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Home , Gayatri Mantra, Japa, Jnana yoga, Karma yoga, Karma Yoga (book), Shabda Brahman

EDUCATIONAL INSIGHT

ATI O C N U A

D L Spiritual E

I N S S T Striving through I G H Sacred Sound The recitation of , known as , lies at the very heart of Hindu practice. Focusing the on Divinity as part of one’s daily , it unites with , body with mind, worship with introspection, opening inner doors to realms beyond the senses.

INTRODUCTION BY SATGURU

mantra is a syllable, word or phrase endowed with special power, usually drawn from scrip- ture. Mantras are chanted loudly during Ato invoke the Gods and establish a spiritual force fi eld. Certain mantras are repeated softly or men- tally for japa, or mantra yoga, the subtle tones quieting the mind, harmonizing the inner bodies and stimulating latent spiritual qualities. ’s universal mantra is Aum. Japa refers to the repetition of a mantra, often while count- ing on a mala or strand of beads. It may be done silently or aloud. Japa is one of the ten (spiritual practices) of ashtanga yoga, often performed prior to meditation. It is a major sadhana in Hindu , from the simple utterance of one or more to extraordi- nary feats of repeating sacred syllables millions of times for years on end. Japa is recommended as a cure for pride and arrogance, jealousy, fear and confusion. It harmonizes the and quiets the . Filling the mind with divine sounds, awakening the divine essence of spiritual energies in the physical body, japa brings forth the amrita. Doshas are the three bodily humors, which, according to , regulate the body: vata, pitta and kapha. Vrittis, in yoga psy- chology, are the fl uctuations of , the waves of By the : An aspiring young mental activities of thought and . Amrita is the monastic counts mental repetitions of nectar of divine bliss which fl ows down from the his mantra on a mala of beads inside when one enters the deepest states of meditation. a cloth bag. Nearby, others take a For Saivite , Namah Sivaya in its various forms is purifying bath in the sacred river.

36 january/february/march, 2012 dinodia.com the most treasured mantra used in japa. The mantra Hare Hare is Passing on the power: (Left) A among the foremost Vaishnavite mantras. devotee receives instruction in mantra Aum is a universal mantra. Sage recitation from his ; (right) a at the Sri Naranayi Pitham in South extolls it in his Yoga : “The mantra counts the names of on a AUM should be repeated while contem- strand of small beads plating on its meaning. Thence follows the attainment of inward-mindedness and the disappearance of the obstacles. Sickness, apathy, doubt, carelessness, sloth, sensual indulgence, false perspective, lack of prog- ress and lack of consistency are all distrac- tions to the mind and are the obstacles. Pain, , trembling limbs and irregular inhalation and exhalation accom- pany these distractions” (I.23–31). Patanjali speaks of 14 kinds of japa: daily (nitya), circumstantial (naimit- tika), the japa of desired results (ka- mya), forbidden (nishiddha), penitential (prayashchitta), unmoving (achala), moving (chala), voiced (vachika), whis- pered (upanshu), murmured (bhra- mara), mental (manasa), uninterrupted s. rajam peedam sri narayani (akhanda), nonuttered (ajapa) and circumambulatory (pradakshina). Here are four suggestions Therefore, a good character expressed day by day within the individ- N THE on how to perform japa. The Magic of Japa ual who is freed from anger and from contentious mental arguments Yoga historically likely began with mantra 1. Perform japa aloud in the begin- is a central foundation for the practice of yoga. yoga as its original form. The oldest yogic text From the Teachings of Satguru One without such purity should not practice japa yoga, lest he ning stages, as it is easier to con- I and spiritual teaching coming out of India, the awaken the of his imperfections which are better to keep centrate the thought. Once you can veiled. For knowing such could send him into states of remorse, early Rig Veda, is primarily a teaching of mantra yoga. perfect performing japa aloud, move apa is very widespread in hinduism, more so than meditation. japa repentance—which means being penitent before one has the stability The Rig Veda is composed of sacred (like yoga is easy to practice. The inexperienced can take it up immediately. to take on the reaction of such a momentous discovery and undertak- on to performing it silently. It does produce certain results until they forget the mantra, which can ing. yoga should be practiced by the devotee prior to this to the Mantra to the Sun God) designed 2. Pronounce the mantra slowly, J happen! This may seem strange, but I have met devotees of who smooth out all character fl aws. Sivathondu—which is another word to invoke the cosmic powers within us for properly, thoughtfully, with feeling. had actually forgotten their mantra, even after paying a goodly sum to receive it. for —service to Siva, is the platform for japa yoga. their and guidance. The Vedic ritual The innocent Americans and Europeans are the orphans and adopted children Those who are victims to episodes of anger, to pangs of jealousy 3. Do not intensify japa by recit- of Indian gurus. Some of these teachers, unaware of the critical differences of or to periods of fear should not meditate and should not perform is based upon or the sacred fi re, which is ing your mantra tens of thousands and culture of their newfound and eager devotees, respond by bringing japa. They should perform Sivathondu, attend group and regarded fi rst of all as a power of divine speech of times a day unless specifi cally them immediately into japa and , avoiding the known and the group sessions. This is because they must fi rst be lifted and mantra. This sacred fi re, which is inwardly basic philosophical and cultural foundations necessary for ultimate success. In up into the chakra and above. They are living below it and the power of speech, serves to invoke and instructed to do so by your guru. In- the case of Indian devotees, these cultural and philosophical foundations would must raise their consciousness in order to proceed deeply into them- tensifying japa without a guru’s guid- have been acquired within the family home. This foundation is necessary, as it selves. It is the group itself in this case that will lift the individual manifest all the deeper powers of the psyche ance could produce negative results. directs the subconscious mind, which is the inner motor of a person, preventing who cannot easily lift himself. This process should be guided by a and the greater cosmos. This Vedic mantra yoga him from opposing, inhibiting and invalidating the realizations that naturally oc- strong-minded, compassionate moderator. is still accessible to us through learning Vedic 4. The best place and time to per- cur when one practices yoga. So, fi rst we learn the , then through japa form japa is in the temple or your and more advanced we realize it. Whereas in performing japa and raja yoga Japa Opens Inner Doors chanting. Yet we should learn to use Vedic home shrine after a puja. Thus prac- before you know the philosophy, what you previously learned may confl ict with One who performs japa properly will realize what he knows. You mantras along with the breath and meditate upon ticed, japa will calm your mind, bal- what you now realize. This can be very disconcerting. see, japa opens up the inner mind and focuses the energies of certain their profound meanings if we want the deeper When the philosophy is properly understood, we possess right thought, right , which are consciousness encased within the psychic nerve ance your inner and outer forces and speech and right action, which is proper behavior. This is culture. Humility and ganglia of the network. Therefore, if he is a divine person, he aspects of the Vedic yoga to become clear to us. strengthen your spiritual practice. obedience before elders and those who are wiser is a very big part of Hindu cul- will realize that Divinity. If he is an angry, selfi sh person, then he will Vamadeva Shastri ture, as is the regard for knowledge and wisdom and the deeper . realize that. We would want him to realize the former but not the

38 hinduism today january/february/march, 2012 hinduism today 39 ISHI ON JAPA YOGA By One Letter, A, He all worlds became. By Two Letters (A Rand U), He the Two became—Siva and Sakti. By Three Letters (A, U and M), He the Light became. By Letter M was ushered in. 885

This is the way to : “Sivayanama, Sivayanama.” If you chant that way, no more birth will be. With the Lord’s grace, you shall behold the eternal dance; and copper (that is Jiva) turns into gold (that is Siva). 905

This mantra is golden; chant it not loud, just say it. Your body glows red. If you take it in slowly, as you breathe in, your body becomes gold, and in time, you shall behold the golden feet of the Lord. 906

You shall behold the golden feet; you shall have children noble. In the name of that golden feet I say, the copper that is jiva will become gold that is Siva, and as you behold the golden feet, you too shall His form assume. Center the mantra in your thoughts, and witness the goodly dance of golden feet. 907 dreamstime

Counting on sacred beads: (Right) Strands, called malas, OW TO of various rudraksha beads stacked high in an Indian store; CHANT AUM (far right) A man prepares himself for the performance of japa dinodia.com H For Aum japa to be effective, the mantra must be pronounced correctly. The fi rst syllable is A, pronounced as the English latter. Through karma yoga, Sivathondu, the angry, hateful, conten- religion and join a mature community. Those who are inside a de- restricts me from giving without due preparation.” The tious, competitive person will face himself through a series of small partment store handling and purchasing the merchandise and those king retorted, “So, we will do the mantra without you. Or else ex- word “awe,” but prolonged: “aaa.” The second situations in which small realizations will occur. The instinctive na- outside looking through the window at the same merchandise are plain to me how the mantra would work differently with the ini- syllable is U, as in “roof,” pronounced “oo” but ture and habits will be corrected until the individual is able to work two different groups. Ardha means half, and ardha-Hindus are those tiation than without.” The kulaguru said, “Yes, Majesty, I shall give prolonged: “ooo.” The third syllable is M, smoothly over long periods of time. We would not want to open up who have come half way to making a full commitment and are still you an explanation.” his mind to the impurities, lest he become depressed or even mo- making up their mind. They are still on the outside looking in. Their In a loud voice, the guru called to the fi ve guards standing amidst pronounced “mm” with the front teeth gently rose and suicidal. Therefore, japa yoga obviously is an initiation that japa doesn’t have much power until they bring other aspects of their the gathered audience, “Guards, come forward instantly and arrest touching and the sound prolonged: “mmmm.” should come a little down the road, farther down the path. life into line with the Hindu . this man, the maharaja, he is into wrongdoings. He is demand- Each repetition is sounded for about seven Generally those who want to practice japa yoga and do have im- For the non-Hindu who has not made a commitment, the univer- ing an initiation into the great Panchakshara Mantra without the seconds, with two seconds on A, two seconds purities working within them fall away from repetitive mantras sal mantra Aum is the most signifi cant and precious of all mantras. willingness to undergo the necessary preparations required by our very quickly, becoming a little afraid of what might happen if they This can be chanted by those of all , without restriction. The noble .” The guards stood silent, eyes wide, looking at on U and three seconds on M, with a silence of are successful. Their own is watching after them in this early sounds of a city make “Aum.” A child at birth says “Aum.” A mother the maharaja, wondering what to do. about two seconds before the next repetition. stage. Then there are those who are ardent, fanatical, you might say, giving birth says “Aum.” The last breath of a dying person is “Aum.” The maharaja, losing his composure upon hearing his minister’s The three syllables are run together: AAUUMM who want to get results in a limited period of time and have no sense Even the cows say “Aum.” Aum is the mantra of Lord . All preposterous command, was struck with awe and thought, “What of the consequences. They work tirelessly to do this. The wise guru are striving for His holy feet. Those who are struggling with the madness has overcome this holy man?” He then shouted to the (silence), AAUUMM (silence), AAUUMM would discourage much practice of intense mantras or meditating lower and those who have not made a commitment to the guards, “Here, promptly: arrest this minister of mine, this kulaguru (silence). On the fi rst syllable, A, we feel the alone, and would instead encourage karma yoga, giving to others, Sanatana Dharma (a commitment which for the newcomers to the who is behaving in such an insolent manner against the throne. solar plexus vibrating. On the second syllable, working for work’s sake, serving for service’s sake, not looking for re- fold could be verifi ed by their Hindu name on their passport) should Tie him securely and take him away.” The guards rushed forward wards. Group meditations and group chanting are fi ne at this stage, all chant Aum. without delay, grabbed the guru and held him tight. U, the throat vibrates. The third syllable, M, as is temple worship, until the purifi cation process has had time to To demonstrate the authority vested in the mantra, let me tell you The guru laughed and said, “Hold on a minute! I was just answer- vibrates the top of the head. Thus, proper work its magic. a story. A minister in a court was summoned before the maharaja. ing your question, Majesty. I spoke the mantra ‘Arrest this man.’ chanting of Aum also is a high form of yoga, The minister also happened to be a priest, a kulaguru with However, since I am not initiated into the court, not ordained to The Power of Initiation the power to give initiation in the most sacred mantra, Aum Namah have that power, the guards stood idle and did not respond. You moving energy from the lower chakras of the Oftentimes japa and chanting are the ardha-Hindu’s or non-Hindu’s Sivaya. The king asked him, “We would like you to initiate me into then gave the same mantra, ‘Arrest this man.’ Because you were body up to the highest chakra, or energy center— first introduction to Sanatana Dharma. An ardha-Hindu is often the sacred Panchakshara Mantra.” The guru said, “Yes, Majesty, I carefully prepared and initiated as king, the guards responded.” the sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head. one who has been given a Hindu fi rst name. It is our over shall begin preparing you for your initiation.” Then the king decreed: Upon hearing this, the maharaja threw himself at the kulaguru’s the last fi fty years that their japa has little effect unless they make “No, we will take the initiation right now, and never mind the prepa- feet. The guards who had been hearing the entire conversation From the teachings of Satguru the full commitment to becoming stalwart members of the Hindu rations.” The kulaguru objected, “This is quite impossible. My guru then released their captive, and themselves touched the holy man’s Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

40 hinduism today january/february/march, 2012 L

“Aum, Aum, Aum” infront of Ganesha, Ganesha becomes conscious 1979–1980. The took artist quillinhand and Aum Sharavanabhava obviously hasatotal, overall effect. Ifyou say The piece was painstakingly composed in Namaha Namaha Namaha, OmGam Gaum Gam Ganapataye The mantra isthe name of the inner- being whom you are call- wrote hundreds of thousands of times the home shrine for purposes of puja worship which todo japa, then whatever japa isperformed should neither be will showwill you, once He comes and liftsthe veils? Maybe alittle prep- Deity Mantras likhita tall original. Unlike most works of art,its the unaided eye, even inthe three-foot- the world peace, with abundance and that hava,” isyour mind really ready tobecome peaceful, or isitdisturbed of your presence. The Deities are present inthe temple. They may not ceived hisinitiation. conscious basement—is inorder patiently scribing these sacred syllables, aration—cleaning afew things, straightening upthe house, the sub- mantras by Mrs. Saroja Nagarathnam in most precious of allgifts—liberation. guru, and working for aneventual initiation toreceive amantra upon to meditation. Thisistotally on the safe side and greatly will enhance for the unitiated Saivite Aum Sharavanabhava, 108 repetitions prior too much nor toointense. We suggest for the non-Hindu Aum, and quiet the mind. mantra would have there would betofocus the concentration and from the many yesterdays. the feet of the Lord of Categories, who seteverything will inorder ing. Ifyou say, “Aum Namah Sivaya,” are you ready toseewhat Siva the maharaja meticulously prepared himself for and re- feet and returned totheir posts. Inthe months ahead and shade, every nuance, was created by and meditation. May Lord Ganapati bless be present inaperson’s home or under atree. The maineffect the by by special form makes itproper touseinthe so minuscule they are barely visible to specimen of anancient Indian artform, 42 If someone isalready meditating and isself-instructed, not under a If you are inthe temple worshiping Lord Murugan, the mantra fi IKHITA JAPAIKHITA This masterpiece at right isno ordinary . It isamodern ts of anger? Butevery soul isready tosay, “Aum,” and come to idimtdy january/february/march, 2012 hinduism today japa, which israrely practiced today. Gam VirasiddhiVinayakaya inthe Tamil language. Every line and Om Gam Ganapataye fi rst. Ifyou say, “Aum Sharavanab-

saroja nagarathnam who are amassing wealth from unsuspecting Americans and Euro- whether he haspuri low inhislife. Butthe spiritualimpact of pronouncing amantra after dation for at the end of thisor afuture life. Letthisnot be of many pastlives, perfects the lives of the future, and lays the foun- oneself toone’s guru),that effect, islife-altering. It cleans the earning aninitiation (thisdoes not mean paying for it,but earning every Hindu inthe world. Each Hindu throughout the world knows know what they want. They are disturbed,distraught their with any time he wishes, and animpact and abene that amantra should besecret. It hasbeenmy experience that gurus the meditation. misunderstood. it through study and practice, character building, improving, proving tion and are lauded and acclaimed are secret. They are well known by format that issellable, like packaged merchandise. They bemade will something. They want something tocure their ills. Others don’t suf secret. Butnone of the traditional mantras that produce true realiza- peans will givepeans will allkinds of mantras. And they becouched will ina There isanidea that there isaspecialmantra for each person, and Many people want initiation because they want to get away from fi ciently to pronounce them—though he may pronounce them at fi ed himself or not, and prepared himself or not,

fi hinduism today cial effect fol- will S

Those who make their living by selling mantras would be considered The EsotericsofJapa voke the spiritforces of the religion. It justsohappens that inHindu- which most other languages don’t do asmuch. However, even inthe vina aside,vina and joined inhis chant. The intensity thewith stringed vina—a instrument alsoplayed by , prarabdha him. Since most mantras are inSanskrit,itiseasy enough to his devotion, and Narada was able toretrieve hisvina. held fast. Narada begged Hanuman tobegin chanting again; lost himself inchanting Ram’s name. Hanuman was anac- love for him,that he wanted nothing more thantocontinu- ential emotions are intensifying (which should have been conquered emotionally or physically, toconquer the pastkarmasthat the experi- ism, Sanskritisthe most accepted language of all,agreed upon by the English language, or any language, ritualsare performed that do in- the Sanskritlanguage relates tothe unfoldment of the inner being, mantras were given topeople who spoke .Yet, mantras could mantras were given inthe language spoken by the people. Sanskrit meaning inthe Sanskritdictionary. We must remember that the fraudulent by traditional Hindu standards. It isthe conscientious guru’s responsibility toprovide anongoing, through karmayoga and yoga)—the bhakti seeker falls into despair. the mind, cause more frustration and disturbance from what the is Saiva —a comprehensive path of accomplishment. They reaches the goal which the mantra issupposed toproduce within tee isvisualizing itat the same time. Then he alsoknows when he Knowing the meaning of the mantra isvery helpful when the devo- seeker sees. Butonce given such initiation—having no tools, mentally, should not begiven ahigh-powered mantra that when will, itopens to overhear Hanuman’s chanting and was soattracted by the ’s name. Once inhiswanderings Narada happened the celestial sage who wanders among the worlds chanting the instrument sankgently into the stone. When Hanuman the rock on which Narada’s veena was resting softened, and Rama, Rama,”he chanted. Once again the rock melted with Hanuman of course was more thanhappy tocomply: “Rama, thoughts of hisLord toleave hismind, and sohe continually be phrased inother ancient sacred languages aswell. It isjustthat progressive training prior toinitiation and tocontinue it afterwards. power and sweetness of hisdevotion that he sethisown of Hanuman’s devotion and the loveliness of hissong were complished musician, and often accompanied hischanting ally remember Him.Not for one moment would he allow stopped chanting, the rock hardened and Narada’s was vina so powerful that they melted even the hardness of granite; ag/aln odr [email protected] Ganga/Marlene Roeder TONE-MELTING DEVOTION Hanuman was sodevoted toRam,so karmas,and they want relief. What they should begiven A story from the Padma from A story Purana submitted by fi lled with fi nd the nd the fi rst aur/eraymrh 02 hinduismtoday january/february/march, 2012 Japanese Buddhists chant Aum Namo Myoho Renge Kyo for success, Japa leads tospiritual renunciation; raja yoga toenlightenment, stim- words asamantra and repeating itover and over again for mind con- his hands. Mantras for japa are usually short, but not always. The and admiration of the beings there toward the devotee doing japa. There isno reason tothinkthat performing japa would er long mantra. Insummary, japa isreligiously repeating justafew jobs and wealth, but thisisnot japa inthe Hindu understanding. This japa intended for healing or other aimsinthe physical realm. True, japa. For these they turn toprayers, songs and ritual,which stimulate affect the world astral inany way other thanto bring forth goodness, is more along the lines of af for spiritualunfoldment. They are not for magical purposes. Nor is the astralplane and strengthen the protective aura of the individual trol and personal enlightenment. Thiswould attract good beings on to awaken the higher nature. important, well-de , consisting of thirteenwords, isanexample of arath- the chakras of willpower, reason and cognition, giving the worshiper ings, health and abundance but not through the useof mantras, or tion topray for material things. Hindus do pray for material bless- ulating the chakras of the head. Japa isnever usedinthe Hindu tradi- Hindu hierarchy of allthree worlds. performing thisdiscipline. physical, emotional and mental vigor to bring the worldly goods into Japa isasadhana,and allsadhanaisrepetitive. Japa istaking afew Namah Sivaya Aum and Aum Sharavanabhava have beenrevealed

sharma Ganesha created entirelyofmantraspenned shows the tinymantrasusedto “paint” this picture. Mantra calligraphy:Mantra (Right): LordHanuman singsto hisLordRama. in colored ink.(Inset):Acloseup ofthe artwork fi ned words, syllables or “seedsounds,” called bija, fi rmation. Japa isvery close toraja yoga. (Left):AportraitofLord 43 EEING GOD UIDELINES ON EVERYWHERE G THE USE OF MANTRAS S It is natural to forget about God, but 1. Chant the mantra with a sattvic, or pure, mind, which implies a there are many helpful ways that we can peaceful intention and a calm frame of mind. Follow a sattvic lifestyle, avoid distraction, that we can remember including a vegetarian diet. Refrain from negative emotions, take time to keep seeing God in solitude and make your life a form of service. Siva everywhere. One 2. Honor the Divine power connected to the mantra before starting your of the practical ways practice, whether through mental acknowledgment, some form of to bring God Siva into ritual, or through a representative form like a statue or picture. the midst of all this is to keep repeating His 3. Seek further empowerment with the mantra from a guru, a holy site name. Do japa when you connected to its Deity, or through the forces of nature, like fi re or water. fi nd yourself forgetting, 4. Make sure to pronounce the mantra properly. For this you may need to when you just can’t learn the basic rules of pronouncing the Sanskrit alphabet. see God at all, let alone everywhere. Repeat a. manivel 5. Initially chant the mantra out loud to gain a sense of its sound pattern. “Aum Namah Sivaya.” When life becomes Then chant it softly on the breath to connect it to the . But most diffi cult or strained, say to yourself, “Siva Siva” chanting will be mental, while you are silent outwardly. or “Aum Sivaya” or “Namah Sivaya.” Mentally 6. Chant the mantra in a regular manner at a certain time of day for a put it all at His feet. See Him in everyone certain number of times. that you meet or confront, regardless of 7. For counting mantras, it is best to use a mala, or , of 108 beads. the circumstances. He is there as their life Vamadeva Shastri force, but you just need to quiet the mind

hinduism today to see. Smile when you feel unhappy with someone and say to yourself, “How nice to see you, Siva, in this form.” Animals, beggars, Where did mantras come from? Mystical shlokas came from the the sound internally without moving the lips. The ultimate accom- the entire universe, and most especially our galaxy—promote spiritual of ancient times who held conversations with the great Ma- plishment in the performance of japa is the yoga of going to sleep unfoldment. Of course, the daily experience of 108 repetitions should princes, politicians, friends and enemies, hadevas and devas of the inner worlds. Out of this developed certain while verbally and mentally pronouncing the mantra, which contin- persist. Any intensifi cation of this—1,008 times, for instance—would be holy men, and sages are all Siva to the rituals that could, when performed properly, create certain causes in ues during the sleeping hours. Upon awakening, the same mantra is best performed at a specially auspicious day and time. Other auspicious soul that loves God. He smiles and thinks to the physical world. still being repeated, mentally and then verbally, without a break in times of day are before sunrise and at sunset. The very best place and Because every sound has a color and creates a form on the astral continuity. This is quite an accomplishment, but it has been done. time to perform japa is in the temple after the puja, when all is quiet. himself, “How nice to see you, Siva, in this, plane when pronounced, the mantra must be pronounced properly, This is the most ideal surrounding to repeat japa 108 times to gain maxi- another of your many forms.” For Nathas, slowly, thoughtfully, with feeling, mentally seeing the color, mental- Getting the Most from Japa mum benefi t. When performing japa, just breathe normally. Japa may be the repetition of the sacred Panchakshara ly hearing the sound. The ideal way to perform japa 108 times is by The repetition of a mantra, especially if given by a guru, is a journey preceded by the pranayama practice that you have been taught by your also listening to the nada-nadi shakti, the high “eee” sound one hears to a distant place; consciousness is altered. And it must be performed guru. Mantra, Namah Sivaya, is the key to the within the head when in a high state of consciousness. To perform japa at an auspicious time. Preparation must be made—bathing, cleaning Japa is a very good preparation for meditation. And you meditate on awakening of Sivaness within each and every quickly, as in a marathon, sometimes called “machine-gun japa,” brings oneself properly—then devotions are performed in a room prepared the mantra as you do the mantra. You can’t meditate on the mantra with- devotee on the path to Lord Siva’s holy feet. little benefi t. If you don’t have time to do japa, don’t do it at all. It should for this purpose. We are taking a journey; the room, the body and the out repeating the mantra inwardly. When the mantra is linked with not be a meaningless ritual. It should be a very meaningful experience. exact time of starting are the conveyance. meditation, it should be pronounced slowly so that you can meditate on This knowledge unfolds from within as these When we perform japa aloud, it is easier to concentrate the If precaution is not taken, or the mantra is chanted at an inauspi- each syllable of the mantra that is being repeated. You must remember great mantras are incanted, such as “Aum thought. The mantra is heard and therefore our mind does not wan- cious time in a place that is not sanctifi ed, and the chanter’s body has that japa is the repetition of a few words or a few syllables. That is the Namah Sivaya,” which will fi nally awaken der. We must remember that letting the mind wander into irrelevant not been cleansed, the mantra will work as it should, no problem sadhana of japa. Everything else is something else. the experience of Siva’s perfect universe. thoughts mitigates the benefi ts of the japa. Therefore, we must re- here. But the person who is performing the incantations will be eas- My satguru, Siva , placed great emphasis on japa, repeating main concentrated. We perform japa, which is a sadhana, for prag- ily seen, due to the power of the mantra, by asuric entities, who will the name of Siva with concentration and feeling. This great Natha jnani Everything is in perfect harmony, law and matic benefi ts. There is no other reason. Therefore, we should keep come and attach themselves to him and disturb him. In a clean and explained, “May we not forget that mantra is life, that mantra is action, order. Mantras are given by a guru, and this our mind on what we are doing. perfect place, under sanctifi ed conditions, the incantation will attract that mantra is love, and that the repetition of mantra, japa, bursts forth is important because his shakti gives the Visualize the proper colors that the mantra produces from one devonic forces who will, in turn, help him on the path to his eventual wisdom from within. Japa yoga is the fi rst yoga to be performed toward stage to the next. In Sharavanabhava Aum we visualize light blue enlightenment. the goal of . In the temple perform japa. Under the sacred tree, per- fi rst impetus to proceed. It is not the same fading into white and fading back into light blue, back and forth— For the ultimate benefi t in performing the japa sadhana, look on form japa. I performed japa all of this life as a silent sadhana, and it is au- as when taken from a book, because the “Sharavanabhava Aum, Sharavanabhava Aum, Sharavanabhava Aum.” the Hindu Vedic calendar, panchanga, and choose the amrita yoga tomatic now.” Siva Yogaswami enjoined his devotees: “Wear rudraksha thrust is not there. It must come from a guru. Blue is the color of the , ether, and Sharavanabhava takes you days. These are the most auspicious. Next are the yoga days. beads, repeat the Panchakshara, let your heart grow soft and melt. Chant there. Once the japa is perfected aloud, it may be done silently, simply On any given day, the most auspicious time is during gulika kala. the letters fi ve, and in love you will discover Siva’s will. Chant so that im- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami by moving the lips but not making a sound, and then later making These are the times when the forces of the universe—this means purities, anxieties and doubts are destroyed. All hail Namah Sivaya.”

44 hinduism today january/february/march, 2012 hinduism today 45 dinodia.com 46 idimtdy january/february/march, 2012 hinduism today Airport Road nearKemp Fort in 65-foot-tall statue ofLordSiva as the meditator islocated on The strands ofrudrakshabeadsand Bengaluru, India.He wears two holds ajapamalainhishand. fi rst : Thisstunning T Excerpts from Word inanexperiential manner aspartof asacred approach to the The New Testament ponders, “Inthe beginning was the Word.” The A By Vamadeva Shastri The Universal Tradition ofSacredSound verse through the Word: “Let there belight;” and there was light. whole of life and consciousness. harmony the with Spirit.

explains the Hebrew alphabetinasimilarway relative tocosmology of “the Word” isuniversal. What makes the yogic approach soim- cosmic powers may not beassimple asrepeating aphrase like “open known spiritualpath. Poetry, literature and philosophy worldwide as the yoga tradition does the Sanskritalphabet.Su ized words of meditation. Church services frequently include respon- monastic history includes of Christianity , chant and formal- it isimportant tonote that the tradition of the transformative power into anextensive science of mantra asdiscussed indetail inmy book, new of vistas insight and energy us. within to in in religion, sciences, , shamanismand almost every sive chants of “Amen.” The Jewish Kabalahasmystic syllables and sesame,” there are key sounds and words that candramatically reveal similarly recognize the power of the word, sound or prime concept in our inner sound current. The nadaitself canas- Then the nadarepeats the mantra, which isheld outer mantra works toawaken the inner nada. in space, which isthe source of allknowledge. re counterpart of our gross organ of hearing. They We hear these sounds our with inner ear, the subtle other sounds. Nada isthe celestial music us. within the sounds of abell, adrum, Several typesof nadaexist. These are said tobelike our earsand listendeeply attentive with awareness. clear. We canhear thisvibratory sound ifwe close which ariseswhen the mind becomes pure and meditation on the inner sound current, called power of oft-repeated and divine names tobring life into portant and compelling isthat itlooks at the power of sound and the While the yoga practitioners of India have developed sacred sound The Judeo-Christian tradition Godcreating startswith the uni- fl Nada isthe inner power behind the mantra. The ect the sound of the cosmic intelligence inherent fl uence and move usat avery deep level. While accessing the Laya yoga, the “yoga of mergence,” involves SOUND CURRENT INNERHE words of power, magical phrases or secret codes that can unlock the great mysteries of life otherwise unap- ll over theworld we proachable tothe human mind. Such traditions occur Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound Primal and Yoga Mantra fl ute, the ocean or fi nd traditions ofspecial fi sm relies on the nada , aur/eraymrh 02 hinduism today january/february/march, 2012 world invokes healing powers through chant and prayer, dis- with you cangain masteryover it.Thisisanexpression of the occult, mys- chakras that re The internal usage of music canenergize the various is the enactment of poetry. Dance isitsexpression. and dance. Poetry isakind of verbal music. Drama Music, inturn,may beallied poetry, with drama instrumental music inalltheir beauty and diversity. Divine Word us. within Thisincludes vocal and of Sound ifwe follow their vibrations back tothe heart from which the sound current arises. sound. It istocontact our inner Self inthe spiritual own consciousness, which itself isamanifestation of to itsorigin. Thisistoinquire into the origin of our origin of sound, tofollow the sound current back to or torepeat asound. It isalsotoinquire into the the mantra isresonating our with inner being. sume the form of the mantra. Thisindicates that largely Sanskritmantras and include many of the same mantras larly inthe Buddhist and inTibetan . These are fi holds the intelligence, information and energy forms through which cine. Buddhism hasitsown rich tradition of mantras, particu- or mantra. We eases expelled initsritualsthrough the useof anemphatic phrase object tofully identify it.It with isnot the outer name, such aswe and mind that isusedinTaoist yoga and traditional Chinese medi- as inthe Hindu yoga tradition. Shamanic healing from allover the ancient world lived more closely tothe magic of the Divine Word. all processes of life operate. Connecting tothisuniversal vibration is age, inwhich complex information ispassedon inconcentrated data groups or individuals tosummarizetheir views or relate their prime tical senseof being able tocreate the vibration or resonance of the from Egyptand Babylonia toIndia, Chinaand the Americas, asthe is amantric vibration. There isasound code or vibratory pattern focus. Thispractical idea of mantra monly usedtoindicate akey word or phrase employed by various term hasentered into languages worldwide. to mantra that isalsogaining wide recognition today. the basisfor the yogic pursuit of mantra. behind the universe itself, embedded inthe fabric of existence that nd inadictionary, which grants thispower but the inner name that Yet, apart from the mysticism of mantra, there is apractical side Taoism hasanimportant tradition of healing sounds for body To meditate upon the nadaisnot justtolisten Many traditions teach that ifyou know the name of something, All forms of spiritualmusic come under the Yoga fi nd traditions of sacred sound inallancient cultures, fl ect the music of our soul. fi ts inwell the with computer Vamadeva Shastri Mantra isnow com- Mantra asa 47 J

When we our useamalawith mantra Yoga asSound we usethem, the greater their power different Deities and have their speci which inturnare affected by the spectrum of sounds around us. tropical tree the power of the mantra, forming asphere Mantra yoga provides usameans tounderstand sacred sound from live, for good or ill. Road rage isfrequently accompanied by expletives, own characteristic sound vibration that sustainsit. Ourown bod- conscious and conscious levels. These concentrated sound messages can impact public opinion and sentiment globally, affecting usat sub- can have positive or negative effects on alarge scale. day lives, asthe words help create the environment which within we other such concentrated teaching devices. communication and higher education. It isthe ancient of information technology.” Amantra-like condensa- energy. It iswhat we could call“the mantric approach powers that canbeusedtohold the bead for malas. It isthe seedof aspecial becomes. The malagathers and magni and forms of manifestations inthe world. Each outer object hasits are allmantras, or power words, of sorts. Through the science of man- and bring about victory; toget the crowd involved, asitwere, which and the pent-up energy behind them frequently breaks out in it isheating and sacred toLord Siva, into the beadsof the mala,which become recitation, the power of the mantra enters comes indifferent forms, but overall energies of mantras indifferent ways. of energy and protection around us. energized at asubtle level. The more often ies, and hearts have their own characteristic sound patterns, is that words carryenergy, creating and embodying the inner essence nant words reverberating around ustoahigher discerning truth, the tra yoga, we cannavigate our way through the in the perspective of atradition that hastaken it beyond mysticism into use key phrases and chants tocreate amassenergy tostimulate action tension and traf tion of knowledge hasbecome essential tomodern sounds that weigh down our consciousness from those that elevate it. bits that connect ustowider basis of the “Powerpoint” presentation, among many phrases. Such short statements become the news stories inbrief and 48 The behind these sacred or mundane usesof words of power The massmedia world relies on key words, slogans and advertising The power of the Word iseasily seeninour every- Rudraksha isthe most commonly used APA BEADS worship and healing. They relate to Malas are important tools of both idimtdy january/february/march, 2012 hinduism today (Eleocarpus ganitrus) fi c accidents. Political rallies and sports competitions fi elds of knowledge and . It fi fi es c fl uences of the domi-

dinodia.com fi ghts, of reality asaplay of consciousness that caninstantly compre- yoga canbeof enormous value toenable you tomanifest your des- hend the whole, grasping the totality inasingle point focus of direct ly anexpression of asingle mantra or vibratory sound energy. ligence the with greater intelligence that pervades allspace, extending of information or technical knowledge. Mantra summarizesaninner of nature and the movements of our own minds and hearts. Mantra ciples or archetypes of the cosmic intelligence that directs the forces and meanings are either properly shaped or deformed. It shows how an organized and codi and biasesof human thought. Mantra functions according tothe in- tra isadoorwaytra toanawareness that exists beyond alllimitedbits the energy of consciousness hidden inthe universe asawhole. Man- tiny creatively, effectively and completely through understanding the tradition you may personally follow, the insights provided inmantra modify them toimprove our lives. Regardless of which background or is partof auniversal language rooted in sound, image, number and ner mathematics of cosmic law. It serves tolinkour individual intel- sounds impact the nervous system,mind and heart, and how we can study of the qualities inherent insound itself, through which words symbol, re power of the Word. perception and immediate experience. The universe itself isultimate- Mantra isatool for connecting the uswith spiritualwisdom and Mantra inthe yogic senserelates tothe prime energies, ideas, prin- fl ecting a“cosmic thinking” beyond the preconceptions fi edspiritualscience. Mantra yoga includes a with thewith mantra, particularly on sitesinthe body like the heart, the will likelywill remain indisharmony and suffering. Mantra isthe most largely on reactive patterns of words and names. longer vulnerable toexternal conditioning which, afterall,isbased Unless we learn toharmonize our inner sound vibrations, our lives lifting affectlifting upon the mind and heart that the lotus posedoes for cation like the of tip the nose or toaparticular chakra turnsitinto concentration. Continuously directing the mantra toaparticular lo- of the brain and change the deeper yogic level the istothinkwith entire universe and toaccess our awareness into the In circulation of energies inthe sphere of the mind, sothat we are no do and allows our energies tomove and grow or stagnate and decline. example, repeating the mantra Aum hasthe same calming and up- a dharana practice. Very helpful inthisregard is“mantra ger wanders off or loses itscomposure. Mantra sustainsthe proper natural development of energy and attention. Mantra maintains the , the navel or the baseof the spine. the of gaze the mantra, inwhich one concentrates one’s along gaze the wisdom and experience of allbeings. resonance, which isnot the with outer world, but the with divine important tool for attuning our bodies and minds totheir proper Each one of ushasaunique sound pattern that sustainsallthat we tras putstras the mind into asteady and relaxed state for meditation. For the body. strength and integrity of our mental [seed] mantra—is one of the mainmethods of breath, somantra controls the mind, not presence that constitutes our own deepest Self. dreamstime A specialcharm: of japamalasislaidoutfor saleinanIndianshop holding their ;(above)abeautifulselection As [posture] controls the bodyand pranayama controls the There are mantric sounds that canawaken the higher potentials Just asasanasplace the bodyinacalm and relaxed state, soman- Focusing on aspecific mantra—particularly holding toa (Left)Two womeninTibetchat while fi nite and Eternal.To chant amantra at a fl ow of energy inthe nervous system. fi eld, sothat the mind no lon- fi cially but through a dharana, , or yogic or bija ” or

Astrologically, they relate tothe planet Mars. wood from the bush. Crystal malasare wear aprotective malaat alltimes, one warming and strengthening. They are often well. Combined crystaland Rudraksha have asolar energy, pearl malasalunar however, canbetoohot for some people. One However, the large, types of , the with smaller touch. Remember, the malaisasacred Gold isprobably the most powerful. to Saturn, hessonite garnet toRahu, and to Jupiter, clear crystaltoVenus, amethyst to the Goddess, but canrelate toSiva as to the Supreme Siva and pure unity. Two beads generally regarded asmore powerful. be found faces with uptofourteen, which increasing implement that itself needs tobehonored. usually keeps specialsadhanamalas fashion statement. While one can not amatter for public display or a gold, silver, copper or other typesof threads. gemstones (like peridot) toMercury, citrine re used topromote the Siva energy aswell. malas are Siva-Shakti. Coral malasare malas are cooling and soothing tothe mind may need tocombine itwith face beadsare Siva-Shakti. Rudrakshas can faces of Lord Siva. One-faced beadsrelate cat’s eye toKetu. Malascanbestranded in energy. Coral malas relate toMars,green cooling and clearing. They are often sacred or . They are made of the or crystaltomake itsuitable. Sandalwood arouse the . There are several away from public contact, viewing or are often usedrelative toVishnu, Krishna and help openthe mind and heart and and heart. They are sacred toVishnu. all have their specialpowers. Rudraksha, also very powerful. They relate tothe fl Wearing amala,one should note, is Tulsi, or holy basil,malasare stimulating Malas canalsobemade of gems that ect planetary energies. Garnet malas tejas and fi ve-faced beadsare agni Vamadeva Shastri . It alsohelps hinduism today fi ve ve 49 T

“mantra meditation” isone of the maintypesof meditation, “non-elemental sound,” asdistinguished from A Form ofMeditation vibration, which inessence issound. Even the were. Thissound of consciousness iscalled the with mantras.with words.with Mantra allows ustoturnthisnegative attachment into velop with manywith variations. Afterall,our mainmental kind of without the breath, asit the Yoga of Sound isthat reality consists of to rest inasingle, imperishable sound. Aspects to the transcendent sound. Thistradition goes back the Supreme Reality asShabdaBrahman, or that istotal communication and complete unity. Primal Sound, we canreturn tothe very heart the elemental sound that arisesthrough the Mantra canhelp us break updeep-seated mental and emotional pat- Mantra isnot only animportant preparation for meditation, ergy of the mind sothat within we canreclaim our inner composure. our mind becomes agitated, then the mantra’s power tocalmthe or do various forms of chanting, amore re jealousy and hatred, or tobecontrolled and distracted by external branches of yoga. The maininsight behind awareness tovibrate the with mantra. Thisnaturally leads todeeper a positive inspiration, aswe replace our ordinary words and phrases and begins toassume the background pattern of our mind, down toa formless, silent Absolute hasitsown vibration, of thisteaching continue inallthe different or ,but remains contained initself, a can reach the state of silence or pure stillness of creation and reach the Absolute, beyond time ether element. By going back tothe reality of terns, conditioning and traumas even from childhood. is hard toachieve directly but becomes easily accessible once one meditation, inwhich the mantra may fall away. Formless meditation mind becomes silent, concentrated and reflective, allowing our in minds todwell on negative thoughts and emotions, fears, , mind increase. will subconscious level. Ifwe continually return tothe mantra each time and space, from which allcreation arises. We builds the power of mantra inthe mind. When we repeat amantra, 50 Traditional yoga practice consists of two primarystages: 1)tode- fl Mantra practice gradually calmsand integrates the mind. The It should bebeneath our dignityasadivine soul toallow our uences. With the mantra, we have atool for redirecting the en- HE YOGAHE OF SOUNDOF idimtdy january/february/march, 2012 hinduism today Shabda guna, Vedas yoga, the yoga of sound, formulates , where the entire universe issaid or purity of bodyand mind; the 2)tostill mind Vamadeva Shastri fi ned vibration develops fi xation is

dinodia.com yoga practice arisefrom attempting the second stepwhen the has not beenaccomplished (in some casesitmay not have even been oneness, while their minds remain outwardly oriented and caught in and go beyond ittothe higher Self, or . attempted!). People may tomeditate try instillness, or enter into the agitation and inertia, from the subconscious. The second stage con- addicted tosensory sources of stimulation and entertainment, we are ated, critical, or justconstantly busy, we cannot silence them. Ifwe are accomplished the in the deeper mental tra helps neutralize such dif the disturbances of the bodyand senses. The proper practice of man- tioning, even that of sattva guna,topure awareness. ural, clear quality (sattva). Mantra isthe mainpractice for changing the mind from itsdisturbed( tent manner for meditation. First we must setin motion forces totake not even incontrol of our mind and socannot focus itinany consis- sists of going beyond the mind-body complex and allof itscondi- body, and neutralizing the residual energies of proper balance inthe mind, removing toxins and The a manperforms abasicpranayama,alternating devotee pushessuccessive beadsoverhisthird Japa andthebreath: with histhumb; (right) during hismorningsadhana, inbreaths andoutbreaths through each nostril If our minds are noisy, disturbed, hypersensitive, reactive, opinion- Generally we cannot succeed at the second stepifwe have not fi rst stage of yoga requires promoting sattva gunatocreate the fi rst, which isits prerequisite. Many problems in fi eld. (Below) Counting repetitions,a fi rajasic culties, developing sattva, or harmony, ) or dull (tamasic) fi nger doshas state toits nat- and from the fi rst , or

a. manivel Yet even inhatha yoga, where asanacanbevery important, mantra Use byYogis yoga tradition. Just like the yoga, not justone of itsmany practices! whole and itsmany different branches. Allyogic paths usemantras (mahavakyas) Self-revealing, mantras like So’ham,“He amI,”or the great sayings Mantra isprobably the mainpractice that characterizes yoga asa cally tothe mantra Aum, asthe mainmeans of connecting the with of the Pranava, which literally refers sound,” to“primal and speci and divine love. Infact, the word of the heart isalways mantra! and service (karma)inwhich asanadoes not have animportant role. and have specialmantras of their own. Special mantras and chants Divine or Cosmic Lord, , the primordial guru of gurusinthe mantra, asthe bestmeans of developing deep devotion the internal repetition of divine names, like Namah Sivaya or the importance of chanting and meditating upon Aum, which isthe es- mind for deeper yoga practices. remains signi time, itprovides usthe focus and energy for going beyond the mind. the nature of the mind from tamasand rajas tosattva. At the same sence of allmantras. Thismeans that mantra isthe guiding power of pervade the primaryyogas of knowledge (jnana),devotion (bhakti) , the yoga of knowledge, focuses on prime Atmic, or The ,Bhakti the yoga of devotion, centers on chanting, singing and Yoga fi cant and isthe mainmethod employed toprepare the of Vedantic philosophy. Aum isalsoimportant asthe and itstradition of raja yoga emphasizes the role , the Yoga Sutras stress the fi aur/eraymrh 02 hinduismtoday january/february/march, 2012 - The kundalini or inner shakti, power of yoga, issaid tobecomposed wise easilywise descends into another form of physical exercise or aseek- worships, or tothe higher self—in order tocreate the proper atmo- which may bemantras tothe guru,tothe aspect of the Divine one higher mantric force. Kundalini isanelectrical energy of speech at a letters form the petalsof the chakras and serve toenergize them. deeper level of consciousness. of the letters or sounds of the Sanskritalphabetand isprimarily a others, which are bestperformed while repeating amantra. Unless jas and , allof which have their accompanying mantras toem- and Self-inquiry practices that characterize jnanayoga practice. arouse the kundalini and openthe chakras. The ing of personal empowerment. the mind isengaged inwardly inmantra, one may not beeffectively sits. Mantra grants sanctity and concentration toyoga, which other- sphere for teaching, or mantras tosanctify the ground on which one sound of the Self. Such mantras are the foundation for the meditation practicing karmayoga even when performing service. power and sanctify them. It includes various forms of service () to Reproduced with permissionfrom The practice of yoga usually begins the with chanting of mantras— Karma yoga involves anextensive performance of rituals,like pu- and tantric yoga usepranic mantras, like Hum, to by Vamadeva Shastri (Dr. ). LotusPress, adivisionof

with thewith mind (our power of knowledge) integrates turn pranayama into meditation, aswell asbring M practice istoget one’s mantra toresonate the with breath, sothat itisnaturally repeated, strengthened ral internal mantra. Animportant goal of mantra nected tothe sound of the breath, isour most natu- is our most natural and constant outer mantra, we ing our within entire body. The sound of the breath us back into the source of our being. Prana gives unites the mind and prana, drawing our attention could say. The sound of our heartbeat, which iscon- of the mantra. Uniting prana (our power of action) energy, and vitality wakefulness into the repetition combination. Using amantra along pranayama with and then toget ittoresonate every with heartbeat, and deepened along every with breath that we take— and awareness into the breathing process. It can and mantra naturally go together and work bestin so that our heartbeat isthe beat of the mantra. shakti totheshakti mantra and makes italive and vibrat- Lotus Brands, Inc.,POBox 325, Twin Lakes, WI53181, USA. ANTRA & ANTRA PRANAYAMA www.lotuspress.com Pranayama [controlled breathing] Mantra Yoga and the PrimalSound, ©2010allrights reserved Vamadeva Shastri fi fty mainSanskrit 51