Swamiji's answer to Astraea's questions

[Guest guest]

Namaste Swamiji!

>I bought a brass Yantra for Lord Ganesh, but do not know how to use

>it. There are a number of websites where brass yantras can be

>purchased, but no clear instructions on how to worship using them.

>Do you use these yourself? Can you help?

>Thank you.

>Astraea

 

A yantra is a tool in focussing our attention, and therefore must be

worshipped according to traditions of that yantra. Every yantra has

an

individual viddhi or specific set of mantras which are employed in

its

worship.

 

The Yantra Gayatri is included in the Cosmic Puja, and that is

common

to all yantras. However, the meditation and description of the

yantra,

the different deities which sit in the various angles and lines of

the

yantra, are specific to each and every yantra.

 

That is why we worship yantras according to our specific tradition,

and

learn a complete body of knowledge: the mula mantra, the various

bijas,

the nyasas, and the worship of the yantra for a specific deity.

 

My recommendation in the absence of a Guru qualified to give you

such

instruction, is to read the Ganesh Atharvashisham from the Advanced

Shiva Puja, and the accompanying mantras from the Ganesh Puja. Then

offer

sindhur, chandan, rice, etc. to the yantra.

>

>Namaste Swamiji!

>No instructions came with your CD. I have been using the individual

>mantras according to Vedic astrology texts as upaye. In other words,

>chanting the mantra for the Guru planet (Jupiter) for 19,000 times -

-

>etc.

>Is this okay?

>I have felt an effect, especially after I did 16,000 repetitions of

>the Sri Sukra (Venus) chant. Venus rules my chart (both natal &

>navamsha, -- Libra rising in the natal, Taurus rising in the

>navamsha -- Moon in Taurus (Rohini) in both the natal & navamsha

>charts (vargotama) -- my natal Venus exalted in sidereal Pisces.)

>Please advise. Thank you.

>Astraea

>

 

I assume the CD of which you are speaking is the Mantras of the Nine

Planets. This is an excellent method. However, on page 167 in the

Cosmic

Puja text is the Nava Grahan Puja, which contains the individual

mantras, as well as the bija mantras, by which you can worship each

of the

planets of the Graha.

 

Also, the Nava Grahan Homa is very effective.

 

But in Chapter 12 of the Chandi Path, the Goddess says that all

malevolent influence of the planets are removed by the recitation of

the

Chandi.

 

Take your choice.

>

>

>Namaste Swamiji!

>I have a CD (Chant to Control the 9 Planets) from Sri Siva (Dr.

Wayne

>Dyer's guru) that's in Tamil. It's a short chant created by

>Jnanasambandar, a 6th century Tamil saint who ascended at the age of

>sixteen. I have felt a good effect from this chant, but have had

>difficulty getting clear instructions from Sri Siva's people.

>Sri Siva has gone under at least two other names that I know of: Sri

>Guruji (in Dyer's "Manifesting Your Destiny") and Sri Brzee (sp?).

>This does not instill confidence.

>Nevertheless, I have felt good vibes from this particular chant.

>No text of the chant is included with the CD. The CD starts with Sri

>Siva explaining the chant as a description of Ardhanarishvara (the

>sacred androgyne -- half Shiva, half Parvati) riding Nandi (Shiva's

>bull) who enters the heart of the chanter.

> The sound of the chant is most important, but also important is the

>visualization of Ardhanarishvara -- especially the special garland

>he/she wears. I was told the garland is made of white jasmine, but I

>am not satisfied with this. I just know the garland is more complex

>than that and most probably included red flowers (white & red for

>Shiva & his Shakti). What red flowers would be used? Is there a

>particular type of garland used to worship this androgyne or Lord

>Shiva?

>As the chant goes along, this androgyne separates into Shiva and

>Parvati. There's emphasis placed on visualizing the flowers adorning

>Shiva's matted locks -- but again no description of what type of

>flowers or color. Can you help?

>Also what is your opinion of the efficacy of Tamil chants compared

to

>Sanskrit chants?

>Thank you!

 

Across the north of India the red flowers of Divine Mother are

hybiscus, usually with five petals. The mala is strung with jasmine

and

hybiscus flowers.

 

Shiva will wear many other kinds of white flowers as well. In fact,

He

will accept any white flower other than Ketaki. I am sorry, but I

can't

think of its name in English.

 

I believe that all praise of God is beautiful. But the tones and

rhythms, the subtlties of expression and the deepness of the

Philosophy in

Sanskrit, is unsurpassable. Just as the Eskimos have so many words

for

snow, Sanskrit has a language for internal states of consciousness

which

cannot be expressed through any other medium.

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sarada!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions in

detail. I have printed out your response and will study it.

 

I do not have a copy of the Cosmic Puja. I did not see any Cosmic

Puja tapes or MP3 CD's. Can an MP3 CD be played on a regular CD

player?

 

Yes, I think the Nava Grahan Homa is very effective. I had it done at

a Hindu temple here, and felt relief. It's quite expensive though --

the Temple charges over a $100 for the priest's service, but this

does not include the over $200 of supplies (fruits, grains, silk,

flowers, etc.) that have to be brought to the Temple to be offered to

the flames.

 

Yes, I suspect Sanskrit, a language revealed by Seers, is more

powerful than any other. However, this particular Tamil chant does

have power -- probably from the sankalpa & blessings of a saint.

 

Thank you again!

Astraea

 

, "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati>

wrote: