The term Vedic chant refers to recitation of hymns of the Vedas, the most ancient scriptures of India, and the basis of the many Hindu traditions. Chanting of these hymns has continued for at least last three millennia and is believed to the oldest such religious tradition. Before the introduction of printed texts, the Vedas were passed from one generation to the next only by the oral tradition, which necessitated chanting and memorizing of these hymns. Vedas, Mantra, Yantra, Japa, Hare Krishna, ...

Including:

• Vedic chant - Introduction
• Vedic chant - Divine Sound
• Vedic chant - Unesco
• Vedic chant - Popular Vedic Chants

Read more here: » Vedic chant: Encyclopedia - Vedic chant

Brahmarishi Viswamitra or Vishwamitra is one of the most venerated sages of Hinduism. He was a kshatriya by birth, but transcended to become a Brahmin with his hard penance. He is also known for discovering the Gayatri Mantra. Hindu scriptures mention that only 24 Rishis since antiquity have understood the whole meaning of, and thus wielded the whole power of, the Gayatri Mantra. Sage Vishwamitra is supposed to be the first, and Sage Yajnavalkya the last. Through the power attained this way, Vishwamitra was able to creat ...

Including:

• Viswamitra - Kaushika
• Viswamitra - Quarrel with Vasishta
• Viswamitra - Alternate Version
• Viswamitra - Tapasya
• Viswamitra - Alternate Version
• Viswamitra - Rise to Brahmarishi
• Viswamitra - Kaushika's Passions
• Viswamitra - Legends
• Viswamitra - Trisanku
• Viswamitra - Harishchandra's Sacrifice
• Viswamitra - In the Ramayana
• Viswamitra - Gotra

Read more here: » Viswamitra: Encyclopedia - Viswamitra

Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव or श्रीशिव (when used to distinguish lordly status), and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as "shιvə") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Śiva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Śiva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Śiva is "the destroyer", ...

Including:

• Shiva - Introduction
• Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva
• Shiva - Other Legends
• Shiva - The Sons of Shiva
• Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva
• Shiva - Other Forms and Legends
• Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism
• Shiva - Origin Theories
• Shiva - Names of Śiva

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mantra: (Sanskrit) "Mystic formula."

A sound, syllable, word or phrase endowed with special power, usually drawn from scripture. Mantras are chanted loudly during puja to invoke the Gods and establish a force field. Certain mantras are repeated softly or mentally for japa, the subtle tones quieting the mind, harmonizing the inner bodies and stimulating latent spiritual qualities. Hinduism's universal mantra is Aum. To be truly effective, such mantras must be given by the preceptor through initiation.

See: Aum, incantation, japa, puja, yajna, mantra, mantra yoga, meditation.

(See also: Mantra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

mantra: a sacred syllable, word or phrase that represents the eternal Truth. Mantras may be used in daily life for protecting the mind from falling into agitation and for spiritual evolution by reflecting on their significance.

(See also: mantra, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Panchakshara Mantra: (Sanskrit) "Five-syllabled incantation."

Saivism's most sacred mantra.

See: Namah Sivaya.

(See also: Panchakshara Mantra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

mula mantra: (Sanskrit) "Root mystic formula."

See: Aum, Moola Mantra.

(See also: Mula mantra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Mantra Gopya: (Sanskrit) The collected writings of Allama Prabhu.

See: Allama Prabhu.

(See also: Mantra Gopya, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Gayatri Mantra: (Sanskrit)

1) Famous Vedic mantra used in puja and personal chanting. Om (bhur bhuvah svah) tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. "(O Divine Beings of all three worlds,) we meditate upon the glorious splendor of the Vivifier divine. May He illumine our minds." (Rig Veda 3.62.10 VE). This sacred verse is also called the Savitri Mantra, being addressed to Savitri, the Sun as Creator, and is considered a universal mystic formula so significant that it is called Vedamatri, "mother of the Vedas."

2) Any of a class of special tantric mantras called Gayatri. Each addresses a particular Deity. The Siva Gayatri Mantra is: Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam, urvarukamiva bandhanan mrtyormukshiya mamrtat. "We adore the fragrant three-eyed one who promotes prosperity. May we be freed from the bondage of death as a cucumber from its stalk, but not from immortality." This is a famous verse of the Yajur Veda (from Rudranamaka, or Sri Rudram), considered an essential mantra of Siva worship used in all Siva rites.

(See also: Gayatri Mantra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Mantras were originally conceived in the great Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas. Within practically all Hindu scriptures, the writing is formed in painstakingly crafted two line "shlokas" and most mantras follow this pattern, although mantras are often found in single line or even single word combinations. The most basic mantra is Aum, which in Hinduism is known as the "pranava mantra," the source of all mantras. The philosophy behind this is the Hindu idea of nama-rupa (name-form), which supposes that all things, ideas or e ...

See also:

Mantra, Mantra - Introduction, Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism, Mantra - Mantra Japa, Mantra - Some Hindu mantras, Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth, Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra - The shanti mantras, Mantra - Universal prayer, Mantra - Other examples, Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra, Mantra - Remarks, Mantra - What is Dharma?, Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Mantra - Mantras and Prayers, Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan, Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound, Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Mantra - Om mani padme hum, Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists, Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia II - Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism

Mantras have some features in common with spells in general, in that they are a translation of the human will or desire into a form of action. Indeed, Dr. Edward Conze, a scholar of Buddhism, frequently translated "mantra" as "spell". As symbols, sounds are seen to effect what they symbolise. Vocal sounds are frequently thought of as having magical powers, or even of representing the words or speech of a deity. For the authors of the Hindu scriptures of the Upanishads, the syllable Aum, itself constituting a mantra, represents Brahman, the g ...

See also:

Mantra, Mantra - Introduction, Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism, Mantra - Mantra Japa, Mantra - Some Hindu mantras, Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth, Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra - The shanti mantras, Mantra - Universal prayer, Mantra - Other examples, Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra, Mantra - Remarks, Mantra - What is Dharma?, Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Mantra - Mantras and Prayers, Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan, Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound, Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Mantra - Om mani padme hum, Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists, Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia II - Mantra - Introduction

Conze distinguishes three periods in the Buddhist use of mantra. Initially, like their fellow Indians, Buddhists used mantra as protective spells to ward of malign influences. Despite a Vinaya rule which forbids monks engaging in the Brahminical practice of chanting mantras for material gain, there are a number of protective for a group of ascetic monks. However, even at this early stage, there is perhaps something more than animistic magic at work. Particularly in the case of the Ratana Sutta the efficacy of the verses seems to be related to the concept of "truth". Each verse of the sutta ends ...

See also:

Mantra, Mantra - Introduction, Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism, Mantra - Mantra Japa, Mantra - Some Hindu mantras, Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth, Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra - The shanti mantras, Mantra - Universal prayer, Mantra - Other examples, Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra, Mantra - Remarks, Mantra - What is Dharma?, Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Mantra - Mantras and Prayers, Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan, Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound, Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Mantra - Om mani padme hum, Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists, Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia II - Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism

Buddhism, naturally following from Vedic society, also developed its own system and understanding of mantra, which while similar to that of Hinduism's, also took on its own particularities, especially according to region. Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism. Kūkai advanced a general theory of language based on his analysis of two forms of Buddhist ritual language: dharani (dhāra.nī) and mantra. Mantra is restricted to esoteric Buddhist practice whereas dharani is found in both esote ...

See also:

Mantra, Mantra - Introduction, Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism, Mantra - Mantra Japa, Mantra - Some Hindu mantras, Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth, Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra - The shanti mantras, Mantra - Universal prayer, Mantra - Other examples, Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra, Mantra - Remarks, Mantra - What is Dharma?, Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Mantra - Mantras and Prayers, Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan, Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound, Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Mantra - Om mani padme hum, Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists, Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia II - Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism

Transcendental Meditation, also known simply as 'TM', uses simple mantras as a meditative focus. TM was founded by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. According to the TM website (see below) the practice can result in a number of material benefits such as relaxation, reduced stress, better health, better self image; but it can also benefit the world by reducing violence and crime, and generally improve quality of life. The founder was well versed in Hindu tradition, but TM attempts to separate itself from ...

See also:

Mantra, Mantra - Introduction, Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism, Mantra - Mantra Japa, Mantra - Some Hindu mantras, Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth, Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra - The shanti mantras, Mantra - Universal prayer, Mantra - Other examples, Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra, Mantra - Remarks, Mantra - What is Dharma?, Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Mantra - Mantras and Prayers, Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan, Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound, Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Mantra - Om mani padme hum, Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists, Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia II - Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

The following subsections contain remarks on the nature and use of mantras in their context as Hindu religious practice. Mantra - What is Dharma?. A western expert on Hindu philosophy and religion writes: Sanatan (eternal) Dharma as a universal tradition has room for all faiths and all religious and spiritual practices regardless of the time or country of their origin. Yet it places religious and spiritual teachings in their appropriate place relative to the ultimate goal of Self-realization, ...

See also:

Mantra, Mantra - Introduction, Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism, Mantra - Mantra Japa, Mantra - Some Hindu mantras, Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth, Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Mantra - The shanti mantras, Mantra - Universal prayer, Mantra - Other examples, Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra, Mantra - Remarks, Mantra - What is Dharma?, Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Mantra - Mantras and Prayers, Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan, Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound, Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism, Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Mantra - Om mani padme hum, Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists, Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia II - Mantra - Remarks

Mantra

Mantra is a combination of divine syllables or sounds which when recited invokes the latent power in that particular mantra, which involves pleasing some deities or attaining some results (used originally in Vedic sanatana dharma, Hinduism and Buddhism). The Mantras are created by spiritual Seers (Rishis and Yogis) in a divine trance. Each mantra has a rishi (spiritual seer).

In Sanskrit, mantra literally means 'instrument of thought', from man (to think) verb: ‘Mananat trayate iti mantrah’ - by the Manana (constant recollection or recitation) of which one is liberated. Liberation involves your aim, i.e. what one wants to achieve by this mantra -sadhana.

Each Mantra consists of a Matraa (phase) which creates a distinct sound-frequency; a Devataa (deity or God); a Bija (seed) which gives it a special power, and the Kilakam (support or pillar). Some mantras consists of only seeds (single syllables without special literal meaning) an are called Bija-mantras. [The word is accepted in New English Oxford Dictionary].€€€

(See also: Mantra, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Gayatri Mantra: A Rig Vedic mantra in the gayatri meter invoking the solar powers of evolution and enlightenment.

(See also: Gayatri Mantra, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Mantra: Sacred syllable or word or set of words through the repetition and reflection of which one attains perfection or realization of the Self. Literally, "a transforming thought" (manat trayate). A mantra, then is a sound formula that transforms the consciousness.

(See also: Mantra, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Mantra: spiritual or empowered speech

(See also: Mantra, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

MANTRA: incantation

(See also: MANTRA, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Bija Mantra: A "seed" mantra from which realization grows as a tree from a seed; usually a single-syllable mantra that is called "seed" because of its small size as a dot or point of sound.

(See also: Bija Mantra, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)