Guest guest Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Dear Narasimha,When does Navratri end? It started on last Monday, September 29, 2008 and should therefore end on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 (Nine Nights)...yet the panchang shows that at sunrise on Wednesday, October 8 starts with Navami, so should we continue our Navratri on Wednesday too even though it is technically the 10th day? (All these times are based on US EST)..Also, can anyone do the Navarna mantra, "Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche" or does this require initiation?Thanks,Chandraprakash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Namaste, There are 11 days instead of 10 from Pratipada to Vijaya Dasami this time. If you look at the nights before Vijaya Dasami, then there are ten nights instead of nine this year. This happens sometimes. If you live on US east coast, then Chaturthi comes twices on Thursday and Friday (Oct 2 & 3). It lasted the entire Thursday and extended into Friday. Panchami was on Saturday (Oct 4). Shashthi was on Sunday (Oct 5). Ashtami is on Tuesday (Oct 8). Navami is on Wednesday (Oct 9). Dasami is on Thursday (Oct 10). If one's parents did not do a proper "anna praasana" ritual (the ritual of first feeding of solid food to a baby) to one, should one consider oneself not entitled to eat any solid food? Not doing a mantra because of no initiation is basically like that. Getting initiation is good, especially if the one initiating has some level of sadhana in that mantra. But it is neither necessary nor sufficient for making progress in your own sadhana. If you see my homam document, I gave an analogy for this. A millionaire may open a bank account in his son's name with a starting balance of a million dollars. This is akin to a good guru initiating a sishya in a mantra. Sishya starts off by getting some of guru's attainment. But the son may waste those million dollars and end up with nothing. Similarly the sishya may fall and not achieve anything. Another person may not have anyone to give money and may start off with a zero bank balance but accumulate millions of dollars with own effort. This is akin to a person doing sadhana with a mantra without guru and attaining some level in the mantra. Some people hold the view that mantras cannot be chanted without a proper "initiation". This view is especially prevalent in some sections of society w.r.t. navarna mantra. However, I disagree with that view. If you know the mantra (!), just chant it. What would an initiating guru have done for you? Perhaps he would've given some of his attainment in the mantra to you. Well, you can do it yourself if you work hard. Or a guru would've taught you the right nyasas to be done before the mantra. Well, you can get the nyasas from books too. Moreover, what most people do today for nyasas is anyway just a ritual with no meaning. Nyasa literally means placement. You place various sounds in various body parts (like the tips of various fingers, heart, top of head, eyes etc). People merely act out some signals while saying the sounds. This "placement" is actually supposed to be an internal act and it creates an ideal environment for the repetition of mantra. Due to the external actions, what is supposed to occur internally does not occur in most. So the sounds end up not getting properly placed in the body. In other words, what I am trying to say is that most people do not know how to "place" various "sounds" in various body parts. They merely perform meaningless ritualistic actions. So, if you do not know nyasas, you are not really missing much compared to others who were initiated. In my humble opinion, the most important qualification is to have devotion and sense of surrender to Her. If you have them, you can consider yourself "highly initiated". Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - Chandra Prakash Sunday, October 05, 2008 11:16 PM Navaratri... Dear Narasimha,When does Navratri end? It started on last Monday, September 29, 2008 and should therefore end on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 (Nine Nights)...yet the panchang shows that at sunrise on Wednesday, October 8 starts with Navami, so should we continue our Navratri on Wednesday too even though it is technically the 10th day? (All these times are based on US EST)..Also, can anyone do the Navarna mantra, "Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche" or does this require initiation?Thanks,Chandraprakash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Dear Narsimhaji, I was thinking yesterday to ask about Nyasas and today I saw your this mail mentioning Nyasas. Will you please elaborately explain about Nyasas. Whether this is necessary? What actually we have to think while doing Nyasas? Kindly guide because so far I know these all are simply rituals. Dr.Ashwin Rawal--- On Mon, 6/10/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: Navaratri... Cc: sivacharya Date: Monday, 6 October, 2008, 9:22 AM Namaste, There are 11 days instead of 10 from Pratipada to Vijaya Dasami this time. If you look at the nights before Vijaya Dasami, then there are ten nights instead of nine this year. This happens sometimes. If you live on US east coast, then Chaturthi comes twices on Thursday and Friday (Oct 2 & 3). It lasted the entire Thursday and extended into Friday. Panchami was on Saturday (Oct 4). Shashthi was on Sunday (Oct 5). Ashtami is on Tuesday (Oct 8). Navami is on Wednesday (Oct 9). Dasami is on Thursday (Oct 10). If one's parents did not do a proper "anna praasana" ritual (the ritual of first feeding of solid food to a baby) to one, should one consider oneself not entitled to eat any solid food? Not doing a mantra because of no initiation is basically like that. Getting initiation is good, especially if the one initiating has some level of sadhana in that mantra. But it is neither necessary nor sufficient for making progress in your own sadhana. If you see my homam document, I gave an analogy for this. A millionaire may open a bank account in his son's name with a starting balance of a million dollars. This is akin to a good guru initiating a sishya in a mantra. Sishya starts off by getting some of guru's attainment. But the son may waste those million dollars and end up with nothing. Similarly the sishya may fall and not achieve anything. Another person may not have anyone to give money and may start off with a zero bank balance but accumulate millions of dollars with own effort. This is akin to a person doing sadhana with a mantra without guru and attaining some level in the mantra. Some people hold the view that mantras cannot be chanted without a proper "initiation" . This view is especially prevalent in some sections of society w.r.t. navarna mantra. However, I disagree with that view. If you know the mantra (!), just chant it. What would an initiating guru have done for you? Perhaps he would've given some of his attainment in the mantra to you. Well, you can do it yourself if you work hard. Or a guru would've taught you the right nyasas to be done before the mantra. Well, you can get the nyasas from books too. Moreover, what most people do today for nyasas is anyway just a ritual with no meaning. Nyasa literally means placement. You place various sounds in various body parts (like the tips of various fingers, heart, top of head, eyes etc). People merely act out some signals while saying the sounds. This "placement" is actually supposed to be an internal act and it creates an ideal environment for the repetition of mantra. Due to the external actions, what is supposed to occur internally does not occur in most. So the sounds end up not getting properly placed in the body. In other words, what I am trying to say is that most people do not know how to "place" various "sounds" in various body parts. They merely perform meaningless ritualistic actions. So, if you do not know nyasas, you are not really missing much compared to others who were initiated. In my humble opinion, the most important qualification is to have devotion and sense of surrender to Her. If you have them, you can consider yourself "highly initiated". Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Chandra Prakash Sunday, October 05, 2008 11:16 PM Navaratri... Dear Narasimha,When does Navratri end? It started on last Monday, September 29, 2008 and should therefore end on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 (Nine Nights)...yet the panchang shows that at sunrise on Wednesday, October 8 starts with Navami, so should we continue our Navratri on Wednesday too even though it is technically the 10th day? (All these times are based on US EST)..Also, can anyone do the Navarna mantra, "Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche" or does this require initiation?Thanks,Chandraprakash Bring your gang together. Do your thing. Find your favourite Group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Dear Narasimha,Thank you for your guidance. I am glad that you hinted about the Navarna Mantra...as per Swami Sivananda's writings, the Navarna Mantra is "Aim hreem kleem chaamundaayai vichche " http://www.dlshq.org/religions/navaratri.htmYet most people I have met continue to use "OM" before the mantra and still refer it as Navarna Mantra, similar to the Siva Panchaakshari Mantra, "Namah Sivaaya" which people commonly say is "Om Namah Sivaaya". The "OM" at the beginning of the mantra is supposedly added to "protect" us. Could you please share your thoughts on this topic.Tommorrow evening, we have the Ashtami Chandi Havan and I would like to start reciting the mantra. Is it preferable to start the mantra during the Havan itself OR do I need to wait till the purnaahuti of the Havan and then start the mantra chanting at the Havan Kund?warm regards,ChandraprakashNarasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Cc: sivacharya Sent: Sunday, October 5, 2008 11:52:54 PM Re: Navaratri... Namaste, There are 11 days instead of 10 from Pratipada to Vijaya Dasami this time. If you look at the nights before Vijaya Dasami, then there are ten nights instead of nine this year. This happens sometimes. If you live on US east coast, then Chaturthi comes twices on Thursday and Friday (Oct 2 & 3). It lasted the entire Thursday and extended into Friday. Panchami was on Saturday (Oct 4). Shashthi was on Sunday (Oct 5). Ashtami is on Tuesday (Oct 8). Navami is on Wednesday (Oct 9). Dasami is on Thursday (Oct 10). If one's parents did not do a proper "anna praasana" ritual (the ritual of first feeding of solid food to a baby) to one, should one consider oneself not entitled to eat any solid food? Not doing a mantra because of no initiation is basically like that. Getting initiation is good, especially if the one initiating has some level of sadhana in that mantra. But it is neither necessary nor sufficient for making progress in your own sadhana. If you see my homam document, I gave an analogy for this. A millionaire may open a bank account in his son's name with a starting balance of a million dollars. This is akin to a good guru initiating a sishya in a mantra. Sishya starts off by getting some of guru's attainment. But the son may waste those million dollars and end up with nothing. Similarly the sishya may fall and not achieve anything. Another person may not have anyone to give money and may start off with a zero bank balance but accumulate millions of dollars with own effort. This is akin to a person doing sadhana with a mantra without guru and attaining some level in the mantra. Some people hold the view that mantras cannot be chanted without a proper "initiation" . This view is especially prevalent in some sections of society w.r.t. navarna mantra. However, I disagree with that view. If you know the mantra (!), just chant it. What would an initiating guru have done for you? Perhaps he would've given some of his attainment in the mantra to you. Well, you can do it yourself if you work hard. Or a guru would've taught you the right nyasas to be done before the mantra. Well, you can get the nyasas from books too. Moreover, what most people do today for nyasas is anyway just a ritual with no meaning. Nyasa literally means placement. You place various sounds in various body parts (like the tips of various fingers, heart, top of head, eyes etc). People merely act out some signals while saying the sounds. This "placement" is actually supposed to be an internal act and it creates an ideal environment for the repetition of mantra. Due to the external actions, what is supposed to occur internally does not occur in most. So the sounds end up not getting properly placed in the body. In other words, what I am trying to say is that most people do not know how to "place" various "sounds" in various body parts. They merely perform meaningless ritualistic actions. So, if you do not know nyasas, you are not really missing much compared to others who were initiated. In my humble opinion, the most important qualification is to have devotion and sense of surrender to Her. If you have them, you can consider yourself "highly initiated". Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Chandra Prakash Sunday, October 05, 2008 11:16 PM Navaratri... Dear Narasimha,When does Navratri end? It started on last Monday, September 29, 2008 and should therefore end on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 (Nine Nights)...yet the panchang shows that at sunrise on Wednesday, October 8 starts with Navami, so should we continue our Navratri on Wednesday too even though it is technically the 10th day? (All these times are based on US EST)..Also, can anyone do the Navarna mantra, "Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche" or does this require initiation?Thanks,Chandraprakash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Namaste, I recommend adding Om only. You can chant anytime as the havan is going on. Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - Chandra Prakash Cc: sivacharya Monday, October 06, 2008 11:10 PM Re: Re: Navaratri... Dear Narasimha,Thank you for your guidance. I am glad that you hinted about the Navarna Mantra...as per Swami Sivananda's writings, the Navarna Mantra is "Aim hreem kleem chaamundaayai vichche " http://www.dlshq.org/religions/navaratri.htmYet most people I have met continue to use "OM" before the mantra and still refer it as Navarna Mantra, similar to the Siva Panchaakshari Mantra, "Namah Sivaaya" which people commonly say is "Om Namah Sivaaya". The "OM" at the beginning of the mantra is supposedly added to "protect" us. Could you please share your thoughts on this topic.Tommorrow evening, we have the Ashtami Chandi Havan and I would like to start reciting the mantra. Is it preferable to start the mantra during the Havan itself OR do I need to wait till the purnaahuti of the Havan and then start the mantra chanting at the Havan Kund?warm regards,Chandraprakash Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Cc: sivacharya Sent: Sunday, October 5, 2008 11:52:54 PM Re: Navaratri... Namaste, There are 11 days instead of 10 from Pratipada to Vijaya Dasami this time. If you look at the nights before Vijaya Dasami, then there are ten nights instead of nine this year. This happens sometimes. If you live on US east coast, then Chaturthi comes twices on Thursday and Friday (Oct 2 & 3). It lasted the entire Thursday and extended into Friday. Panchami was on Saturday (Oct 4). Shashthi was on Sunday (Oct 5). Ashtami is on Tuesday (Oct 8). Navami is on Wednesday (Oct 9). Dasami is on Thursday (Oct 10). If one's parents did not do a proper "anna praasana" ritual (the ritual of first feeding of solid food to a baby) to one, should one consider oneself not entitled to eat any solid food? Not doing a mantra because of no initiation is basically like that. Getting initiation is good, especially if the one initiating has some level of sadhana in that mantra. But it is neither necessary nor sufficient for making progress in your own sadhana. If you see my homam document, I gave an analogy for this. A millionaire may open a bank account in his son's name with a starting balance of a million dollars. This is akin to a good guru initiating a sishya in a mantra. Sishya starts off by getting some of guru's attainment. But the son may waste those million dollars and end up with nothing. Similarly the sishya may fall and not achieve anything. Another person may not have anyone to give money and may start off with a zero bank balance but accumulate millions of dollars with own effort. This is akin to a person doing sadhana with a mantra without guru and attaining some level in the mantra. Some people hold the view that mantras cannot be chanted without a proper "initiation" . This view is especially prevalent in some sections of society w.r.t. navarna mantra. However, I disagree with that view. If you know the mantra (!), just chant it. What would an initiating guru have done for you? Perhaps he would've given some of his attainment in the mantra to you. Well, you can do it yourself if you work hard. Or a guru would've taught you the right nyasas to be done before the mantra. Well, you can get the nyasas from books too. Moreover, what most people do today for nyasas is anyway just a ritual with no meaning. Nyasa literally means placement. You place various sounds in various body parts (like the tips of various fingers, heart, top of head, eyes etc). People merely act out some signals while saying the sounds. This "placement" is actually supposed to be an internal act and it creates an ideal environment for the repetition of mantra. Due to the external actions, what is supposed to occur internally does not occur in most. So the sounds end up not getting properly placed in the body. In other words, what I am trying to say is that most people do not know how to "place" various "sounds" in various body parts. They merely perform meaningless ritualistic actions. So, if you do not know nyasas, you are not really missing much compared to others who were initiated. In my humble opinion, the most important qualification is to have devotion and sense of surrender to Her. If you have them, you can consider yourself "highly initiated". Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Chandra Prakash Sunday, October 05, 2008 11:16 PM Navaratri... Dear Narasimha,When does Navratri end? It started on last Monday, September 29, 2008 and should therefore end on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 (Nine Nights)...yet the panchang shows that at sunrise on Wednesday, October 8 starts with Navami, so should we continue our Navratri on Wednesday too even though it is technically the 10th day? (All these times are based on US EST)..Also, can anyone do the Navarna mantra, "Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche" or does this require initiation?Thanks,Chandraprakash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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