Mantra Yoga

A speech given by Paramhansa Satyananda

at the chhattisgarh yoga seminar, Korba, February 17th, 1974
(Translated by Swami Sivananda - a disciple of Swami Satyananda Saraswati)

Blessed Spiritual Seekers

Hari Om

Today I want to explain to you a little about the science of mantra Yoga. The
mantra shastra is a very deep and great science, which if understood correctly can
give you victory over your lower nature. The Mantra shastra is very ancient, and in
previous ages people knew this science well. Recently however, the people's faith
in the mantra shastra has lessened, and gradually this knowledge has become hidden
to such an extent that nowadays, in the name of mantra, anything is said it has
therefore become necessary to speak of this science for the sake of spiritual,
aspirants.

Mankind's most ancient scriptures are the Vedas, and from the Vedas, the tantra
shastra has taken birth. From the tantra, the mantra shastra has come Out. The
mantra shastra was never written just as we write any ordinary type of book but
there were ancient rishis and munis 'sages' who had the actual realization of
mantra. When the rishis, in meditation were able to transcend the material
consciousness, rising to a very high level those suitable sounds heard, by them in
chat higher plane were called mantra. To make it more clear to you just make up
some syllables in your mind, it is not mantra but those whose souls are purified,
end, through meditation have established their consciousness to a very high level
beyond this body and mind, the sound perceived by them, is that higher state, are
called mantra.

The rishis had the experience of mantra on three different levels, the realisation
of the mantra in three planes of consciousness. When the consciousness passes from
the gross body into the subtle body, the sound perceived at that time make one
collection. The mantras heard in the subtle body from another group, and when the
consciousness from the subtle or second body, enters in the third body certain
mantras realized at that time form a third group. First I want to make you
understand what I mean when I say first body, second body third and so on. When I
say body I do not mean only body, rather, I mean body consciousness, that body
through which your consciousness is functioning. When the body consciousness is
realized through the medium of the five gross senses that is called the gross body
consciousness, the first body, where your mind intellect and memory are working Now
then, what is the second body? When you practice meditation, your awareness travels
deeper and deeper inside, and in that inner meditation you began to see beautiful
visions and dreams. That which is called the second body not something tangible, it
is the subtle or astral body Sukshma Shastra psychic consciousness, or the sub-
conscious body. That is the second plane of consciousness. Now. What is known as
the third body? When meditation becomes deeper and deeper, the state of void
(shonya) comes. No awareness of external, nor of internal, the experience of 'the
dark night of the soul." like midnight, formless, sightless, where there is no
awareness of 'I' that is called the third body, the causal body, karana sharira, or
the unconscious body. In the vedas it has been called Hiranya Garbha (the golden
womb). There are many names given by psychologists also.

In the third and fourth levels of consciousness the awareness of the external world
is absent. There is no awareness of my old name, my old form, but there is the
experience of the eternal self (akhanda swaroop) this is called samadhi, the fourth
level of consciousness or turiya, and many, other names All this has been given in
the Gayatri Mantra. Aum Bhu Aum Bhuwah Aum Swah Aum Maha Aum Janah Aum tapah, Aum
Satyam, Aum Tat Saviturvarenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhtyoyanah Prachodayat. Aum
Bhu, that is the first body, (bhu loka or the material plane) Aum Bhuwah, tha
second body (the intermediate or astral plane) Aum Swah, the third body (the
heavenly or divine plane), after this the following mantras come in the fourth
body. Mahar loka, Jano Loka mapo loka and satya loka, do not mean material worlds,
hut rather the planes of consciousness.

Am the rishis sat in meditation, they received In higher levels the sounds known as
mantra. For this reason the mantras are not a creation of the human mind, they were
not made by any man but rather they were received from higher sources. Just as in
the religion of Islam, it is said that the Koran was written by God. This means
that whoever received Koran had attained a very high yogic state. In the same way
the Christians speak of the Bible as a revealed scripture. Our own Sanatan Dharma
(the eternal religion of the Hindus) and vedic religion is understood as not having
been written by mankind. The vedas were not written by man, it does not mean that
the pen which wrote them was in god's hand it only means that they were revealed to
the rishis after they had transcended the mankind. The vedas were not written by
man. It does not mean that the pen-which wrote them was in god's hand, it only
means that they were revealed to the rishis after they had transcended the material
consciousness and then the same is also said concerning the Ramcharitmanas
(Ramayana).

Of all the types of mantra explained so far, the first, the highest, is Aum. Aum is
the seed (beej) mantra of all mantras. The rishis realized this Aum in the very
highest planes of consciousness, in the state of self realization (atma-
sakshatkar). First, Aum and after it the mantras of Gayatri, Aum Bhu, Aum Bhuwah,
Aum Swaha, The twenty four syllables of Gayatri, plus the Aum should be known as
the original mantra. The vedic rishis who received this mantras were established on
a very high level.

All the mantras in existence have come out from the Aum. It is composed of three
sounds, 'A', 'U', 'M', 'AUM' and in all societies, in all religions this AUM is
found in one form or another whether Christian or Muslim, the Aum is foremost of
mantras.

Following this are the mantras pertaining to the third body, the unconscious body,
which are known as beej (seed) mantras. We call them potential mantras, containing
the dormant potential energy of different forces As many powers or forces as there
are in the world, each one is having its own beej mantras, just like 'AIM', for
Saraswati 'Shrim' for Laxmi Klim, Hrim, and so on all the short, seemingly
meaningless mantras which you might have heard, are called beeja mantras. Those
beej mantras are just like little bombs, the type of time bomb that explodes just
at the right moment, or just as you see a thing seed in the earth, and form that
grows a fantastic free giving thousands of fruits, such is the power of the beej
mantra with the practice of anusthan (prolonged repetition for a fixed time and
number) and regular sadhana the power of the mantra is awakened. When that power is
awakened, the consciousness takes the form of the mantra and then the real work of
the mantra begins.

Please remember one thing. There is much criticism against our Hindu religion, the
objection being that in Hinduism, there are so many Gods and Goddesses. But I will
tell you in the words of a scientist that Shakti ( energy ) is not only of one
type. It has innumerable forms, but the prime shakti, the root shakti, is one. Its
manifestations are endless that is why we worship the Devi (Goddess Shakti) in as
many different forms. The Same thing is in science; see the electricity is flowing,
and from it the amplifier the tape recorder, all of your big factories are working.
The same energy which gives heat from the heater, give, coolness from the fan,
these are the varied manifestation of one energy. Therefore, those who object may
realise it alright, but the truth is that Shakti is not just one kind. Intellect is
one Shakti, memory is one shakti, speech, prana (force) knowledge, are all shaktis,
without which we can not exist. That is why, for the awakening of these different
powers, there are different beeja mantras. For an example, the vidya shakti power
of knowledge is in the form of Saraswati. Now I am not talking of goddess
Saraswati. who's idol is worshipped in the temple, but I mean that energy that
shakti which is within us in the form of vidya or Saraswati. What is the way to
awaken this energy? Of all the methods given, the best is to take the beej mantra
of that shakti, and to awaken its sleeping potential.

There are many other types of shaktis, pertaining to the body, of diseases, even to
the snake's poison and so on. in many diseases, if the japa anusthan (prolonged
repetition) of the Mritunjay mantra "Aum triyambakam Yejaamahe sugundhim pushti
wardhanam, urwarukamiva bandhanat mrityormukshiya mamritat" is performed, the power
of the mantra is awakened internally giving the desired result. By the practice of
mantra jap (repetition), the aspirants conscious will power is awakened and through
the will power everything is accomplished.

All the beeja mantras must be practiced strictly according to certain rules and
regulations. Just by reading in a book somewhere they should not be practiced, but
only after understanding well purpose and necessity of the beeja mantra, before
anusthan is undertaken.

On this subject, it is explained in the tantra shastra, to make a yantra (mystic

diagram), first and within that yantra write the beeja mantras. For example, the
mantra "Shri", Shri as you know, is the mantra of Laxmi (Goddess of prosperity). If
you want to make this yantra, the best way is to carve it on crystal, that is
called, "shri chakram". I don't know if it is found here or not, but if yon go to
south India, or to Orissa, you will find this Shri Chakra. But crystal is a very
rare thing which everyone can not find, therefore, the Shri Chakra is also made on
copper and in that the mantra Shri is written and the anusthan is performed. I have
given you just one example of the many mantras which can be first installed in the
yantra. The anusthan of the beeja mantras should never be practiced in a careless
manner.

Now comes the next group of mantras, like Aum Namah Shivaya, Shri Ram, Hare
Krishna, and all mantras pertaining to the second body. Any one with faith may
practice jap of these mantras.

We must think now, what can we accomplish by the use of mantra, an benefits can be
gained from them? The best thing is that every person should have one mantra for
himself. If you cannot decide on the mantra independently, then you must take help
from someone, and after deciding mantra, jap must be practiced daily with complete
discipline. Once you decide to do nine malas of jap a day do it is important to do
nine males, or if you decided twelve malas you should be regular with that number.

One suggestion I will give to you, all that all those who practice jap of Gayatri
mantra, will find it very beneficial for their health, and intellect. In my own
experience, those who suffer from skin diseases, or iron deficiency (anaemia) are
helped much by the surya or sun mantras. For the skin diseases such as eczema, and
teucoderma, the sun mantra can help much if the anusthan is practiced properly.

Through mantra, one can remove disease, sorrow and resuiessness. Mantra is so
powerful, that within a moment one can change bad habits also. Now it is important
for people to study and understand this science in the right way.

In my childhood, I had one experience a bout which will tell you. It was in
Allahabad, when I was very young only 7-8 years, and I happened to see to Muslims
playing with a snake. Just as I was passing, I saw one snake charmer make a ring by
drawing a circle on the ground with a sticky and in that circle was a first class
snake, a big cobra. Now The cobra belonged to the snake charmer and there was some
kind of argument between him and the other man. During young age I could not follow
completely their talk, it was all mantra-tantra business. The other man said now I
will see, how your snake wilt get out and taking a stick he drew one or two more
lines, then the snake just sat there, It came up just to the line then turn back
again. I was just seeing all this, not understanding anything, so I asked him, what
is happening. He told me, "I have thrown mantras on all four sides of the snake, so
now it can not come out". I saw them fighting together. One tried to throw grain of
rice or dal on the other which he had but didn't throw for fear of the other man
would also throw some rice on him. (Rice is one medium through which the mantra is
thrown). So they circled on each other trying to throw the rice for about ten or
fifteen minutes, when at last a big crowd gathered bringing their tantric battle to
an end. Any way the cobra was released which I did not see. This incident struck in
my mind for many days, but then I forgot about it.

I grew up, and as a Hindu boy received the sacred thread, went on with my work, and
the curiosity. I once had about mantra disappeared. So Many years after came to my
guru's ashram in Rishikesh. One day, one American family came to stay at the
ashram, a husband wife and two children. I am speaking about the Rishikesh ashram
of many years ago in 1942-43 on the banks of Ganges River, surrounded on all sides
by dense jungle, where at night, your step might fall on a scorpion. One day, the
small girl was stung so severely by a scorpion that it seemed that within ten
minutes she would be Aum tat sat, dead. The scorpions bite is very painful, I know
because I was also bitten once, a man forgets completely about his social-status,
and just cries like a child. Even the strongest man who, can lift 2½ pounds (120
Kg) or swim against the current of the Ganges for three hours will loose his
strength and weep for the whole night. So you can imagine how that child was
crying. I thought, now she must die.

Just next to the ashram, was a police station, and from there somebody brought one
constable. He came bringing a small knife with him, and with that knife he removed
the poison within five minutes. In five minutes the girl was completely normal. I
asked him, what mantra have you used and he said 'Kali Calcutta Wali '(the goddess
Kali, patron deity of Calcutta) I was simply surprised? Now, I was raised by Arya
Samaj is (a sect which does not accept the concept of personal gods and goddesses)
I was educated at a convent school with Christians, and many of close relatives at
home were muslins When I heard the name of ‘Calcutta Wali’ my entire faith was
shaken. I said, "Oh, I know Kali Calcutta Wali, Kali is just a name and Calcutta is
a place, that much I know, so how could poison be removed just by words?'

Gradually my attention was caught. I asked many people and started to read books
about tantra, and to practice mantra anusthan myself. There have been so many
experiences so many wonderful benefits that it is not even possible to express.
What I want to explain is that those words 'Kali Calcutta Wali' may seem completely
simple and ordinary to us but for the man who has realized them know that they are
not ordinary at all. Those sounds which the rishis realised are not only simple
words but full of power. That is why we say, sound (Shabda) is Brahma (supreme-
consciousness) then is power in the mantra, and to awaken this power, everyone
should find within himself a method.

I will give you one suggestion, everyone should have his own mantra, and practice
jap with complete regularity, for 1 minutes or half an hour daily. The time of jap,
concentration is not necessary. Please understand this properly. At the time of
mantra jap. Concentration of mind is not important but what is important is faith
and belief. If your faith is weak, and your concentration is strong, you will not
attain the power of the mantra. If your concentration is weak, you mind is running
here and there, but your faith and devotion is unshakable, the mantra will awaken
soon within you. For this reason, much emphasis is placed on faith and devotion it
the mantra shastra.
There are two forces, two powers in the mantra. One is the power of consciousness,
shiv, are what is called Purusha. The other is the force nature, matter, or
Prakriti. Through sadhana, there two forces are awakened, and after awakening they
will continue to help you for the whole of your life.

You might have heard the experiences of many others regarding mantra, and I have
also told you of my experiences Now, definitely try to bring the science of mantra
into your own life.