Essential vedic mantras and prayers

A Mantra is the acoustic (or visual when reading) manifestation of the divinity. That which can elevate the consciousness of the native by constant recitation is termed as a mantra.

In the vedic scriptures it is mentioned that ‘Mananat-trayate iti Mantrah’ . Mantra is the habitual practice or manana (constant thinking or practice) of which one is protected or is released from the cycles of births and deaths. The Jiva or individual consciousness has to experience all the four spheres of life Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha equally before it can begin its journey towards Mukti or liberation. Mantra practice is one such gateway to attain final liberation. Mantra is a mental exercise and the results occur on the subconscious levels. The word ‘Man’ is related to “Manas” which is in turn related to the Moon. The Moon is called Manas in which reside the Jiva (individual entity), Buddhi (intellect ruled by the mercury (Budha) who is the child of the moon) and ahamkara (ego). Since the word Mantra is rooted in Manas it can be interpreted as ‘to think’, and ‘Tra’ means ‘to protect’ or ‘free’ from the bondage of Samsara or the material world. Thus the mantras are efficient remedies for afflicted moon and mercury in the chart. Since mantra practice alter the subconscious patterns, they can be used to change karmic patterns indicated by the nodes – Rahu and Ketu.

The Mantras were not written down but are said to have been the results of the immense austere meditations performed by the sages in the past yugas. The divinities appeared in the mind of the sages after several years or decades of meditation and handed them the mantras in the form of syllables. Thus the mantras were not some lyrics or poems that the Rishis wrote when they had free time but these were the fruits of the darshan (or visions of the deity) of the divinities in their minds. From the rig vedic times these symbols were used as keys to gain access into the transcendental realms of Brahman experience.

Mantra Yoga is a science of its own accord. Not everyone can compose a mantra. As mentioned earlier it is not a poem. There are certain rules and regulations that were followed. A typical Mantra, in the vedic system, has the following six parts.

• It has the name of the Rishi to whom it was revealed for the first time and who gave this Mantra to the world. He is the Drashta or Seer for this Mantra. For example: Sage Viswamitra is the Rishi for Gayatri.
• The Mantra has a metric or grammar (Chhandas), which governs the inflection of the voice.
• The Mantra has a particular divinity or supernatural being, higher or lower, as its presiding power.
• The Mantra has a Bija or seed. The seed is a quintessential word, or series of words, which gives a special power to the Mantra. The Bija is the essence of the Mantra.
• Every Mantra has a Shakti. The Shakti is the energy form of the Mantra. The vibration of chanting a particular sound in the mantra will give rise to a specific shape or field of aura. These serve as the communication bridge between the chanter and the presiding deity.
• The Mantra has a Kilaka – pillar or pin. This plugs the Mantra-Chaitanya that is hidden in the Mantra. Chaitanya means consciousness or sensation or intelligence. As soon as the plug is removed by constant and prolonged repetition of the Name, the Chaitanya that is hidden is revealed. The devotee gets Darshana of the Ishta Devata.

Prayers on the other hand are positive affirmations that help build positive mentality and attitude. They may or may not give spiritual liberation. Neither will they have the power or energy to invoke a deity or ista devata. A mantra can be a prayer but not all prayers can be mantras. Therefore mantras have higher power and it is important to practice them on mundane level for all sorts of benefits. Below are some of the important vedic mantras and prayers. The mantras have to be chanted daily a minimum of 108 times to observe results.

 

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1) Maha Ganapathi invocation mantra

 

ॐ गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।

ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणाम् ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिःसीदसादनम् ॥

ॐ महागणाधिपतये नमः ॥

Translation

Om Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna- Patim Hava-Amahe

Kavim Kaviinaam-Upama- Shravas-Tamam | Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam Brahmannas- Pata

Aa Nah Shrnnvan-Nuutibhih-

Siida-Saadanam ||

Om Mahaa-Ganna-Adhipataye Namah ||

 

The above mantra is from the Rig Veda (2.23.1).

 

Meaning:

Om, O Ganapati, To You Who are the Lord of the Ganas (Celestial Attendants or Followers), we Offer our Sacrificial Oblations. You are the Wisdom of the Wise and the Uppermost in Glory. You are the Eldest Lord (i.e. ever Unborn) and are of the Nature of Brahman (Absolute Consciousness). You are the Embodiment of the Sacred Pranava (Om). Please come to us by Listening to our Prayers and be Present in the Seat of this Sacred Sacrificial Altar. Om, our Prostrations to the Maha Gana –adhipati, the Great Lord of the Ganas (sects/classes of beings)

 

Learning source :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvvUwTaAKLE

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2) Asato Maa prayer

 

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Translation

Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |

Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |

Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

 

Meaning:

Om, O Lord keep me not in the unreality or the bondage of the material World, but lead me towards the reality of the eternal self. O Lord keep me not in the darkness of ignorance, but lead me towards the light of spiritual knowledge. O Lord, keep me not in the fear of death due to the bondage of the mortal world, but lead me towards the Immortality, gained by the knowledge of the Immortal (self beyond death). Om, may there be Peace, Peace, Peace at the three levels – Adidaivika (eternal heavens), Adibhautika (eternal material world) and Adhyatmika (eternal self).

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3) Opening Prayer

 

ॐ सह नाववतु।

सह नौ भुनक्तु।

सह वीर्यं करवावहै।

तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु

मा विद्विषावहै।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Translation

Om sahanaa vavatu Sahanau bhunaktu

Saha veeryam karavaa vahai

Tejasvi naa vadhee tamastu maa vidvishaa vahai

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaantihi

 

Explanation

May he protect us both (the teacher and the student).

May he nourish us both.

May we both work together with great energy.

May our study be enlightening and fruitful.

May we not hate each other.

Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

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4) Poornamadah Shanti mantra for peace

 

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते |

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ||

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ||

Translation

Om poornamadah poornamidam poornaat poornamudachyate

Om poornam-adah poornam-idah poorna-aat poornam-udachyate

Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamevaavashishṣyate

Om poorna-asya poornam-aadaaya poornam-evaa vashishyate

 

This is the Shanti mantra of the Isha Upanishad which is a part of the Shukla Yajurveda.

 

Meaning:

Aum, that Brahman is infinite, or is the only entity that is complete and perfect! The infinite evolves from the infinite. Even if you take the infinite (conditioned brahman) from the infinite, the infinite (unconditioned Brahman) still remains!

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4) Gayathri mantra

 

ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि, धीयो यो न: प्रचोदयात् ।।

Translation

Aum Bhuh Bhuvah Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo nah Prachodayat

The above mantra has been taken from the Rig Veda (10:16:3). The power, glory and explanation of this mantra is beyond the scope of this article. It is that powerful. Interested people may dig some material of their own on the Internet and youtube. It is a prayer addressing the Brahman or supreme consciousness.

 

Meaning:

“O the existence Absolute, Creator of the three dimensions, we contemplate upon the divine light. May He stimulate our intellect and bestow upon us true knowledge.”

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6) The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

   ॐ र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्

   उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्

Translation

Om Tryambhakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam |

Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat ||

 

Meaning:

Om. We worship The Three-Eyed Lord Shiva who is fragrant and who increasingly nourishes the devotees. Worshiping him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk.

 

The above Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra has been taken from the Sukla Yajurveda Samhita III. 60. The Mantra is addressed to Lord Shiva and is a centuries old technique of connecting one to pure consciousness and bliss. This is a very powerful mantra to overcome health and body ailments too.

 

Explanation:

The mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva who is addressed as Sankara and Trayambaka. Sankara is sana (blessings) and Kara (the Giver). Trayambaka is the three eyed one (where the third eye signifies the giver of knowledge, which destroys ignorance and releases us from the cycle of death and rebirth).

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7) Closing Prayer

 

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः

सर्व- सन्तु निरामयाः ।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु

मा- कश्चिद्दुः- खभाग्भवेत्- ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Translation

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah

Sarve santu niraamayah

Sarve bhadraani pashyantu

Maa kaschit dukha abhaag bhavet

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaantihi

 

Explantaion

May all be happy.

May all be free from diseases.

May all see things auspicious.

May none be subjected to misery.

Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

 

Learning source for mantras/prayers (2-7): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg8uoepX4OI

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