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Mantra-1
See also          Naarad, 1/27            for more elaborated explanation
See also          Mantra Jaap            
 for "How to do Mantra Jaap"?
See also          Mantra-Recitation    for the method of recitation of Mantra
See also          Poojaa

What is Mantra?
Mantra is a word or a group of words, such as "Hreem" or Aum Namo Bhagavatey Vaasudevaaya". They are very powerful sounds which when pronounced repeatedly (doing Jap or Jaap) create great effects.

(1) Mantra may be used on their own or as a part of visualization practice. In a typical visualization practice there is a communication from the practitioner to deity in the form of Mantra; and with deity to the practitioner in the form of blessings, or rays of light, or even speech.

(2) It can be used as mind protector while walking, doing dishes, or sitting in meditation. When counting the Mantra, one can use Maalaa (rosary) of beads (in Hinduism it is of 108 beads). This number has a mystical significance in ancient India. But the use of Maalaa is not essential if one does not have to count it. It is only essential when one has to do the Jaap of some Mantra by counting. Jaap can be done in a loud voice or internally.

Kinds of Mantra
(1) Vaidik Mantra - All the extensions of links to Ved are known as Vaidik Mantra, and 
(2) Taantrik Mantra - Which are developed in Taantrik events are called Taantrik Mantra. Taantrik Mantra re of three types - Beej Mantra (Maulik, Yaugik and Koot); Naam Mantra; and Maalaa Mantra.

Mantra and Their Genders
Man+tra. Manan means "to know all", and Traan means "to be kind on worldly people". Both these meanings give meaning to the word Mantra. Mantra is of three types - feminine, masculine and neutral. The Mantra which have two "th" i.e. "Swaahaa" in the end, they are feminine. Whichever Mantra end in "Hum" or "Phat", they are masculine. Whichever Mantra end in "Namah", they are neutral.

All Mantra's Devtaa are men; and all Vidyaa's Devtaa are women. These three types of Mantra are used in six types of Karm - Shaanti (to pacify), Vashya (to control), Stambhan (to stop), Dwesh (jealousy), Uchchaatan, Maaran (to kill).

Six Types of Mantra

"Namah" is used in Shaanti (peace) and Mohan
"Vaushat" is used in Pushti (health) and Vasheekaran (to control somebody)
"Hum" is used in killing and destroying love
"Phat" is used in Vidweshan and Uchchaatan
"Vashat" is used in attaining sons and Deepti

Some Special Mantra

(1) Omkaar/Pranav Mantra - Omkaar is a combination of three basic syllables 
     A (as pronounced O in Other), U (as pronounced in U in Usha) and M (as pronounced in M in Mother).

(2) Panchaakshar (5-letter) Mantra - For Shiv - "Aum Namah Shivaaya"

(3) Ashtaakshar (8-letter) Mantra - For Naaraayan - "Aum Namo Naaraayanaaya"
According to [Padm Puraan, 5/35], both Rishi and Devtaa of this Mantra is Naaraayan, its Chhand is "Daivee Gaayatree"; Pranav is its "Beej", Lakshmee is called this Mantra's "Shakti" (power). Its first Pad is "Aum", second Pad is "Namo" and third Pad is "Naaraayanaaya". Thus this Mantra is said to be of three Pad. Pranav consists of three letters - Akaar, Ukaar and Makaar and thus it is said to be the form of three Ved. This is the dwelling place of Brahm. Akaar represents Vishnu, Ukaar represents Lakshmee Jee and Makaar is their servant "Jeev" which is the 25th element also.
[10 Indriyaan, 5 Bhoot, 5 Tanmaatraa, mind, Ahankaar, Mahat Tattwa, and Prakriti - these are the 24 Tattwa; and their witness Consciousness is the 25th Tattwa.]

(4) Dwaadash-Akshar (12-letter) Mantra - For Krishn/Naaraayan - "Aum Namo Vaasudevaaya".
Women and Shoodra can also do its Jaap but without "Aum". For others its Jaap can be done with "Aum". This Mantra's Prajaapati is Rishi, Chhand is Gaayatree, Devtaa is Vaasudev, seed is "Aum", and power is "Namah". Its Jaap should be done 1,200,000 times, its Havan should be done by its one tenth number (120.000) times.

(5) Shodashaakshar (16-letter) Mantra - "Hare Raam, Hare Raam, Raam Raam Hare Hare"

(5) Gaayatree Mantra - Any Mantra with 24 syllables may be called as Gaayatree Mantra,
     but there is only one Mantra well-known by the name of Gaayatree Mantra, that is - 
     "Aum Bhoor Bhuvah Swaahaa, Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
     Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayaat".

(6) Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra - "Aum Tryambakam Yajaamahey Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarookmev Bandhanaan Mrityor Moksheeya Maamritaat"

(7) Kireet Mantra for Naaraayan - "Aum Kireet Keyoor Haar Makar Kundak Shankh Chakra Gadaambhoj Hast Peetaambardhar Shree Vatsaankit Vakshahsthal Shree Bhoomi Sahit Swaatma Jyotirmaya Deept Karaaya Sahastraaditya Tejasey Namah" It contains 65 letters. Its Jaap should be done 6,500,000 (65 Lac) times.

(8) Pushti Devee Mantra - "Gam Dam, Vam Sam Pushtyai Namah"

And there are many more Mantra for many Devtaa.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

One should do Jap of a Mantra the same number of times in Lacs, whatever number of letters are in a Mantra, for example the 5-letter Mantra should be recited 500,000 times.

The first 100,000 Mantra's Jaap gives Aatm-Shuddhi (cleanses one's mind), 
the second 100,000 Mantra's Jaap does Mantra-Shuddhi (Mantra's purification), 
the third 100,000 Mantra's Jaap gets the Saadhak Swarg Lok, 
the 400,000 Mantra's Jaap takes the Saadhak to Vishnu
500,000 Mantra's Jaap gives clear Gyaan
600,000 Mantra's Jaap stabilizes Saadhak's Buddhi in Vishnu
700,000 Mantra's Jaap makes the Saadhak As Vishnu, and
after doing the Jaap of Mantra 800,000 times the Saadhak attains Moksh.
[Naarad Puraan, p 434]


Some Other Information About Mantra
Mantra of 4 Ved - Rig Ved, Yajur Ved, Atharv Ved and Saam Ved, are called "Pratham Mantra" (First Mantra)
Sadyojaat etc Mantras are called "Dwiteeya Mantra" (Second Mantra)
Brahmaa, Rudra and Vishnu are the forms of "Triteeya Mantra" (Third Mantra)
Eesh (Shiv), Agni and Indra etc Devtaa are the forms of "Chuturth Mantra" (Fourth Mantra)
A, I, U, E (pronounced as in Ek) and O - all are the forms of "Pancham Mantra" (Fifth Mantra) - they are called "Mool Brahm" (root Brahm)
[Agni Puraan, p 272]


But in all types of worship the main thing is Mantra, Mantra is the soul of Tantra. Tantra is the Body, and Mantra is soul. There is no Tantra or Yantra separate from Mantra and vise versa.
 

 

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Created and Maintained by Sushma Gupta
Created on 03/15/2006 and Updated on 12/18/2008
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