CHAPTER 12 - MANTRAS & SOUND🔗

Sanskrit

Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages known. In addition to its linguistic value, ie communicating ideas, or logic, concepts, it has great phonetic importance. The sound vibration of the language makes Sanskrit a powerful, sophisticated instrument that can take one beyond language, verbalization, and ordinary logic. It is not surprising then, that it is the only language used to invoke the energies of the Divine in sacred Hindu rituals.

Sanskrit was also the language of science, knowledge and culture. In ancient times, transmission of texts was done orally only. The hymns, poems and puranas composed during the Vedic period formed the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The oldest known texts in Sanskrit are the Rig Veda, Sama-veda, Yajurveda and the Atharva-veda.

Mantra

Mantra is an exact science. It is subtle and works on the principles of nada or sound. Sound is a form of energy which has among its qualities frequency, volume, pitch, and tone. Every sound carries energy and every energy manifests sound.

There are two sources of sound. The first is sound that comes from pure Source - it is called Anahata Dhwani, uncreated sound. Within each one of us exists the ability to listen to this unstruck sound through the subtle heart, anahata chakra. The second source of sound is from the vibrations created by two things striking each other. This is called ahata. These are sounds that come from the outer world. It impacts our mood and mind in various ways, agitating or relaxing us. These sounds include the spoken word and thoughts as thoughts are words we utter or speak within ourselves. Mind is nothing but the internal verbalization of the sounds of whatever language you know. We create our world with every word we speak or think.

Mantras are cosmic sounds, uncreated sounds. These cosmic sounds were heard by the ancient yogis during very deep states of meditation. In these deep states of altered consciousness, their senses became highly sensitized, and they could see and hear what normal physical senses are not capable of detecting. The yogis found that these cosmic sounds vibrate at particular frequencies which created ripples of vibrations that reached and activated the chakras when the sounds were repeated audibly or mentally. With further exploration, the yogis discovered that different combinations of cosmic sounds created different states of consciousness. As a result, mantras like Om Namah Shivaya and others emerged.

Mantras have the power to heal the body and mind, rewire the brain and transform the very consciousness even if the direct meaning of the words being chanted is not understood. Just by intense, authentic listening, the phonetic quality of the mantra can purify the inner space. Mantras affect pranamaya kosha, vijnanamaya and anandamaya kosha which are the deeper levels of the mind. This explains why chanting or kirtans bring a feeling of lightness and inspiration in the being. There are mantras for different purposes, like mantras for healing of different ailments, wealth, sleep, removing obstacles. When mantras are used with pranayamas, it becomes a powerful technique which can take one to samadhi.

Many people misunderstand the use of mantras and merely choose words that have appeal to them out of a book. Such words may have an emotional charge but are not charged by the cosmic energy, prana shakti. Initiation by the Guru is essential to impart power to the mantra. In addition, the mantra needs to be chanted with the proper pronunciation, intonation and focus to create the right vibrations. There are however, universal mantras such as Om or Gayatri which can be chanted without having had a mantra initiation.

Masters radiate anahata dhwani

Masters constantly radiate anahata dhwani, the uncreated sound*. Mental and physical health will be harmonized, and restored, just by being in the space where the soundless sound goes on vibrating. The Master's intense radiating of the anahata dhwani* is called 'sarva roga nivarini', cure for all diseases. It's infinite powerful range can create, destroy and reshape body, and mind and transform consciousness. It is also described as manana trayate iti mantraha, mantra is that which protects those who reflect on it, the very anahata dhwani itself.

When our beings are brought into harmony with the power of mantra and anahata dhwani, we simply fall in tune with the divine radiant energy. It is in this state of super consciousness that we become one with all, we merge into the realm of eternal bliss, Nithyananda.

Bija mantras

Bija mantras are single syllable sounds. Bija means seed, and refers to the unmanifest state of existence, without vibrations. The seed has the potential to sprout. Bija mantras hold the higher evolutionary power of consciousness, the different aspects of divine manifestation. The classical bija mantras invoke the seed sounds of the chakras or the gods and goddesses. When the seed sounds of the chakras are invoked, they release innate abilities and powers of that chakra in us. On the same note invocation of the bija mantra of a god or goddess releases the essential qualities and energy embodied by that deity, and imbibes our mind with that energy.

Bija mantras for the chakras are

• LAM root chakra
• VAM - swadhisthana chakra
• RAM manipura chakra
• YAM anahata chakra
• HAM vishuddhi chakra
• OM ajna chakra

Some bija mantras for deities are :

• HROUM Shiva
• AIM Saraswati
• SHRIM Mahalakshmi
• GAM- Ganesha
• DOOM Durga
• KRIM Kali