Hari Om,
I created this blog today to connect with others who are performing purascharana of a mantra. I started my first purascharana in January 2012 and am keen to connect with others who are doing the same. It is a long process (in my case will take nearly 2 years) and needs a fair amount of determination and motivation to keep going. It would be nice to be in touch with other purascharana practitioners- to hear what is going well, what obstacles have been encountered and so on. It would be great to motivate and inspire each other to keep going on this long but rewarding path.
I'm doing 11 rounds a day of the Ashtakshara mantra Om Namo Narayanaya with the aim of spiritual development. I have been a follower of the Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh for the past 7 years and was initiated in this mantra about 6 years ago. Since then I have always wanted to do an extended mantra practice but never managed to because of work commitments. I finally decided that it was high time I made a beginning as I realised that there will never be a perfect time. I took the sankalpa to do a purascharana in mid January and contacted a respected Swamiji whom I know well in Rishikesh for advice. He was very encouraging and said that I should go ahead- I contact him regularly for advice and to update him on my progress. I have been keeping a daily record and have worked out that I will finish the required 800,000 repetitions in September 2013! I initially started out with 24 malas a day, but then had to reduce to 11 malas a day due to increased work pressures. For anyone who's interested in mantra repetition (japa), here is a link to Swami Sivananda's wonderfully clear and concise article on Japa Yoga. The link below that is about Purascharana. If you haven't yet considered mantra japa or purascharana, his words may well inspire you to get started and experiment for yourself!
If you are already a mantra practitioner from any tradition, or someone with experience in purascharana or currently doing one, it would be great to hear from you. I'd be interested in how your practice is going.
http://www.dlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=525
I created this blog today to connect with others who are performing purascharana of a mantra. I started my first purascharana in January 2012 and am keen to connect with others who are doing the same. It is a long process (in my case will take nearly 2 years) and needs a fair amount of determination and motivation to keep going. It would be nice to be in touch with other purascharana practitioners- to hear what is going well, what obstacles have been encountered and so on. It would be great to motivate and inspire each other to keep going on this long but rewarding path.
I'm doing 11 rounds a day of the Ashtakshara mantra Om Namo Narayanaya with the aim of spiritual development. I have been a follower of the Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh for the past 7 years and was initiated in this mantra about 6 years ago. Since then I have always wanted to do an extended mantra practice but never managed to because of work commitments. I finally decided that it was high time I made a beginning as I realised that there will never be a perfect time. I took the sankalpa to do a purascharana in mid January and contacted a respected Swamiji whom I know well in Rishikesh for advice. He was very encouraging and said that I should go ahead- I contact him regularly for advice and to update him on my progress. I have been keeping a daily record and have worked out that I will finish the required 800,000 repetitions in September 2013! I initially started out with 24 malas a day, but then had to reduce to 11 malas a day due to increased work pressures. For anyone who's interested in mantra repetition (japa), here is a link to Swami Sivananda's wonderfully clear and concise article on Japa Yoga. The link below that is about Purascharana. If you haven't yet considered mantra japa or purascharana, his words may well inspire you to get started and experiment for yourself!
If you are already a mantra practitioner from any tradition, or someone with experience in purascharana or currently doing one, it would be great to hear from you. I'd be interested in how your practice is going.
http://www.dlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=525
Never reveal your Guru Mantra...
ReplyDeleteAnd never reveal your Sadhana. It is just between you, your Guru and Guru brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteEach one of us has to decide how much it is appropriate to share, and how much is to remain secret. A certain amount of sharing suits some of us to progress on the path. When I received the mantra, I was not advised to keep it secret. I was advised to practice it. This blog is to encourage practice. To inspire and be inspired. In the old days, mantra deeksha was given after severe testing of the disciple by the Guru- it is not the case today.
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed, not all traditions are valid today. Btw Ramanuja shouted his Guru mantra from the rooftops for all to hear, breaking the promise of secrecy to his Guru. His act was for the welfare of others, to inspire others to do Japa and worship God, and his Guru blessed him. Sometimes it is more important to follow the spirit not the letter. All the best with your sadhana.
Then you're ignorant. If you have faith and trust in the deity you doing your japa, you will never ask anyone else opinion nor created this blog. That means you have doubts about your practice. Please don't compare yourself with Ramanuja, his purpose was different.
Deletei'm not trying to offend you, but I speak from experience on practicing mantras esp om namo narayanaya.
DeleteNamaste, nice to see you again....albeit three years after your first comments! I made a resolve some time ago to minimise unnecessary arguments so will say nothing more here. You certainly have the right to have your opinions, and I equally have the right to mine. God is the only true judge of my faith, trust in Him etc and I am answerable to Him alone in this regard. Therefore I have no wish to defend myself here or prove myself to you or anyone else. I have only two things to say to you (will not be continuing any arguments- sorry). 1. Nice to hear you are also doing sadhana with ashtakshara mantra. That is a great service to the world as per my Guru Sivananda. 2. Once again, I wish you the very best in your sadhana. May God and Guru bless and guide you with every success in attaining the Highest. Hari Aum Tat Sat.
Deletevishnupriya is right.....no mantra is secret ..there is no harm to share own experience..the readers of such will undoubtly be benefitted..lot of people prefer to search self experience blogs in net than to purchase books and read autobiographies..seversl mantras are published by so many great sadhakas along with their sadhna process..in guru parampara and old texts such type of prohibitions are found to make the mantra snd purascharan confined...sighting instance of a saint should not be mistaken as comparision...creating such type of blog are always been a mattet of appreciation..carry on the process vishnupriya..you are most welcome..
DeleteNamaste,
DeleteThanks for kind words. This blog is mainly to motivate myself and others on the spiritual path by sharing tips and experiences of sadhana. I enjoy hearing from other sadhakas about their experiences as well as sharing some of my own experiences....it create a sense of spiritual community in a way and we can inspire each other to continue our sadhana with zeal and enthusiasm in an otherwise materialistic world.
Hello dear friend in Yoga Vishnupriya!
ReplyDeleteI strongly support your innitiative for this Purascharana group - even if due to constraints of location we cannot physically get together. As we have the same goal I believe the intensity of our focus can support us a great deal.
Swamiji Sivananda has been a constant and a long-time inspiration for me. While I learnt yoga from a guru, Sivananda's subtle presence and the inspiration I get from his books never has ceased to inspire me.
Since mantra yoga is my main practice I will attempt to start answering some topics you brought up.
Obstacles - my main obstacle in my practice seems to be going through winter. I live in Canada and we're still at -7degrees C today (March 15/2013). This winter we've had temperatures of -25C several times (among other things, also the biggest snowstorm since 1969 in my city.) When I have a choice most of my sadhana happens outside.
As soon as the T rises above 10deg. C, I can restart my meditations in nature. I have some beautiful secluded spots close to home and the intensity in my sadhana rises dramatically. In 18 years of practice this is by far my number 1 hinderance. Meditating in a closed room in cold January is just not the same... And R. Tagore would agree!! ; ) But my sadhana variations between winter and summer are unacceptable. In summer, as Yogananda says, I try to fit in one day a week when I meditate more than usual, like 8 hours that day. I was never able to do it this winter for example.
How is your purascharana going?
Hello,
DeleteMeditating in nature is a great idea....but not easy when one lives in a country that is cold for a large part of the year! But I agree it's much nicer than meditating in a room.
It's great to hear that you are also a mantra yogi....how is your practice going? Do you do silent japa, or loud chanting? Eighteen years of practice sounds great....not least because you've shown you can keep yourself really motivated. Hope I can keep going the way you have!
My purascharana is going okay....I am just about halfway through. Work has got in the way a little recently, so I am a few malas behind schedule. But nothing that a little intensive japa over a weekend can't sort out! :) Nice to hear from you! Hope your mantra practice is going well.
Dear Vishnupriya
ReplyDeleteI am a follower of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and I practice both nama japa and self enquiry who am i.
Predominantly it is only nama japa.
I have chanted earlier many times a mantra of my living Guru and now I have started chanting 'arunachala shiva' for past few months.
Well, when I do japa, I encounter lot of heat in the brain and sometimes it is boring. But I forcibly engage the mind in the same and the mind really gets exhausted. Somehow I imagine a force picks up at the end of every japa and to encourage to do one more time. Just one more time like that I continue my japa.
The major difficulty is counting for me. I dont follow any mala or all the time can I carry one mala. For example between the auto stand to office about 50 metres and in the office lift, I will chant arunachala shiva mentally. This cannot be counted.
While coming back from office, while brushing and bathing, sometimes while travelling I keep on chanting this arunachala shiva. So I dont count at all the number of times.
So my belief is Lord Arunachaleshwara will count for me and keep the record of my devotion.
And this japa practice will ultimately lead to a still mind which may give way to a glimpse of samadhi experience.
I want a vision of Shiva in waking state itself. Sometimes this japa chanting becomes so bored and lot of heat in the brain, as if I am studying for some complex PHD. I bear the pain and forcibly practice this japa. Please share how you feel the pain on the doing of this japa.
you can write ksksat27@yahoo.com
Hi,
DeleteI know what you mean about feeling bored sometimes while doing japa. I keep myself going by reminding myself that countless saints from Tulsidas to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu declared that the Name is the surest way. Especially in this Kali yuga. I have no idea how the Name works, but it has clearly worked for others and I'm sure it will work for me too.
Try not to exhaust yourself too much though. Japa is great, but to the point of tiredness and exhaustion/pain is not good.
Why not add some kirtan as an additional devotional practice and means of God remembrance when japa gets boring/painful? I have recently started this technique myself. In the last few days, I have started doing a little mahamantra kirtan (Hare Rama) at the end of my japa session and I find it very relaxing.
Wish you all the best with your japa practice, and hope you get Darshan of Lord Shiva as per your wish. Here is an inspiring link about God giving Darshan. http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=1083
Hi
DeleteThis is very old post but im giving reply based on my experience.All mantras generate Heat.Bhakthi is great until it hits the wall and heat is one of symptoms warning us to slow down.After certain extent,Kundalini will be invoked without your knowledge.It may rise in wrong path leading to seizures,headaches,nervous issues.In this case,please stop your japa and perform nadi shodana prayanama.Since Kundalini is more on subtle body,pranic healing can help to certain extent to remove the chakra blockages.
Related to mantras also,it is wise if you see D20 chart in astrology and select accordingly.Most of times,you may need to chant siddhi mantra before main mantra to get siddhi.It depends upon 5,9,12th house in D20 chart and planets placed there.
Our ultimate Goal should be self-reliazation and all depends upon our karma.
Hi Govindan,
DeleteThanks for your message and the advice. I am doing daily asana and pranayama to purify the nadis (15 minutes). I have experienced some increase in body temperature during sadhana and also generally since starting regular japa over the past few years. Health problems seem to come and go. Regarding vedic astrology, I have a great interest in this subject and have studied it as a beginner. I have also consulted a professional over my chart and the mantra I am chanting is appropriate. In D20, my 5th house lord is Shani suggestive of a Narayana mantra- Shani is in 12th house. 9th house is lorded by Shukra and I worship Lakshmi also. Thanks again.
Hi
DeleteThanks for reply.Good to know you are in correct path.It would be double benifit if you combine Lakshmi bijam(srim) with Naryana Mantra.It would give very good result.Due to Lakshmi's grace,heat will reduce as you progress.If your kundalini reaches Soma chakra,amrutham will come down cooling your body.
Please speak with your Guru about mantra combination and do if he permits you.
Hi Govind,
DeleteMy Guru advises repeating the Narayana mantra as it is without modification. However I repeat Lakshmi mantras regularly as I enjoy worshiping Her as the consort of Lord Hari. I particularly like repeating the Lakshmi ashtakam. Btw I had a truly inspirational vedic astrology reading recently by an astrologer with a very strong background in spirituality. Interestingly he also advised me to worship Lakshmi along with Narayana as per my chart. Thanks for your interest and advice.
Sir, I have a question. In Purashcharana process, after tarpana, marjana should be performed(1/10 th of tarpana). But some say that marjana should be done on one's own head, while some say that it should be done on the yantra/image/idol of the respected diety. Please clarify my doubts!!
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI'm sorry but I don't know anything about the marjana procedure. Swami Sivananda mentions this briefly in his article on purascharana (see below for link) but it is not described in detail here. If I find the answers, I will let you know. In the meantime, do let me know if you get a reliable answer from elsewhere.
Mantra Yoga sadhana link:
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=525
Marjana is Abhishekam of the saadhak.Touch your ring finger with thumb , dip in water and sprinkle on your forehead in a way of blessing yourself. The no of Marjana is 1/10 th of tarpana.
Deleteyour post inspired me very much.........
ReplyDeletenow September 2013 has been completed......so must be your purascharana......
it would be for welfare of all, if you share your experience after completion.
It would be particularly beneficial to person like me, who slack in chanting.
Eagerly anticipating your reply.
Namaste friend,
DeleteGlad you found the post inspiring. I wish you all the very best in your own japa practice. May God guide and inspire you in your sadhana.
I started my purascharana today. I'm glad to find this blog. My guru is having me do 100,000 repetitions, but the mantra, the maha mintranjaya mantra, is very long. Is it typical for the # of repetitions assigned to vary widely depending on the teacher?
ReplyDeleteNamaste,
ReplyDeleteA purascharana means 100,000 repetitions per syllable of the mantra (excluding Om at the start). For the mritunjaya mantra, this would be 33 x 100,000. There are other extended mantra practices that are called anusthana. Looks like you're doing one. It sounds like an good solid practice as the mantra is long. I'm sure it will prove very beneficial. It grants excellent health, protection from accidents and supreme knowledge. Good luck with it.
Om is never counted as a syllable rather the rest of the syllables in the mantra are.
DeleteJai Maa Kaali
Thank you so much for your response Vishnupriya
ReplyDeleteNamaskaar Vishnu Priyaji,
ReplyDeleteIt was very inspiring to read your post and to hear your ambitions of chanting the ashtakshara mantra of Sriman Narayana. Adiyen too has similar aspirations, and i humbly request your contact email so adiyen can have your blessed satsang and hear of your experiences.
Namaste Dilipji,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found the post inspiring. It is nice to hear that you too are interested in mantra japa. Please forgive me for being unable to provide an email address currently. I am happy to answer any queries you may have to the best of my ability via the blog. My best wishes for your mantra practice.
Gentlemen,
ReplyDeleteI am planning to take a sankalpa for purascharana. I want to know what happens when one completes one or multiple purascharanas?
It really depends on why you are doing the purascharana. If you're doing it for a spiritual goal such as attainment of true devotion, knowledge and God then you will surely have taken a significant step by doing this. However many purascharanas may be needed to attain the goal and one just needs to keep going. If the goal is a lesser one, ie something material, then your success depends on rigidly following the rules (dietary etc) and your luck/karma in pleasing the deity. The deity will always be pleased if you are doing it for self- realisation and for the welfare of others. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteDear Vishnupriya, thnks for this blog...its my guiding light!
ReplyDeletei had a question in mind and its only u i can ask...plz do answer it.
i really want to do purasharana but wanted to knw that what to do about the menst cycle that falls every month. how many days do you abstain from the jaap,3 or 5. i cannot ask this from anyone except you as u are the only aspirant i knw...who is also guided by a spiritual guru. would abstaining from the jaap for these days count as a interruption in purasharana as its very speifically said tht it has to be done regularly. Plz guide. If u want u can reply me in person at parullwadhwa00@gmail.com and not publish this question.
Dear Parull,
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you want to do a purascharana. And I am glad you have found this blog helpful.
If you are planning to do this sadhana for the sake of spiritual goals (such as acquiring true bhakti, jnana, and for the welfare of all), there is no need to worry about menstruation. Such noble goals are pleasing to the Divine, to God and Guru, and there is no risk of offense. No break in japa due to menstruation is needed.
If the purascharana is being done for a specific material goal (e.g. more wealth, children, a job etc), then I still feel one can continue during menstruation - because very few purascharanas can be completed in 3-4 weeks- most will take months or even years. So again no break due to menstruation is needed.
However in this case, one has to be more careful about following other strict rules- such as sattvic diet, regularity of time and place etc.
Whether the goal is spiritual or material, one should try to be mentally clean to benefit maximally from the sadhana. For example trying to be less angry, not wasting energy/prana in heated arguments and debates with others (it is important to conserve your energy for sadhana), eating sattvic food, sleeping not too much/too little, having a regular number of malas a day and regular place to do japa as far as possible. These are more important than menstruation.
I take a bath and use my tulasi mala or kara mala (fingers to count) for japa during menstruation. I also bathe more frequently during this time (often twice a day). I believe that japa should be continued daily without any break for spiritual progress and all round happiness in life.
Japa itself is purifying for body, mind and spirit. Knowing this, please feel free to start your purascharana without any worry or fear. You are taking the Name of God- this will protect and guide you at all times. I wish you the very best in your sadhana. May God and all the Gurus bless and guide you.
Thank you so much for your humble and prompt reply vishnupriya...cant tell you how much it means to me... god bless! plz keep writing more...
ReplyDeleteVery nice to see your blog and your honest attempt at documenting this. I have been doing purascharana of many mantras for a very long time. The trick is to finish 1.25 lk asap, my guru brothers finish these even for big mantras in times as short as 12 days. The energy should be concentrated and not just fizzle out. It is a long and sometimes frustrating process, my teacher (who was aldready a yogi) got success in a dashamahavidya sadhana only after 10 purascharanas, I am thinking if it were me then maybe more. Similarly, my friend just completed 16 lakhs of a dasha mahavidya mantra, still not complete success. However, cleansing clearly happened.. Continue..continue..divine guidance would definitely come
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThanks for the encouragement and for sharing your experiences. Nice to hear that you have been doing purascharanas for a long time. No doubt it would have had some wonderful effects. I feel that, more than trying to hurry and complete a specific number quickly, it is important to do whatever japa one does with feeling. And also to keep up God remembrance throughout the day, at least from time to time, repeating the Name of God e.g. before eating, while typing, while walking etc. Developing a relationship with God as a friend, as a relative or whatever appeals to one is important. I somehow feel most comfortable chatting to God as a friend- someone whom I can talk freely about everything in my life, without any fear or reservation, about both the auspicious and inauspicious in me. I feel He listens lovingly and non-judgementally and helps me in every way. All the very best with your sadhana- May God bless you and give you success in spiritual life.
hello vishnupriya, i had a small query yet again... i woukd really like to visit the divine life society ashram in rishikesh... can anyone go there freely or are there some rules/prerequisites/permissions etc required... ? i would just like to go there to find some peace and time for myself and would like to stay there for a couple of days.. to feel connected... kindly let me know if you have an idea...
ReplyDeleteHi Parull,
DeleteThe DLS Rishikesh ashram is a wonderful peaceful place. I'm sure you will have a good time there. To apply, you need to email the General Secretary of the Ashram (see their website sivanandaonline.org for details with application form). Normally they do not accept women who travel alone- this may be because they want to avoid any chance of a scandal, I don't know! I have travelled in the past with my father and a girl schoolfriend. As you probably know, the founders of Ashrams may be good people, but all sorts of people can stay there (some good, some less good). So it is wise to travel with a friend or relative if possible. I have never heard of any scandal affecting this ashram and not had any bad experiences so far (have been 3-4 times) but one should always take precautions. Hope you have a wonderful stay. Take care.
HEY. I HAVE DONE AT LEAST FOUR WITH TWO DIFFERENT MANTRAS. GOOD LUCK AND PRAISES UNTO THEE AND YOUR DIVINITY. YOUR FRIEND, JOSHUA "DREW" NORTON.
ReplyDeleteHi Drew, thanks for the wishes. Great to hear of your purascharanas- that sounds wonderful. It's always nice to hear from others also doing this practice. Hope your sadhana is going well. May God and Guru bless you with good progress on the spiritual path. Best wishes, Vishnupriya
ReplyDeleteThere are many secret weapons in Sadhana that everyone, be it householder of recluse, can use and benefit from. But what more exalted practice than a vow, a vrata, to complete a mantra purascharana? This is a very specific task, and one which, however you look at it, takes up a lot of time to do. But many brothers and sisters are bravely setting forth...
ReplyDelete(read Vishnupriya's excellent blog on this here at
http://mantrayoga.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/beginning.html).
***********
Reached your blog from this above-mentioned excerpts on the link-
http://serioussadhana.blogspot.in/2014/04/purascharana-master-cleanser-of-4-year.html
And really found your blog very useful for the spiritual aspirants.
Om Namo Narayanay!
Hi, glad you found this blog interesting. Thanks for the link to the blog Serious Sadhana...that seems like a really good blog too. Nice to know others are also doing purascharana. All the best with your sadhana!
ReplyDeleteHi VishnuPriya
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing good.Homam is important in purascharana.1/10th should be homam and so it will be 80000 chants in homam for Narayana mantra.In Tantras,it is told that we can do this in mutiple sittings but Fire should be there continously until full 80000 chants are completed.
How are you doing this? i have not done purascharana until now but i heard this is most difficult part.Instead of homam,some chant 40% more counts.
Hi Govindan,
ReplyDeleteI am good thanks- hope you are keeping well too. My Guru Sivananda says that if homam cannot be done as per the regulations (1/10th the number of japa) then one can either do extra japa to compensate (1 lakh) or otherwise one can do charity and poor-feeding (anna-danam) as per one's capacity. I tend to do an extra 80,000-1 lakh of japa to complete the purascharana. I also do homam of this mantra but not 1/10th the number so I do the extra japa instead. I do anna-danam and make donations to charitable organisations as spiritual practices but not as a part of the purascharana.
Hello Vishnu Priya, could you guide me a little on surya upasana.
ReplyDeleteHi, the main surya upasanas that I do are recitation of the 12 names of Surya, and recitation of the Gayatri. I view Surya as a life-giving aspect of God, the brilliant light is a reminder of the light of God, of the power of God. I see Surya as the power of Vishnu/Parabrahman. In fact, in the Vishnu purana (which I am currently reading), it says that Surya is a manifestation of the Supreme Light or God. The aditya hridayam (available on youtube) is also a famous prayer taught to Sri Rama by the Rishi Agastya before the war against Ravana...it is a brilliant prayer to Surya. Sivananda says this prayer bestows health, freedom from eye diseases and illumination. Homams/havans also nourish Surya along with other devas, sos is also a good form of worship. I do homams from time to time. See vedicastrologer.org for some good do-it-yourself homam manuals. All the best with your sadhana. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteHey Vishnupriya,
ReplyDeleteHow has your Purashcharan been progressing?
I am doing a Gayatri Purashcharana. I am halfway done. When I started off over a year ago, your blog was one of the first ones I read. Sometimes things get very difficult and continuing the undertaking is even more difficult. Have you experienced such a situation? Also have you come across a published journal of a sadhaka who has gone through a purashcharana and has described his experiences?
Hi, it's great to hear of you Gayatri purascharana- sounds like you are making good progress considering you are already half-way through in just over a year, especially as the mantra is longer than many others. Hope you get the blessings of Mother Gayatri soon. I am also just over halfway through my second purascharana. It is going well thank you. I think it is important to enjoy the process while doing it. What is the source of your difficulty at present? The universe sometimes creates obstacles in the form of health issues, boredom, work problems, difficult people and circumstances. Being kind to yourself and patient with your mind is important. Every recitation of the mantra produces a powerful effect on the mind and creates wonderful spiritual samskaras according to our sages (including my Guru Sivananda). We cannot immediately see the effect as our minds are not subtle or pure enough yet. But it is worth the effort. I have not read any other sadhaka's journal. But I have a wonderful book called Japa Yoga by my Guru in which he clearly describes the benefits of this practice- he spent several years doing japa of Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya and had darshan of Lord Krishna (must have done many purascharanas). In the book he describes great sadhakas who did Gayatri purascharanas and attained Mukti. Please see links below for details. I wish you the very best in your excellent sadhana.
DeleteArticle by Sivananda on Gayatri japa and purascharana
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=1087
Article on mantra and purascharana (including reference to Gayatri sadhana)l by Swami Krishnananda (disciple of Sivananda and regarded by his Guru as a great Jnani)
http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/disc/disc_80.html
Thank you for taking the time out to reply. Both these resources are extremely useful. I shall study them. :)
Deleteno one speaks of experiences of their purascharan so far..what are the practical achievements..benefits obtained..materialistic gsins..plz anyone? with a very clear concept...
DeleteNamaste, I wrote a piece on the practical achievements resulting from my first purascharana....the blog entry for this is "completion of purascharana" dated November 2013...please feel free to have a look. There were no magical siddhis or yogic powers attained....I just developed a stronger feeling of the presence of God in everything...and a better habit of remembering God during my daily activities....I feel both of these are valuable and helpful for me on the spiritual path.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteCame across your blog..Thanks for creating it and sharing your experiences with all..
I read your blog in bits and pieces and felt like i'm reading about my future self..I find hints of life i envision for myself but couldn't actually pursue it..Writing blog was also part of the plan, ha ha, besides talking about the actual process of spiritual journey. Reading your blog makes me feel like I'm living another life on another parallel plane of existence.
You are inspiring and thanks for sharing it..
One thing, I had a confusion about, i.e., you've written "A purascharana means 100,000 repetitions per syllable of the mantra (excluding Om at the start). For the mritunjaya mantra, this would be 33 x 100,000" and the same thing is mentioned in other texts also but when you recite a mantra, say a one bead at a time, in that one bead you recite all the syllables of that mantra one time so if you recite the entire mantra one lakh times, that means you would recite all the syllables of the mantra one lakh times. So, going by that, if each syllable is to be recited one lakh times then it is done in only one lakh repetitions of the mantra. Why the need to recite 33x100000 and so on. Or have understood it all wrong??
Hi Dharmesh,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments about this blog. Happy to hear that you can relate to what's written here....that was the idea of the blog....to connect with like-minded people.
Now to answer your question about purascharana.
The sentence "100,000 repetitions per syllable of the mantra" does not mean that every syllable is to be repeated 100,000 times.
It means the *whole mantra* is to be repeated as many times as a particular number that is calculated by multiplying the number of syllables int the mantra by 100,000.
I will put this in equation form to make it simple.
Number of repetitions needed for purasharana of any mantra =
Number of syllables in that mantra x 100,000.
So an 8 syllable mantra needs 8 x 100,000= 800,000 repetitions to make a purascharana (not 100,000)
Just to repeat, purascharana is not 100,000 repetitions of each syllable of a mantra.
Purascharana is a certain number of repetitions of the *whole mantra*, and the number of syllables is only used to calculate how many repetitions of the whole mantra are to be done.
I hope this makes more sense now.
As an aside, 125,000 is supposed to be the minimum number of repetitions for a serious japa sadhana- this is called an anusthana. This number can give mantra siddhi if one has already reached a good spiritual level - for most of us, more repetitions are needed, usually a few purascharanas.
Good luck with your sadhana. May God and Guru bless you.
Thanks for the blessings Vishnupriya.
ReplyDeleteJust one more thing i would like to share. I had this big question since a very long time. Ok, first of all let me tell you i'm not following any living Guru (in physical sense i mean) at the time and all the learning i get from the books and teachings of the Gurus of yore and i consider them all my Guru at different stages of my life or even throughout the life. ok, coming back to the query...it was about the use of mala in the mantra japa. I personally find the use of mala more of a hindrance and i find it redundant because of two factors, firstly, If our goal is a spiritual one, then how does it matter whether we keep an account of our japa or not, like the famous Shayar Faraz said "Tor diya tasbee ko is khayal se Faraz, kya gin gin ke nam lena uska jo behisab deta hai."
Secondly, even if you have to keep an account , then why not use a watch to gauge the progress like if you do two malas in 30 minutes, then let it guide you and keep your recitations on a slightly higher side, like if you count 240 or 250 times in 30 minutes then count it only as a two mala. God probably won't say Hey! why you reciting more..Ha ha.. Besides, i find i can do the recitations with more concentration and devotion this way rather than by counting the beads.
ANyways, why i'm sharing it is because there might be some other tormented souls like me going through such dilemmas.
Finally, I found today in Swami Sivananda's book "Japa" where the Guruji has mentioned that one can keep count of japa through a watch, the example of which i gave above, I don't know how i missed all this till now. Now i am satisfied. Perhaps i was looking for an authority figure to tell me that it's okay to recite mantras without the use of a mala..It's definitely a big relief and someone can perhaps share their views about it but i'm a stubborn person and I'll stick to what i believe and now that Guruji has given the sanction for it, I'm clear about it now.
Once again thanks for initiating this blog Vishnupriya.
May God and Guru bless you and all..
Happy Dusshehra to all.
Hi Dharmesh,
ReplyDeleteI would say, use that method which helps your concentration and devotion the most- if a watch works best, that that sounds right for you.
Keeping count with a watch and mala both have advantages and disadvantages. Main advantage with the watch method is you don't have to bother with moving the beads. Main disadvantage though (this is especially true for mental japa), your mind may wander and you won't know how many times you actually repeated the mantra in the allocated meditation time. This is less of a problem of course with verbal japa.
Whereas if you have a mala, you know you only did x number because your hand is frozen at that bead when your mind went off wandering.
The mala's advantage/disadvantage is pretty much the opposite of the watch. Many people also feel it helps them focus better. Everyone is different though so by all means, go for a method that suits you.
You also ask, why bother keeping count at all?
I would say that if the mind is naturally always dwelling on God and the mantra/repetition of His/Her Name, then there is of course no need for a mala. This would be the case with saints/highly advanced students. For beginners though (most of us), the mind has to be persuaded to repeat the Name of God.
The mala is a means to provide a little discipline for the mind. So we say to our mind, "Ok we will now sit for half an hour and do xyz number of malas, and then we can have a break. But not until then."
That way, the mind (even if reluctant/not in the mood), is literally fed the Name of God little by little every day so it slowly develops a taste for the Name. Once it acquires this taste, things are much easier and the mala is not really needed. Sivananda says "The mala is a whip to goad the mind towards God". Some people also say a mala on which japa has been done by one can be worn around one's neck and has a powerful protective effect. So this was about malas.
Overall though I fully agree that a watch would be the right method if it suits you so well. Happy japa-ing. :) God definitely won't complain if you do a little extra!
Thanks for your blessings too. Happy Dussehra.
HI Vishnupriya,
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining so well the entire concept of using mala. No questions, nothing left to be asked. Thank you so much..
And yes, God would definitely won’t mind.. :)
May God bless you always..
Hi Dharmesh,
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. God bless you too always. :)
Thanks for stopping by.
Vishnupriya mam
DeleteI'm a seeker and lover of God from my childhood.
I was practising meditation as per the procedure given in the books of Swami Vivekananda. I was seeing the images of deities during mediation. To know more and go into the higher knowledge surrendered near a guru and follow the way guided me for 9 years. But I have lost to see the images during mediation, absolutely it became dark/ blank. With a great pain again found another Guru from website. Yes, the way and guidance is right but no one is there to guide me directly or indirectly.
I came to know about Swami Sivananda and accidentally found this superb blogspot and the spiritual discussions of some sadhaks.
I'm doing yoga, pranayam, mediation on Lord Shiva, chanting the mantra of shiv and Krishna/ Vishnu, swadhaya of vishnusahasranam, Bhagwat Gita and Durga saptasati on regular basis.
Kindly guide me to get the right way to reach at the higher stage of sadhana or to become a perfect sadhak by the guidance of spiritual teacher.
I have few knowledge of the website and computer. Already I have sent a message on your blog spot. But not got any reply. It may be due to some post error.
Today I am sending and requesting on the reply to get a reply. It will better to get a reply on my id- jena.nc19@gmail.com.
Eagerly waiting for a reply from any of such sadhak to choose a right path of my life.
Namaste,
DeleteIt sounds like you are on the right path. Please carry on japa and worship of your ishta devata. He/She will surely guide you and you will reach the spiritual goal.
Best wishes
I am currently doing naam japa from 2days.. vow to finish 1lakh within 7 days
ReplyDeleteThat is great- all the very best with your sadhana.
DeleteDear Vishnu Priya jee...
Deleteto further extend to the topic of counting is it good to do use hands for counting...
Hi Shrikant ji,
DeleteYes counting can be done with the hands- this is called 'kar mala'. Some diagrams of the palm showing how counting is to be done can be found online (counting generally starts with the ring finger). I feel it is fine to use the hand for doing japa when a mala is not available (I personally find a mala is better when doing larger numbers of japa). Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Vishnupriya
Hi Vishnupriya,
ReplyDeleteIf a purascharana is calculated as 100,000 times the syllables of the mantra, then the Om namah Shivaya mantra should be repaeated about 500,000 times.
If mental japa is done, must it still be repeated about 500,000 times. According Manu the metal japa is 1000 times more effective than oral japa.
Must the times of repeating the mantra be divided by 1000 if mental japa is done?
Please clearify.
Hi,
DeleteA purascharana is simply defined as repeating a mantra as many 100,000 times as there are syllables in the mantra. A 5 syllable mantra would need to be repeated 500,000 times, an 8 syllable mantra would need to be repeated 800,000 times and so on.
The effects of mantra japa is a different issue. There are many factors to consider when it comes to effectiveness. Some of the key factors needed for effective japa are:
1. Concentration of mind- whether the mantra is chanted verbally or mentally, the mind should be concentrated on the mantra. A wandering mind is less effective than a focused mind.
2. Clear pronunciation of the mantra- whether chanted verbally or mentally, one should be able to 'hear' the syllables of the mantra perfectly.
3. Devotion to the deity of the mantra
4. Devotion to the Guru who gave one the mantra
5. One's ethical nature- japa gives results more quickly if one is also simultaneously trying to become a better person i.e. practicing yamas and niyamas (ahimsa, satya etc)
6. Where the japa is done- sit in the same place as far as possible. In a place of pilgrimage is ideal, if not possible, then in one's own home. But japa in sacred places is said to give results faster. The most sacred place in some ways is one's own heart where the deity is situated- if one can feel the presence of the deity there, then any place can feel sacred to one.
7. Same time- best to sit for japa at the same time every day. If not possible, doesn't matter - one should at least keep up the daily number of japas one has decided upon.
8. Mental japa (when correctly done with a pure fully-concentrated mind) is traditionally said to be more powerful than verbal japa. However in the initial stages of spiritual life, as a beginner, one should simply do what one is comfortable with. If one can do focused mental japa with clear pronunciation and devotion, then this is ideal. If one can experience better concentration and devotion with verbal japa, then this is also fine. If one does verbal japa, one can either focus the mind purely on the sound of the mantra, or also do dhyana i.e. meditate upon the form of the Deity of the mantra in the ajna or anahata chakra. This makes the verbal japa more effective as the mind is fully engaged and there is less chance of wandering. I try to perform a mental puja each time I do verbal japa i.e. visualise myself offering food, flowers etc to the Deity present within.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Vishnupriya
Dear Vishnupriya,
ReplyDeleteCan stotra & Chalisa (hanuman Chalisa) be recited mentally? Is the effect the same as done by Mental japa?
Please advice.
Hello,
DeleteI feel any recitation of stothras and mantras involving the names of God have a very beneficial effect. One should repeat these in a way that feels comfortable for one. If you feel like repeating these mentally, then that is absolutely fine. All the very best with your sadhana.
God bless.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI have studied yoga in the Sivananda tradition which I find excellent. Please do not post promotional material here for your yoga classes- this is not an advertising site. Such future posts will be deleted. Thank you.
DeleteHi Vishnupriya,
ReplyDeleteNice to hear you are doing great Sadhana. But I want to mention one thing here that you need to complete 32 lakhs of recitations of this ashtakshari mantra rather than 8 lakhs because in Kali Yuga the dharma is standing on only one leg and hence mantra will get fruitful on 4 times more japa. Also, I think you should perform pranayama just before the mantra japa. Spinal breathing is also a good practice to channelize kundalini in right centres. Celibacy plays an important role too. No one has pointed this point out. Whatever Sadhana you do should be in conjunction with the celibacy but to avoid problems partner should be asked about such practice beforehand. If he/she is comfortable and ready to support you then go on. This will increase your japa effectiveness thousands of times. Also, I have noticed that doing Yagya one day in a month with the mantra you chant is also beneficial because it increases Bhutagni (righteous fire) in the body and clears all the blockages in the nadi. Also, cut out garlics, onions and any non veg meal you intake in any circumstances. So consulting a good Brahmin and learning Yagya procedure will help a lot. You are a Vaishnav so don't forget to offer kheer to Lord Vishnu and always take out some Dakshina for a good righteous Brahmin who is a householder too. This all will benefit you very much. I am a Vaishnav too so we are brothers for this practise hence I shared this info for the betterment of all.
Thanks
Om namo bhagwate vasudevaya.
Hi Ashish,
DeleteThanks for the post. Nice to hear that you are also doing sadhana.
Many people have different views on what constitutes a purascharana. Some say 100,000 repetitions of any mantra, some say 100,000 per the number of syllables. There are many views and I see that you also have your opinion. I personally follow the opinion of my Guru in this matter. He says 100,000 repetitions should be done per syllable. For ashtakshari it is 800,000 therefore. However everyone should follow their own Guru in this matter and do what feels right for them. That way everyone is happy doing whatever they are doing, and there is no cause for any argument.
Regarding pranayama, diet, celibacy etc, I am following the injunctions of my Guru in these issues also.
About havan, yes I try and do these according to my capacity- sometimes by myself, sometimes I call a priest to perform this with me.
I offer kheer and various sweets, along with lamps, incense, tulasi leaves, and flowers, mentally to Lord Vishnu as well as to my Guru and the Goddess daily in my manasic puja.
Nice to hear that you are also a Vaishnava. Are you also a practitioner of daily japa? Wish you the best with your sadhana.
Om Shanti.
Dear Bhai
ReplyDeleteThank you for your article and sharing the references. I have just started my first ever Gayatri Sadhana and am feeling very excited about it.
I previously set myself a somewhat ambitious target for a Gayatri Puraschana that I did not progress on with uniformity and felt somewhat disillusioned by myself.
I'm hoping (knowing) that this new 40 day Sadhana is a great way to ingrain a wonderful new discipline and bring great happiness to mine and my family's life.
Truthfully speaking, I require the blessings of my beloved Divine in abundance and hence this desperate prayer ritual. Yet I find myself by and by falling back in love with my Beloved God that the desperate need for help is almost entirely overshadowed.
What have been your own experiences Bhai? Were you alleviated from life's troubles as you progressed on your Japa practice? More pertinently, did the Divine grace you with a deeper love for him?
Sometimes I am captured by Krishna, sometimes by the Divine Mother and at other times by my Shri Ram...
May the blessings of the Divine be with you eternally ��
Hi Maithili,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you are taking up a 40 day Gayatri sadhana. May Mother Gayatri bless you with whatever will be the best for you.
Yes I feel my daily japa practice brings me more peace and strength to deal with the daily ups and downs of life. It is an invaluable treasure - I am grateful to God for giving me the motivation to keep up this practice daily since November 2011.
Developing bhakti is something that comes with time and regular practice and only God can really say whether or not one has this- so I cannot comment on my state. :)
My Guru Sivananda used to say that one should respect all forms of the Divine, but one should select one favourite and then stick with that deity for one's main sadhana to attain God. One should not keep switching. So if your goal is to attain God, then I would suggest choosing one favourite form of God (be it Devi, Krishna, Ram or other) and then sticking with upasana of that deity, their mantra, puja etc.
A very happy Navaratri- May God ever bless you too. All the very best with your sadhana.
Hello, Ive done two Puraschana of a Bija mantra that I found in an old holy scripture. I won't say the mantra but it contains Bijas like KLEEM, DOOM, SHREEM, etc... primarily. After about 1 lakh recitations I started seeing deities, such as Kali, Krishna, Brahma. My Kundalini is already awakened since 2014 so I often see deities already but these were specific to the mantra. After completing one Puraschana while on a fully vegetarian diet, sitting in the same spot every day for japa I developed Siddhi to send the energy at a distance. I gave a mantra transmission to a friend of mine 2000 miles away and she said it opened her heart chakra for 3 days. I can use the mantra energy which has built up around my body in a 'field of light' to help people in minor ways and since 1.5 Puraschana I always see the presiding deities of the mantra when I am about to send someone a transmission. I talk to them and they guide me about how to send the energy to most help. Since finishing 2 Puraschana just recently I notice the light field no longer seems to deplete, before if I sent a transmission to help someone for an hour the field would become depleted (like a well that has gone dry) and needed either time, or more mantra japa to refill/regenerate. I hope this post is inspiring to others doing japa! I highly recommend Bija mantras or mantras containing Bijas, such as Gayatri, they have alot of power.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
DeleteVery good to hear about your sadhana and your experiences. Wish you the very best to continue onwards and attain the final goal of liberation.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind readers of some advice given by my Guru Sivananda on the matters mentioned above. Each one of us has our own unique approach to God and Guru and must do what we feel is right in spiritual life. However, as a disciple of Swami Sivananda, I hold his views as the word of God and would therefore like to state his advice here.
With regard to bija mantras, Sivananda advises reciting these mantras only under the supervision of a Guru. He does not advise repeating these on one's own without a Guru.
'Om' is the supreme bija mantra, present in many mantras such as Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya etc and such mantras can be repeated even without a Guru (while one has not yet found one's Guru). However as per my Guru, mantras such as Dum, Hrim, Shrim etc should not be repeated without supervision. The reason is that they can awaken kundalini in people with no real devotion or sincere desire for God. Having special powers or siddhis with no real devotion is dangerous for the individual as it can lead to one using this for one's own selfish ends, not as an instrument of God.
The advice given by my Guru is that mantra recitation should be done to attain pure love of God (bhakti) and spiritual wisdom (jnana). These lead to liberation, or realisation of one's true nature as being one with God.
Let each seeker walk their own path, deriving inspiration from the experiences of saints gone by as well as other seekers. But let us not demand of God any experience other than pure love of God. As per my Guru, this is the highest attainment in spiritual life (parabhakti).
Finally, let us always remember that progress in spiritual life is not measured by anything other than a reduction in anger, lust, greed, hatred, jealousy, pride and delusion. And a corresponding increase in love for all creation as a manifestation of God. Let us avoid paying attention to kundalini, chakras and so on- except as tools in our spiritual practice to awaken love for God.
All readers/seekers must naturally do as they feel best. I have merely outlined some cautions in spiritual practice as per my Guru Sivananda.
God bless you David, and all of us, with speedy progress in the spiritual path.
Hari Aum Tat Sat.
Did you complete your Puraschana? I am guessing you did it. :-). Can you recommend something for me to start with. All my life, it's filled with great losses, be it love or monetary. I find that I am stranger and no one understands me or my thoughts. I have great difficulty in expressing myself verbally. My problem is magnified by partial deafness. Is there any mantra for improving speech, oratory skill, writing, interpersonal and creativity. Please suggest.Thank you. Om Namah Shivaya.
ReplyDeleteHello, yes I did complete the purascharana by the grace of God. Am doing my third one currently.
DeleteSorry to hear about your difficulties- yet we all go through some ups and downs in life- it is such an experience.
To answer your query about a mantra for your purpose, I would suggest reciting a Saraswati mantra whose sound appeals to your mind. Eg Om Sri Sarasvayai Namaha.
Wish you the very best in life.
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Hello. Thank you for the quick reply and mantra. Just another doubt, if you don't mind, are there any ritual, procedure or specific days to adhere?
DeleteHi, you are most welcome. No special ritual, procedure or days- simply chant regularly daily. A small amount over a long period of time is better than a lot for just a couple of days. Also try to maintain yogic ethics as far as possible for the chanting to be successful (i.e. adhere to non-violence, truth, sense-control, and general virtues)- this is very important. If you can also pray for the welfare of all beings- this will benefit you. All the very best.
DeleteHello Vishnupriya. I have no guru, so what is opinion about me chanting rama nama? How to do the purashcharana for rama nama?
ReplyDeleteHello Santhosh, Rama mantra is a wonderful mantra as per my Guru and many other saints. Purascharana of this mantra of two syllables would involve chanting this 2 x 100,000 = 200,000 times ie 2 lakh times. Hope this helps.
DeleteBest wishes.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis is very useful blog for beginners or to people who wish to enter in spiritual world.
Thank you very much for Vishnupriyaji.
GURUBHYO NAMAHA....
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you find the blog helpful. Hope your sadhana is going well.
DeleteBest wishes,
Vishnupriya
Hi Vishnupriya,
ReplyDeleteI am seeing this blog in 2017. I am interested in knowing your experiences and how you progressed with respect to thoughtlessness, or less problems in life, or having visions of god etc. Would you please email me at manjunath.sr6@gmail.com ?
I am seriously facing issues with my life for many years now. I have tried every mantra and found breaks. Its Ashtakshari mantra that I have been chanting for a while now and its going on without a break. Yes, sometimes I manage to do only 10 a day but there are no breaks yet. It has been two months. Please write to me about your experiences.
Thanks,
Manjunath
Hi Manjunath,
DeleteI have written all my experiences on this blog. Very simply, I feel a greater presence of God as a result of my practice. I have not yet had a darshan of God which is why I am continuing tapas- my journey is ongoing.
Glad to hear you are doing ashtakshari mantra japa- no doubt this will bring you peace and strength to face the challenges of daily life.
Best wishes with your spiritual practice,
Vishnupriya
Hi Vishnupriya, I came across your website by chance, it is wonderful to read about your spiritual journey! Thanks for sharing. It is very inspiring and valuable!
ReplyDeleteJust seen your comment, thank you for the kind words
DeleteDear Vishnupriya mam,
ReplyDeleteI have gone through the advises and suggestions in your most helpful blog for Purasharan sadhana.
Most of you are doing this sadhana since a pretty long period. I think it is the right blog to get necessary advice to practice japa.
I have tremendous weakness towards God from my childhood but unfortunately I have not yet got the right person, who can guide me in my way of progress.
Yes, I am doing yoga, pranayam and meditation following some books and from others. Rightly you have suggested, the guidance is necessary to go on the right way. That I am searching..
Initially I was doing meditation with gayatri mantra before 25 yrs and was able to see the God and Goddess. To improve my sadhana taken the shelter of one Guru. He has given mantra and advice to practice nadi sodhan. With all dedication done for more than 10 years after that I have lost all the images which was coming my earlier days. I left that way with a great pain. Again I have started the sadhana through website (never seen Guru physically only on website/ video advice). I know it is beneficial, but the advice on sadhana and guidance on progress is essential, what I feel. I am continuing this since last 8 years. But no visualize of any images yet. I accept it as God is omnipresent, so I am not seeing or trying to confind the almighty in a specific shape and image.
Every day I am chanting mantra of Narayan, Durga and Shiv. Swadhaya of Gita, Shiv Durga stuti and saptasati.
Yes, another problem is that, sometimes I am going little bit away from the way of progress. You may say, lack of determination.
I came to know about Maharshi Sivananda and accidentally got your blog. It may be the blessings of God.
I believe that, your purity and karmas of prarabhdh, you all have achieved such guidance and got the right way to go ahead.
It is my humble request to you to guide me to achieve goal of my life.
Please give your advice on my id jena.nc@gmail.com
Namaste,
DeleteIt sounds like you are doing excellent sadhana. Please carry on-- God will guide you from within.
Best wishes
Namaste,
ReplyDeleteI have a doubt about Panchadashi mantra,
I was given the mantra in the form of Lalitha moola mantra kavacham.
I want to do 3 lakhs japa for siddhi but an acquaintance told me that if I desire to get married n have kids I should not chant Panchadashi, is that true? 🙏
Namaste,
DeleteMy Guru Sivananda used to say that a student of Sri Vidya should follow the specific instructions given by his/her guru. Unfortunately I do not know much about Panchadasi mantra so cannot advise you correctly in this matter-- I would advise you to consult your Guru.
Best wishes,
Vishnupriya
Namaste Vishnupriya ji. You mentioned on D-20 chart. Which ayanamsha do you follow? Sri Narasimha Rao ji suggests to use pushya paksha ayanamsha. Results will vary accordingly hence asking for inputs. Dhanyavada
ReplyDelete- P
Namaste,
DeleteI follow the Raman ayanamsa. I have come across people who use various ones (including pushya paksha) who say they get good results. The Raman one works for me so I use this. Each to their own is my philosophy here!
Thanks for sharing. Indeed!!
DeleteSeems Raman and PP are close to one another.
Namaste. Forgot to mention in the previous post. Really appreciate sharing the details as it serves as a guide, advise to spiritual seekers.
ReplyDeleteKindly keep posting 🙏🏾
-P
Hello
ReplyDeleteHi Vishnupriya , thank you for such open discussion about mantra Sadhana.I want to know whether celibacy is a must for purushchsrana for grahasthas as well .
ReplyDeleteNamaste,
DeleteYou're welcome- I am glad you found the discussion on mantra sadhana useful.
When performing purascharana and considering the rules, it is useful to contemplate what we are trying to achieve.
The purpose of purascharana is to attempt to turn the mind towards God. All the rules of purascharana are intended to support this process in some way, whether related to diet, ethics, celibacy and so on.
The yogis say the mind has to be handled carefully during sadhana. There needs to be a fine balance between allowing it to have its way and maintaining some discipline.
They tell us that crude suppression and repression risks the mind becoming rebellious and unwilling to engage further in spiritual practice-- that would be detrimental to our spiritual growth.
The simple answer, therefore, with regard to the rules of purascharana including the practice of control of sexual desire, is to be sensible and moderate.
If you can be comfortably celibate, without any unhealthy suppression or repression of your desires, then that is perfectly fine-- you can be celibate during your practice. On the other hand, if complete celibacy is uncomfortable or difficult, then be moderate in the expression of sexual desires.
If you are in a long-term relationship or married, then being faithful to your partner and moderate in your physical relations with them could be regarded as a form of celibacy during the purascharana (one should not impose celibacy on one's partner, however, when performing purascharana. There needs to be a mutual agreement between partners regarding this subject).
It goes without saying that the practice of ethics is mandatory in all activities including relationships (i.e. treating people with respect, recognising the presence of the Divine within them).
I hope this is helpful and wish you the very best with your purascharana if you are considering one.
May God bless you with every success in your sadhana.
Om shanti
Vishnupriya