mantra

A short expression in sacred language chanted to purify the mind and fulfill various aspirations.

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

Gayatri-mantra - a sacred mantra repeated by brahmanas at the three junctures of the day. The gayatri mantra is personified as a goddess, the wife of Brahma and mother of the four Vedas (see diksa-mantra).

(See also: Gayatri-mantra, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Diksa-mantra - the mantras given by the guru at the time of initiation. These mantras include the maha-mantra, brahma-gayatri, gurumantra, guru-gayatri, gaura-mantra, gaura-gayatri, gopala-mantra, and kama-gayatri. The guru’s internal mood of service to Radha and Krsna is transmitted through the medium of these mantras.

This is indicated in the following sloka from Bhakti-sandarbha (Anuccheda 237): yo mantram sa gurum saksat yo guru sa hari svayam gurur yasya bhavet tustas tasya tusto harim svayam - "The mantra (which is given by the guru) is itself the guru, and the guru is directly the Supreme Lord Hari. He with whom the spiritual master is pleased also obtains the pleasure of Sri Hari Himself.” These mantras are invested with divya-jnana, or transcendental knowledge of Krsna’s form and one’s specific relationship with Him (see also diksa and mantra).

(See also: Diksa-mantra, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

With Buddhism's evolution and breaking away from Vedic/Hindu tradition, Aum and other symbology/cosmology/philosophies were co-opted from the Hindu tradition. This character often appeared as "唵" in Buddhist scripts in East Asia. In Buddhism this syllable is almost never transliterated as Aum, but instead as Om. This syllable is also incorporated in the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum". ...

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition

With Buddhism's evolution and breaking away from Vedic/Hindu tradition, Aum and other symbology/cosmology/philosophies were co-opted from the Hindu tradition. This character often appeared as "唵" in Buddhist scripts in East Asia. In Buddhism this syllable is almost never transliterated as Aum, but instead as Om. This syllable is also incorporated in the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum". ...

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Omkara, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition

MANTRA(M)

A secret utterance or secret vibrational name of a god that when unleashed can have a potent effect. The most popular Hindu examples are "Om mani padmi om"; "Tat tvam asti!" and "Om namah shivaya." Riland adds "Om! Bhur Buhva Swah. Tat savitur varnyam devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo na prachodayat." Gurus sometimes supply their chelas with secret and "tailored" mantras. Mantras are extremely important meditational engines and provide powerful foundations for the psyche.

Here is an old pain mantram:

Swords miss, knots loose!

Asclepius, Apollo, Hermes, Zeus!

(See also: MANTRA, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Kilna ((E.Indian)) Hindu term for the mantra or charm which yogis practice to prevent the fatal bite of a venomous serpent.

(See also: Kilna, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Yoga: Hindu meditative practices; the formal school of Yoga developed in the middle ages contains seven sub-schools: Jnana Yoga (knowldge), Karma Yoga (action), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), Mantra Yoga (sounds), Laya Yoga (dissolution), Hatha Yoga (postures, breathing), and Raja Yoga (meditation).

 (See also: Yoga, Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

japa: (Sanskrit) "Incantation."

Practice of concentrated repetition of a mantra, often while counting the repetitions on a mala or strand of beads. It may be done silently or aloud. Sometimes known as mantra yoga.

A major sadhana in Hindu spiritual practice, from the simple utterance of a few names of God to extraordinary feats of repeating sacred syllables millions of times for years on end. It is recommended as a cure for pride and arrogance, anger and jealousy, fear and confusion. It harmonizes the doshas and quiets the vrittis. Filling the mind with divine syllables, awakening the divine essence of spiritual energies in the physical body, japa brings forth the amrita. For Saivites, Namah Sivaya in its various forms is the most treasured mantra used in japa. The mantra Hare- Rama-Hare-Krishna is among the foremost Vaishnava mantras.

Japa yoga is said to be of 14 kinds:

• daily (nitya),
• circumstantial (naimittika),
• the japa of desired results (kamya), f
• orbidden (nishiddha),
• penitential (prayashchitta),
• unmoving (achala),
• moving (chala),
• voiced (vachika),
• whispered (upanshu),
• bee, or murmured (bhramara),
• mental (manasa),
• uninterrupted (akhanda),
• nonuttered (ajapa) and
• circumambulatory (pradakshina).

See: amrita, mantra, yama-niyama, yoga.

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

Because of the wide range of groups covered by the term "tantra", it is hard to describe tantric practices definitively. The basic practice, the Hindu image-worship known as "puja" may include any of the elements below. Mantra and Yantra: As in all of Hindu and Buddhist yogas, mantras plays an important part in Tantra, not only for focusing the mind, often through the conduit of specific Hindu gods like Shiva, Ma Kali (mother Kali, another form of Shakti) and even Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of wisdom (refer to the Ganesha Upanishad). Similarly, puja will often i ...

See also:

Tantra, Tantra - History of Tantra, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Tibetan tantra, Tantra - Japan's Shingon sect, Tantra - New Age tantra or Neo Tantra, Tantra - Tantric practices, Tantra - Tantra in the modern world, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Buddhist tantra

Read more here: » Tantra: Encyclopedia II - Tantra - Tantric practices

Aum - Origin. Found first in the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Aum has been seen as the first manifestation of the unmanifest Brahman (the single Divine Ground of Hinduism) that resulted in the phenomenal universe. Essentially, all the cosmos stems from the vibration of the sound 'Aum' in Hindu cosmology. Indeed, so sacred is it that it is prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu mantras and incantations. It is undoubted ...

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition

Aum - Origin. Found first in the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Aum has been seen as the first manifestation of the unmanifest Brahman (the single Divine Ground of Hinduism) that resulted in the phenomenal universe. Essentially, all the cosmos stems from the vibration of the sound 'Aum' in Hindu cosmology. Indeed, so sacred is it that it is prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu mantras and incantations. It is undoubted ...

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Omkara, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition

vishnu-mantras

Authorized sacred sounds chanted to worship the Supreme Lord.

(See also: vishnu-mantras, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

maha-mantra

the great chant for deliverance: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

(See also: maha-mantra, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

mantra-japa

Chanting of a mantra quietly to oneself.

(See also: mantra-japa, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

gopala mantra

A confidential hymn, in ten syllables, to Krishna in His original form as a young cowherd. Although chanted by the main character in Brihad-Bhagavatamrita, Srila Sanatana Goswami does not divulge the words of the mantra anywhere in Brihad-Bhagavatamrita or his commentary on the work. Those who want information on it may consult the Krama-dipika of Keshava Bhatta.

(See also: gopala mantra, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

The exact origin of the religious practices relating to Avalokitesvara is unclear. Some Western scholars have suggested that the concept of Avalokitesvra, along with many other supernatural beings in Buddhism, was based on a Hindu deity absorbed by Mahayana teaching as an aspect of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. The word avalokita means "seeing or gazing down" and īśvara means "lord" in Sanskrit. Īśvara is also an alternate name for the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu who seem to also have acted as insp ...

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Avalokitesvara, Avalokitesvara - Avalokitesvara and the thousand arms, Avalokitesvara - Origin of the concept, Avalokitesvara - Tibetan Buddhism, Avalokitesvara - Mantras, Avalokitesvara - Manifestations

Read more here: » Avalokitesvara: Encyclopedia II - Avalokitesvara - Origin of the concept

Prayer - Hindu Prayer. Hinduism has incorporated many kinds of prayer, from fire-based rituals to philosophical musings. Prayer was part and parcel of the Vedic lifestyle, and as such permeated their books. Indeed, the highest sacred texts of the Hindus, the Vedas, are a large collection of mantras (sacred hymns of Hindus, later adopted by Buddhists) and prayer rituals extolling a single supreme force, Brahman, that is made manifest in several lower forms as the familiar gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus in Indi ...

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Prayer, Prayer - Approaches, Prayer - The act of prayer, Prayer - Prayer in the Abrahamic religions, Prayer - Prayer in the Bible, Prayer - Jewish prayer, Prayer - Christian prayer, Prayer - Islamic prayer, Prayer - Bahá'í prayer, Prayer - Prayer in other religions, Prayer - Hindu Prayer, Prayer - Buddhism, Prayer - Prayer in Jainism, Prayer - Neopagan Prayers, Prayer - Philosophical paradoxes of prayer, Prayer - The educational approach, Prayer - The Kabbalistic view of prayer, Prayer - The rationalist approach, Prayer - The experiential approach, Prayer - Experimental evaluation of prayer, Prayer - Historical polytheistic prayer, Prayer - Prevalence, Prayer - References and footnotes

Read more here: » Prayer: Encyclopedia II - Prayer - Prayer in other religions

TAT TVAM ASTI

"Thou art that." The Hindu mantra that links the yogin to the object of his concentration (supposedly Brahma, but not necessarily). It is an extremely powerful formula that can be super-dangerous if misused or misunderstood.

(See also: TAT TVAM ASTI, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Paramahamsa, as a religio/theological title, is applied to an adept class of Hindu renunciates, liberated, realized masters who, having attained the supreme yogic state, or nirvikalpa samadhi, can always distinguish between the Real (sa) from the unreal (ham). The hamsa mantra indicates the sound made by the exhalation ("ha") and inhalation ("sa") of the breath. ...

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Paramahamsa, Paramahamsa - Etymology, Paramahamsa - Mythology, Paramahamsa - Theology, Paramahamsa - Similar uses of different titles

Read more here: » Paramahamsa: Encyclopedia II - Paramahamsa - Theology

MANTRA: in Hinduism and Buddhism, mystic word used in ritual and meditation. It is believed to have power to bring into being the reality it represents. Use of such mantras usually requires initiation by a guru, or spiritual teacher.

(See also: Mantra, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Scholarly breakdowns of the Vedic books see the four Vedas as poetic liturgy, collectively called mantra or sam.hitā-, adoration and supplication to the deities of Vedic religion, in parts already sort of melded with monist and henotheist notions, and an overarching Order (Ŗta) that transcended even the Gods. The Brāhmaṇa were a collection of ritual instructions, books detailing the priestly functions (which first were available to all men, and so concretized into str ...

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Upanishad, Upanishad - Place in the Hindu canon, Upanishad - List of Upanishads, Upanishad - Principal Upanishads, Upanishad - Canon by Vedic Shakha, Upanishad - The Muktika canon

Read more here: » Upanishad: Encyclopedia II - Upanishad - Place in the Hindu canon