What is a mantra?

Mantra is a sound syllable or word(s) that is reverentially obtained from a Guru for constant repetition and/or contemplation. Mantra-s can be the name of Gods like Shiva, Vishnu, Saraswati, Bala etc. They can also denote the vedantic truth. Examples of this kind include so-ham or even the famous Gayatri mantra. Mantra-s purify and prepare the mind for the dawn of discrimination and knowledge. Traditionally, mantra is defined as

mananAt trAyate iti mantraH

mantra is that which protects the one who chants or repeats it.

The act of repeating it constantly is called japa. This japa draws fresh grooves in the mind and slowly weans the sAdhaka away from turmoil and rests him in tranquilty. The protection can be physical (as in the case of a mantra protecting against a scorpion bite) or it can be a very subtle transformation of the mind of the chanter. mantra-s gives the chanter chitta shuddhi or purity of mind. It helps him see things as they are and gives clarity of thought and purpose. It will culminate in a vision of divinity.

mantra-s were divined by maharshis (great sages). On account of their tapas, austerities, various devata-s (Gods) appeared before them. In honor of the maharshi-s and to seek their blessings every mantra japa session begins by recalling the maharshi who divined the particular mantra being chanted. These maharshi-s are called mantra drashta-s, seers of the mantra. Our Gurus, from whom we obtain mantropadesam (inititiation into the mantra), have attained mantra siddhi. That is, they have performed the japa and meditation of the mantra to the extent of having direct experience or darshan of the deity denoted by the mantra. Getting initiated bysuch Guru-s is the most effective and one is truly blessed to receive such an initiation.

mantra-s are sound symbols of the Lord. Hence, along with the rshi, the chandas or meter in which the mantra is chanted, is also recalled and revered. The vedic meter is a measurement of the verses by the number of syllables. For example, Gayatri chandas contains eight syllables. There are many others like trishtup, anushtup, jagati etc. each with different number of syllables in them.

After the rshi and chandas are remembered, the actual deity of the mantra is called to mind and meditated upon through a dhyana shloka. This shloka (verse) describes the deity in great detail. The description may contain physical features and/or divine qualities. The dhyana shloka-s gives a method of visualizing the formless God. The seers have composed such verses to give a glimpse of the divinity and lets the meditator revel in the glory of the God.

Intention

Every act has an intention behind it and it is this intention that determines the result of the action performed. In mantra japa too the intention is important. Sometimes japa is performed with worldly intentions to ward off evil, improve heath, begetting a progeny etc. If it is performed with such worldly desires it is termed as kAmya. If it is performed without any worldly desire it becomes nishkAma. Performing japa purely for the grace of the God is superior. At the end of the day, japa elevates a person spiritually and unites him with his ishta devata, personal God. What desire could be more fulfilling and satisfying than this?

Japa and vedanta

I came across a wonderful exposition on japa by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He explains how japa is a technique. Here is a small extract:

(Begin Extract)

'Japa works as a technique for gaining some mental discipline. However, japa is something more than the mere chanting of a sound. In repeating a given chant, you give yourself an occasion to see the ways of your own thinking. This repetition becomes a technique for keeping your mind directed for a length of time - and it can also help the mind gain a certain depth.'

He continues, 'The advantage of repetition is that we can appreciate the interval between two successive occupations of the mind. In listless thinking with no direction, the mind simply moves from one thought to another. This type of thinking is like picking up noodles. If you try to pick up one noodle, you find it coming along with a few others. Similarly, the whole occupation of thinking becomes 'as though' a single thought; even though there are many thoughts. Between two thoughts there is an interval. Repeating a given chant eliminates or avoids the connections between two thoughts. Each chant is a complete unit in itself and one thought unit is not connected to the second thought unit since both are the same. Thus, between two chants, there is a period: chant – period - chant - period. There is no comma, only a period, a full stop. Therefore, each chant is complete and between chants the interval is available for you to recognize.

What is it that obtains in the interval between chants? Between one thought with a certain form and sound and the next thought there is no given thought. There is only an interval with no form or shape. This is what we call peace or silence. Because this silence has no particular thought form, there is no thinking as we know it.
We always think that peace is something we have to acquire. People even ask for it: “Swamiji, I have everything except peace of mind. How can I gain this peace?” Because the mind is restless, we think that peace is something new that we have to acquire, an attribute with which we have to embellish the mind. Is peace something we have to acquire or is it natural?

I once went to a swami, Yogi Ramayya, who was originally a yogi and then became a disciple of Ramana Maharshi. I could sense that he was a person who was at peace with himself. He never talked much, but he said one thing to me that really hit home :

“For restlessness you have to work a lot. For peace, what is there to do?”

Having asked this question, he became silent, which I found to be very effective.'

(End of extract.)

Benefits of mantra japa

Japa brings a lot of worldly and spiritual benefits. Some of them are

• One who practices mantra japa incessantly will find the challenges of daily life less disturbing

• The mantra is a beautiful oasis, a calm and quiet refuge, where the mind can rest during the frenetic paced lifestyle that people have these days

• The mantra helps the mind slowly withdraw from the belief that gratification through external objects brings happiness

• Mantra weakens negative thoughts and emotions. The constant repetition even attenuates or weakens stubborn negative subconscious conditioning

• The mantra japa becomes a close confidante and friend that one can rely upon in every event and circumstance of life

• The mantra japa leads a person into deeper levels of dhyana and ultimately to God realization

There is an incident of person performing mantra japa incessantly for many years to the extent of having visions of the deity of the mantra. One day it just stopped. No mattter how much he tried he couldn't resume japa. He went to his Guru, Ramana Maharshi, to resolve this. The Maharshi asked him how he came to Ramanashram. The person replied that he had taken a train from Madras to Tiruvannamali and then a bullock cart from the railway station to the ashram. On being asked where the train and the bullock cart were, the person replied that they dropped him at the respective locations and moved away. The Maharshi explained that the mantra japa performs a similar role. It takes the sadhaka to the portals of Atma vichara. This person then, by the grace of the Maharshi, was established in Brahmanhood.

{NOTE: Some nice references on Mantra japa practice

Swami Dayananda Saraswati's essay on Japa can be bought here.

Online link

ISBN: 978-81-906059-9-1

Language: English

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Japa Yoga - A comprehensive treatise on Mantra Shastra

by Swami Shivananda

A Divine LIfe Society Publication

Online link

ISBN: 81-7052-018-5

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The Power of Mantra & The Mystery of Initiation

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D

Himalayan Institute Press

Online link

ISBN: 0-89389-176-2

END NOTE}