Everyone of us may or may not be familiar with ‘Mantras’.
In the World Book Dictionary, the meaning ascribed to Mantras is: A prayer or Invocation, sometimes held to have magical power’
The repetition of Mantras or God’s Name is called ‘Japa’
Japa triggers a Spiritual centre in ones psyche that otherwise may be inactive.
We all have heard of the power that ‘Om’ is supposed to bestow. It is considered the most powerful Mantra.
It is believed that the vibrating sound of the “Om’ encompasses the Universe. Sages claim that if one chants it continuously with a certain technique then one can be put in tune with the Cosmos. Almost all other Sanskrit Mantras start with the word “Om’. It is almost like the word ‘Om’ makes the prayer come alive.
The equivalent of ‘Om’ in English is I Am’ “I AM” is the shortest and the most powerful sentence in the English language. Since there is magic in the vibrational content of the word ‘Om’ and/or ‘I Am’ One must not to use any negative word after it For e.g.: One must not say I am sick, poor, lonely, afraid, etc. If one must, use the suffix “I feel…”
In the ‘Magic of Mantras’ I shall be introducing you to Sanskrit Mantras which may be used for different wants reasons and situations. I believe that they work even if one does not understand the meaning. However understanding them, and/or chanting them correctly makes them more effective as one is then able to infuse more feeling into it. So let us enter together into the Magic World of Mantras.
Rohini Gupta states:
“The name Sanskrit’ means ‘perfectly put together’: ‘krita’ means ‘crafted’ and ‘sam’ means ‘perfect’. so ‘sam-krita’, well crafted’…If you could see the higher levels of consciousness, for example, you could see the form of Shiva manifest when ‘Om namah Shivaya’ is recited. The rishis who gave us the mantras, saw the forms on higher levels of consciousness and described what they saw. Their description became the form of the deities, an attempt to depict the formless vibrations from a much subtler realm.
‘Sanskrit is considered the most perfect language as it was created to translate the divine vibration in the only way we can comprehend it, which is through words in the form of mantras…Sanskrit was mantric vibration which later solidified into language’ …Sanskrit is called ‘dev-vani’ the speech of the gods, and the script is called ‘dev-nagari’ the city of the gods”
Mantras may be recited as often as one feels intuitively drawn to recite it. As a matter of fact there is a saying by Kabeer which states:
‘Kabeer man nirmal bhayo jaise Ganga neer
Peechhey peechhey Hari phirey kahat Kabeer Kabeer’
Which means that my My mind has become as pure as the waters of the Ganga, hence now the Lord follows me chanting my name!
The above is not an egoistic statement. It is believed that after one has chanted the Mantras a certain number of times, Ones heart becomes so purified that the Lord starts to chant ones name!
Meerabai sang: ‘Payoji maine Ram Ratan dhan paayo, kharch na khotey, chor na lootey, din din hot savaayo”
Which means: By chanting the Lord’s name I have come upon riches that I cannot spend (fritter) away, no one can rob, it increases everyday…
Just try and remember to complete your mantras with:
Om Shanti Shanti Shantih
PS. One cannot only rely on Matras if one has had a serious physical ailment or/and emotional upheaval, except in the case of Very Elevated Souls .
One has to examine a lot of factors. Problems require working at…and a lot of effort needs to go into a situation along with prayers and the chanting of mantras.
In the case of ‘depression’
To feel depressed once in a while is normal. To stay depressed for long periods of time needs to be looked into. You must get help from a professional.
At the same time chant the healing mantras. Believe in yourself and live a day at a time.
Many attach their mind on a form (of the Lord) while chanting.
The advanced way is to contemplate on the Formless.
After having put in ones ‘best’ into a trying situation
Try ‘Om Shanti’ for Peace and Patience.
May the good Lord guide you to whatever is best for you.
Take care and God Bless!
Comments and Q:
Very good website and info.
Pls inform me the physical and Spiritual benefits of hearing the Vedic mantra chants through CDs. Thank you
Niradhara answers:
Thank you for this very good question; I would like to answer as to the way I was taught in chanting Sanskrit. Sanskrit is not an ordinary ancient language, it is a sacred tongue and is formed in the mouth using pranic and yogic techniques requiring scientifically precise placement of tongue on palate of mouth, dentals, gutterals, etc. It is the ancient science of the vibration of sound… I perform Agnihotra while chanting. It is part of our practice and the mantras are so powerful that the ash is considered thousands of times more holy and healing when blessed in this way.
Listening to a CD of Vedic Sanskrit chanting is also full of spiritual and physical benefits. I listen constantly to my Guru’s recordings. The ones where he chants non-stop for hours make me intensely blissful and high. I work in the publication office of this Guru and his Guru’s writing and audio. One of my duties is to archive the original home-style Sony tapes by dubbing from analog to digital and I treasure this time spent in the presence of this holy sound current. It is very blessed work I am grateful every day to have. Listen to any CDs of Sanskrit chanting that you have and notice the changes in you. These sacred sounds go into your psyche and even on a recording contain the vibration which passes through the ether into our ears and skin. It is definitely more beneficial to chant along with the CD and go into a meditative state to get deep benefit. Also just listening while doing dull work is fine too. I have been warned to not listen while driving as states of ecstacy and trance may take you out of the realm of earth plane and not safe when you are operating a vehicle.
Peace & Purpose –
NirAdhArA
Shakun Kimatrai 