The meaning of the word mantra is unlimited. Each stanza of Vedic hymns is also called a mantra. And the groups of words fixed in the praises of the Gods and Goddesses and Yagya Havan are also called Mantras. The meaning of the mantra is different in Tantra Shastra. According to Tantra Shastra, the mantra is called the deity or power and the word post or post group reveals, it is called the mantra of that deity or power.
Meaning
In this word ‘man’ means mind and meditation and ‘tra’ means power and protection. At the next level, mantra means meditating on which the person gets the knowledge of his unity with the whole universe. In this way the thinking also stops, the rhythm of the mind becomes and the mantra also becomes calm. In this state, the person becomes free from the bondage of birth and death.
The definitions of mantra have also been given by the scholars as follows.
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- The power which gives inspiration for the attainment of Dharma, Karma, and Moksha is called Mantra.
- The subtle body of the deity or the grace of the presiding deity is called a mantra.
- The word power useful in receiving the grace of divine powers is called a mantra.
- The way of awakening the invisible secret power and making it favorable is called Mantra. (system-wise)
- In this way, the way of developing secret power is called a mantra. at the time of chanting
Special time, month, date, and constellation should be kept in mind for Mantra Sadhana.
- Best months – Kartik, Ashwin, Vaishakh Magh, Marshish, Falgun and Shravan months are best for meditation.
- Best date – Purnima, Panchami, Dwitiya, Saptami, Dashami, and Trayodashi dates are best for chanting mantras.
- Uttam Paksha – Mantra should be chanted after seeing auspicious moon and auspicious day in Shukla Paksha.
- Auspicious days – Sunday, Friday, Wednesday, and Thursday are best for chanting mantras.
- Uttam Nakshatra – Punarvasu, Hasta, all three Uttara, Shravan Revati, Anuradha and Rohini Nakshatra are best for Mantra Siddhi.
Instrument seat and garland in mantra practice
Aasan – At the time of mantra chanting, the aasan made of kushasan, deerskin, baghambar, and wool is best.
Garland – Rudraksh, Jayantifal, Tulsi, rhinestone, ivory, red coral, sandalwood, and lotus garland make chanting perfect. Rudraksh’s garland is the best.
Benefits
If some things are taken care of, then those mantras can prove to be very beneficial for us. For example, chanting at home yields one-fold, a hundred-fold in a cowshed, a thousand-fold in a virtuous forest or garden and a pilgrimage, ten thousand-fold on a mountain, a million-fold on a river bank, a million-fold in a temple, and an infinite number of times near Shiva.
Chanting is of three types – reader, upanshu, and mental. Vocal chanting is done by speaking slowly. Upanshu-chanting is done in such a way that others cannot hear it. Tongue and lips do not move in mental chanting. In all three chants, the second type is better than the first and the third type is better than the second.
Rules of Chanting
Chanting should be done by raising both hands in the morning, downwards in the evening, and straightening them in the afternoon. Keep the hand near the navel in the morning, near the heart in the afternoon, and parallel to the mouth in the evening.
To calculate the chant, make pills by mixing lac, kush, vermilion, and dry cow dung. While chanting, it is necessary to put the right hand in the chanter or cover it with a cloth. For chanting, the rosary should be placed on the ring finger and touched with the thumb, and rotated with the middle finger. Do not violate Sumeru. Do not put your index finger. Chant the rosary for the second time by rotating it near Sumeru.
While chanting, do not move, shake, speak, get angry, and do not create any wrong thoughts or feelings in your mind, otherwise chanting will not yield any result.