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March 2008     Samita Rathor New Delhi

The Vedas state: ‘Shruti (speech) is the essence of humanity.’ All that people think and become has its roots in the expression of thoughts and actions through verbal communication and its derivative, writing. The Vedas maintain that everything comes into life form through speech. Ideas remain dormant until they are created through the power of speech. There is not one person in this day and age who does not complain of a raucous mind and emotional challenges. One of the most significant, single suggestions of the ancient sages is the use of mantra chanting/japa or sacred words to focus the mind. Analysis and intellectual debate will not convince you of this. Chanting must be practiced for its benefits to be experienced.

Mantra is a Sanskrit word. “Man’ which means ‘manas’ or mind comes from the first syllable of the word meaning ‘to think’. ‘Tra’comes from ‘trai’ which means ‘to protect or free’. Mantras are therefore instruments of the mind to free us from negativity. The mantra has to be pronounced in a particular way for it to be most effective. A devotional attitude and awareness of the meaning of the mantra are also important .The mantras are intended to deliver the mind from illusion and material inclinations. The practice of mantra refines and purifies consciousness. This is done by chanting a particular verse or sentence repeatedly. Systematic rhythmic repetition is called Jap. Therefore chanting or Japa is the process of repeating a mantra. Special attention has to be paid to pronunciation since the sound waves created are the most subtle waves of the mind. In this process there is cleansing or purification. Each mantra is constructed from a combination of sounds derived from letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.

Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages in the world, is also known as Devanagari or the language of gods. The beauty of thislanguage is that it is made of root sounds which are vibrations arising from the object or action for which it is utilised. For example, in most languages a child naturally calls his mother using the word ma. Sanskrit words are actual sound manifestations we use for chanting. Mantras can be translated but the translations do not have the same power. The mantra has to be chanted in its pure form.Sound is made up of vibration. A mantra is a mystical energy in the form of a sound structure. A mantra is rhythmically chanted to release its energy from the sound.

This creates specific thought patterns. The vibrations and sounds of the mantra are considered extremely important, and thus reverberations of the sound are supposed to awaken the prana or spiritual life force and even stimulate charkas or astral channels.Mantras were not written like how songs are written. They always existed in the universe and cannot be created or destroyed.Mantras, being sacred sound vibrations, are composed of sacred syllables representative of and containing within great spiritual power, or energy. The mantras were perceived originally by the great seers or rishis from the ancient or celestial ether and translated into very definite syllables with rhythm and melody.

Some common examples of mantras are: Aum Namah Shivaya Aum. I bow to Lord Shiva. Aum Namo Narayanaya. Prostrations to Lord Vishnu. Aum Namo Bhagavate Vasudevãya. Salutations to the Universal God Vishnu. Regardless of what mantra you use, one of the most important principles is the practice of constant remembrance. By cultivating a steady awareness many benefits occur:

●Mantra calms the mind.

● Concentration and memory are enhanced by mantra chanting.

● Mantra repetition evokes a feeling of over all well being.

● Regular mantra sadhana or practice removes toxinswhich may manifest themselves in the form of fear, anger, jealousy, hatred in the mental and physical level and replace it with pure sattvic thoughts.

● The prana is channelised and also increases by mantra chanting.

● The vocal chords get massaged and are benefited to a large extent.

● Mental strength and a feeling of devotion are triggered off by mantra chanting.

● An evolvement or trigger of spiritual strength can be experienced when a mantra is chanted with full devotion.

● Deep rest and relaxation is given to all the cells in the body.

● Toxins are removed from the body and the nervous system relaxes. Reciting a mantra is an exact science. That is why we should be initiated into a mantra only by a true spiritual teacher, who has spent much time in the study and repetition of the mantra and gained mastery over it. The latent power of the mantra becomes manifest through its repetition. The subconscious layers of the mind are awakened. It leads to perfection in due course of time.

samitarathor@gmail.com

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