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Home , Gayatri Mantra, Hindu deities, Japa, Shanti Mantras, Vaishvanara

Hindu

Tridevi: / The three energies • • - creative force; generator • • - transformative; destroyer • • - sustainer/preserver; operator

Saraswati: Dynamic knowledge, wisdom, music, language That which flows, or watery, or elegant; the flow of creativity

Saraswati is often portrayed as dressed in white while sitting on a white lotus (representing purity, pure knowledge, wisdom and mind). She has four arms one holding a manuscript or book (symbolizing textual knowledge). A Mala or in another (signifying knowledge from ). In the other two, she holds a vina, a musical instrument, signifying the gift of music and poetry. She often has a swan () with her as her vehicle because the swan when given and water can separate the two and will choose only milk meaning it can differentiate from good and evil.

Saraswati represents the four functions of the mind/ personalty: manas (sensory/processing mind, low level), buddhi (knows, decides,intellect), chitta (subconcious mind, stored impressions, samskaras), and ahankara (I-maker, ego, asmita, what you identify with). She is wife and (sometimes) daughter to Brahma.

“Saraswati gives the essence of one’s self. She provides us with the mundane and spiritual knowledge of our lives. She is a representation of the science of life, or the , which attempts to unravel the essentials of human existence and the universe concealed within. She points to the ultimate aim of human life which is to realize the true nature of the self even if it requires an enormous amount of determination, perseverance and patience. The knowledge that Saraswati renders through continual worship, devotion and discipline is one of an integral vision in which both temporal and spiritual levels of study are meditated upon, practiced and developed. Therefore, she allows one to exist in the material world while striving for the of . The connection one forms with Saraswati is one with words and music, which are the very source of the cosmos, the Brahman. She is the impeller of true, sweet speech, she is the creative process with the syllable, ‘.’ She is the potent quality of sound” (source: http://www.vishvarupa.com/ print-information- about-saraswati.html). Uma or Parvati: Love, beauty, marriage, fertility, and devotion. The Divine Mother Light, Daughter of the mountain / She who dwells in the mountain

Parvati is represented as beautiful and kind. She is sometimes shown alongside Shiva, whom she is consort to, and also with her son, .

She is one of the forms of and the feminine force of energy in this universe. With Shiva, they bring harmony to this universe.

Durga: The protective mother of all that is good. The inaccessible or hard to reach/obtain

She has the collective energy of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. She has usually 10 arms and is riding a lion. Always ready for battle!

Her weapons include the conch shell (AUM sound), thunderbolt (firmness in ones convictions), the discus (wheel of time or disk of auspicious vision/mind), the sword (symoolizes knowledge, and discrimination), the trident (has many meanings but usually represents the three gunas - , , .

Shown fighting a demon (), which can represent the corrupted ego or ignorance. It shifts every time we fight it - it morphs! She would cut him and other demon would show up. Finally, she grabs him and cuts off his head, sees the inner demon, and drinks the blood - killing him. The demons (desires, ego, ignorance) keep springing up but to get rid of it we must get to the root of the problem and cut it there. : The Goddess of time, death, transformation She who is black or she who is beyond time.

Kali is independent and dynamic. The personification of time and change. Usually portrayed naked and black or blue in color. Standing upon Shiva, who is passive. Kali has a skirt of human arms symbolize the deeds or projects we engage in and have accomplished. These external projects we engage in trying to give us internal happiness. She has a of human skulls signifying the roles we play and the masks we wear for others to see.

In one hand, she holds the head of ego, draining it. In another, she has a sword of wisdom. She also holds a trident, representing creation, preservation, and destruction/ and holding together sattva, rajas, tamas.

Lakshmi: Wealth and Prosperity: both material and spiritual She of hundreds and thousands

Lakshmi is portrayed as a woman with four arms standing on a lotus wearing red (red being the color of Rajas; activity). The four arms representDharma (duty), (wealth), (desire), and (liberation). These four arms also carry in their hands:

• Upper right hand: Lotus fully opened with a thousand petals. • Upper left hand: Half-blossomed lotus with a hundred petals • Lower left hand: The gold coins flowing from her hand represents the prosperity that she spreads to her devotee. • Lower right hand: Abhya Mudra - a hand gesture representing fearlessness.

Lakshmi brings deliverance from fear. Why? As practitioners we want to cultivate this. We cant grow spiritually if we are timid. Confront the world as it is but we shouldn’t be the cause of fear. When connected with the lower left hand, it is thevarada mudra. Representing charity and . The fingers representing generosity, morality, patience, effort, and meditative concentration. She is being showered by elephants again representing , artha, kama, and moksha. The flow is continuous and effortless when one is in accordance with ones own dharma.

Lakshmi represents the precious resources in our world BUT she has a sister who is always with her, , who represents and is a reminder of the negative aspect of wealth, greed, over abundance. The owl, which usually sits beside her where the coins are, is a reminder of not being able to see in light but only in dark. We must be able to see clearly even when we are being showered by gold coins! Lakshmi is also consort to Vishnu. Shiva: The Destroyer (but constructive destruction - matter is transformed!) Auspicious One

Shiva is colored blue or white, and usually shown in deep mediation and/or in a yogic seated position. He carries a trident, a drum (symbolizing sound and therefore the universe), his cobra necklace shows Shiva’s power and alertness minus reaction but also they can represent things that prevent us from achieving spiritual awareness. Snakes (Nagas) guard gems (spiritual knowledge) - representing the poison thwarting you on your path to spiritual gems!

Shiva has a crescent moon on his head which can represent his control over nature and time. He has a , giving him the sight of knowledge and wisdom. He is sometimes represented as half man/half woman - the woman being Parvati, his wife. They both live in the mountains being . He is often represented by the Shiva Lingham - a phallic symbol of fertility, masculinity, and divine energy. The bottom is the feminine aspect. Coming together it represents the union of feminine and masculine, of and prakriti.

You might know Shiva as , meaning Lord of Dance (the act of creation), surrounded by a circular fire. He carries the damaru (drum), the cosmic creation and time within the beat of rhythm, and the (fire) the flame of destruction (but think of what happens with fire in nature - destroys so new creation can breathe and live!). The lower right hand is in the Abhya Mudra - fear not pose! He is graceful and strong, expressive and commanding. Vishnu: Sustainer of the Universe. He has patience and is merciful. That which prevails the universe

Vishnu is usually depicted as blue (an indication of the sea and sky - the conservative and continuous energy). He holds a conch (creative energy + what sound does a conch make when you blow in it? AUM!) and a discus. He holds the lotus flower (the unfolding of the mind and representation of purity) and mace/club of (for the destruction of evil). Two of his are and .

Brahma: The Creator Four Faces (from which the four came) in each direction representing 4 aspects of the mind: • Manas - Cognative • Buddhi - Intellectual • Ahankara - Ego • Citta - Memory He is no longer worshipped but still maintains his status as the most important in the trinity. His wife, read up on that for more info, is Saraswati Aum / Pranava

Yogasūtra 1.27 - tasya vācakah pranavah • (Isvara) is expressed through the sacred syllable aum. • (Isvara’s) manifesting word is aum.

Yogasūtra 1.28 - taj- tad artha bhāvanam • It should be repeated endlessly with contemplation on its meaning. • Aum must be repeated with on its meaning.

Yogasūtra 1.29 - tatah prtyak cetanādhigamo’ py antarāyābhāvaś ca • The mind will turn inward and the obstacles that stand in the way will disapear. • From this comes the realization of the inner conciousness and freedom from all disturbances.

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AUM as explained by the . Here we view it in a translated (and very summarized) form:

AUM stands for the supreme . A symbol for what was, what is, and what shall be. Brahman is all, and the Self is Brahman. This Self has four states of conciousness:

1. A (ah sound) is . Vasishvanara - Waking - one lives with all senses turned outward. Aware of only the external world. (Gross)

2. U (oh sound) is . Taijasa - the dreaming state. With our senses turned inward. One enacts the impressions of past deeds and present desires. (Subtle)

3. M (mmm sound) is . Prajna - deep sleep. One neither dreams nor desires. There is no mind or separatness but one is not concious of this. Let him become concious in Prajna and it will open the door to the state of abiding joy. (Subconcious/ Causal)

4. The silence after is - the super concious state. Neither inward nor outward. Beyond senses and intellect. This is pure conciousness. Unthinkable, undescribable.

The mantram AUM stands for the supreme state of turiya, without parts, beyond birth and death, symbol of everlasting joy. Those who know AUM as the Self become the Self; truly they become the Self. A state of advaita, nondual reality.

* Aum Cycle chant: Think about drinking in the “ah” sound, emerging from the thoat. The “oh” sound emerging out, rushing out of the pallate, the “mm” sound ending on the lips, resonating on the front of the face. * Apart vs a part: being a part of what is. Chanting to be sepearate but to allow the sound to go beyond and unite. When all drops or syllables unite, we are an ocean of sound. We are connected to the endless cosmic vibration. The thoughts drop away, we are in bliss, a realization to our true nature. Japa is a repetitive form of mantra. When refers to japa, he is likely meaning repetition and contemplation on the pranava. However, there are various that one can use as a meditation or centering device. Some other examples, aside from aum, are:

Gayatri Mantra - Om Sarveśām Svastir Bhavatu Aum Bhur Bhuva Svah Sarveśām Shāntir Bhavatu Tat Savitur Varenyam Sarveśām Pūrnam Bhavatu Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Sarveśām Mangalam Bhavatu Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih

We meditate on the physical, subtle, and causal planes/ May there be happiness and well being in all worlds (physical, mental, spiritual) May there be in all Who has created the Universe/ the source of all May there be completeness in all Who is worthy of Worship May there be auspiciousness in all Who is the embodiment of Divine Light Who is the remover of all sin and ignorance/obstacles Pavamāna mantra - May we mediate on Him and may He inspire/enlighten Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya our intellect. Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya -- Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya The eternal, earth, air, heaven Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih That glory, that resplendence of the sun May we contemplate the brilliance of that light Lead us from the unreal to the real May the sun inspire our minds. Lead us from darkness to light Translation by Douglas Brooks Lead us from death to immortality • is the mother of the Vedas and bestows divine knowledge. However, this mantra is addressed -- to Savitri, the Sun Diety. Soham/ Sohum - repeating “so” on the inhalation and “hum” on the exhalation. This mantra as Hamsa asks Om namo brahmane the question, who am I? Sohum gives the answer of “I namo astvagnaye am that”. A mantra that brings together both breath namah prthivyai (calming the nervous system) and sound (giving the nama oshadhiibhyah mind something to focus on) to bring together a steady namo vaache unbroken concentration leading to meditation but also namo vaachaspataye what it called , a repetition without effort/ namo visnave bruhate karomi constant awareness. Om shaantih shaantih shaantih Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha - from The Let us pray for the welfare of all Heart of the Prajna Paramita . May our suffering be alleviated through practice, , and surrender. There are a few translations of this last line some of Let us care for the earth and be guided by Nature’s which include: eternal wisdom. Gone, gone, totally gone, totally completely gone, May we allow ourselves peace. enlightened, so be it. May divinity guide us to peace. Going, going, going on beyond, always going on beyond, May all beings great and small reside in contentment. always becoming Buddha. • A nonliteral and more creative translation from Gone, gone, gone to the Other Shore, attained the Other Dena Kingsberg. Shore having never left.