Specifics of Mantras: What mantras to use?

By Ved Kovid, Durgadas.

(c) Ved Kovid, Durgadas. All Rights Reserved.

(www.nzayurveda.com)

Many today learn a mantra given in a class, heard on a CD or by a teacher or Guru. Yet, the spiritual effects of the mantra are often projected to a greater level than what the mental and thereby doshic effects of the mantra can give. Many also express the effects of mantras in a generic fashion, as has been the trend with everything typically Hindu today - whether Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta etc. which is often expressed (ironically) or reduced to a "one size fits all" doctrine.

I have talked before about the diksha or initiation of mantras. Devotion, that is true devotion to higher Gurus can unlock their diksha however – which must be done at a higher level or ‘apaurusheya’ – beyond the human realm to proceed. The human diksha for example gives only access (or opening up) to the higher levels and it is up to the sadhak to do so, but it can be done directly. Step 2 is gaining Rishi-shakti of the mantra and Step 3 is Devata-shakti of the mantra.

One is not just simply empowered to use a mantra, even after physical initiation of it. Then comes in other considerations - does the person who have given the diksha have the Shakti of the mantra themselves? Many can repeat things in sampradayas and the Adi Guru may have had the Shakti, but does the tradition and person giving it out now have this same Shakti? As it does decline, if one or others in the sampradaya have not reached the same levels as their founding Gurus or Guru!

Mantras must be specific relative to the aggravation of doshas and the mind, since their application has effects upon the psyche many don’t look at – including modern Yogis sadly! Most mantras are of a Vatogenic or cooling and unctuous Kaphogenic nature and hence are good for Pitta, but for Kapha and Vata types, can be troublesome as they increase Prana (Vata) - this includes Dvidoshaja Prakritis and rogas.

For example for Panchakshara mantra, if there is Vata – one should (at least) use Om Haum Namah Shivaaya. Strictly speaking, without the beejas, a mantra is without Shakti. Haum helps eliminate toxins, wards off enemies and brings in grace of Shiva as the protector as well as negates negative feelings as depression and anxiety. Panchakshara by itself increases Pranavata in the head, causing more anxiety as this mantra although relating to the lunar aspect of Shiva, increases Vata.

Om Shreem Namah Shivaaya can for example be used to increase the lunar energy of Shiva. Om Hreem Namah Shivaaya for the Solar-side.

With AUM – this is Pranava and most increases Prana-Vayu in the head and thus in the body also as it is drying. Drying mantras and meditations most increase Vata in excess. It is hence used along with other mantras even in meditation, such as in Srividya to outweigh these energies.

The Hatha Yogis and others were mainly militant Pitta types, so Vatogenic sadhanas were good for them. For types suffering from Vata issues and in their Prakriti, they create disturbances on the buddhi and hence chitta by blowing it out. This is one of the main concerns we treat in modern Yoga today. Aim is also the Shakti-beeja of AUM and must be mastered first, but Saraswati can help in that.

One of the main things few consider is that today most people live in large cities and have the stress of work, family etc. Their meditations work simply on the lower emotional levels of the mind due to this and as for mantras such as OM etc. - these often only end up aggravating people more due to the Vatogenic diets and lifestyles we are exposed to, opposed to the peaceful calm environments that traditional Yogis that performed such practices were in.

We also have to realise we don't live in ashrams and have people looking after us. Even Many Yogis and Swamis today aggravate their Vata through much speaking (lectures), travel and such, let alone through their mantras.

Hence, we must consider "antidoting" mantras as per our Prakriti and Vikaras, just as we would with our diets / foods and other Yoga practices as well. There are several subtle and specific considerations here that we need to employ and form a part of the greater oral sides of the Yoga traditions that are seldom found in the common Yoga texts, but are mentioned in sampradayas and also in the greater Tantric and Vedic literatures few are exposed to or have studied properly.

NOTES:

Yoga, Ayurveda etc. are very, very complex traditions that modern movements such as the TM, Yoga Gurus etc. have reduced or watered-down by often grabbing one small aspect of them and applying it generically, and then using the allopathic model, Western psychology etc. to back up the usefulness, which often opposes the true Yoga and Ayurvedic use and applications of these.

A good example are TM-type meditations, which are drying and Vatogenic. They can create dryness in the mind, are cold and hence eventually affect the digestive system (as a result of variable metabolism caused by high anxiety and stress or instability in the mind). This can lead to further complications later on - especially with Vata individuals and those with Vata in their prakriti or in cooler or dry climates, stressful lifestyles or eating raw foods - all of which are Vatogenic. These are considerations many fail to see.

Those in Vata-ages, 60+ should also avoid these Vatogenic mantras and practices, as they can aggravate them. This is what I mean by Yoga practices becoming far too generic!

Other examples of bad-Yoga practices are as Bikram Yoga being good for one and all. It is good for large Kapha types who need heat - but excesses of heat or hot can aggravate Vata and dry it out further and debase it. It requires some heat with unctuousness, such as warm and humid climates. Pitta is easily aggravated by Bikram Yoga and such practices in excess, owing to their warm natures. Other considerations are such as a male in his 40's eating spicy foods or in summer will aggravate their Pitta, as males are more Pitta and in the 40s is is in the Pitta-age period. Bikram Yoga in excess, especially if some Pitta exists in the Prakriti, done in summer or alone with spicy foods will also tend to aggravate them.

But as noted - who considers such considerations? Few Ayurvedic practitioners do, let alone those who employ Yoga!

Moreover, Bhakti is often neglected by many using mantras. The Deity of the mantra as also the Rishi and their grace MUST be sought in order to progress. Without even knowing the Deity or working with them at a deeper bhakti level, mantras become merely mental exercises alone and have no spiritual effects. Several Yoga teachers and even Gurus I have seen not give proper considerations when dishing out mantras, nor the specific deities let alone effects of mantras.

And Bhakti includes personal sadhana, reading the devotional and other shastras as well as poojas, observations or vratas, visiting of tirthas etc. It doesn't simply mean shoving an image of Ganesh or Krishna somewhere and superficially repeating a mantra thinking one is spiritual. This is purely ignorance and delusional and is very New-Age and Western - not Hindu nor traditional!