Thiru ashtakshara japam

[Guest guest]

Srimathe ramanujaya namaha

Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha

 

dear bhaktas,

I have a doubt regarding recitation of Thiru ashtakshara japam, i.e, OM NAMO

NARAYANA. Can it be recited before concluding sandhyavandanam? it is mentioned

so in the srivaishnava sandhyavandana book. is it enough to chant only om namo

narayana or should it be with sankalpam and other formalities? HOW MANY times

should it be chanted? i request you to kindly reply in detail reg. this matter.

thanking you,

adien ramanuja dasan,

N.Ramesh.

[Guest guest]

Dear Ramesh,

 

I do not know the correct answer for your question, but my only comment is that

the Ashtakshram should be Om namO nArAyANAyA. The last aksharam of 'yA' is what

would make it Ashtaksharam. Otherwise there will be only 7 aksharams in it.

 

adien ramanuja dasan,

Srivatsan Santhanam

[Guest guest]

Sri Raamajayam

SrimathE GopAla DEsika MahA DEsikAya Namaha

 

Dear Sri.Ramesh,

You have raised a very good question, which most of us would not

follow correctly if we just follow a book(like Lifco's Sandhyavandanam book).

Sri AshtAkshara Mantra Japam, has to be recited by a Sri Vaishnava(who has

undergone Pancha Samskaara, and receives the Mantras in Mantra Samskaaram) with

both Physical and Mental purity. AshtAkshara has great amount of relevance as

Sri Gayathri Mantra and as if to signify it, we make a sankalpam to recite the

same number of AshtAkshara as number of Gayathris. There are some exceptions

to AshtAkshara when compared to other Rahasya Mantras(like Gayathri, Dwayam or

Charama Slokam),

1.If a person does not have a snanam and fresh clothes(like Sayam Sandhya, where

one may skip the evening shower), then he is not eligible to recite AshtAkshara.

However Gayathri, Dwayam, Charama Slokam could/should be recited.

2.For Sthree(ladies) and other Varnas, the Pranavam is substituted.

 

Hope this answers your questions.

 

AdiyEn Sri RAmAnuja DAsan,

[Guest guest]

This is done immediately after Gayatri Japam by Ahobilamatham Sishyas and by

others after completing the Sandhyopasanam.The number should normally equal

the number of repetition of Gayatri Mantram.

Desikan

[Guest guest]

Dear Shri Ramesh:

 

I assume that you have had Samashreyanam. The PanchasamskAram is a

prerequisite before you can begin the AshtAkshara Japam. The way you have

spelt the mantra (in bold letters) is imcomplete.

 

AshtAkshara Japam is considered to be a part of Sandhyavandanam. The

Satvika Tyagam for Sandhya at the end is done after this japam. It is done

immediately following the Gayatri Japam (after separate sankalpam with

anganyasam etc), provided the time for upasthanam has not arrived. For eg.:

During Pratha: Sandhya, if Sun rise occurs before you finish Gayatri Japam

then you should do the upasthanam and then the Gayatri Japam. If not do the

ashtaksharam and then the upasthanam. The number to be done is same as that

of Gayatri Japam.

 

Hope this clarifies.

 

dAsan

 

S. Vijayaraghavan

Buffalo, NY

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Couonting the Thiru Ashtaksharams is calculated like this

 

OM - Is a Single letter

Nama- ('Nama eti Dwe Akshere')

Narayanaya-(Narayanaya eti Panchaksharani'.....)

 

 

The splitting of Thiruashtakshram and the the menaing of the urubu 'Aya'

are discussed widely in Thirumantra Prakaranam of Mumookshapadi.

 

 

Thanks

Regards

KM Narayanan

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[Guest guest]

Dear Swamin During Samasrayanam Acharya will

teach u asto how to recite Ashtakshara jabam etc

After Sandhya Madhya Sayam Sandhya U have to recite

equal number of AShtaksharam Dvya manthram etc PL

refer my books Sri Vaishnava sampradayam- Sila

mukkiya Vishayangal and yen- yenna -yetharkku DASAN

Soundararajan Chairman Sri Kanchi Perarulalan

religious tamil monthly