“Mananāt trāyatē iti mantrah” is the definition of the word mantra in Sanskrit. Manas is Mind, Traiyate – which takes us across (also device/tool) , so what supports your mind is a mantra, it enhances or supports a practice, amplifies energy levels or experience. Mantra is intended to deliver results on repeated chants as it works at subconscious levels to activate a specific aspect of the practice.
Sanskrit is one language that developed extensive vocabulary to delve with inner aspects of experiencing the divine. This is not just words & meanings, but convey something you see/experience through sound. In other words, it is as good as seeing something: if you develop the ability to do so. Sanskrit is believed to have different stories of origin, one story is that it came out of the vibrations of Shiva’s Damaru, another instance is connected with the Shakti Peetha’s, the divine mother. That is why each sound of sanskrit alphabet (16 vowels, 34 consonants), each letter is called a Matruka (An aspect of the mother)
In yoga sutra, it is referred to as Ritambhara Prajña. Gya- knowledge and Pra – Before/Forward(Intensifier). It means a profound state of perception. Sound & its essence has a relation to it and vice versa. It’s like Shiva & Shakti. The words that make mantra’s capture the essence to its fullest.
What defines a Mantra: Not every chant is classified as a mantra, there are many classifications of sounds that are intended for specific purposes. E.g, Sutra, Shloka, Mantra, Stotra.
Sutra : Phrase or an encoded message, it can be presented in many ways. E.g Yoga Sutras. Words weaved into a garland.
Shloka: Rhythmic words arranged. If the words are arranged in a particular rhythm or meter . e.g, Vakratunda Mahakaya etc. Can be from a story, rhythm etc.
Mantra : Phrases which have a deep spiritual significance, they may or may not have any sense of meaning. It has to be experienced by repeated chanting. It could be sound vibrations also. E.g, Om Namah Shivaya. Which is also known as Panchakshari.
Stotra/Stuti : Verse in praise of someone/something etc. Can be a group of Shlokas e.g, Panchakam, Ashtakam etc. Mahisasura Mardini Stotra, Shiv thandav stotra.
Bhu Namana Mantra
समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले ।
विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे ॥
Samudra-Vasane Devi Parvata-Stana-Mannddale |
Vishnu-Patni Namas-Tubhyam Paada-Sparsham Kshamasva-Me ||
Meaning:
The shloka says (O! Mother Earth) O! Devi, You who have the ocean as your garments, and mountains as your body, O! wife of Lord Vishnu, salutations to you; please forgive me for touching you by my feet. Mother earth gives us everything yet we seldom respect it and take care of her. The earth is about 71% covered by water in a garment-like pattern, what are the chances that yogi’s understood the whole geography of Mother Earth ?
Significance (Morning Mantra)
This is the shloka that you should chant as the first thing before stepping down from the bed, it is a self realization mantra that keeps you grounded with the reality. It basically means : I am compelled to act in this manifest plane of existence by the very nature of the human condition and the limitations of my body-mind-intellect complex, as I seek to awaken my consciousness and realize the true nature of reality. Please know that Thou art the realm and the supporter of this psychophysical organism’s spiritual evolution. Please know that I am eternally grateful to Thee. Please know that I am entirely dependent upon Thee.
Story:
The demon Hiranyaksha had managed to take the earth goddess, Bhu Devi, to the bottom of the cosmic ocean, and Lord Vishnu had to take the form of a boar to rescue her. Lord Vishnu dived into the ocean and reached the bottom, where he battled with Hiranyaksha for thousands of years. Eventually, he was able to defeat the demon and rescue Bhu Devi.
Varaha battles the Hiranyaksha, Scene from the Bhagavata Purana
After defeating Hiranyaksha, Lord Vishnu lifted the earth goddess, Bhu Devi, on his tusks and brought her back to the surface of the ocean, where he restored her to her rightful place. This avatar is considered to be a symbol of Lord Vishnu’s protection of the earth and his commitment to preserving the balance of the universe. This is why mother earth is also represented as Varahi devi in many cultures.
Jyotir Mantra
| असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय ॥ | asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya, mṛtyormā’mṛtaṃ gamaya. |
The first line—asato ma sadgamaya—means, “Lead me from the asat to the sat.”
Lead me from Unreal(illusion) to Real(Truth).The universe and its things are in a constant state of change. The planets are in constant motion, their positions in relation to each other and the other astral bodies are in continuous flux. Similarly On the level of emotions, we move back and forth between happiness, sorrow and anger.The seeker giving voice to this prayer has come to understand the finite nature of all the objects of the world, and he wants the Guru to guide him from the asat to the sat.
The second line—tamaso ma jyotirgamaya—means “Lead me from darkness to light.” When the Vedas refer to darkness and light, they mean ignorance and knowledge, respectfully. This is so because ignorance, like darkness, obscures true understanding
The third line —mrtyorma amrtam gamaya—means: “Lead me from death to immortality.” It is a prayer to the Guru for assistance in realizing the truth that “I was never born, nor can ever die, as I am not the body, mind and intellect, but the eternal, blissful consciousness that serves as the substratum of all creation.”
What the mantras really means is “Lead me to the understanding that I am not the limited body, mind and intellect, but am, was and always will be that eternal, absolute, blissful consciousness that serves as their substratum.”
Traditionally the word shanti is chanted three times after om as it is invoking peace on three levels of consciousness: waking, dreaming and sleeping. It has also been thought that it is chanted three times to harmonize the three lokas, or worlds: earth, heaven and hell. It can also be said that shanti is chanted three times to soothe and bring peace to the body, mind and spirit.
Reference:
This is a Shanti mantra from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. It is also known as the Pavamana Mantra (pavamāna meaning “being purified, strained”, historically a name of Soma) and is an ancient Indian mantra introduced in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (1.3.28.) The mantra was originally meant to be recited during the introductory praise of the Soma sacrifice by the patron sponsoring the sacrifice.
Citations
https://shlokam.org/asatomasadgamaya
https://www.youtube.com/c/thesanskritchannel
Authors who collaborated on this Article (SPYSS UCM6 Group 7)
- Sri Aravind Vungarala
- Sri Shruti Girish
- Sri Saravanan
🙏🏻 Thanks to SPYSS UCM6 Shikshakas for giving this opportunity for us to learn the significance of mantras. There are obvious things in the daily lives that we fail to observe, when you pay attention to the small things, it takes care of the bigger aspects of life.
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