Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 32

CONTEMPLATION COLOURS AND EMOTIONS
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written: 'Each of us is in reality an abiding psychical entity far more extensive than he knows an individuality which can never express itself completely through and corporeal manifestation. The Self manifests through the organism; but there is always some part of the Self unmanifested; and always, as it seems, some power of organic expression in abeyance or reserve'. Much of the content of this larger background against which our conscious being stands out in relief is insignificant. Imperfect memories, silly jingles, inhibitive timidities, 'dissolutive' phenomena of various sorts, as Myers calls them, enter into it for a large part. But in it many of the performances of genius seem also to have their origin; and in our study of conversion, of mystical experiences, and of prayer, we have seen how striking a part invasions from this region play in the religious life.
Let me then propose, as an hypothesis, that whatever it may be on its farther side, the 'more' with which in religious experience we feel ourselves connected is on its hither side the subconscious continuation of our conscious life."
CONTEMPLATION COLOURS AND EMOTIONS While dealing with the subject of contemplation of the deity presiding over a particular Mantra, in the present work as also other works of the same or similar nature, the reader will find it stated that the colour of the deity as all its apparels and ornaments should be contemplated as white, golden, red, blue or black according to the temperament or power ascribed to the deity or the nature of the object sought to be achieved by the worshipper. It is also laid down that the worshipper himself should put on garments of identical colour and should have a seat and a rosary also of the same colour
What is the object underlying all these injunctions? It is, we should think, to give the Mental Energy of the worshipper in contemplation, the proper direction by exciting the imagination so that the appropriate mental state or emotion is induced and its colour reflected in the mental energy to bring about the desired object. The colours