Spiritual Initiatives: Personal Mantras

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You don't recite a personal mantra in your daily life?

 

Personal mantras are usually short and easy to remember. They are

chanted with care and faith, whenever possible during a day's

routine. Free moments we have when commuting to work, browsing TV

channels idly, getting up from bed, going to bed, and so on, can be

utilized to recite a personal mantra.

 

Does the incessant chanting of a personal mantra hinder thoughts?

Functional thinking is typically in words and phrases. For example,

if our thoughts are centered on a write-up, a speech to deliver,

etc., we think up predominantly in words and phrases.

 

Recognitive thinking, on the other hand, is largely picturesque. If

I bring back to mind a speech I delivered, for example, the

occasion, the people and the other circumstances dominate my mind,

mainly in pictures. Even if I remember a phrase or sentence in my

speech that captivated the audience, I am reminded of the

expressions and looks of the people in front of me, more than of my

words.

 

Purposeful thinking is generally functional. Idle thinking is

generally recognitive.

 

A primary requirement of spiritual advancement is that we regulate

and reduce our thoughts, at least avoid idle thinking. But this is

not easy. The stream of consciousness flows on, and our mind jumps

and wanders like a monkey, from thought to thought.

 

One way of reducing thoughts is learning to think in phrases, and in

words that conjure up the idea. The next step is learning to think

in terms of word-parts and syllables. An advanced step in this

direction is intuitive thinking.

 

Personal mantras help reduce our thoughts. As we practice chanting,

the mantra will get to the background and become ajapaa,

(involuntary chanting), like our breathing, leaving us space for

purposeful thinking. And this concurrent thinking will gradually

tend to be intutive. Cultivating the habit of intuitive thinking

helps focus our consciousness on the higher regions of the mental

world, although we may not be readily aware of it. It takes us

nearer to our higher Self.

 

Presented below are some of the universal mantras of Sanatana

Dharma, that can be chanted personally. Please note that I am not

Sanskrit-literate. The transliterations and meanings I have given

here are gathered from books and the Internet.

 

Hindu religious literature is replete with invocation to personal

gods. The mantras I have included here do not relate to any personal

god. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as spoken of here, refer to the Three

Aspects of the Universal God, rather than the Hindu Trinity.

 

As Bishop Leadbeater says about Gayatri mantra, it is the intention

and not the language that produces the effect. While it is true that

the Sanskrit rhythms generate more powerful vibrations, the mantras

may also be chanted in faith using recitable vernacular

translations.

 

Universal mantras of Sanatana Dharma for Everyone

(Aural versions of mantras marked with an asterisk are available at:

www.hindunet.org)

 

1. Lead, kindly, Light!*

--------

Asato ma Sad gamaya

Tamaso ma Jyotir gamaya

Mrityor ma Amritam gamaya

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

 

Meaning of the phrases

asato-from unreal; ma-me; sad-to the real; gamaya-lead;

tamaso-from darkness (of ignorance); ma-me; jyotir-to light;

gamaya-lead;

mrtyoh-from death; ma-me; amrtam-immortality; gamaya-lead;

 

Overall meaning

Lead me (by giving knowledge) from the unreal to the real;

from darkness (of ignorance) to the light (of knowledge);

from death (sense of limitation) to immortality (limitless

liberation).

 

2. That is Perfect*

--------

Aum Poorna madah Poorna midam

Poornaat Poorna mudachyate

Poornasya Poorna maadaya

Poorna meva Vashishyate

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

 

That is perfect - this is perfect. What comes from such perfection

truly is perfect. What remains after perfection from perfection is

yet perfect. May there be peace, peace and perfect peace.

 

3. Oblation to Brahman

--------

Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir

Brahmagnau Braahmanaa Hutam

Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam

Brahma Karma Samadhina

 

Meaning of the phrases

Brahma-Brahman; arpanam-the means of offering; havir-oblation;

brahmagnau-unto the fire that is Brahman; brahmana-by brahman;

hutam-is offered;

eva-indeed; tena-by him; gantavyam-to be reached;

brahma karma samadhina-who is abiding in Brahman

 

Overall meaning

Any means of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the fire

in which the offering is made is Brahman, and the one who offers is

Brahman. Such a person who abides in Brahman indeed gains Brahman.

 

Brief Explanation

This verse is from the Bhagavad Gita (chapter 4, verse 24), and is

traditionally chanted before meals. Brahman is the name of the Lord,

the cause of the whole creation. Looking at the whole creation as an

effect, Brahman is seen as the cause of everything. The effect does

not exist separate from its cause. This verse likens food that is

eaten to an oblation poured into the fire during ritual. By chanting

this prayer before meals, the food that is eaten is offered to

Brahman, the Lord.

 

4. Oblation to Narayana (Vishnu)

--------

Kaayena vaacha Manase ndriyerva

Budhyad manava Prakrite Swabhavat

Karomi Yadyat Sakalam Parasmai

Narayanayeti Samarpayami

 

Unto Lord Narayana, I dedicate all the acts that I perform with my

body, speech, mind, senses and intellect that are born of

deliberation and natural tendencies.

 

5. Universal Welfare - 1*

--------

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha

Sarve Santu Niramayah

Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu

Mas Kaschid Dhuka Bhag Bhavet

 

Meaning of the phrases

Sarve-all; bhavantu-may be; sukhinah-happy;

santu-happy; niramayah-free from disease; badrani-prosprity;

pashyantu-may enjoy;

ma-not; kaschit-anybody; dukkshbhag-one who suffers; bhavet-may be

 

Overall meaning

May all be happy. May all enjoy health and freedom from disease.

May all enjoy prosperity. May none suffer.

 

Brief explanation

These are prayers for the prosperity and welfare of humanity.

To achieve anything in life, one has to make an effort and await the

results. In addition, many unknown factors and laws influence the

outcome of that effort. By praying to the Lord, one acknowledges

these laws as the natural order inseparable from the Lord, and one

acknowledges the Lord as the giver of all results of actions.

 

6. Universal Welfare - 2*

--------

AUM Sarve shaam Swastir Bhavatu

Sarve shaam Shantir Bhavatu;

Sarve shaam purnam Bhavatu;

Sarve shaam Mangalam Bhavatu.

AUM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih

 

May all be auspecious;

May all attain peace;

Let there be fullness and contentment all over;

May all be blessed.

AUM peace, peace, peace.

 

7. Universal Peace

--------

AUM. Dhyaoh Shaantih, Antariksha Shaantih,

Prithavi Shaantih, Aapah Shaantih, Oshadhyah Shaantih,

Vanaspatyah Shaantih, Vishvedevah Shaantih, Brahma Shaantih,

Sarvam Shaantih, Shaantih Eva Shaantih,

Saa Maa Shaantir-edhi

AUM Shaantih, Shaantih, Shaantih

 

AUM. May there be peace in the sky and in the space.

May there be peace on land and in the waters.

May herbs and food bring us peace.

May God bring us peace.

May there be peace throughout the world.

May the peace be peaceful.

May God give me such peace.

AUM Peace, Peace, Peace

 

8. The Lord is my Everything

--------

Tvameva Mata Cha Pita Tvameva

Tvameva Bandhuscha Sakha Tvameva

Tvameva Vidya Dravinam Tvameva

Tvameva Sarvam mama Deva Deva

 

O Supreme Lord (deva-dev, Master of all demigods),

You are our mother, father, brother, and friend.

You are the knowledge and You are the only wealth.

You are our everything.

 

9. Brahman is Light (chanted when lighting a lamp)

--------

Deepa jyothi Parabrahma

Deepa jyothi Janardhana

Deepo me hara tu paapam

Deepaa Jyothir Namostute

 

I salute the Lord, the sustainer of the creation, in the form of

this light. I salute this light (the Lord), may He destroy

afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions.

 

10. Respects to Guru*

--------

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Gurur Devo Maheshvarah

Guru Shakshat Param Brahma

Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah

 

Know The Guru To Be Brahma Himself. He Is Vishnu. He Is Also Shiva.

Know Him To Be The Supreme Brahman, And Offer Thy Adoration Unto

That Peerless Guru.

 

11. Guru and Chela*

--------

Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu

Saha veeryam Karava vahai

Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidh wishavahai

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Meaning of the phrases

Saha-both; nau-us; avatu-may he protect; bhunaktu-may he nourish;

viryam karavavahai-may we acquire the capacity;

tejasvi-be brilliant; nau-for us; adhitam-what is studied; astu-let

it be; ma vidvisavahai-may we not argue with each other.

 

Overall meaning

May He protect both of us. May He nourish both of us. May we both

acquire the capacity (to study and understand the scriptures). May

our study be brilliant. May we not argue with each other. Om peace,

peace, peace.

 

Brief explanation

At the beginning of a class, the teacher and students generally

recite this peace invocation together. Both seek the Lord's

blessings for study that is free of obstacles, such as poor memory,

or the inability to concentrate or poor health. They also seek

blessings for a conducive relationship, without which communication

of any subject matter is difficult. Therefore, this prayer is

important for both the teacher and the student.

 

Readers may please search the Internet Hindu Websites for aural

renditions of other mantras, as they help with correct chanting of

the mantra in Sanskrit.

 

Recite a personal mantra with faith, when you commute to and from

work, and at other times when you are mentally free. You will

definitely find the difference.

 

Regards,

saidevo