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MANTRA |
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What is Mantra ? |
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Mantra’s are energy based sounds wherein speech is the essence.
Chanting a word produces an actual physical vibration. We have to
know the effect of this vibration to understand the meaning
associated with it. This is first level of energy basis for words.
Another level is intent. By intent we mean the mental intention.
When this mental intention is associated with chanting, it
influences the resultant effect. The third level is the Rhythm. When
these words in the physical form coupled with mental intention are
chanted with a rhythm, they have a long lasting effect. This is what
mantra is. |
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Generally speaking, there are two types of Mantras: |
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Universal Mantras : Universal
Mantra is a prayer or a group of words which can be chanted with
devotion for spiritual upliftment in all the ages, anywhere in
the world. |
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Home Mantras : These
Mantras are used for private prayers. |
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Gayatri Mahamantra |
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Gayatri Mahamantra and Maha Mrutyunjaya are the two most famous
Universal Mantras. Without going into the Vedic details we enumerate
the two Mantras for the benefit of our readers. |
"OM BHUR BHUVA SVAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHI YO YONAH PRACHODAYAT" |
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OM |
Para Brahman |
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BHUR |
Bhu
Loka (Physical Plane) - This refers to the five elements this
body is made up of |
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BHUVA |
Bhuva
Loka (Middle Plane) - This refers to the power in man which
animates the body. This is actually the Prana Sakthi |
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SVAHA |
Swarga
Loka (Heaven) |
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TAT |
That,
this refers to God, or Paramatma |
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SAVITUR |
That
from which all is born |
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VARENYAM |
Fit to
be worshipped |
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BHARGO |
The
Radiance, the Spiritual Effulgence, the light that bestows
wisdom |
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DEVASYA |
Divine
Reality |
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DHEEMAHI |
We
Meditate |
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DHI YO |
Buddhi,
Intellect |
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YO |
Which |
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NAH |
Our |
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PRACHODAYAT |
Enlighten |
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The Gayatri Mantra may also be translated in the form of a
prayer, as under: |
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OM (OM) - We meditate (DHEEMAHI) upon the Spiritual Effulgence (BHARGO)
of THAT Adorable Supreme Divine Reality (VARENYAM DEVASYA), the
Source (SAVITUR) of the Physical (BHUR), the Astral (BHUVA), and the
Heavenly (SVAHA) Spheres of Existence. May THAT (TAT) Supreme Divine
Being enlighten (PRACHODAYAT) our (NAH) Intellect (DHIYO) (So that
we may realise the Supreme Truth). |
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The Gayatri mantra is a Universal prayer, which asks for a clear
Intellect so that the Truth may be reflected therein without
distortion. |
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Gayatri is the very basis of Vedas. It is also called Veda Mata
(Mother of the Vedas). Gayatri is the mantra, which preserves,
protects and rescues the chanter from mortality. |
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If Gayatri Mantra is chanted with Love, God will accept it. |
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Each word should be pronounced clearly and distinctly, without
undue haste or hurry. |
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Men, Women of all climes and creed, can chant Gayatri Mantra. |
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The Gayatri Mantra should be recited three times a day i.e.
morning, evening and night. |
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The Gayatri Mantra is synonymous to the Divinity and therefore
must be approached with humility, reverence, faith and love
towards the Mantra. |
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Chanting with humility, reverence, faith and love is more
important than mechanical repetition while the mind wanders. |
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Full faith in the power and potency of the Gayatri Mantra will
be generated only when the seeker has developed requisite degree
of enthusiasm, reverence and love towards the Mantra. |
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The more one chants the Mantra, the greater benefit the chanter
gets. |
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Mahamritunjaya Mantra |
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“OM TRYAMBAKKAM YAJAMAHE SUGANDHIM PUSTIVARDHANAM
URVAROOKAMEVA BANDANAAN MRITYORMOKSHEEYA MAAMRITAAT” |
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This Mahamritunjaya mantra is from the Rig-Veda and needs initiation
for attaining Siddhi. Anybody can recite this mantra and attain good
health, release from bondage and other problems. This is the
greatest reliever from all evils and can be recited at any time like
any other Maha-mantra. It should be recited preferably for forty
days both in the morning and evening, after lighting a jyoti and
sitting on a woollen asana while facing east. Recite the Maha-mantra
108 times (one rosary) or its multiples in each sitting. This is the
greatest work of Maharishi Vashistha. Before commencing the
Mahamritunjaya mantra recite the following small prayer to the
everlasting spirit of the Maharishi for his blessings and guidance. |
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OM SUCHIRMARKAIR BRIHASPATIM ADHVARESHU NAMASYATAH (21
Times) |
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We pray to Brihaspati (the Lord of this Universe and the teacher of
this Vedic Knowledge), whose wishes are inviolable, for good
thoughts (that will lead to good speech and actions that cannot be
violated as it will be the truth). |
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VYAM VASHISHTHAYA NAMAH (21 Times) |
This is the prayer to Maharishi Vashistha (whose Holy Spirit is
Omnipresent).
The initiated should practice the Pranayama ten times with the
Beejakshara Mantra "OM HOUM JUM SAH". Others can skip this and go to
the Maha-mantra directly.
This is to be followed by the Dhyana Mantra (Meditation) of Sri
Tryambakeswara (One of the twelve Jyotirlinga) and then meditate on
Sri Tryambakeshwara (Lord Shiva) and Sri Amriteshwari (Gouri or
Parvati Shakti) with the relevant beejakshara and Rudra Pooja.
Meditate for at least 15 Minutes before starting the Japa
(Recitation of Mantra).
Then repeat the following Mahamritunjaya mantra 108 times or
multiples of this number. The Mahamritunjaya Mantra reads: OM
TRYAMBAKKAM YAJAMAHE SUGANDHIM PUSTIVARDHANAM URVAROOKAMEVA
BANDANAAN MRITYORMOKSHEEYA MAAMRITAAT. |
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WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS MAHAMANTRA |
It is important to understand the meaning of the words as this makes
the repetition meaningful and brings forth the results.
OM is not spelt out in the Rig-Veda, but has to be added to the
beginning of all Mantras as given in an earlier Mantra of the
Rig-Veda addressed to Ganapati. |
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TRYAMBAKKAM |
refers to the Three eyes of Lord Shiva. 'Trya' means 'Three' and
Ambakam' means eyes. |
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YAJAMAHE |
means,
"We sing Thy praise". |
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SUGANDHIM |
refers
to His fragrance (of knowledge, presence and strength i.e. three
aspects) as being the best and always spreading around.
Fragrance refers to the joy that we get on knowing, seeing or
feeling His virtuous deeds. |
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PUSTIVARDHANAM |
Pooshan refers to Him as the sustainer of this world. It also
means enhancing the vigor and vitality. |
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URVAAROKAMEVA |
'URVA'
means "VISHAL" or big and powerful . 'AAROOKAM' means 'Disease'.
Thus URVAROOKA means deadly and overpowering diseases. |
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BANDANAAM |
means
bound down. Thus read with URVAROOKAMEVA, it means 'I am bound
down by deadly and overpowering diseases'. |
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MRITYORMOOKSHEYA |
means
to deliver us from death (both premature deaths in this Physical
world and from the never-ending cycle of deaths due to re-birth)
for the sake of Mokshya (Nirvana or final emancipation from
re-birth). |
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MAAMRITAAT |
means
'please give me some Amritam (life rejuvenating nectar). Read
with the previous word, it means that we are praying for some 'Amrit'
to get out of the death inflicting diseases as well as the cycle
of re-birth. |
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Mantras Associated with Planets |
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SUN |
"Om jabaakusuma sankaasham kaashyapayam mahaadyutim
Tamorim sarvapaapaghnam pranato-smi divaakaram
Om suryaaya namah" |
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Translation |
Om, I bow down with devotion to the shining light that is shining
red like a hibiscus flower, shining onto the earth, removing all the
darkness and removing sin. Om, I bow to the Sun.
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MOON |
"Dadhi sankha tushaaraabham kshiirodaarnasambhavam
Namaami shashinam somam shambhormukuta bhushanam
Om candraaya namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to the Moon, who is creamy white like a container of
yogurt (dahi) and most pleasing, born from the churning ocean of
milk, the effulgent emblem of devotion, which adorns the head of
Lord Shiva. Om, I bow to the Moon. |
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MARS |
"Dharaniigarbhasambhutam vidyutkaanti samaprabham
Kumaaram shaktihastam ca tam mangalam pranamaamyaham
Om mangalaaya namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to Mars, the auspicious one, who supports the womb of all
creation, shines forth with the radiance of beauty enhanced by love,
and wields power in his hand. Om, I bow down to Mars. |
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MERCURY |
"Priyangukalikashyaamam ruupenaa-pratimam budham
Saumyam saumyamgunopetam tam budham pranamaamyaham
Om budhaaya namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to Mercury, whose beloved body is dark like the night,
the symbol of intelligence, and whose qualities are most beautiful.
Om, I bow down to Mercury. |
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JUPITER |
"Devaanaanca rishinaanca gurum kaancana sannibham
Buddhi bhutam trilokesham tam namaami brihaaspatim
Om gurave namah" |
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Translation |
I bow down to Jupiter, teacher of gods and sages, the greatest
treasure, and the most intelligent of all creation.
Om, I bow down to Jupiter. |
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VENUS |
"Hima kunda mrinaalaabham daityaanaam paramam gurum
Sarvashaastrapravaktaaram bhaargavam pranamaamyaham
Om Shukraaya namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to Venus, who is fragrant like crushed sandal and
jasmine, the great guru of the demons, expounding all scriptures,
and the descendant of sage Brigu. Om, I bow down to Venus. |
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SATURN |
"Niilaambujasamaabhaasam raviputram yamaagrajam
Chaayaamaartandasambhuutam tam namaami shanaishacaram
Om Shaanaishcaraaya namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to Saturn, who is blue like a storm cloud, the son of the
Sun and the brother of Death, who can cast his shadow even over the
Sun. Om, I bow down to Saturn. |
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RAHU (Dragon’s Head) |
"Arddhakaayam mahaaviiryam candraadityavimardanam
Simhikaagarbha sambhuutam tam Raahu pranamaamyaham
Om Raahave namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to Rahu, the great warrior who divides even the Sun and
Moon in half, born from the womb of Simhikaa. Om, I bow down to Rahu. |
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KETU (Dragon’s Tail) |
"Paalaashapushpa sankaasham taarakaagrahamastakam
Raudram raudraatmakam ghoram tam ketu pranamaamyaham
Om Ketave namah" |
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Translation |
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I bow down to Ketu, who is red like a paalaasha flower, who makes
the star-eyed constellation to set, terrible and awesome to behold.
Om, I bow down to Ketu. |
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Diety specific Mantras |
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"Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" |
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The mantra of Lord Vishnu. Any thing in the world is possible by
worshipping lord Vishnu, who sustains the life in world. Enchanting
this mantra saves a devotee from many troubles. It bestows the
devotee with prosperity, peace, wealth etc. |
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"Om Namah Sivaya" |
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It is the mantra of Lord Shiva. Many people have become rich from
virtually state of starvation by enchanting this mantra. Lord Shiva
(Bhole Shanker) is very innocent (Bhole) God and bestows his
blessings immediately on the devotee. |
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"Om Sri Ramaya Namah" |
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The description of word "Rama" is unlimited. Lord Rama is the
incarnation of Vishnu. A devotee can gain overall benefits in all
fields of his or her life by enchanting this mantra. |
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"Om Sri Maha Lakshmyai Namah" |
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The mantra of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of all the wealth and
Prosperity in the world. |
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"Om Sri Durgaya Namah" |
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This mantra is of Goddess Durga the combined form of the powers of
Lakshmi, Saraswati and kali. By enchanting this mantra all the
physical, mental, economic problems are solved. |
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"Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah" |
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Godess Saraswati bestows the devotee with the memory, Knowledge and
the power of speech. |
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"Om Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah" |
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The mantra of elephant headed God (Ganeshji). A remover of obstacles
and bestower of success. |
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"Om Kleem Krishnaya Namah" |
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The mantra of lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Solves
all the problems of devotee and bestows him with wealth and
prosperity. |
