Hari Aum.
According to yogis, the great purpose of life is God realisation. Various traditions describe this state as a state of ineffable peace, bliss, wisdom, devotion to God and so on.
One of the great methods to attain God is though the practice of mantra recitation or japa. The first step is the selection of a suitable mantra. I will discuss this topic here. My views are based on that of my Guru Swami Sivananda.
The first thing to say is that a mantra itself is the deity. Mantra is devata. Therefore a mantra should be treated with the same respect as the deity it signifies. One should not casually start a little mantra practice, then discard the mantra and take up another, and keep changing mantras. This shows an unstable mind and a disrespectful attitude to sadhana. One needs to approach the mantra with appropriate respect, understanding of its greatness and devotion. This is the key to success.
When it comes to attaining God through mantra japa, the Gurus say one should stick to one mantra alone. One should therefore ensure that one chooses the right mantra for oneself.
I have outlined some ways of selecting the right mantra for oneself below based on the Sivananda tradition.
Spiritual tradition:
The first question is whether or not one's spiritual tradition allows one to select one's mantra.
In some spiritual traditions, the Guru selects the mantra for the disciple. The disciple is not allowed to choose his/her mantra here. For example, this is the case in the Ramakrishna tradition.
In other traditions, such as that of my Guru Sivananda, the disciple can choose their mantra if they wish. But if they do not want to choose their own mantra, they can request the Guru to choose this for them.
Generally however, in the Sivananda tradition, the disciple chooses the mantra and then requests initiation into this.
So, if one does not yet have a Guru, or one belongs to a tradition where one can choose one's mantra, the following steps can be followed to choose a suitable mantra:
Two types of moksha mantras:
There are two broad types of moksha mantras. Those to God without form (nirguna) or with form (saguna). Both are equally effective and lead to the same goal.
A full list of nirguna and saguna mantras suitable for attainment of moksha is given at the end of this page (this list is as per my Guru Sivananda).
The first step to choose a mantra for attainment of moksha or God-realisation is to ask yourself which of these two aspects of God you prefer- nirguna or saguna.
Nirguna mantras:
If you prefer to worship the formless God, then suitable nirguna mantras for meditation include:
1. Om Soham (Soham means I am He)
2. Om Tat Tvam Asi (Tat Tvam Asi means That Thou Art- is from the Upanisads)
3. Om Aham Brahma Asmi (Aham Brahma Asmi means I am Brahman)
Om is the Universal mantra. Its meaning cannot be described. It represents everything the mind can imagine and beyond. It is the essence of Brahman.
Saguna mantras:
If you prefer saguna mantras, then before you can choose your mantra, you need to choose the deity. To identify the deity, follow the following steps:
1. The easiest way is to ask yourself who your favourite deity is. Is there a form of God that you like the most? If yes, choose a mantra of this form. See below on how to select a specific mantra.
2. If you do not have a favourite form, consider which form of God you appeal to when in distress. My Guru says this gives a clue as to which form of the Divine you worshipped in past lifetimes. For example, when you are in pain and distress, if you say "Shiva" , this tells you that you probably worshipped Him in past lifetimes and His mantra will be suitable for you.
3. If neither of the above two options apply to you, then there are two further options:
i) Consult an astrologer who can tell you your 'ishta devata' from your birth chart. The ishta devata, is the form of God whose worship can take one to moksha. It is possible to see this from the birth chart.
ii) If you have a Guru in whom you have absolute faith and trust, you can consult them and ask them to select your mantra for you.
The sound of the mantra:
Now that you have chosen whether you want to worship the nirguna or saguna God, the next step is simple.
Basically, you have to find a mantra of the aspect of God you have chosen whose sound you really like.
You need a mantra whose sound you could be happy repeating all day every day. Because the key to success in mantra sadhana is regularity. Mantra japa is a direct path to God, especially for kali yuga, but it still takes time (not a day or two). It can take years of regular practice to attain God. And you will be spending a lot of time with your mantra to attain God through it.
Therefore you need a mantra that you can fall in love with, whose sound makes you joyful, whose sound evokes certain spiritual feelings in you, whose sound you will never get tired of hearing.
So this is the key: you should really like the sound of the mantra you choose.
Every deity has many mantras. E.g. For Krishna there is 'Om Sri Krishnaya Namah', 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya', or 'Om Sri Krishna Sharanam Mamah', and the famous maha mantra- Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
So for example, if you have decided you want a Krishna mantra, you should find some suitable mantras of His such as those described above, and then say each one aloud a few times. See which one feels the best for you to say.
If one mantra does not immediately stand out as your favourite, then take a few weeks or even months, to identify your favourite mantra.
Spend time doing a few malas of japa of some mantras and work out which one feels most natural, makes you most happy when repeating it. Then go for that mantra.
Mantra initiation or mantra diksha:
Once you decide you love a particular mantra, you should consider taking mantra initiation from a Guru. Guru is a very important requirement on the spiritual path. A true Guru is one who has attained God and will be your guide on your journey to God. He/She is a manifestation of God.
Mantra initiation is a very important step. My Guru says that an indescribable change happens deep inside the person who is initiated, whether or not they are aware of it.
But you should only take mantra initiation once you are absolutely sure about your commitment to the Guru and the mantra. Because initiation creates a deep and eternal link between you, your Guru, the mantra and the deity of the mantra.
At the time of initiation, your Guru sows the mantra in you, transmits a part of his/her shakti to you.
After initiation, it is said you are holding a chain which is the mantra- at one end is you, at the other end is God. This 'chain' of mantra, will lead you to God. It is to be revered. This link between you and the mantra and Guru is for lifetimes until you attain God. It is not for one lifetime only.
Once you choose your Guru and your mantra, and take initiation in the mantra from the Guru, you should never abandon the Guru or the mantra. This is the secret of success in spiritual life.
Abandoning recitation of a mantra after initiation is tantamount to insulting the mantra and the deity- this should not be done. If you are not sure about the mantra, do not get initiated, but just repeat it for a while without initiation and see how things go. Later if you feel sure about the mantra, you can take initiation.
So take your time in selecting the deity, the mantra and the Guru. All these three play a vital role in your attainment of moksha or God-realisation. It is therefore essential that you make the right choice for yourself.
If you have not yet found a Guru you have absolute faith in, you can simply start repeating the mantra without initiation. This also has a tremendous effect. When the time is right, the Guru will appear in your life and you will be able to get initiation in your chosen mantra.
Mantra purascharana:
Once you have chosen a mantra, and obtained initiation or diksha, traditionally the Guru asks that you perform a purascharana to 'activate' or establish the mantra in your being.
In practical terms, a purascharana is an extended mantra practice, so by doing this, you learn to integrate the mantra into your daily life.
You develop a habit of repeating the mantra daily. A certain amount of purification of character and spiritual development also takes place with the completion of purascharana.
More important than reaching a certain number of recitations, is the devotional feeling and concentration of mind with which it is done.
See the article on 'How to do mantra purascharana ' for further details on this practice.
Some final points:
My Guru Sivananda says that:
-Bija mantras should not be repeated unless one is advised to by a Guru.
-Sri Vidya mantras such as panchadashakshara and shodashakshara should be learned from a Guru and recited under their guidance only. One should never start reciting these on one's own without a Guru.
Most deity mantras will not cause harm even if mispronounced (see below). However bija and Sri Vidya mantras can cause harm if mispronounced. Furthermore, these mantras can rapidly awaken energies in one's being that one is not ready to handle, before one has reached the necessary purity of character. This can cause significant mental and physical health issues.
-Mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Sri Durgayai Namah etc can be chanted safely with or without a Guru. These mantras cause no harm even if mispronounced. Although devotional feeling is more important than perfect pronunciation, one should learn to pronounce the mantra correctly as far as possible as this maximises the benefits of chanting.
A complete list of moksha mantras advised by my Guru Sivananda:
These mantras are moksha mantras that lead to God realisation. (They can also be chanted for material gain if that is what one wishes). As per my Guru, these are perfectly safe to chant even if one has not yet found one's Guru. Mispronunciation of these mantras will do no harm. Recitation of these mantras creates spiritual merit, cleanses body and mind, destroys negative karma, develops devotion and takes one to God:
See below for a link to my Guru Sivananda's book called 'Japa yoga'. It has every detail needed for mantra japa practice. It has an even more detailed list of mantras for moksha than that provided above (see pages 54-55 for mantras in Sanskrit, and pages 59-60 for the same mantras written in English).
http://gurudevsivananda.org/japa.pdf
Hari Aum Tat Sat
According to yogis, the great purpose of life is God realisation. Various traditions describe this state as a state of ineffable peace, bliss, wisdom, devotion to God and so on.
One of the great methods to attain God is though the practice of mantra recitation or japa. The first step is the selection of a suitable mantra. I will discuss this topic here. My views are based on that of my Guru Swami Sivananda.
The first thing to say is that a mantra itself is the deity. Mantra is devata. Therefore a mantra should be treated with the same respect as the deity it signifies. One should not casually start a little mantra practice, then discard the mantra and take up another, and keep changing mantras. This shows an unstable mind and a disrespectful attitude to sadhana. One needs to approach the mantra with appropriate respect, understanding of its greatness and devotion. This is the key to success.
When it comes to attaining God through mantra japa, the Gurus say one should stick to one mantra alone. One should therefore ensure that one chooses the right mantra for oneself.
I have outlined some ways of selecting the right mantra for oneself below based on the Sivananda tradition.
Spiritual tradition:
The first question is whether or not one's spiritual tradition allows one to select one's mantra.
In some spiritual traditions, the Guru selects the mantra for the disciple. The disciple is not allowed to choose his/her mantra here. For example, this is the case in the Ramakrishna tradition.
In other traditions, such as that of my Guru Sivananda, the disciple can choose their mantra if they wish. But if they do not want to choose their own mantra, they can request the Guru to choose this for them.
Generally however, in the Sivananda tradition, the disciple chooses the mantra and then requests initiation into this.
So, if one does not yet have a Guru, or one belongs to a tradition where one can choose one's mantra, the following steps can be followed to choose a suitable mantra:
Two types of moksha mantras:
There are two broad types of moksha mantras. Those to God without form (nirguna) or with form (saguna). Both are equally effective and lead to the same goal.
A full list of nirguna and saguna mantras suitable for attainment of moksha is given at the end of this page (this list is as per my Guru Sivananda).
The first step to choose a mantra for attainment of moksha or God-realisation is to ask yourself which of these two aspects of God you prefer- nirguna or saguna.
Nirguna mantras:
If you prefer to worship the formless God, then suitable nirguna mantras for meditation include:
1. Om Soham (Soham means I am He)
2. Om Tat Tvam Asi (Tat Tvam Asi means That Thou Art- is from the Upanisads)
3. Om Aham Brahma Asmi (Aham Brahma Asmi means I am Brahman)
Om is the Universal mantra. Its meaning cannot be described. It represents everything the mind can imagine and beyond. It is the essence of Brahman.
Saguna mantras:
If you prefer saguna mantras, then before you can choose your mantra, you need to choose the deity. To identify the deity, follow the following steps:
1. The easiest way is to ask yourself who your favourite deity is. Is there a form of God that you like the most? If yes, choose a mantra of this form. See below on how to select a specific mantra.
2. If you do not have a favourite form, consider which form of God you appeal to when in distress. My Guru says this gives a clue as to which form of the Divine you worshipped in past lifetimes. For example, when you are in pain and distress, if you say "Shiva" , this tells you that you probably worshipped Him in past lifetimes and His mantra will be suitable for you.
3. If neither of the above two options apply to you, then there are two further options:
i) Consult an astrologer who can tell you your 'ishta devata' from your birth chart. The ishta devata, is the form of God whose worship can take one to moksha. It is possible to see this from the birth chart.
ii) If you have a Guru in whom you have absolute faith and trust, you can consult them and ask them to select your mantra for you.
The sound of the mantra:
Now that you have chosen whether you want to worship the nirguna or saguna God, the next step is simple.
Basically, you have to find a mantra of the aspect of God you have chosen whose sound you really like.
You need a mantra whose sound you could be happy repeating all day every day. Because the key to success in mantra sadhana is regularity. Mantra japa is a direct path to God, especially for kali yuga, but it still takes time (not a day or two). It can take years of regular practice to attain God. And you will be spending a lot of time with your mantra to attain God through it.
Therefore you need a mantra that you can fall in love with, whose sound makes you joyful, whose sound evokes certain spiritual feelings in you, whose sound you will never get tired of hearing.
So this is the key: you should really like the sound of the mantra you choose.
Every deity has many mantras. E.g. For Krishna there is 'Om Sri Krishnaya Namah', 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya', or 'Om Sri Krishna Sharanam Mamah', and the famous maha mantra- Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
So for example, if you have decided you want a Krishna mantra, you should find some suitable mantras of His such as those described above, and then say each one aloud a few times. See which one feels the best for you to say.
If one mantra does not immediately stand out as your favourite, then take a few weeks or even months, to identify your favourite mantra.
Spend time doing a few malas of japa of some mantras and work out which one feels most natural, makes you most happy when repeating it. Then go for that mantra.
Mantra initiation or mantra diksha:
Once you decide you love a particular mantra, you should consider taking mantra initiation from a Guru. Guru is a very important requirement on the spiritual path. A true Guru is one who has attained God and will be your guide on your journey to God. He/She is a manifestation of God.
Mantra initiation is a very important step. My Guru says that an indescribable change happens deep inside the person who is initiated, whether or not they are aware of it.
But you should only take mantra initiation once you are absolutely sure about your commitment to the Guru and the mantra. Because initiation creates a deep and eternal link between you, your Guru, the mantra and the deity of the mantra.
At the time of initiation, your Guru sows the mantra in you, transmits a part of his/her shakti to you.
After initiation, it is said you are holding a chain which is the mantra- at one end is you, at the other end is God. This 'chain' of mantra, will lead you to God. It is to be revered. This link between you and the mantra and Guru is for lifetimes until you attain God. It is not for one lifetime only.
Once you choose your Guru and your mantra, and take initiation in the mantra from the Guru, you should never abandon the Guru or the mantra. This is the secret of success in spiritual life.
Abandoning recitation of a mantra after initiation is tantamount to insulting the mantra and the deity- this should not be done. If you are not sure about the mantra, do not get initiated, but just repeat it for a while without initiation and see how things go. Later if you feel sure about the mantra, you can take initiation.
So take your time in selecting the deity, the mantra and the Guru. All these three play a vital role in your attainment of moksha or God-realisation. It is therefore essential that you make the right choice for yourself.
If you have not yet found a Guru you have absolute faith in, you can simply start repeating the mantra without initiation. This also has a tremendous effect. When the time is right, the Guru will appear in your life and you will be able to get initiation in your chosen mantra.
Mantra purascharana:
Once you have chosen a mantra, and obtained initiation or diksha, traditionally the Guru asks that you perform a purascharana to 'activate' or establish the mantra in your being.
In practical terms, a purascharana is an extended mantra practice, so by doing this, you learn to integrate the mantra into your daily life.
You develop a habit of repeating the mantra daily. A certain amount of purification of character and spiritual development also takes place with the completion of purascharana.
More important than reaching a certain number of recitations, is the devotional feeling and concentration of mind with which it is done.
See the article on 'How to do mantra purascharana ' for further details on this practice.
Some final points:
My Guru Sivananda says that:
-Bija mantras should not be repeated unless one is advised to by a Guru.
-Sri Vidya mantras such as panchadashakshara and shodashakshara should be learned from a Guru and recited under their guidance only. One should never start reciting these on one's own without a Guru.
Most deity mantras will not cause harm even if mispronounced (see below). However bija and Sri Vidya mantras can cause harm if mispronounced. Furthermore, these mantras can rapidly awaken energies in one's being that one is not ready to handle, before one has reached the necessary purity of character. This can cause significant mental and physical health issues.
-Mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Sri Durgayai Namah etc can be chanted safely with or without a Guru. These mantras cause no harm even if mispronounced. Although devotional feeling is more important than perfect pronunciation, one should learn to pronounce the mantra correctly as far as possible as this maximises the benefits of chanting.
A complete list of moksha mantras advised by my Guru Sivananda:
These mantras are moksha mantras that lead to God realisation. (They can also be chanted for material gain if that is what one wishes). As per my Guru, these are perfectly safe to chant even if one has not yet found one's Guru. Mispronunciation of these mantras will do no harm. Recitation of these mantras creates spiritual merit, cleanses body and mind, destroys negative karma, develops devotion and takes one to God:
- Lord Krishna:
- Maha-Mantra :
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare - Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
- Om Sri Krishnaya Govindaya Gopijana Vallabhaya Namah
- Om Sri Krishnaya Namah
- Maha-Mantra :
- Sri Devi:
- Om Sri Durgayai Namah
- Lord Ganapati:
- Om Sri Ganapataye Namah
- Sri Hanuman:
- Om Sri Hanumate Namah
- Lord Hari:
- Om Namo Narayanaya (Ashtakshara)
- Hari Om
- Hari Om Tat Sat
- Jugal (Combined) Mantra:
- Sita Ram
- Radhe Shyam
- Radhe Krishna
- Sri Kalika:
- Om Sri Kalikayai Namah
- Sri Lakshmi:
- Om Sri Maha-Lakshmyai Namah
- Lord Shiva:
- Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra:
Om tryambakam yajamahe
sugandhim pushtivardhanam
uurvarukamiva bandhanaan
mrityor mukshiya maamritaat. - Om Namah Shivaya (Panchakshara)
- Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra:
- Lord Rama:
- Om Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram
- Om Sri Ramaya Namah
- Sri Rama Rama Rameti,
Rame Rame Manorame
Sahasranama Tattulyam Rama Nama Varanane - Om Sri Sita-Ramachandradhyam Namah
- Sri Ram
- Sri Saraswathi:
- Om Sri Sarasvatyai Namah
- Lord Subramanya, Kartikeya:
- Om Sri Saravanabhavaya Namah
- Sharangati Mantra (for surrender):
- Om Sri Ramah Sharanam Mama
- Om Sri Krishnah Sharanam Mama
- Om Sri Sita-Ramah Sharanam Mama
- Sharada:
- Om Sri Bala-Parameshvaryai Namah
- Tripurasundari:
- Om Sri Tripura-Sundaryai Namah
- Vedantic Formulae:
- Om Soham
- Om Tat Tvam Asi
- Om Aham Brahma Asmi
See below for a link to my Guru Sivananda's book called 'Japa yoga'. It has every detail needed for mantra japa practice. It has an even more detailed list of mantras for moksha than that provided above (see pages 54-55 for mantras in Sanskrit, and pages 59-60 for the same mantras written in English).
http://gurudevsivananda.org/japa.pdf
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Aum namo Venka
ReplyDelete