Mantras

Mantras – Mantra literally means that which protects on repetition - Mananam Trayate Iti. Mantras are powerful sounds that was heard or experienced by people in higher states of consciousness. They also realised that repeititon of these sounds in a respectful and sincere manner (chanting) recreated that state of consciousness. These sages left these sounds to the sincere seekers to experience the higher levels of consciousness. Why sound? Of the five senses, sound is the most ancient faculty. It is the first sense to develop before birth and the last sense to disappear before death or sleep or anesthesia. It is said that the first there was silence, then there was sound and then everything else. In Rudram there is a chant which says from nothing there was one, one became three, three became five and so on. From silence there was OM then it became the three syllables of AUM and then it became the 5 sounds of Na-Mah-Shi-Va-ya and from these the five elements were born and from the five elements everything else manifested. Although there are many mantras some are worth noting especially for their profound effects.

Om Namah Shivaya – first mentioned in the Rudram (Yajurveda) represents the 5 elements. Any disturbance we experience is due to jmbalance among the 5 elements. This mantra is said to rectify the imbalance and restore harmony. This is said to be given by Shiva himself when he did the first ever Rudra Yagna at Srikalahasti after destroying the demon Bhasmasura with the help of Vishnu as a means to vent his pent up energy for the welfare of humanity.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya – given by Vishnu to Narada and from Narada to Dhruva. Vasudeva is the God of Prana or life energy. When Prana is high, all positive things are experienced in life – bliss, enthusiasm, love, compassion. When the prana goes down, you experience boredom, tastelessness, apathy, anger, frustration and depression. By elevating the Prana, this Mantras keeps you away from delusion and enhances well being.

Om Namo Narayanaya – given by Vishnu himself in his incarnation as Narayana in Badrinath. Narayana is the one who has mastered the nervous system or in simple terms - the senses. What drains us most is indulgence in sensory pleasures. Ability to master the senses and not be tempted by them is a great achievement and helps our energy to move upward. This mantra is said to greatly enhance the process of managing the senses.

Gayatri mantra – given by Vishwamitra. It is said that there are living beings in 13 planes. They include beings such as Yakshas, kinnaras, asuras, pishacha etc. all these co exist with us at this point in time. As the awareness increases you will be able to experience the presence of these different beings. It is said that when Viswamitra through his Sadhana reached this state where he could experience all the 13 planes of being – Gayatri emerged out of him. Regular chanting of Gayatri is said to sharpen the intellect and enhance your perception of the world.

Lalitha Sahasranama – given to Agasthya by Hayagreeva (Vishnu) at Kumbakonam. Lalitha was invoked to kill Bhandasura – the demon of impotence (Tamas), who himself was born out of the ashes of Manmatha. Devi or Shakti indicates Prana and one aspect of thee Devi is said to reside in every part of the body. When the demon of impotence or Tamas occupies our system, in spite of all the potential, we don’t perform to our ability. Lalitha by destroying the demon (Tamas) enhances our ability in all spheres of life.

Vishnu Sahasranama – composed by Vedavyasa and given by Bheeshma to Yudhisthira in the Anushasana Parva of Mahabharatha. Said to calm the restless mind, provide freedom from stress and bestow eternal knowledge. Along with Om namah shivaya, it is said to relieve one from planetary afflictions.

Purusha Sukta – Rigveda – source of all knowledge of creation

Durga Sukta – Taittreya Upanishad – mainly the invoking the God of Fire to burn down all obstacles. Most verses are derived from the Rigged

Mantra Pushpa - Yajurveda - invoking the God of Water to complete all events in an auspicious manner