Kartika and Radha mantra sadhana

 Hari Aum.

We are currently in an especially auspicious and sacred lunar month known as 'Kartika'. This began a week ago and will end on November 15 which is a full moon day; this final full-moon day of this month is known as 'Kartika purnima' and is excellent for spiritual practices.

This month is strongly associated with Lord Krishna and is a time when His devotees take up additional spiritual practices as these are said to yield greater benefits. In ancient times, when the Krishna avatar was physically present on Earth, the gopis of Vrindavana, including Radha, conducted a special sadhana dedicated to the Goddess Katyayani (a form of Mother Parvati) during this month. The purpose of their sadhana was to acquire Krishna as their 'husband' and they achieved their goal (this later led to the well-known 'rasa lila' dances).

I admit that, while I have been an enthusiastic Krishna worshipper over the years, I never really felt a deep bond with Mother Radha in the past. I certainly felt a very close bond to other forms of the Divine Mother, especially Durga, and also Lakshmi. However, I greatly respected Radha and worshipped Her along with Krishna (mainly because She was associated with Him). 

There was no deep love in my heart for Radha however; in fact, I will honestly admit that I was actually a tiny bit jealous of Her initially (despite my not wanting to feel this way!). 

However, as I saw Her and Durga as One, and felt a deep love for Durga, I hoped She would pardon me (and I have had the impression that She had; in fact, She Herself is famous for being in a virtually perpetual state of jealousy-- of a spiritual nature (!)-- of any lady who remotely approached Lord Krishna!).

Anyway, the situation has changed and I find myself currently to be more of a Radha devotee than a Krishna one (they are One of course). This transformation occurred around ten days ago, when I found myself in bed with a particularly unpleasant migraine which lasted a couple of days. During this experience during which I felt very unwell, I had the feeling (completely out-of-the-blue) that Mother Radha's energy was the solution. I therefore spent some time thinking deeply about Her for the first time in my life.

Two days later, after I had recovered from the migraine, I was tidying and de-cluttering a bookcase and by coincidence (perhaps not really a coincidence but rather, divine grace) came across a book known as the 'Narada Pancharatra' (In Sanskrit, 'pancha' means 'five' and 'ratra' means 'night'). 

I had purchased this book (it is actually printed in two volumes) quite some years ago as it is known to be a valuable resource for devotional practices and mantras related to Radha and Krishna. I had found the book interesting at the time, but did not feel particularly connected to any of the spiritual practices or mantras described and did not feel the need to take any of them up previously.

However, around ten days ago, after my migraine and interest in Mother Radha, I found myself drawn to this book and spent some time reading certain sections. I will not describe the entire book in detail here (might do this in another post sometime) but essentially, it consists of a wonderful conversation between Lord Shiva and sage Narada on the subject of devotion, and the worship of Radha-Krishna/Narayana (Shiva is Narada's Guru here) in particular.

There is one major section in particular dedicated to the worship of Mother Radha. Within this, there is a description of certain mantras related to Her worship; I read this section mainly last week. 

(After reading this, I wondered if I should share these mantras on this site and feel I received a sign from my Guru that I should, and hence the reason for this post.)

In this section, Lord Shiva outlines four key mantras for Sri Radha. He greatly praises these, declaring that (like other mantras of the Divine), they grant great spiritual and material blessings (including true devotion and spiritual liberation)

I will outline these mantras here. They contain 'bija' (seed) syllables, and in accordance to my Guru Sivananda's advice, should be chanted in large numbers only under the guidance of a suitable Guru. 

(Note- extensive chanting of bija mantras can awaken the kundalini energy rapidly which can be harmful to the unprepared spiritual seeker; the guidance of a Guru is essential therefore. One should never chant bija mantras for prolonged periods and in large numbers without a true Guru).

The mantras for Radha mentioned in the Narada Pancharatra are (in the order that they appear in the book):

1. Shreem Radhayai Svaha: known as the 'shadakshara' or six-syllabled mantra. 

Lord Shiva explains to Narada that this mantra originates from the Sama Veda and grants true devotion. He praises it greatly, saying that it is very dear to Lord Krishna/Narayana Himself and grants all spiritual and material blessings. 

He states that chanting this mantra during the full moon of the month of Kartika in particular is highly auspicious (destroys negative karma and grants spiritual liberation). 

2. Om Hreem Shreem Shreem Aim Krishna Pranadhikayai Svaha: known as the 'fourteen syllabled mantra'. 

Lord Shiva explains that this mantra was chanted by the great sages known as the Sanat Kumara in ancient times. 

3. Om Shreem Hreem Aim Krishnapriyayai Svaha: the 'eleven syllabled' mantra

This mantra was chanted by Goddess Ganga.

4. Om Shreem Shreem Aim Sarvadyayai Svaha. 

This mantra was chanted by Goddess Tulasi.

Lord Shiva praises all four mantras greatly, declaring that they each grant the four goals of human life (dharma, artha, kama and moksha) along with bhakti (devotion).

Note:

'Shreem' and 'Hreem' are bija mantras for Mother Lakshmi (Radha is Her manifestation)

'Aim' is the bija mantra for Sarasvati 

'Svaha' is the energy associated with Agni, the deity associated with fire.

After reading this section of the Narada Pancharatra related to the worship of Mother Radha, I was drawn to the six syllabled mantra in particular. 

I decided to do a small sadhana with this mantra during this auspicious month of Kartika to acquire the grace of Mother Radha (1 mala a day for 40 days, in addition to the usual ashtakshara chanting; I feel I received a sign from my Guru Sivananda that I could chant this and am currently in the midst of this sadhana). 

One week after chanting this mantra daily, I felt some significant benefits in terms of general wellbeing. The energy associated with Mother Radha is healing and also love, particularly unconditional love.

Prior to chanting this mantra, I offered Mother Radha an apology for not being able to feel a better connection with Her in the past. Based on my experience of chanting Her mantra, I feel She is an extremely forgiving, compassionate, nurturing and gentle form of the Divine Mother.

She is exactly what exhausted spiritual seekers require to heal and recover from the ordeal of the spiritual journey. I also feel that She has a special role to play for twin souls who are in a painful separation phase. I feel Her worship holds the key to twin souls achieving inner peace and wellbeing.

Based on my experience, and if one's Guru/intuition permits, I would recommend chanting the shadakshara mantra of Mother Radha daily (for example, either a 'mini mala' of 27 recitations, or a full mala of 108 recitations) during this sacred month of Kartika. 

I pray to Mother Radha to heal and protect all beings (including all twin souls) generally on this planet who are undergoing various ordeals and challenges (especially in this complex time of various conflicts in the world). 

May the Grace of Mother Radha protect us all, may She bless us all with unconditional love and healing.

I wish all of you a spiritually fulfilling month of Kartika. May Radha-Krishna bless us all.

Om Sri Radha-Krishnabhyam Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

The glories of the ashtakshara mantra: Part 2

 Hari Aum.

Around four years ago, I attempted to provide a translation of the 'Ashtakshara mahatmyam" to the best of my ability based upon a modest grasp of the Sanskrit language.  This consists of a conversation between sage Vyasa and his son, Shuka, and describes the many spiritual and material benefits of reciting the ashtakshara mantra of Lord Narayana (the link to the post is below). 

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/803812822913447625/787398039754352026

The ashtakshara mahatyam describes the theory of spiritual practice with regard to this mantra, i.e. what should happen over time as we recite it. The practical side of this is left to us-- the rishis intended that we would practice this mantra regularly and gradually experience the benefits they described for ourselves.

As we all know, spiritual life is not easy. It involves work, a lot of work-- largely done by ourselves upon ourselves, with the help of God and (if we have one) Guru. The spiritual journey is also usually a long one (lasting a lifetime or more). 

If we have already done a lot of spiritual work in previous lifetimes, then the amount left for this lifetime may only be a little and we will attain the spiritual goal relatively soon. But, for the majority of seekers, there is still plenty of spiritual development to be done in this lifetime. And, for that, we have no option but to commit to a regular, daily spiritual practice (there are, of course, no shortcuts on the spiritual path).

Over the years, I have written on this blog about some of the highs and lows of spiritual life that I have experienced. For example, in the post below, I provided a summary of some of the positive benefits and also the challenges that I have experienced while reciting this mantra for some years. 

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/803812822913447625/6488796706028449058

There are two main challenges as far as I can see on the spiritual path. One is having to deal with past karmas. The other is inner and outer obstacles. However, the mantra helps one to handle both of these. I would like to explain this a bit further.

If a spiritual aspirant decides they wish to attain knowledge of their true spiritual nature in this lifetime (and this is the goal generally advised by all Gurus), then all their past negative karmas from countless previous lifetimes need to be purged in one lifetime. This will not be easy or pleasant.

Very few, if any, spiritual seekers attain God after a pleasant, comfortable life. Most of them undergo all sorts of experiences that would generally be regarded as unpleasant from a material perspective, that produce mental and physical suffering. This is not only a chance to purge karmas but an opportunity to develop faith in God and form a close bond with Him/Her (the ishta devata) who helps one through these.

This is where the glory of mantras, and in my experience, the ashtakshara mantra, comes in. Based on some recent events, I would like to write a little more about the practical benefits of reciting this mantra. 

It is said that the mantra itself is the devata; it is itself the very deity one is worshipping, in the form of sound. As Vyasa explains in the ashtakshara mahatmyam, this mantra helps us to destroy past negative karma, protects the mind from creating new negative karma, and also actively creates good karma and thus material happiness. 

But, most of all, it helps us transcend all karma, both good and bad, to create a bond with God, a spiritual connection with that Being who resides within each one of us. And, eventually, it helps us realise that we are one with that Being, that is our true essence, our true nature.

I would say that the universe allowed me to settle into a habit of repeating the mantra daily for a few years before unleashing a huge amount of karmic purging onto me. If the significant challenges had come up as soon as I started the practice, I may have simply given up, or perhaps not, I really don't know. 

But in any case, I am very grateful to have been permitted by God to have developed a habit of daily mantra japa and to have experienced some of the positive benefits of mantra chanting before the real spiritual challenges started some years ago. 

It is the recitation of this mantra alone that has helped me to cope with everything that I have faced in life. This mantra, given by my Guru, I feel has connected me to both my Guru and the Divine (both as Mother and Father).

Why am I writing a second post on the glories of this mantra now? Well, the reason is that I have further experienced some of its glories! 

Last month, I wrote a post saying the spiritual 'silver jubilee' that is occurring this month was not sweet at all. Only Diwali sweets were in sight (and I've already had plenty of those over the years!), but no darshan of Narayana, no sign of Him at all, either in dream or in the waking state. 

I was very frustrated, upset and annoyed with Him at the time of writing that post. This was mainly because I felt ignored by Him. Nothing happens without the will of God. It was He who must have created in me a desire to have His darshan at the present time-- and that wish had not been fulfilled (I last dreamt of Him ages ago). I was beginning to feel quite abandoned and that was not a good feeling.

During this Navaratri, which began last week, I had a dream of Lakshmi, and then later (in the same dream) of Her and Narayana together. It was a very simple but beautiful dream and I woke up feeling very happy. 

After this dream, I felt that Narayana had finally listened and responded-- He had heard me when I said I wanted a darshan of Him in some form. This felt necessary for encouragement (especially after dealing with all the challenges in recent times) to keep going on the spiritual path. (I also see this dream as indicating that I should continue with my regular worship of the Divine Mother, particularly as Lakshmi).

Despite my being grumpy with Him at times, despite my various flaws and imperfections, despite my lower mind (with all the 'shad ripus') being alive and kicking, despite all this, He heard me and He showed up in my dream in accordance with my request.

I am writing this post only to say that He hears us when we are frustrated, He hears us when we are angry, He is sympathetic, He is kind and compassionate. It is true that He does not just show up every day in our dreams or in the waking state when we demand it, but He does show up when we really need Him to, when we need encouragement to keep going upon the spiritual path. This has been my experience.

And the ashtakshara mantra connects us with Him. It helps us to form a close bond with Him. It draws His grace upon us.

The main positive feature about my spiritual life is that I repeat the ashtakshara mantra every single day (while attempting to follow the yogic ethics), come hell or high water. The capacity to do this, despite living a fairly busy 'worldly life', is in my view, due to the protecting grace of my Guru and the Divine Mother. 

Every morning and every evening I sit down for at least a few minutes and recite this mantra no matter what condition I find myself in (currently sticking with the 7 malas per day which is quite modest, and of course, frequent remembrance during the day as far as possible). If there is no time to have a seated session (fortunately that is unusual), I walk about and recite this mantra silently or aloud (if there is nobody about) to myself while performing various chores. If it is late at night, and I am very sleepy, I do not generally give in to the lower mind's wish to sleep unless the mantra japa for the day has been completed.

So, japa of the ashtakshara mantra remains a top priority in my life. I feel it is the basis of all other dharmas, all artha, kama and the quest for moksha and parabhakti. As sage Vyasa says, the four goals of human life (dharma, artha, kama and moksha) are rooted in the recitation of the ashtakshara mantra which grants all these. I feel this mantra has greatly benefited me both spiritually and materially over the years.

So, in summary, all that I can say, is that the ashtakshara mantra is wonderful, it is glorious. It connects us with the Divine, and allows us to feel His grace and blessings and His living response to our call to Him. 

I would therefore say that it is well worth reciting this mantra daily (and I will very much continue to do so, God willing). (Of course, our Gurus say that all names and mantras of the Divine, including from other spiritual traditions, are equally powerful and protective-- so some form of daily recitation of these based upon our own inclination would be wise).

Om Shri Lakshmi-Narayanabhyam Namah. I wish all of you a very happy Navaratri. Let us continue to pray for our own spiritual progress and the welfare of all beings.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.