Kavachas of Planets / NarsimhaJi -Intonation and Mental Chanting

[Guest guest]

Dear Hari Namaste

 

Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better explanation.Shri

Neeraj had also expressed his views.

 

From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan SaiBaba, reciting

gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is also another audio with

longer invocation.

 

http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

 

Mental Chanting

 

It can be a gradual process and i feel there is nothing to worry.One

should never be under stress.Let everything happen on its own.The bhava

while doing the chanting should be one of Nirvrithi and Prema with a

smile on your heart.Dont think you are sitting for mental chanting,just

be cool.In your chart Mercury has high influence and Venus is

neecha(ofcourse bhanga is there).Thus Shukracharyas blessings are needed

for subtler understandings.With your exalted mercury,jupiter in lagna

and exalted lagna lord,progress has to come with lords blessings.Mercury

has exalted Vimshamaha and it is your 8th lord(rashi chakra).

 

 

Before doing Mental Chanting one may closely observe loud chanting.It is

actually amazing.Sound originate from within ,but initially we are able

to recognize them only after, they have reached, a certain distance.Thus

we have to travel back in search of their origin.My humble view is to

first observe closely how the sounds from various letters or perhaps

words(initially ) are ending, during loud chanting.Try to chant them

loud and from depth.

During unrefined or Asamskrita state,we mistake our singing/chanting as

perfect.Thus when we start observing closely,we will find that our

endings(how we end a word while chanting/singing) are not polished.Then

we will try to correct our mistake,and explore depths(downwards from

throat).The kind of satisfaction you get with every small correction is

divine in nature.

 

 

Would feel blessed if Guru like Ramanarayanan ji can explain the divinty

and various Thalas of sound.

 

I can share my academic views based on own trial and errors.

First of all we have to closely observe,enter and then follow the flow

of breath.Close your eyes,take a light breath, hold it in a relaxed

fashion,concentrate(single point),think as if you are about to recite it

mentally,or as if you are just thinking about the mantra.Simultaneously

release the breath,in a relaxed fashion.Then words will flow in your

mind with rhythm and laya.Never force.Relaxed release of breath,with

control and continuity is the key.During this process ,if you can

concentrate between your eyebrows,it is great.This is the key as per my

experience.Release of breath and mantra movements are felt/understood

between eyebrows.

 

 

Continuity or Laya can only result in Brahman or HIM.Continuity can

result only if there is lack of distraction.This is Shradha.Mantras

takes us there.Taking Mana closer and closer to Aatma and finally a

merger.

 

Ramanarayanan ji advised Brihaspati Gayatri and it gives the wisdom in

understanding.Gayatri mantra will help us in understanding OM.I feel if

we do a Tapas on OM through chanting,we can make it similar to Sankha

Nada.Reciting & Practising Namshivaya along with OM can make us flow

along with OM.

 

I feel when some one is in real need,mere thought of the lord and simple

recitation will serve the purpose.Example - Accident case which

Lakshmiji has mentioned.Then the person is having complete submission or

aatma samarpana.

 

But when one is reciting for AatmaSakshathkara or self realization one

has to strive for perfection.Intonations and pitch matters.Thus music

and Shukra is important and hence Vedas stressed on the importance of

samasangeetha.In either case when done in the proper way,it is always

good.

 

You may be knowing all these,and these are just my random thoughts.If

you can get guidance from Ramanarayanan ji it will be

great.Jyotirlingamantras can help us a lot.

 

Hope learned members will correct,if i have made any mistakes.I am no

man to talk on these divine points and kindly pardon.In Dashadhyayi the

author seeks the boon of ''Vak'' - I assume this Vak is '' Sound or the

Supreme Nada from which everything originates''.

 

Thanks

Pradeep

sohamsa , " Jyotisa Shisya " <achyutagaddi

wrote:

>

> |om|

> Dear Neeraj, namaste

>

> Thanks very much for your inputs here. They are very helpful for me to

> visualize the manasa puja. Somehow I cannot seem to progress to the

> sound-less, lip movement-less chanting of mantras. I wonder if this

has to

> do with the inherent tendencies in the vimsamsa.

>

> best regards

> Hari

>

> On 6/20/06, Neeraj Gupta gupta_neeraj_2000 wrote:

> >

> > ~ Om Namo Narayanaya ~

> >

> > Dear Hari,

> >

> > I would just like to share my 2 cents here. If I am

> > wrong, I request gurus and other senior members to

> > kindly correct me.

> >

> > Mental Chanting is the way of chanting, when your lips

> > do not move and you do not utter any sound from your

> > mouth. The japam goes on in your mind. It is like

> > speaking the mantra in mind.

> >

> > According to me the following is the way of doing the

> > manas japam.

> >

> > 1. Take an aasan and sit on that in the morning after

> > taking the bath. I prefer east direction for the

> > japam.

> >

> > 2. Sit in the pose that your back is straight, crossed

> > legs and put your hands on the knees.

> >

> > 3. Either concentrate on the diety or the vaccuum (it

> > is hard to concentrate on vaccuum). In hindi we say

> > that mana (mind) is vichaarshoonaya (i.e. no thoughts

> > are rushing through your mind and you are

> > concentrating on vaccuum).

> >

> > 4. Recite the mantra at a slow pace in your mind and

> > meditate upon ishta devta / vaccuum.

> >

> > 5. It may seem a bit difficult in beginning and the

> > concentration might be diverted. However, with some

> > practice, you will find it going smoothly.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Neeraj

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Hari and others,

 

> Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better explanation.Shri> Neeraj had also expressed his views.

Unfortunately, I cannot upload my pronunciation. In our tradition, we belive that saying a mantra in vaikhari (with audible sound) robs it of some power. So we do not chant the mantras in which we have/want some level of siddhi loud.

 

I have no problem chanting ANY OTHER mantra - Vedic or not - for others. But I cannot upload Gayatri mantra in my voice. Sorry.

 

> From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan SaiBaba, reciting> gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is also another audio with> longer invocation.> > http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

Unfortunately, none of them is correct as per Rigvedic swara. The one closest is Satya Sai Baba's rendering. He changed the swara quite a lot in "Tatsaviturvarenyam". His intonation in the rest of the mantra is almost perfect. Other renderings given on the website do not come close.

 

A couple of humble suggestions:

 

(1) Pronunciation of visarga: In "dhiyo yo na<visarga>", the visarga is pronounced by most south Indians as "ha". They pronounce it as "dhiyo yo naha". Visarga literally means "discharging" or "letting go". The correct pronunciation of visarga is to let the air go. It is closer to "dhiyo yo nah" than "dhiyo yo naha". If you pronounce visarga as "ha", you are adding one extra akshara (syllable) and changing the chhandas.

 

We are living in Kali yuga and corruptions are everywhere, even in the highest mantras. No matter how many learned Veda panditas say "dhiyo yo naha", I am absolutely confident that it is wrong.

 

(2) At the end of the mantra, "prachodayaat" comes. This is pronounced by many south Indian priests as "prachodayaattu" or "prachodayaatti". Instead of ending with the consonant "t", they artificially add an vowel to it. If you do it, you are adding an akshara and changing chhandas. Probably the practice was to add a vowel to the last consonant when teaching, so that students can hear the consonant well (if you just end with the consonant, it is not clearly audible). But, when you do sadhana of a mantra, pronounce a consosnant as just that and don't add non-existent vowels.

 

* * *

 

 

 

Regarding mental chanting:

 

Just start practicing low voice chanting first. As days pass, slowly keep reducing the volume further. You will finally achieve mental chanting.

 

Before you sit for chanting, do pranayama if you can and calm down.

 

Then cross your legs (padmasana or half-lotus with right leg up). Keep your back as straight as possible, without making it too tense. Keep the head also straight. Close your eyes.

 

Then think something like this: "I am not this body. This body is transient, but I am not. I am Atman, that is never born and never dies. I am the Atman that fills the entire universe. I am the Atman that takes the form of Sri Maha Lakshmi (or your ishta devata) and fills the entire universe. I just want to be Atman and nothing else."

 

After thinking of such things for a while, start chanting mentally (or in low voice to start with) with the mind focussed on the sound of the mantra or on the breathing or on a mentally imagined form of your ishta devata. Still, your mind will wander here and there (that is its nature). Don't worry about it and, whenever you see your mind somewhere else, just calmly bring it back to the focus point (without any regret or panic or worry, but with calmness).

 

If you feel any physical uneasiness or any impatient thought (e.g. "how many more beads are remaining probably? Am I close to being done?"), try to ignore the uneasiness and those thoughts. Tell yourself something like "I am not this body. I do not have anything to do. There is no time for me. I am Atman and the only thing that I exist to do is to do this mantra. Let me just get lost in this mantra" and focus on the mantra.

 

Like anything in life, practice makes one perfect. Keep practicing. If your intonation is imperfect, don't worry. Keep practicing and try to make it more perfect as times goes on.

 

* * *

 

A couple of words of caution:

 

(1) If you are not used to sitting cross-legged, don't strain yourself and sit comfortably in the beginning. While you are not the body, body is an instrument you use in sadhana. There is no need to hurt it carelessly.

 

(2) If a few malas of Gayatri mantra are done everyday intensively, with the correct intonation, you can expect your Pingala nadi to be opened like anything and a lot of heat generated. You may feel heat in various parts of the body. It is normal and don't worry. The fire generated by the mantra can burn toxins and weaknesses that accumulated in the sookshma sareera due to years of corrupt lifestyle.

 

(3) Eventually, even Sushumna nadi can open, Kundalini can awaken and various nadis of the sookshma sareera can be cleaned up. Gayatri mantra does have that power. At that stage, you may need a sadguru to guide you. If a sadguru is destined to guide you, he/she may come and find you! Otherwise, resort to the path of complete submission to your ishta devata and leave everything to Him/Her. The deity can do the work of a sadguru then.

 

Just note that you may be guided by a guru even without ever meeting one. A true sadguru does not need to meet you or communicate with you verbally to guide you! If you submit fully to your ishta devata, have respect for maharshis and do sadhana of Gayatri mantra perfectly, I am sure you will be guided by a sadguru even if it may not seem so.

 

In old days, Gayatri mantra was the first mantra taught to a young disciple and one was expected to read a few lakhs (preferably 2.4 million times). It does nadi sodhana and cleans up all nadis and gives self-realization. No wonder so many people were so spiritually advanced in old times. We are living in a deepening Kali yuga and even those who are taught this important mantra are ignoring it or doing it only a handful of times a day.

 

* * *

> Dear PVR,> > From your quote below, 1st/9th lords are protectors of health while 6/8th lords are spoilers. What if 6th/9th lords are same ( jupiter for cancer lagna?, mercury for capricon lagna?) or 1st/8th lords are same ( Mars for Aries lagna?) 1st/6th lord ( venus for taurus lagna?)? 8/9th lord (saturn for gemini lagna?)> > Does the effect become neutral? or the malefic nature dominates?> > thanks in advance,> SK

 

In general, reading the kavacha of any planet only protects the native and never harms. How fast and how much protection is given depends on the agenda of the planet in the chart. To decide the nature of a planet, you can use the standard rules. Yes, if a planet owns 6th and 9th, it is neutral. But one indication may dominate and it depends on so many factors and I cannot give a thumbrule.

 

 

 

 

Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

 

Narasimha

-------------------------------

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

-------------------------------

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Narasimha,

 

I have a basic doubt. We say that the effet of mantras

is caused by the vibration they generate (or due to

the sound energy). And yet we say that the mantras are

less effective when chanted lound.

 

Why is this?

 

Please clarify.

 

Regards,

Krishna

 

--- " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr wrote:

 

> Dear Hari and others,

>

> > Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better

> explanation.Shri

> > Neeraj had also expressed his views.

>

> Unfortunately, I cannot upload my pronunciation. In

> our tradition, we belive that saying a mantra in

> vaikhari (with audible sound) robs it of some power.

> So we do not chant the mantras in which we have/want

> some level of siddhi loud.

>

> I have no problem chanting ANY OTHER mantra - Vedic

> or not - for others. But I cannot upload Gayatri

> mantra in my voice. Sorry.

>

> > From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan

> SaiBaba, reciting

> > gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is

> also another audio with

> > longer invocation.

> >

> > http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

>

> Unfortunately, none of them is correct as per

> Rigvedic swara. The one closest is Satya Sai Baba's

> rendering. He changed the swara quite a lot in

> " Tatsaviturvarenyam " . His intonation in the rest of

> the mantra is almost perfect. Other renderings given

> on the website do not come close.

>

> A couple of humble suggestions:

>

> (1) Pronunciation of visarga: In " dhiyo yo

> na<visarga> " , the visarga is pronounced by most

> south Indians as " ha " . They pronounce it as " dhiyo

> yo naha " . Visarga literally means " discharging " or

> " letting go " . The correct pronunciation of visarga

> is to let the air go. It is closer to " dhiyo yo nah "

> than " dhiyo yo naha " . If you pronounce visarga as

> " ha " , you are adding one extra akshara (syllable)

> and changing the chhandas.

>

> We are living in Kali yuga and corruptions are

> everywhere, even in the highest mantras. No matter

> how many learned Veda panditas say " dhiyo yo naha " ,

> I am absolutely confident that it is wrong.

>

> (2) At the end of the mantra, " prachodayaat " comes.

> This is pronounced by many south Indian priests as

> " prachodayaattu " or " prachodayaatti " . Instead of

> ending with the consonant " t " , they artificially add

> an vowel to it. If you do it, you are adding an

> akshara and changing chhandas. Probably the practice

> was to add a vowel to the last consonant when

> teaching, so that students can hear the consonant

> well (if you just end with the consonant, it is not

> clearly audible). But, when you do sadhana of a

> mantra, pronounce a consosnant as just that and

> don't add non-existent vowels.

>

> * * *

>

> Regarding mental chanting:

>

> Just start practicing low voice chanting first. As

> days pass, slowly keep reducing the volume further.

> You will finally achieve mental chanting.

>

> Before you sit for chanting, do pranayama if you can

> and calm down.

>

> Then cross your legs (padmasana or half-lotus with

> right leg up). Keep your back as straight as

> possible, without making it too tense. Keep the head

> also straight. Close your eyes.

>

> Then think something like this: " I am not this body.

> This body is transient, but I am not. I am Atman,

> that is never born and never dies. I am the Atman

> that fills the entire universe. I am the Atman that

> takes the form of Sri Maha Lakshmi (or your ishta

> devata) and fills the entire universe. I just want

> to be Atman and nothing else. "

>

> After thinking of such things for a while, start

> chanting mentally (or in low voice to start with)

> with the mind focussed on the sound of the mantra or

> on the breathing or on a mentally imagined form of

> your ishta devata. Still, your mind will wander here

> and there (that is its nature). Don't worry about it

> and, whenever you see your mind somewhere else, just

> calmly bring it back to the focus point (without any

> regret or panic or worry, but with calmness).

>

> If you feel any physical uneasiness or any impatient

> thought (e.g. " how many more beads are remaining

> probably? Am I close to being done? " ), try to ignore

> the uneasiness and those thoughts. Tell yourself

> something like " I am not this body. I do not have

> anything to do. There is no time for me. I am Atman

> and the only thing that I exist to do is to do this

> mantra. Let me just get lost in this mantra " and

> focus on the mantra.

>

> Like anything in life, practice makes one perfect.

> Keep practicing. If your intonation is imperfect,

> don't worry. Keep practicing and try to make it more

> perfect as times goes on.

>

> * * *

>

> A couple of words of caution:

>

> (1) If you are not used to sitting cross-legged,

> don't strain yourself and sit comfortably in the

> beginning. While you are not the body, body is an

> instrument you use in sadhana. There is no need to

> hurt it carelessly.

>

> (2) If a few malas of Gayatri mantra are done

> everyday intensively, with the correct intonation,

> you can expect your Pingala nadi to be opened like

> anything and a lot of heat generated. You may feel

> heat in various parts of the body. It is normal and

> don't worry. The fire generated by the mantra can

> burn toxins and weaknesses that accumulated in the

> sookshma sareera due to years of corrupt lifestyle.

>

> (3) Eventually, even Sushumna nadi can open,

> Kundalini can awaken and various nadis of the

> sookshma sareera can be cleaned up. Gayatri mantra

> does have that power. At that stage, you may need a

> sadguru to guide you. If a sadguru is destined to

> guide you, he/she may come and find you! Otherwise,

> resort to the path of complete submission to your

> ishta devata and leave everything to Him/Her. The

> deity can do the work of a sadguru then.

>

> Just note that you may be guided by a guru even

> without ever meeting one. A true sadguru does not

> need to meet you or communicate with you verbally to

> guide you! If you submit fully to your ishta devata,

> have respect for maharshis and do sadhana of Gayatri

> mantra perfectly, I am sure you will be guided by a

> sadguru even if it may not seem so.

>

> In old days, Gayatri mantra was the first mantra

> taught to a young disciple and one was expected to

> read a few lakhs (preferably 2.4 million times). It

> does nadi sodhana and cleans up all nadis and gives

> self-realization. No wonder so many people were so

> spiritually advanced in old times. We are living in

> a deepening Kali yuga and even those who are taught

> this important mantra are ignoring it or doing it

> only a handful of times a day.

>

> * * *

>

> > Dear PVR,

> >

> > From your quote below, 1st/9th lords are

> protectors of health while 6/8th lords are spoilers.

> What if 6th/9th lords are same ( jupiter for cancer

> lagna?, mercury for capricon lagna?) or 1st/8th

> lords are same ( Mars for Aries lagna?) 1st/6th

> lord ( venus for taurus lagna?)? 8/9th lord (saturn

> for gemini lagna?)

> >

> > Does the effect become neutral? or the malefic

> nature dominates?

> >

> > thanks in advance,

> > SK

>

> In general, reading the kavacha of any planet only

> protects the native and never harms. How fast and

> how much protection is given depends on the agenda

> of the planet in the chart. To decide the nature of

> a planet, you can use the standard rules. Yes, if a

> planet owns 6th and 9th, it is neutral. But one

> indication may dominate and it depends on so many

> factors and I cannot give a thumbrule.

>

> Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

> Narasimha

>

-------------------------------

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3):

> http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows):

> http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website:

> http://www.SriJagannath.org

>

-------------------------------

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

*|| OM MAHAGANAPATAYE NAMAH ||* Hariom, Dear Narasimha ji,

Nameste.I wish to express my gratude for such a nice piece of writing.

For many many months i had the recitation By Bhagawan SaiBaba collected from web and have been listening but found it totally different way so was wondering.

Your writing is enlightening.

May god bless you more and more with divine wisdom.

 

 

 

 

|| May all people be happy ||OM TAT SATR.C.Srivastava .swami_rcs mob 9412268768http://www.cosmograce.comhttp://www.cosmograce.blogspot.com

[Guest guest]

|| Hare Rama Krsna ||

 

Dear Narasimha,

 

Very good write up on " Gayatri Mantra " .

 

Regards

Abhijeet Rai

 

sohamsa , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr wrote:

>

> Dear Hari and others,

>

> > Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better explanation.Shri

> > Neeraj had also expressed his views.

>

> Unfortunately, I cannot upload my pronunciation. In our tradition,

we belive that saying a mantra in vaikhari (with audible sound) robs

it of some power. So we do not chant the mantras in which we have/want

some level of siddhi loud.

>

> I have no problem chanting ANY OTHER mantra - Vedic or not - for

others. But I cannot upload Gayatri mantra in my voice. Sorry.

>

> > From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan SaiBaba, reciting

> > gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is also another audio with

> > longer invocation.

> >

> > http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

>

> Unfortunately, none of them is correct as per Rigvedic swara. The

one closest is Satya Sai Baba's rendering. He changed the swara quite

a lot in " Tatsaviturvarenyam " . His intonation in the rest of the

mantra is almost perfect. Other renderings given on the website do not

come close.

>

> A couple of humble suggestions:

>

> (1) Pronunciation of visarga: In " dhiyo yo na<visarga> " , the visarga

is pronounced by most south Indians as " ha " . They pronounce it as

" dhiyo yo naha " . Visarga literally means " discharging " or " letting

go " . The correct pronunciation of visarga is to let the air go. It is

closer to " dhiyo yo nah " than " dhiyo yo naha " . If you pronounce

visarga as " ha " , you are adding one extra akshara (syllable) and

changing the chhandas.

>

> We are living in Kali yuga and corruptions are everywhere, even in

the highest mantras. No matter how many learned Veda panditas say

" dhiyo yo naha " , I am absolutely confident that it is wrong.

>

> (2) At the end of the mantra, " prachodayaat " comes. This is

pronounced by many south Indian priests as " prachodayaattu " or

" prachodayaatti " . Instead of ending with the consonant " t " , they

artificially add an vowel to it. If you do it, you are adding an

akshara and changing chhandas. Probably the practice was to add a

vowel to the last consonant when teaching, so that students can hear

the consonant well (if you just end with the consonant, it is not

clearly audible). But, when you do sadhana of a mantra, pronounce a

consosnant as just that and don't add non-existent vowels.

>

> * * *

>

> Regarding mental chanting:

>

> Just start practicing low voice chanting first. As days pass, slowly

keep reducing the volume further. You will finally achieve mental

chanting.

>

> Before you sit for chanting, do pranayama if you can and calm down.

>

> Then cross your legs (padmasana or half-lotus with right leg up).

Keep your back as straight as possible, without making it too tense.

Keep the head also straight. Close your eyes.

>

> Then think something like this: " I am not this body. This body is

transient, but I am not. I am Atman, that is never born and never

dies. I am the Atman that fills the entire universe. I am the Atman

that takes the form of Sri Maha Lakshmi (or your ishta devata) and

fills the entire universe. I just want to be Atman and nothing else. "

>

> After thinking of such things for a while, start chanting mentally

(or in low voice to start with) with the mind focussed on the sound of

the mantra or on the breathing or on a mentally imagined form of your

ishta devata. Still, your mind will wander here and there (that is its

nature). Don't worry about it and, whenever you see your mind

somewhere else, just calmly bring it back to the focus point (without

any regret or panic or worry, but with calmness).

>

> If you feel any physical uneasiness or any impatient thought (e.g.

" how many more beads are remaining probably? Am I close to being

done? " ), try to ignore the uneasiness and those thoughts. Tell

yourself something like " I am not this body. I do not have anything to

do. There is no time for me. I am Atman and the only thing that I

exist to do is to do this mantra. Let me just get lost in this mantra "

and focus on the mantra.

>

> Like anything in life, practice makes one perfect. Keep practicing.

If your intonation is imperfect, don't worry. Keep practicing and try

to make it more perfect as times goes on.

>

> * * *

>

> A couple of words of caution:

>

> (1) If you are not used to sitting cross-legged, don't strain

yourself and sit comfortably in the beginning. While you are not the

body, body is an instrument you use in sadhana. There is no need to

hurt it carelessly.

>

> (2) If a few malas of Gayatri mantra are done everyday intensively,

with the correct intonation, you can expect your Pingala nadi to be

opened like anything and a lot of heat generated. You may feel heat in

various parts of the body. It is normal and don't worry. The fire

generated by the mantra can burn toxins and weaknesses that

accumulated in the sookshma sareera due to years of corrupt lifestyle.

>

> (3) Eventually, even Sushumna nadi can open, Kundalini can awaken

and various nadis of the sookshma sareera can be cleaned up. Gayatri

mantra does have that power. At that stage, you may need a sadguru to

guide you. If a sadguru is destined to guide you, he/she may come and

find you! Otherwise, resort to the path of complete submission to your

ishta devata and leave everything to Him/Her. The deity can do the

work of a sadguru then.

>

> Just note that you may be guided by a guru even without ever meeting

one. A true sadguru does not need to meet you or communicate with you

verbally to guide you! If you submit fully to your ishta devata, have

respect for maharshis and do sadhana of Gayatri mantra perfectly, I am

sure you will be guided by a sadguru even if it may not seem so.

>

> In old days, Gayatri mantra was the first mantra taught to a young

disciple and one was expected to read a few lakhs (preferably 2.4

million times). It does nadi sodhana and cleans up all nadis and gives

self-realization. No wonder so many people were so spiritually

advanced in old times. We are living in a deepening Kali yuga and even

those who are taught this important mantra are ignoring it or doing it

only a handful of times a day.

>

> * * *

>

> > Dear PVR,

> >

> > From your quote below, 1st/9th lords are protectors of health

while 6/8th lords are spoilers. What if 6th/9th lords are same (

jupiter for cancer lagna?, mercury for capricon lagna?) or 1st/8th

lords are same ( Mars for Aries lagna?) 1st/6th lord ( venus for

taurus lagna?)? 8/9th lord (saturn for gemini lagna?)

> >

> > Does the effect become neutral? or the malefic nature dominates?

> >

> > thanks in advance,

> > SK

>

> In general, reading the kavacha of any planet only protects the

native and never harms. How fast and how much protection is given

depends on the agenda of the planet in the chart. To decide the nature

of a planet, you can use the standard rules. Yes, if a planet owns 6th

and 9th, it is neutral. But one indication may dominate and it depends

on so many factors and I cannot give a thumbrule.

>

> Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

> Narasimha

> -------------------------------

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

> -------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

|om|Dear Narasimha, namasteThanks for your inputs on the pronounciation of Gayatri Mantra and other topics. Regarding the suggestions for pronounciation of Gayatri mantra, I have been doing like you have advised below, for the past two years ever since Sanjay told me to follow the Rg Veda version strictly. Of course, he did not advise anything on pronounciation but I have been following this anyway. Maybe it is the blessings of the rishis...whatever.

Regarding mental chanting, I will need to do some practice here before I can began to experience the understanding of what you all are saying. Thanks once again for your inputs here.best regardsHari

On 6/22/06, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Hari and others,

 

> Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better explanation.Shri> Neeraj had also expressed his views.

Unfortunately, I cannot upload my pronunciation. In our tradition, we belive that saying a mantra in vaikhari (with audible sound) robs it of some power. So we do not chant the mantras in which we have/want some level of siddhi loud.

 

I have no problem chanting ANY OTHER mantra - Vedic or not - for others. But I cannot upload Gayatri mantra in my voice. Sorry.

 

> From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan SaiBaba, reciting> gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is also another audio with> longer invocation.> >

http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

Unfortunately, none of them is correct as per Rigvedic swara. The one closest is Satya Sai Baba's rendering. He changed the swara quite a lot in " Tatsaviturvarenyam " . His intonation in the rest of the mantra is almost perfect. Other renderings given on the website do not come close.

 

A couple of humble suggestions:

 

(1) Pronunciation of visarga: In " dhiyo yo na<visarga> " , the visarga is pronounced by most south Indians as " ha " . They pronounce it as " dhiyo yo naha " . Visarga literally means " discharging " or " letting go " . The correct pronunciation of visarga is to let the air go. It is closer to " dhiyo yo nah " than " dhiyo yo naha " . If you pronounce visarga as " ha " , you are adding one extra akshara (syllable) and changing the chhandas.

 

We are living in Kali yuga and corruptions are everywhere, even in the highest mantras. No matter how many learned Veda panditas say " dhiyo yo naha " , I am absolutely confident that it is wrong.

 

(2) At the end of the mantra, " prachodayaat " comes. This is pronounced by many south Indian priests as " prachodayaattu " or " prachodayaatti " . Instead of ending with the consonant " t " , they artificially add an vowel to it. If you do it, you are adding an akshara and changing chhandas. Probably the practice was to add a vowel to the last consonant when teaching, so that students can hear the consonant well (if you just end with the consonant, it is not clearly audible). But, when you do sadhana of a mantra, pronounce a consosnant as just that and don't add non-existent vowels.

 

* * *

 

 

 

Regarding mental chanting:

 

Just start practicing low voice chanting first. As days pass, slowly keep reducing the volume further. You will finally achieve mental chanting.

 

Before you sit for chanting, do pranayama if you can and calm down.

 

Then cross your legs (padmasana or half-lotus with right leg up). Keep your back as straight as possible, without making it too tense. Keep the head also straight. Close your eyes.

 

Then think something like this: " I am not this body. This body is transient, but I am not. I am Atman, that is never born and never dies. I am the Atman that fills the entire universe. I am the Atman that takes the form of Sri Maha Lakshmi (or your ishta devata) and fills the entire universe. I just want to be Atman and nothing else. "

 

After thinking of such things for a while, start chanting mentally (or in low voice to start with) with the mind focussed on the sound of the mantra or on the breathing or on a mentally imagined form of your ishta devata. Still, your mind will wander here and there (that is its nature). Don't worry about it and, whenever you see your mind somewhere else, just calmly bring it back to the focus point (without any regret or panic or worry, but with calmness).

 

If you feel any physical uneasiness or any impatient thought (e.g. " how many more beads are remaining probably? Am I close to being done? " ), try to ignore the uneasiness and those thoughts. Tell yourself something like " I am not this body. I do not have anything to do. There is no time for me. I am Atman and the only thing that I exist to do is to do this mantra. Let me just get lost in this mantra " and focus on the mantra.

 

Like anything in life, practice makes one perfect. Keep practicing. If your intonation is imperfect, don't worry. Keep practicing and try to make it more perfect as times goes on.

 

* * *

 

A couple of words of caution:

 

(1) If you are not used to sitting cross-legged, don't strain yourself and sit comfortably in the beginning. While you are not the body, body is an instrument you use in sadhana. There is no need to hurt it carelessly.

 

(2) If a few malas of Gayatri mantra are done everyday intensively, with the correct intonation, you can expect your Pingala nadi to be opened like anything and a lot of heat generated. You may feel heat in various parts of the body. It is normal and don't worry. The fire generated by the mantra can burn toxins and weaknesses that accumulated in the sookshma sareera due to years of corrupt lifestyle.

 

(3) Eventually, even Sushumna nadi can open, Kundalini can awaken and various nadis of the sookshma sareera can be cleaned up. Gayatri mantra does have that power. At that stage, you may need a sadguru to guide you. If a sadguru is destined to guide you, he/she may come and find you! Otherwise, resort to the path of complete submission to your ishta devata and leave everything to Him/Her. The deity can do the work of a sadguru then.

 

Just note that you may be guided by a guru even without ever meeting one. A true sadguru does not need to meet you or communicate with you verbally to guide you! If you submit fully to your ishta devata, have respect for maharshis and do sadhana of Gayatri mantra perfectly, I am sure you will be guided by a sadguru even if it may not seem so.

 

In old days, Gayatri mantra was the first mantra taught to a young disciple and one was expected to read a few lakhs (preferably 2.4 million times). It does nadi sodhana and cleans up all nadis and gives self-realization. No wonder so many people were so spiritually advanced in old times. We are living in a deepening Kali yuga and even those who are taught this important mantra are ignoring it or doing it only a handful of times a day.

 

* * *

> Dear PVR,> > From your quote below, 1st/9th lords are protectors of health while 6/8th lords are spoilers. What if 6th/9th lords are same ( jupiter for cancer lagna?, mercury for capricon lagna?) or 1st/8th lords are same ( Mars for Aries lagna?) 1st/6th lord ( venus for taurus lagna?)? 8/9th lord (saturn for gemini lagna?)> > Does the effect become neutral? or the malefic nature dominates?> > thanks in advance,> SK

 

In general, reading the kavacha of any planet only protects the native and never harms. How fast and how much protection is given depends on the agenda of the planet in the chart. To decide the nature of a planet, you can use the standard rules. Yes, if a planet owns 6th and 9th, it is neutral. But one indication may dominate and it depends on so many factors and I cannot give a thumbrule.

 

 

 

 

Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

 

Narasimha

-------------------------------

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

-------------------------------

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Hari

 

Thanks for your comments.Mine is just academic in nature and others

better learned provides authentic views.Audible sound has to be observed

properly,before we proceed to other levels.Thus where the sound is going

back has to be observed.From a silence within,it goes up and then goes

back to silence.It is a cycle.

 

Thanks

Pradeep

 

sohamsa , " Jyotisa Shisya " <achyutagaddi

wrote:

>

> |om|

> Dear Pradeep, namaste

>

> Very nice writeup by you. I think that this will be very helpful for

me to

> understand more about manasa puja and its subtle nuances.

>

> Thanks and best regards

> Hari

>

> On 6/21/06, vijayadas_pradeep vijayadas_pradeep wrote:

> >

> > Dear Hari Namaste

> >

> > Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better explanation.Shri

> > Neeraj had also expressed his views.

> >

> > From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan SaiBaba, reciting

> > gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is also another audio

with

> > longer invocation.

> >

> > http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

> >

> > Mental Chanting

> >

> > It can be a gradual process and i feel there is nothing to worry.One

> > should never be under stress.Let everything happen on its own.The

bhava

> > while doing the chanting should be one of Nirvrithi and Prema with a

> > smile on your heart.Dont think you are sitting for mental

chanting,just

> > be cool.In your chart Mercury has high influence and Venus is

> > neecha(ofcourse bhanga is there).Thus Shukracharyas blessings are

needed

> > for subtler understandings.With your exalted mercury,jupiter in

lagna

> > and exalted lagna lord,progress has to come with lords

blessings.Mercury

> > has exalted Vimshamaha and it is your 8th lord(rashi chakra).

> >

> > Before doing Mental Chanting one may closely observe loud

chanting.It is

> > actually amazing.Sound originate from within ,but initially we are

able

> > to recognize them only after, they have reached, a certain

distance.Thus

> > we have to travel back in search of their origin.My humble view is

to

> > first observe closely how the sounds from various letters or perhaps

> > words(initially ) are ending, during loud chanting.Try to chant them

> > loud and from depth.

> > During unrefined or Asamskrita state,we mistake our singing/chanting

as

> > perfect.Thus when we start observing closely,we will find that our

> > endings(how we end a word while chanting/singing) are not

polished.Then

> > we will try to correct our mistake,and explore depths(downwards from

> > throat).The kind of satisfaction you get with every small correction

is

> > divine in nature.

> >

> > Would feel blessed if Guru like Ramanarayanan ji can explain the

divinty

> > and various Thalas of sound.

> >

> > I can share my academic views based on own trial and errors.

> > First of all we have to closely observe,enter and then follow the

flow

> > of breath.Close your eyes,take a light breath, hold it in a relaxed

> > fashion,concentrate(single point),think as if you are about to

recite it

> > mentally,or as if you are just thinking about the

mantra.Simultaneously

> > release the breath,in a relaxed fashion.Then words will flow in your

> > mind with rhythm and laya.Never force.Relaxed release of breath,with

> > control and continuity is the key.During this process ,if you can

> > concentrate between your eyebrows,it is great.This is the key as per

my

> > experience.Release of breath and mantra movements are

felt/understood

> > between eyebrows.

> >

> > Continuity or Laya can only result in Brahman or HIM.Continuity can

> > result only if there is lack of distraction.This is Shradha.Mantras

> > takes us there.Taking Mana closer and closer to Aatma and finally a

> > merger.

> >

> > Ramanarayanan ji advised Brihaspati Gayatri and it gives the wisdom

in

> > understanding.Gayatri mantra will help us in understanding OM.I feel

if

> > we do a Tapas on OM through chanting,we can make it similar to

Sankha

> > Nada.Reciting & Practising Namshivaya along with OM can make us flow

> > along with OM.

> >

> > I feel when some one is in real need,mere thought of the lord and

simple

> > recitation will serve the purpose.Example - Accident case which

> > Lakshmiji has mentioned.Then the person is having complete

submission or

> > aatma samarpana.

> >

> > But when one is reciting for AatmaSakshathkara or self realization

one

> > has to strive for perfection.Intonations and pitch matters.Thus

music

> > and Shukra is important and hence Vedas stressed on the importance

of

> > samasangeetha.In either case when done in the proper way,it is

always

> > good.

> >

> > You may be knowing all these,and these are just my random

thoughts.If

> > you can get guidance from Ramanarayanan ji it will be

> > great.Jyotirlingamantras can help us a lot.

> >

> > Hope learned members will correct,if i have made any mistakes.I am

no

> > man to talk on these divine points and kindly pardon.In Dashadhyayi

the

> > author seeks the boon of ''Vak'' - I assume this Vak is '' Sound or

the

> > Supreme Nada from which everything originates''.

> >

> > Thanks

> > Pradeep

> > sohamsa <sohamsa%40>, " Jyotisa

> > Shisya " achyutagaddi@

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > |om|

> > > Dear Neeraj, namaste

> > >

> > > Thanks very much for your inputs here. They are very helpful for

me to

> > > visualize the manasa puja. Somehow I cannot seem to progress to

the

> > > sound-less, lip movement-less chanting of mantras. I wonder if

this

> > has to

> > > do with the inherent tendencies in the vimsamsa.

> > >

> > > best regards

> > > Hari

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

Thanks for your valuable suggestions.

 

Pradeep

sohamsa , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr wrote:

>

> Dear Hari and others,

>

> > Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better explanation.Shri

> > Neeraj had also expressed his views.

>

> Unfortunately, I cannot upload my pronunciation. In our tradition, we

belive that saying a mantra in vaikhari (with audible sound) robs it of

some power. So we do not chant the mantras in which we have/want some

level of siddhi loud.

>

> I have no problem chanting ANY OTHER mantra - Vedic or not - for

others. But I cannot upload Gayatri mantra in my voice. Sorry.

>

> > From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan SaiBaba, reciting

> > gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is also another audio

with

> > longer invocation.

> >

> > http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

>

> Unfortunately, none of them is correct as per Rigvedic swara. The one

closest is Satya Sai Baba's rendering. He changed the swara quite a lot

in " Tatsaviturvarenyam " . His intonation in the rest of the mantra is

almost perfect. Other renderings given on the website do not come close.

>

> A couple of humble suggestions:

>

> (1) Pronunciation of visarga: In " dhiyo yo na<visarga> " , the visarga

is pronounced by most south Indians as " ha " . They pronounce it as " dhiyo

yo naha " . Visarga literally means " discharging " or " letting go " . The

correct pronunciation of visarga is to let the air go. It is closer to

" dhiyo yo nah " than " dhiyo yo naha " . If you pronounce visarga as " ha " ,

you are adding one extra akshara (syllable) and changing the chhandas.

>

> We are living in Kali yuga and corruptions are everywhere, even in the

highest mantras. No matter how many learned Veda panditas say " dhiyo yo

naha " , I am absolutely confident that it is wrong.

>

> (2) At the end of the mantra, " prachodayaat " comes. This is pronounced

by many south Indian priests as " prachodayaattu " or " prachodayaatti " .

Instead of ending with the consonant " t " , they artificially add an vowel

to it. If you do it, you are adding an akshara and changing chhandas.

Probably the practice was to add a vowel to the last consonant when

teaching, so that students can hear the consonant well (if you just end

with the consonant, it is not clearly audible). But, when you do sadhana

of a mantra, pronounce a consosnant as just that and don't add

non-existent vowels.

>

> * * *

>

> Regarding mental chanting:

>

> Just start practicing low voice chanting first. As days pass, slowly

keep reducing the volume further. You will finally achieve mental

chanting.

>

> Before you sit for chanting, do pranayama if you can and calm down.

>

> Then cross your legs (padmasana or half-lotus with right leg up). Keep

your back as straight as possible, without making it too tense. Keep the

head also straight. Close your eyes.

>

> Then think something like this: " I am not this body. This body is

transient, but I am not. I am Atman, that is never born and never dies.

I am the Atman that fills the entire universe. I am the Atman that takes

the form of Sri Maha Lakshmi (or your ishta devata) and fills the entire

universe. I just want to be Atman and nothing else. "

>

> After thinking of such things for a while, start chanting mentally (or

in low voice to start with) with the mind focussed on the sound of the

mantra or on the breathing or on a mentally imagined form of your ishta

devata. Still, your mind will wander here and there (that is its

nature). Don't worry about it and, whenever you see your mind somewhere

else, just calmly bring it back to the focus point (without any regret

or panic or worry, but with calmness).

>

> If you feel any physical uneasiness or any impatient thought (e.g.

" how many more beads are remaining probably? Am I close to being

done? " ), try to ignore the uneasiness and those thoughts. Tell yourself

something like " I am not this body. I do not have anything to do. There

is no time for me. I am Atman and the only thing that I exist to do is

to do this mantra. Let me just get lost in this mantra " and focus on the

mantra.

>

> Like anything in life, practice makes one perfect. Keep practicing. If

your intonation is imperfect, don't worry. Keep practicing and try to

make it more perfect as times goes on.

>

> * * *

>

> A couple of words of caution:

>

> (1) If you are not used to sitting cross-legged, don't strain yourself

and sit comfortably in the beginning. While you are not the body, body

is an instrument you use in sadhana. There is no need to hurt it

carelessly.

>

> (2) If a few malas of Gayatri mantra are done everyday intensively,

with the correct intonation, you can expect your Pingala nadi to be

opened like anything and a lot of heat generated. You may feel heat in

various parts of the body. It is normal and don't worry. The fire

generated by the mantra can burn toxins and weaknesses that accumulated

in the sookshma sareera due to years of corrupt lifestyle.

>

> (3) Eventually, even Sushumna nadi can open, Kundalini can awaken and

various nadis of the sookshma sareera can be cleaned up. Gayatri mantra

does have that power. At that stage, you may need a sadguru to guide

you. If a sadguru is destined to guide you, he/she may come and find

you! Otherwise, resort to the path of complete submission to your ishta

devata and leave everything to Him/Her. The deity can do the work of a

sadguru then.

>

> Just note that you may be guided by a guru even without ever meeting

one. A true sadguru does not need to meet you or communicate with you

verbally to guide you! If you submit fully to your ishta devata, have

respect for maharshis and do sadhana of Gayatri mantra perfectly, I am

sure you will be guided by a sadguru even if it may not seem so.

>

> In old days, Gayatri mantra was the first mantra taught to a young

disciple and one was expected to read a few lakhs (preferably 2.4

million times). It does nadi sodhana and cleans up all nadis and gives

self-realization. No wonder so many people were so spiritually advanced

in old times. We are living in a deepening Kali yuga and even those who

are taught this important mantra are ignoring it or doing it only a

handful of times a day.

>

> * * *

>

> > Dear PVR,

> >

> > From your quote below, 1st/9th lords are protectors of health

while 6/8th lords are spoilers. What if 6th/9th lords are same ( jupiter

for cancer lagna?, mercury for capricon lagna?) or 1st/8th lords are

same ( Mars for Aries lagna?) 1st/6th lord ( venus for taurus lagna?)?

8/9th lord (saturn for gemini lagna?)

> >

> > Does the effect become neutral? or the malefic nature dominates?

> >

> > thanks in advance,

> > SK

>

> In general, reading the kavacha of any planet only protects the native

and never harms. How fast and how much protection is given depends on

the agenda of the planet in the chart. To decide the nature of a planet,

you can use the standard rules. Yes, if a planet owns 6th and 9th, it is

neutral. But one indication may dominate and it depends on so many

factors and I cannot give a thumbrule.

>

> Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

> Narasimha

> -------------------------------

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

> -------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Shri Krishnamurthy

 

If i am allowed to intervene.Sound has different

forms(Para/Pashyanthi/Madhyama/Vaikhari).Even when it is not loud,there

are powerful vibrations present in subtler forms.For example compare

base voice with high pitch and imagine the sound variations.Base comes

more and more from within(base),strong vibrations and the loudness

gradually gets reduced.Similarly Para or the subtlest,may be like the

point ofsingularity.It is culmination of intensity and cannot be felt

with normal senses.Thus silent chanting can be powerful for internal

churning.But trying to understand loud will take us to the source.

 

Others better learned may give detailed explanation.

 

Thanks

Pradeep

 

 

sohamsa , Krishnamurthy Seetharama

<krishna_1998 wrote:

>

> Dear Narasimha,

>

> I have a basic doubt. We say that the effet of mantras

> is caused by the vibration they generate (or due to

> the sound energy). And yet we say that the mantras are

> less effective when chanted lound.

>

> Why is this?

>

> Please clarify.

>

> Regards,

> Krishna

>

> --- " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " pvr wrote:

>

> > Dear Hari and others,

> >

> > > Hope Narasimha Rao ji will upload and give better

> > explanation.Shri

> > > Neeraj had also expressed his views.

> >

> > Unfortunately, I cannot upload my pronunciation. In

> > our tradition, we belive that saying a mantra in

> > vaikhari (with audible sound) robs it of some power.

> > So we do not chant the mantras in which we have/want

> > some level of siddhi loud.

> >

> > I have no problem chanting ANY OTHER mantra - Vedic

> > or not - for others. But I cannot upload Gayatri

> > mantra in my voice. Sorry.

> >

> > > From the following link you can listen to Bhagawan

> > SaiBaba, reciting

> > > gayatri mantra with proper intonation.There is

> > also another audio with

> > > longer invocation.

> > >

> > > http://wahiduddin.net/mantra/gayatri.htm

> >

> > Unfortunately, none of them is correct as per

> > Rigvedic swara. The one closest is Satya Sai Baba's

> > rendering. He changed the swara quite a lot in

> > " Tatsaviturvarenyam " . His intonation in the rest of

> > the mantra is almost perfect. Other renderings given

> > on the website do not come close.

> >

> > A couple of humble suggestions:

> >

> > (1) Pronunciation of visarga: In " dhiyo yo

> > na<visarga> " , the visarga is pronounced by most

> > south Indians as " ha " . They pronounce it as " dhiyo

> > yo naha " . Visarga literally means " discharging " or

> > " letting go " . The correct pronunciation of visarga

> > is to let the air go. It is closer to " dhiyo yo nah "

> > than " dhiyo yo naha " . If you pronounce visarga as

> > " ha " , you are adding one extra akshara (syllable)

> > and changing the chhandas.

> >

> > We are living in Kali yuga and corruptions are

> > everywhere, even in the highest mantras. No matter

> > how many learned Veda panditas say " dhiyo yo naha " ,

> > I am absolutely confident that it is wrong.

> >

> > (2) At the end of the mantra, " prachodayaat " comes.

> > This is pronounced by many south Indian priests as

> > " prachodayaattu " or " prachodayaatti " . Instead of

> > ending with the consonant " t " , they artificially add

> > an vowel to it. If you do it, you are adding an

> > akshara and changing chhandas. Probably the practice

> > was to add a vowel to the last consonant when

> > teaching, so that students can hear the consonant

> > well (if you just end with the consonant, it is not

> > clearly audible). But, when you do sadhana of a

> > mantra, pronounce a consosnant as just that and

> > don't add non-existent vowels.

> >

> > * * *

> >

> > Regarding mental chanting:

> >

> > Just start practicing low voice chanting first. As

> > days pass, slowly keep reducing the volume further.

> > You will finally achieve mental chanting.

> >

> > Before you sit for chanting, do pranayama if you can

> > and calm down.

> >

> > Then cross your legs (padmasana or half-lotus with

> > right leg up). Keep your back as straight as

> > possible, without making it too tense. Keep the head

> > also straight. Close your eyes.

> >

> > Then think something like this: " I am not this body.

> > This body is transient, but I am not. I am Atman,

> > that is never born and never dies. I am the Atman

> > that fills the entire universe. I am the Atman that

> > takes the form of Sri Maha Lakshmi (or your ishta

> > devata) and fills the entire universe. I just want

> > to be Atman and nothing else. "

> >

> > After thinking of such things for a while, start

> > chanting mentally (or in low voice to start with)

> > with the mind focussed on the sound of the mantra or

> > on the breathing or on a mentally imagined form of

> > your ishta devata. Still, your mind will wander here

> > and there (that is its nature). Don't worry about it

> > and, whenever you see your mind somewhere else, just

> > calmly bring it back to the focus point (without any

> > regret or panic or worry, but with calmness).

> >

> > If you feel any physical uneasiness or any impatient

> > thought (e.g. " how many more beads are remaining

> > probably? Am I close to being done? " ), try to ignore

> > the uneasiness and those thoughts. Tell yourself

> > something like " I am not this body. I do not have

> > anything to do. There is no time for me. I am Atman

> > and the only thing that I exist to do is to do this

> > mantra. Let me just get lost in this mantra " and

> > focus on the mantra.

> >

> > Like anything in life, practice makes one perfect.

> > Keep practicing. If your intonation is imperfect,

> > don't worry. Keep practicing and try to make it more

> > perfect as times goes on.

> >

> > * * *

> >

> > A couple of words of caution:

> >

> > (1) If you are not used to sitting cross-legged,

> > don't strain yourself and sit comfortably in the

> > beginning. While you are not the body, body is an

> > instrument you use in sadhana. There is no need to

> > hurt it carelessly.

> >

> > (2) If a few malas of Gayatri mantra are done

> > everyday intensively, with the correct intonation,

> > you can expect your Pingala nadi to be opened like

> > anything and a lot of heat generated. You may feel

> > heat in various parts of the body. It is normal and

> > don't worry. The fire generated by the mantra can

> > burn toxins and weaknesses that accumulated in the

> > sookshma sareera due to years of corrupt lifestyle.

> >

> > (3) Eventually, even Sushumna nadi can open,

> > Kundalini can awaken and various nadis of the

> > sookshma sareera can be cleaned up. Gayatri mantra

> > does have that power. At that stage, you may need a

> > sadguru to guide you. If a sadguru is destined to

> > guide you, he/she may come and find you! Otherwise,

> > resort to the path of complete submission to your

> > ishta devata and leave everything to Him/Her. The

> > deity can do the work of a sadguru then.

> >

> > Just note that you may be guided by a guru even

> > without ever meeting one. A true sadguru does not

> > need to meet you or communicate with you verbally to

> > guide you! If you submit fully to your ishta devata,

> > have respect for maharshis and do sadhana of Gayatri

> > mantra perfectly, I am sure you will be guided by a

> > sadguru even if it may not seem so.

> >

> > In old days, Gayatri mantra was the first mantra

> > taught to a young disciple and one was expected to

> > read a few lakhs (preferably 2.4 million times). It

> > does nadi sodhana and cleans up all nadis and gives

> > self-realization. No wonder so many people were so

> > spiritually advanced in old times. We are living in

> > a deepening Kali yuga and even those who are taught

> > this important mantra are ignoring it or doing it

> > only a handful of times a day.

> >

> > * * *

> >

> > > Dear PVR,

> > >

> > > From your quote below, 1st/9th lords are

> > protectors of health while 6/8th lords are spoilers.

> > What if 6th/9th lords are same ( jupiter for cancer

> > lagna?, mercury for capricon lagna?) or 1st/8th

> > lords are same ( Mars for Aries lagna?) 1st/6th

> > lord ( venus for taurus lagna?)? 8/9th lord (saturn

> > for gemini lagna?)

> > >

> > > Does the effect become neutral? or the malefic

> > nature dominates?

> > >

> > > thanks in advance,

> > > SK

> >

> > In general, reading the kavacha of any planet only

> > protects the native and never harms. How fast and

> > how much protection is given depends on the agenda

> > of the planet in the chart. To decide the nature of

> > a planet, you can use the standard rules. Yes, if a

> > planet owns 6th and 9th, it is neutral. But one

> > indication may dominate and it depends on so many

> > factors and I cannot give a thumbrule.

> >

> > Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

> > Narasimha

> >

> -------------------------------

> > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3):

> > http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> > Free Jyotish software (Windows):

> > http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website:

> > http://www.SriJagannath.org

> >

> -------------------------------

> >

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