Jain Digest 2000 07 Vol 16 No 03

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 18

ALLIKEDNINE LIGHT OF MANTRA
Samani Bhavit Pragyaji
A Mantra is a collection of mystic sound, radiant energy, and The Three States of Mantra Repetition: The process of saying sacred word or words. The literal meaning of mantra is the force a mantra over and over is known as Japa Yoga. Japa means the which protects a person from the bondage of the phenomenal repetition of a mantra with devotion an faith. There are three world. The word mantra is derived from the root man in San- stages of mantra repetition - verbal, upansu (whispering) and skrit; the etymology of the word is Mananaat trayate iti mantra; mental. In the initial stage the mantra is being pronounced verMan (mananaat refers to meditation on an esoteric formula such bally aloud with clarity of speech, intonation, and intensity of as Om, Arham, Mahamantra Namo Arhantanam etc.), Tra concentration. If these three requirements occur together in (Trayate signifies to protect or free), and iti means thus or through. practice, the mantra will tend to work more effectively and it will By combining these syllables, the word mantra is formed. alter the frame of mind, behaviour and attitude. Upansu means
The King of all Mantras: Mahamantra is an extraordinary man- whispered sound. It consists of continuous silent repetition, but tra which has evolved over the centuries; it is truly the king of all with moving lips. In the mental stage, the mind follows the mantras. Each letter inherent in Mahamantra has inconceivable pronunciation of the mantra, observing the meaning of the letpower; each single letter is a mantra in itself. It is a universal ters. The vision is moved through the letter or line that is being mantra which can be employed by anyone who aspires to develop repeated, after which, involuntarily and without effort, continumental, emotional and spiritual personality. One who meditates ous repetition occurs in the mind. The Japa of Mahamantra on it with a pure and stable mind becomes safe from any type of should be performed in this manner; first verbally, then whisperanguish, fear or misery. It protects like a shield. It subdues mis- ing and then mentally. influences of the planets and saves the medicator from the wor- The Power of the Word: The Mahamantra influences us ries and hurdles of life. It invokes purity of soul and enhances immenselt. Weare familiar with the external effects of sunds. well-being, happiness and awareness of life.
During foreign travel, Swami Vivekananda spoke on the great The Divine Souls: Within Mahatmantra there exists five great importance of words. A man in the audience told him that it was souls, namely, Arhats, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas and Sadhus. all unintelligible to him, and that words were meaningless sounds. Arahanta means the destroyer of vitiating karmas - Jnanavarniya The Swami called the man a fool and said “Did you not under(knowledge obscuring), Darshanavamiya (perception obscuring), stand such a simple thing?" Ths irritated the man and he aked Mohniya (deluding) and Antaraya (hindrance producing) - after the Swami why he had used such abusive language. The Swami which pure character, infinite potency, perfect knowledge, and replied “It is you who have said the words are meaningless. Why perfect perception are manifested in the soul. Siddha (liberated do you feel perplexed? It shows that words contain infinite posoul) who has destroyed four vitiating karmas and four non-viti- tentiality; words have power and create effects." ating karmas - Nam (physical structure forming), Gotra (status The Impact of Gem, the Sacred Mantra and Medication: Reforming), Vedniya (feeling causing) and Ayushya (life span deter- garding the effect of the mantra, it is said in sanskrit that Achintyo mining). The eight inherent powers of the Siddha are perfect Manimantrauashadheenam Prabhat. Achintyo means Achintyo knowledge, perfect perception, eternal happiness, pure charac- means inconsiderable, Mani means gem, aushad means medicater, infinite potency, formlessness, statuslessness and eternal life. tion, and prabhah means impact. This means that the impact of Acharya is said to be the leader of a sect which conducts a religio- gem sacred mantra and medication is beyond thought. Gem social organization consisting of sadhus and sadhvis lay-men and helps to remove the mis-influence of the planets upon a person. women. Upadhyaya (Up means near; Adhyaya means to study) As an experiment, scientists covered a piece of coral with a silken guides others by imparting knowledge of the scriptures. A Sadhu cloth and put a burning coal on that cloth, but to their surprise, carries five great vows - non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celi- the cloth was not burned. The reason was that the heat of the bacy and non-possession.
burning coal was drawn into the gem. The Proper Way of Mala : First, one must sit in a straight Similarly, medication is effective. An Acharya named Padilipta posture keeping the spine and neck erect. The mantras can be Suri in Jain tradition used an ointment with a certain mixture of observed as mala (rosary) shifting the rosary beads between the medication on his feet, and was able to fly in the sky. Due to thumb and the middle finger of the right hand while keeping the this, he became known as 'Padlipta'With the use of certain hand near the heart. The awareness of mind is fixed upon the medications, a person can see far off lands and across the wall. movement of each bead. The mount bead should not be crossed.
Methodology: With the repetition of the five great lines Om Start the mala facing east.
Rhim Namo Arahantanam, Om Rhim Namo Siddhanam, Om Rhim Namo Ayariyanam, Om Rhim Namo Uvajjhayanam and
16/JAIN DIGEST- FALL 2000 Jain Education Interational 2010_02