CHAPTER 12 - MANTRAS & SOUND🔗

Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages known. In addition to its linguistic value, ie communicating ideas, or logic, concepts, it has great phonetic importance. The sound vibration of the language makes Sanskrit a powerful, sophisticated instrument that can take one beyond language, verbalization, and ordinary logic. It is not surprising then, that it is the only language used to invoke the energies of the Divine in sacred Hindu rituals.

Sanskrit was also the language of science, knowledge and culture. In ancient times, transmission of texts was done orally only. The hymns, poems and puranas composed during the Vedic period formed the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The oldest known texts in Sanskrit are the Rig Veda, Sama-veda, Yajur- veda and the Atharva-veda.

Mantra is an exact science. It is subtle and works on the principles of nada or sound. Sound is a form of energy which has among its qualities frequency, volume, pitch, and tone. Every sound carries energy and every energy manifests sound.

There are two sources of sound. The first is sound that comes from pure Source - it is called Anahata Dhwani, uncreated sound. Within each one of us exists the ability to listen to this unstruck sound through the subtle heart, anahata chakra. The second source of sound is from the vibrations created by two things striking each other. This is called ahata. These are sounds that come from the outer world. It impacts our mood and mind in various ways, agitating or relaxing us. These sounds include the spoken word and thoughts as thoughts are words we utter or speak within ourselves. Mind is nothing but the internal verbalization of the sounds of whatever language you know. We create our world with every word we speak or think.

Mantras are cosmic sounds, uncreated sounds. These cosmic sounds were heard by the ancient yogis during very deep states of meditation. In these deep states of altered consciousness, their senses became highly sensitized, and they could see and hear what normal physical senses are not capable of detecting. The yogis found that these cosmic sounds vibrate at particular frequencies which created ripples of vibrations that reached and activated the chakras when the sounds were repeated audibly or mentally. With further exploration, the yogis discovered that different combinations of cosmic sounds created different states of consciousness. As a result, mantras like Om Namah Shivaya and others emerged.

Mantras have the power to heal the body and mind, rewire the brain and transform the very consciousness even if the direct meaning of the words being chanted is not understood. Just by intense, authentic listening, the phonetic quality of the mantra can purify the inner space. Mantras affect pranamaya kosha, vijnanamaya and anandamaya kosha which are the deeper levels of the mind. This explains why chanting or kirtans bring a feeling of lightness and inspiration in the being. There are mantras for different purposes, like mantras for healing of different ailments, wealth, sleep, removing obstacles. When mantras are used with pranayamas, it becomes a powerful technique which can take one to samadhi.

Many people misunderstand the use of mantras and merely choose words that have appeal to them out of a book. Such words may have an emotional charge but are not charged by the cosmic energy, prana shakti. Initiation by the Guru is essential to impart power to the mantra. In addition, the mantra needs to be chanted with the proper pronunciation, intonation and focus to create the right vibrations. There are however, universal mantras such as Om or Gayatri which can be chanted without having had a mantra initiation.

Masters constantly radiate anahata dhwani, the uncreated sound. Mental and physical health will be harmonized, and restored, just by being in the space where the soundless sound goes on vibrating. The Master’s intense radiating of the anahata dhwani is called ‘sarva roga nivarini’, cure for all diseases. It’s infinite powerful range can create, destroy and reshape body, and mind and transform consciousness. It is also described as manana trayate iti mantraha, mantra is that which protects those who reflect on it, the very anahata dhwani itself.

When our beings are brought into harmony with the power of mantra and anahata dhwani, we simply fall in tune with the divine radiant energy. It is in this state of super consciousness that we become one with all, we merge into the realm of eternal bliss, Nithyananda.

Bija mantras are single syllable sounds. Bija means seed, and refers to the unmanifest state of existence, without vibrations. The seed has the potential to sprout. Bija mantras hold the higher evolutionary power of consciousness, the different aspects of divine manifestation. The classical bija mantras invoke the seed sounds of the chakras or the gods and goddesses. When the seed sounds of the chakras are invoked, they release innate abilities and powers of that chakra in us. On the same note invocation of the bija mantra of a god or goddess releases the essential qualities and energy embodied by that deity, and imbibes our mind with that energy.

Bija mantras for the chakras are

LAM - root chakra

VAM - swadhisthana chakra

RAM - manipura chakra

YAM - anahata chakra

HAM - vishuddhi chakra

OM - ajna chakra

Some bija mantras for deities are :

HROUM - Shiva

AIM - Saraswati

SHRIM - Mahalakshmi

GAM- Ganesha

DOOM - Durga

KRIM - Kali

Japa mantra is an ancient spiritual practice, as old as the Upanishads. The best mantra to use is the guru mantra or your personal mantra given by the guru. With continuous repetition and awareness of the mantra first verbally then mentally, it becomes ajapa. The mantra repeats itself spontaneously from the heart without effort. There should be continuous awareness of every breath and the mantra. Ajapa is the perfection of japa.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda Swami says that to be able to establish oneself in ajapa japa, one has to practice and live in integrity. One has to be integrated in his words, thoughts and actions both to himself and to others. If one is not in integrity, ajapa japa will never happen. With integrity, any mantra you use will become your vak siddhi. You will simply radiate that mantra, the energy of that mantra invokes.

TRANSLITERATION

MEANING:

I surrender to that Sadguru who is the eternal bliss, the bestower of supreme happiness, the One, who is the embodiment of wisdom,

who is beyond duality, who is omnipresent, to whom the Supreme goal is giving the Enlightenment experience,

who is eternal, pure and unshakable, who is the silent spectator of all thought processes,

who is beyond emotions and who is without the three qualities called Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

Repetition 1: Om hram suryaya namaha

(salutations to the one who induces activity)

Repetition 2: Om hreem ravaye namaha

(salutations to the Shining one)

Repetition 3: Om hroom mitraaya namaha

(salutations to the friend of all)

Repetition 4: Om hraim bhanave namaha

(salutations to the one who illumines)

Repetition 5: Om hraum khagaaya namaha

(salutations to the One who moves swiftly)

Repetition 6: Om hraha pushne namaha

(salutations to the Giver of strength)

Repetition 7: Om hram hiranyagarbhaya namaha (salutations to the golden Cosmic Self)

Repetition 8: Om hreem maareechaye namaha (salutations to the Lord of dawn)

Repetition 9: Om hroom aadityaaya namaha (salutations to the Son of Aditi, the Infinite Cosmic Mother)

Repetition 10: Om hraim savitre namaha (salutations to the Benevolent Mother)

Repetition 11: Om hraum arkaaya namaha (salutations to the One who is praiseworthy)

Repetition 12: Om hraha bhaaskaraaya namaha (salutations to the eternal one who leads to enlightenment)

Om Poornam-Adah Poornam -Idam Poornaat - Poornam -Udacyate Poornasya Poornam -Aadaaya Poornam -Eva-Avasishyate Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih

Out of completion, experiencing the whole Out of completion, realizing you are the whole This is enlightenment Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

(this mantra describes the cosmic hologram that each being represents)

APPEARS IN VEDIC TEXTS: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Ishavasya Upanishad

To be in eternal bliss.

1. All chanting Videos by Nithya Veda Paarayana https://www.youtube.com/user/NithyaVedaPaarayana/videos

2. Sadguru-vandanam / Guru Dhyanam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsWMh0avZxM&list=PLns90UAj-hW8_BkVuOJLDBpU5e_kX0V&index=1

3. Guru-Paramparā Vandanam YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_ndB_EAtQg&list=PLns90UAj-OhW8_BkVuOJLDBpU5e_kX0V&index=2

4. Arunagiri Vandanam YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6e-YcO_dtA&list=PLns90UAj-sOhW8_BkVuOJLDBpU5e_kX0V&index=3

5. Sankalpa Mantra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT8D9TJt7ag&list=PLns90UAj-OhW8_BkVuOJLDBpU5e_kX0V&index=4

6. Manasa-pujaā : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDFw4N87HdM (part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVp4aSEMFHg (part 2)

7. Upachara Puja of Pratyaksha Pada Puja https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPN0QLice0&list=PLns90UAj-OhW8_BkVuOJLDBpU5e_kX0V&index=5 8. Swasti mantra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2DSnCVVXVs

1. Sacred geometry inside a water droplet by Gregg Braden - Patterns created from sound frequencies, low to high

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykO9aQFxYpE 4:33 mins

2. Sound Vibration Equals Form by David Icke - What happens to particles of sand with sound, sound creates form

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQj5Fh_550 4:32 mins>START @ min 1:02

3. How Frequency ( Words ) Can Change Water by Dr. Masaru Emoto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iu9P167HLsw 3:16 mins

4. Wine glass resonance in slow motion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iu9P167HLsw 4:11 mins START @ min 1:52