Bija Mantras
The word Bija means a seed and describes a mantra which is usually of one syllable. There are many tantrik 'dictionaries' of the matrikas which indicate their significance as well as the meaning of the bija or seed mantras. This section below draws information from the Bhutadamara(BD); the Varnanighantu (VN), alleged to be part of the Rudrayamala; and the Uddharakosha (UK), ascribed to Dakshinamurti. Longer mantras are often formed from a concatenation of these bijas. The table below is not exhaustive, there are many more bijas. |  |  |  |  |
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The bija mantra Shrim is described as Vishnupriya - the beloved of Vishnu - that is Lakshmi, according to the UK. The syllable Hrim is called the Maya bija. It is also Raudri, according to the Bhutadamara. The UK describes it as the Para or supreme bija. The bija mantra Krim is described as the pitribhuvasini, that is the goddess who dwells in the ancestral or cremation ground, Kali. It is also the dravana and kledana bija.
Hum with the long letter 'u' is called the Kurcha bija and is the mantra of the Mother worshipped by heroes (viras). The Bhutadamara also describes it as the mantra of Mahakala. Aim is called Vagbhava bija and is the syllable of Sarasvati, according to the BD. Phat is the bija of the great fire at the end of time (Pralayagnirmahajvala).
Krom is called the Krodhisha bija. Svaha, otherwise known as Thah Thah, is Vahnijaya, representing the fire sacrifice.
Klim is the deluder of the three worlds bija, also known as Kama or Manmatha, the Hindu god of love, often identified with Krishna. It is the sexual desire bija, says the BD. Hum (with the short letter 'u') is called theKavacha or armour bija. It is the bija of Chandabhairavi. Hraim is the bija which destroys great sins (mahapataka), and is the light mantra. Drim is called the great Kinkini (small bell) bija, says the Bhutadamara.
Sphem is the Bhairava (Shiva) bija which comes at the end of a yuga. Plrem is the Vetala (vampire) bija, according to the Bhutadamara.
Klrim Svaha is called the bija which causes things to tremble. It is the Manohari and ends in Thah Thah (Svaha, see above). The mantra Prim is the crow bija, used in works of Indrajala (magic). The UK describes this bija as the Vagura. Tham Tham Thah Thah are the bijas in the worship of the greatly alluring Chandika, says the BD. Sphrim is the bija of the uncanny Dhumrabhairavi (smoky Bhairavi), also known as Phetkarini.
The bija Hrum (with long letter 'u') is the single syllable mantra of Kalaratri, the great night of time. The same bija, but with a short letter 'u', is the mantra of Vaivasvata.
Hskphrem, says the BD, is the bija mantra of Ananda Bhairava in the form of one's own guru.
