Namsankirtanyoga

A purashcharan, that is, the worship of a deity performed with a tantra, mantra and chanting (japa) and the prescribed rituals are done to enable the mantra to give the expected results, before commencing the chanting of the mantra.

The science of Mantra has originated from the word (shabda) Brahman. The energy of a mantra lies in its pronunciation. That energy is manifested from frequencies generated in the atmosphere by the sound vibrations that are generated through its chanting.

All mantras originate from Om. It is a symbol of Brahman, God and the Vedas. Hence, the mantra ‘Om’ can bestow the Final Liberation (Moksha). This itself is the bija or the gist of the Vedas.

The energy of any mantra lies in its bija. The chanting of a mantra is efficacious only if an appropriate bija is selected. The bijas activate the deity of the mantra.

Meditation [superconscious state (samadhi)] is not continuous but chanting can occur continuously. In order to blend with The Infinite Principle continuous spiritual practice is essential.

Just as sugar has sweetness as its quality, so also the nature of the mind is to think continuously or to harbour a certain emotion arising from some thought. In the beginning when chanting, everyone gets various thoughts due to the impressions from previous births.

The japamala (rosary) usually consists of 108 beads in addition to the merubead. The four parts (charans) of each of the twenty-seven lunar asterisms (nakshatras) that is 27 x 4 equals one hundred and eight. These are represented by 108 beads in the mala.

When chanting the Name of one’s favourite deity (ishtadevata) out of all the Names one should select the Name matching one’s constitution. A seeker finds it easier to chant such a Name.

The Madhyama mode refers to chanting which occurs automatically. It is so named as it is the intermediate stage between the Vaikhari and Pashyanti modes.

As long as chanting is going on it prevents the development of new impressions about other things on the subconscious mind.

The form is associated with the tej (absolute fire) element while the Name (that is its sound) with the akash (absolute ether) element.