Some Tips on Mantras

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Hi Learned Members

We learn much about the mystic number 108. it is actually 9 x 12 meaning it covers the 9 planets and the 12 signs. So reciting a mantra 108 times, hopefully it would cover all parts of one's chart.

108 is also the distance from the Earth to the Sun and since the Sun represents the soul, it would mean that from the Earth where our feet stand, the energy would pass into our soul by reciting the mantra 108 times.

But if you scan the scriptures, the mystic number 108 is not so much emphasised unlike say, Rudarksha beads.

Instead scriptures say, when you recite mantras, you must put your heart and soul to it, and that is why you have mala beads (which is more to be in tune with the sounds of the mantra, and secondarily the number of 108) or to have the darshan of your deity.

Okay 108 is important but not that important since in Kali Yuga age calling the Lord's name even once with sincerity is efficacious.

So one way is to tie the number of times you recite a mantra to some useful spiritual precepts.

For example, we know Hanuman is the 11th Rudra. So chanting his mantra 11 times, keeping cognizant of the fact he is the 11th Rudra is efficacious.

Other than that, Hare Krishna Mahamantra, chanting 10 times concentrating on completeness and submitting everything to him is efficacious since Krishna is strongly related to the 10th Bhava.

Of course you can also get a 11 face Rudraksha for the first chanting mentioned about or the 10 face Rudraksha for the second chanting mentioned above....that would add some energy to the mantra.

Regards
Khoo

[lordmihira]

Hi Khoo,

request you to please throw light on the below topic:

some people say mantra should be chanted loud so that vibrations of the mantras be felt by the body and mind to get the changes

some people opine mantra should be chanted with in the mind and should not be loud

if chanted loud only 25% result is acheived
if chanted with lip moment 50% of the result we get
if chanted calmly with in the mind 100% result is derived.

how should the mantra be recited?

thanks
mihir

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Usually we chant loud initially so that we gain a feel of the pronounciation.

After you are well verse with it, then you go for japa, chanting with the lip, because now meditation play an important part.

Then once you are so used to the pronounciation, you can then chant with the mind.

That is the logical way of getting into the skin of the mantra.

BUT the idea of having a mantra is to produce the sound waves around, so that you get the beneficience of the vibration sounds. If you chant with the mind only, then you are going for 100% bhakti ie. devotion but devotion takes a long time to have its effect - it encompasses other aspects as well which you have to observe over the years.

Mantras is for quick on the spot healing and for that the sound waves produced is important.

So after getting a feel of the mantra, you should then chant it audibly, with intense concentration (so that what is effected outside goes to you inside as well) but not too loudly to disturb others but if others hear actually you are spreading the Lord's message or healing especially certain prayers, so it need not be a murmur. In Kali Yuga, the emphasis is on mass chanting to deliver the message that the lord is coming, so letting others hear you chant is actually quite acceptable but it must be such that it should not disturb what they are doing. What they hear must be something peaceful.

Remember to chant it in a quiet place so that other sounds do not interfere with the purity of the sounds of the mantra. Only the conch for blowing and the temple bell enhances the sound of the mantra. No other sounds. Quietness without the two aforesaid items in the background is also acceptable, in fact just as good.

Face east when chanting, except for Ganesha mantras you face north, because Ganesha likes to view his parents, Shiva and Pravarti.

[Astroboyprakuchan]

[quote="Khoo Hock Leong" post_id=220837 time=1446578223 user_id=1017]
So after getting a feel of the mantra, you should then chant it audibly, with intense concentration.
[/quote]

Hi Khoo Ji,

This intense concentration you are talking about, should we concentrate on speaking the mantra or hearing the mantra. Or maybe trying to imagine the picture of the lord in our heart and concentrate on that. Since paramama is present in the heart.

Regards,
AB

[ramc]

Hi Khoo Ji,
I have the same doubt, While chanting mantra do we need to focus on mantra of focus on picture of the lord in the mind ?.

Thanks in advance.

[hari766]

So after getting a feel of the mantra, you should then chant it audibly, with intense concentration.

Hi Khoo Ji,

This intense concentration you are talking about, should we concentrate on speaking the mantra or hearing the mantra. Or maybe trying to imagine the picture of the lord in our heart and concentrate on that. Since paramama is present in the heart.

Regards,
AB

Hi AB

When you start reciting the mantra, do it in Upaamsu ie whisper mode. While you chant, pay attention to the recital, ie hear it. This way you familiarise urself with the mantra and its recitation.

The mantra itself should manifest the picture of the lord to you. Because the mantra is the body of the devata. Dont force yourself to imagine but casually focus on the image that the Rishis have perceived and which they inform us as forming be the image of the lord.

Paramatma resides not only in the heart. Some yogis have perfected focusing on the Paramatma in between the two eyebrows. Some others, focusing on the navel. Each of these points are receptacles of the chakras, that is the key you need to remember.

[hari766]

Hi Khoo Ji,
I have the same doubt, While chanting mantra do we need to focus on mantra of focus on picture of the lord in the mind ?.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Ram

Before you start reciting the mantra, you will need to recite the Dhyana sloka, names of Rishi, chandas etc. While reciting the dhyana sloka you should focus on the picture of the lord.

But once you start reciting the mantra, you should focus on the recital only as the mantra itself is the body of the lord.

[ramc]

Thank you @hari766, for clarification.