra is divinity. Mantra
and its presiding Devata are one. The Mantra itself is Devata. Mantra is divine
power, Daivi Sakti, manifesting in a sound body. Constant repetition of the
Mantra with faith, devotion and purity augments the Sakti or power of the
aspirant, purifies and awakens the Mantra Chaitanya latent in the Mantra and
bestows on the Sadhaka, Mantra Siddhi, illumination, freedom, peace, eternal
bliss, immortality.
By constant repetition of the
Mantra the Sadhaka imbibes the virtues and powers of the Deity that presides
over the Mantra. Repetition of Surya Mantra bestows health, long life, vigour,
vitality, Tejas or brilliance. It removes all diseases of the body and the
diseases of the eye. No enemy can do any harm. Repetition of Aditya-Hridayam in
the early morning is highly beneficial. Lord Rama conquered Ravana through the
repetition of Aditya-Hridayam imparted by Agastya Rishi.
Mantras are in the form of
praise and appeal to the deities, craving for help and mercy. Some Mantras
control and command the evil spirits. Rhythmical vibrations of sounds give rise
to forms. Recitation of the Mantras gives rise to the formation of the
particular figure of the deity.
Repetition of Sarasvati Mantra
'OM Sarasvatyai Namah' will bestow
on you wisdom and good intelligence. You will get inspiration and compose
poems. Repetition of 'OM Sri
Mahalakshmyai Namah' will confer on you wealth and remove poverty. Ganesa Mantra will remove any obstacle
in any undertaking. Maha MrityunjayaMantra will remove accidents, incurable diseases and bestow long life and
immortality. It is a Moksha Mantra too.
Repetition of Gayatri or Pranava (Om) or OM Nama Shivaya,
OM Namo Narayanaya, OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, one and a quarter lakh of
times with Bhava, faith and devotion will confer on you Mantra Siddhi.
OM, Soham, Sivoham, Aham Brahmasmi are Moksha Mantras (Liberation mantras). They will help you to attain
Self-realisation. OM Sri Ramaya Namah,
OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Hare Krishna Hare Rama are
Saguna Mantras which will enable you to attain Saguna realisation first and
then Nirguna realisation in the end.
You should stand in the water and repeat the Mantra.
This is more powerful and effective. They can be recited on ordinary days also
for attaining Mantra Siddhi.
Chronic diseases can be cured
by Mantras. Chanting of Mantras (Kirtan) generates potent spiritual waves or divine
vibrations. They penetrate the physical and astral bodies of the patients and
remove the root-causes of the sufferings. They fill the cells with pure Sattva
or divine energy. They destroy the microbes and vivify the cells and tissues.
They are the best and most potent antiseptics and germicides. They are more
potent than ultra-violet rays or Roentgen rays.
Get the Mantra initiation from
your Guru. Or pray to your Ishta Devata and start doing Japa of the particular Mantra,
if you find it difficult to get a Guru.
METHOD OF MANTRA PURASCHARANA
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 times.
Select any holy place of pilgrimage
on the banks of sacred Ganga, confluence of rivers, mountain valleys of
charming scenery, temples, Tulasi gardens, below Asvattha trees or convert a
portion of your house into a temple by keeping the picture of the Lord, burning
incense etc., and by suitable decorations. Purascharana done in holy places has
a benefit hundred times superior to that done in one's own house.
You can select any Mantra for
Purascharana. Your Guru Mantra or Ishta Mantra is the best. Sandhya time,
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.
Abstracting the mind from all
worldly objects, merged in the inner meaning of the Mantra, thinking of the
Lord, the Mantra should be repeated with a uniform speed. Full concentration of
the mind on the meaning and divinity of the Mantra brings quick Mantra Siddhi.
Continue Purascharana till you attain Mantra Siddhi. Do not stop with one
Purascharana. Due to the Doshas of the mind you may not get Mantra Siddhi at
once. Madhusudana Sarasvati did 18 Purascharanas of Gayatri before he attained
Siddhi.
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 Homa th the number of Japa, Tarpana (water libations) th
the 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.
Mantra Purascharana has
incalculable benefits. Brightness, clearness, or
tranquillity of the mind, contentment, dispassion towards worldly enjoyments,
Darshan of Ishta Devata, success in all undertakings, attainment of purity of
the mind-all these will ensue. Give your best attention and earnestness in the
performance of Purascharana.
May you attain Moksha or
Immortality through performance of a series of Mantra Purascharanas!
BENEFITS OF MANTRA-WRITING
(An easy, practical and
scientific form of Yoga for modern busy people)
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.
OTHER 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.
Peace, Love, Harmony