Mantra Elements and FAQ'S.
Purascharana means pura charati iti, that means, that which is performed before or prior. Before the deity or prior to the mantra siddhi. We will come to the q what is mantra siddhi later. Now, what should be done before or prior to complete a purascharana.
Purascharana means pura charati iti, that means, that which is performed before or prior. Before the deity or prior to the mantra siddhi. We will come to the q what is mantra siddhi later. Now, what should be done before or prior to complete a purascharana.
Purascharana means repeating a mantra for a particular number of times and for a period of time. This is the first and important part of the purascharana. There are five parts / limbs to a purascharana, 1. Mantra japa (repetition of mantra) 2. Homa (fire obulation using the mantra) 3. Tarapana (water obulation using mantra) 4. Marjana (ritualistic sprinkling of water) and 5. Bhojana (feeding of Brahmins / Sadhus).
Japa – repeating the mantra for a specified number of times. This is normally n Lakh times, where n stands for the number of characters / alphabets in the mantra. If the mantra is a very big one, than, it is also accepted as 1 lakh repetition. And, at the beginning of the japa everyday, the puja should be performed to the mantra deity or the yantra for the particular mantra.
Homa – after performing the reqired number of japa. The Homa should be performed using the same mantra adding a “swaha” to it. And the number of times the homa should be performed is 1 / 10th of the Japa. Likewise, the later stages in the purascharana is 1 / 10th of the former stage. The obulation material or the material for the offering in the fire is generally Ghee (clarified butter), but sometimes, may vary according to the purpose of the pursacharana.
Tarpana – water mixed with milk or jiggery etc. is used to perform tarpana. In this, the water is taken in a spoon and it will be poured through the palm, leaving the thumb. This too should be done using the mantra and a “tarpayami” added to it.
Marjana – the water is taken in a bowl and a small piece of ginger it tied to the tip of it, through which the water is sprinkled on oneself or the yantra. The sprinkling should be done using the mantra suffixed with a “marjayami” to it.
Bhojana – number equal to 1 / 10th of the number of marjana should be fed, as the last part of the purascharana.
This completes one round of purascharana. In kali age to attain mantra siddhi one should perform four purascharana using a mantra. Manra siddhi generally means attainment of the complete control of the mantra, for using it in a way desired. But, for a sadhaka, it means the blessing of the deity. It could be felt by the peace one gains after the purascharana.
If for some reason, one is not able to perform the above other limbs, than it can be substituted with four times japa (four times of the 1 / 10th of the previous limb).
Elements of mantra
Every mantra has six elements: -
- 'Rishi' or The Seer
- 'Chanda or method of pronunciation.
- 'Devta' or The Presiding Deity of mantra
- 'Bija' or The Seed .
- 'Shakti' or The Power
- 'Kilaka' or The Pillar
Rishi - Seers
The intensions of the Mantra worshipper or 'Mantra Shadak' are his or her responsibility. One must thus be clear about why one picks up this tool of Mantra meditation. Good or bad Karmas are categorized according to the effect they create inside and outside the individual, who should be prepared to acknowledge responsibility for the same.
Chanda - The way the mantra is to be recited.
The raga is comparable to a western melody line - a sound or sequence of single sounds, without harmony. When chanting a Mantra, it is extremely important not to change the raga and its key, because the rate of vibration on which the sound is based on integral part of the Mantra.
Devta - Presiding Deity
The Devta is the presiding deity of the mantra. The informing powers a very personal aspect of God. It is the wisdom that comes from a higher source and is like a single beam of sunlight. One beam that is singled out and given a name so that the disciple can develop a personal relationship with and worship on aspect of God that he or she can understand and experience.
Bija - Seed of mantra
Each mantra has a Bija or seed. This represents the sound string defined by the Seers as being the repository of auditory energy sources. The form and content of the Bija have been handed down from the ages. The Bija gives the mantra in which it is used, its special power of self-generation and effects. Just as within a seed is hidden within tree, so too, the energy of the mantra is resident in the seed on which it is based. This helps the mantra to manifest itself into spiritual consciousness.
Shakti - The Power
The power, the consciousness, within the mantra is 'Shakti' - the Divine Mother, the goddess of the spoken word. The male aspect of the God is energy in a state of equilibrium; the female aspect is the dynamic energy, which manifests as Creation. This energy is the source of creation of all living beings. In the mantra this energy is present in a pure form. The potency of the mantra is realized through repetitions, until the individual chanting the same, feels the presence of God. This is a spiritual experience, which the Mantras help to bring about.
Kilaka - The Balancing force of mantra
The Kilaka is at first, the driving force, the persistence and will power that the discipline needs to pursue the Mantra. But when the power of the Mantra begins to take on a self generating 'flywheel motion', the Kilaka becomes a very fine thread joining the discipline to the mantra, to the power of the mantra, to the Guru and to the deity, until all are manifest as one.
The intensions of the Mantra worshipper or 'Mantra Shadak' are his or her responsibility. One must thus be clear about why one picks up this tool of Mantra meditation. Good or bad Karmas are categorized according to the effect they create inside and outside the individual, who should be prepared to acknowledge responsibility for the same.
Chanda - The way the mantra is to be recited.
The raga is comparable to a western melody line - a sound or sequence of single sounds, without harmony. When chanting a Mantra, it is extremely important not to change the raga and its key, because the rate of vibration on which the sound is based on integral part of the Mantra.
Devta - Presiding Deity
The Devta is the presiding deity of the mantra. The informing powers a very personal aspect of God. It is the wisdom that comes from a higher source and is like a single beam of sunlight. One beam that is singled out and given a name so that the disciple can develop a personal relationship with and worship on aspect of God that he or she can understand and experience.
Bija - Seed of mantra
Each mantra has a Bija or seed. This represents the sound string defined by the Seers as being the repository of auditory energy sources. The form and content of the Bija have been handed down from the ages. The Bija gives the mantra in which it is used, its special power of self-generation and effects. Just as within a seed is hidden within tree, so too, the energy of the mantra is resident in the seed on which it is based. This helps the mantra to manifest itself into spiritual consciousness.
Shakti - The Power
The power, the consciousness, within the mantra is 'Shakti' - the Divine Mother, the goddess of the spoken word. The male aspect of the God is energy in a state of equilibrium; the female aspect is the dynamic energy, which manifests as Creation. This energy is the source of creation of all living beings. In the mantra this energy is present in a pure form. The potency of the mantra is realized through repetitions, until the individual chanting the same, feels the presence of God. This is a spiritual experience, which the Mantras help to bring about.
Kilaka - The Balancing force of mantra
The Kilaka is at first, the driving force, the persistence and will power that the discipline needs to pursue the Mantra. But when the power of the Mantra begins to take on a self generating 'flywheel motion', the Kilaka becomes a very fine thread joining the discipline to the mantra, to the power of the mantra, to the Guru and to the deity, until all are manifest as one.
Viniyog of a Mantra
Lets say you are not doing a complete Anushthaan, you are doing just some Prayog... in Prayog the procedure is again clearly defined by the person given that Prayog, that means Guru, it can be using a Yantra with specific Mantra and Tantra for 11, 21, 45... any no of fixed days. Prayog is a specialized way, empowered by a Guru, works primarily for his disciples. Others have minimum effect (yes this is the truth, try it). Or you just want the normal benefit from a Mantra, even in that case, it is a well known fact that the bare minimum required for working any Tantra or Mantra or Yantra is the knowledge of its Viniyog which compromises --
Lets say you are not doing a complete Anushthaan, you are doing just some Prayog... in Prayog the procedure is again clearly defined by the person given that Prayog, that means Guru, it can be using a Yantra with specific Mantra and Tantra for 11, 21, 45... any no of fixed days. Prayog is a specialized way, empowered by a Guru, works primarily for his disciples. Others have minimum effect (yes this is the truth, try it). Or you just want the normal benefit from a Mantra, even in that case, it is a well known fact that the bare minimum required for working any Tantra or Mantra or Yantra is the knowledge of its Viniyog which compromises --
(1) Mantra Name
(2) Rishi (Creator of Mantra, Seer who first attained or mastered the Mantra)
(3) Chhand (Meter of Mantra or pattern of pronunciation)
(4) Devataa (Name of deity)
(5) Beejam (main seed for power source of Mantra)
(6) Shakti (you can say main power enhancer, like to mature the seed)
(7) Keelak (the unlocking password)
(8) Abheesht Arth (your purpose of chanting)
(2) Rishi (Creator of Mantra, Seer who first attained or mastered the Mantra)
(3) Chhand (Meter of Mantra or pattern of pronunciation)
(4) Devataa (Name of deity)
(5) Beejam (main seed for power source of Mantra)
(6) Shakti (you can say main power enhancer, like to mature the seed)
(7) Keelak (the unlocking password)
(8) Abheesht Arth (your purpose of chanting)
Although after that Nyaas (Energizing body ports and finger by - Rishi Nyaas + Kar Nyas + Hridyaadi Nyaas) + Dhyaan (deity image to concentrate on Third Eye) + Mudraa (Posture to invite and please deity) are also required before real Mantra Jap... (Real Mantra Jap is useful only if you are gaining Mantra Chetana = knowing + repeating the meaning of Mantra, sticking to deity image on third eye with devotion... ie (Mantra, Mantra Arth aur Devataa Se Ekee-karan karke dhyaan).
Still even without their knowledge or knowledge of Keelak also you can use a Mantra provided you have at least first 6 part of Viniyog. (for Keelak there is a special way of unlocking a Mantra, call it a master key like given in book Mantra Rahasya or their is one another little longer way also). And their is a way to substitute Nyaas and Dhyaan also. But for a Beej Mantra... it responds to a the causal body of Deity. It is like very basic and raw form of energy. Procedure is totally different.
To be a Rishi of some Mantra - To be a Rishi you will have to know the complete compatibility of all the 50 alphabets "Varn Maalaa" (all Devanaagaree letters) which has Swars (Vowels) like aa, ee, oo.. etc, one that don't use tongue and Vyanjans (Consonants) like ka, kha, cha.. etc, one that initiate by molding tongue. There is hidden energy of various deities in various sounds, some match while some don't... it all depends on the element they correspond to. Like mixing water with air will not be a very good idea... All this is given in somewhat detail in the book Mantra Rahasya" but to be honest even that is just the beginning... because the Shaastra says "jisey naad ka poorn gyaan ho jaataa hai use Brahm kaa gyaan ho jaataa hai" (one who has complete knowledge of sound gets knowledge of god/supreme/creator).
Modern science says that there is no matter, only energy... well Indian scholars always knew the same but they considered sound to be the base of Shakti (energy) in physical plane (hence its said in Mantra Rahasya : Brahmaand Mantra-maya hai, (universe is made of sound) that changes forms and it has its Maryaadaa (rules). In higher planes the Bhaav (feeling) and then Arth (meaning) and then Prakaash (subtle light, even higher frequency).
