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different levels of awareness. They control the flow of energy since they vibrate at different frequencies.
It is said that by chanting various seed sounds and mantras we vibrate and purify the Chakras. Acharya Sushil Kumär says that by chanting 'hum' will not only affect the throat Chakra, but also any physical problems relating to the throat itself. Any part of the subtle or gross body may be purified, healed and awakened by the use of sound vibrations.
The Chakras and their positions in the body
Mulädhär Swadhisthan Manipur Anähat Vishuddha Ajnä Sahasrar
at the root centre. pubic centre. navel centre. heart. throat. third eye centre top of the head, cranium.
Meditation on Letters of the Mantras. (Padastha Dhyän)
Jains believe in four types of meditations: 1. Meditation on the image or idol. 2. Meditation on letters or the mantras. 3. Meditation on form. 4. Meditation without using any form or shape.
The first type requires an idol or an image and the person sits in front of his God's image and meditates. In the second, which we are going to see in slightly more detail, visualise lotus or other shapes and 'place' various syllables or sentences at the different centres of his body. This lotus consists of eight or more petals and has mantras on each of its petals. A person is asked to meditate upon these mantras.
One such method is described below.:
Visualise a lotus of eight petals. Visualise the mantra Namo Arihantänam (the first sentence of the Namaskära Mantra) in the middle of the lotus. Then visualise the remaining eight sentences of the Namaskära Mantra on the various petals as shown in the picture. As for example, the Namo Siddhanam should be in the easterly direction, the Namo Ayariyanam should be in southerly direction of the lotus.
Ächärya Hemchandra in his book the Yoga-Shästra states that whosoever chants the Namaskära Mantra whilst visualising those petals and provided he has cleansed himself in mind, body and heart, and does it hundred and eight times, gets the same merit as if he has fasted for a day. Achärya Hemchandra further states that "Meditate upon the seven syllables of the first sentence of the Namaskära Mantra if you want to save yourself from and get rid of the fire of this samsára". (i.e. the seven syllables are Na mo A ri han tä nam )
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