Mantras Will Work Only If Their Ten Samskaras Are Performed

Now, after having received a proper deeksha, you have to perform ten samskaras on the mantra you have received. This area of spiritual knowledge is being handled in the most irresponsible manner by the neo-gurus. Most of them don’t know what they are doing, and they are causing mass disillusionment among spiritually inclined people.

People sometimes tell me, 'This is what our Guruji has told me—chant this mantra 11 times every day, nothing else is required.'

Good. Do that. No problem. Your faith in your Guruji will definitely help you—but not the mantra.

For mantras to work, you have to follow mantra shastra. There are ten samskaras to be performed on the mantra in the proper way before you start chanting.

The Ten Samskaras

1. Janana (Birth):
What you have received is a foetus. Like in pregnancy, the mantra must first take birth in your world. A foetus, if not given birth to, will die in the womb itself. This must be what has happened to the mantras most of you have received.

For mantra janana, there is something called bhurja patra. It is the skin on the bark of a tree found in the Himalayas. Very divine, this is used for writing. Today, it is even available on e-commerce sites.

On bhurja patra, you must draw a triangle with its tip facing down, either with pure kumkuma, gorochana, or chandana. Starting from each corner, draw nine lines to the opposite side, dividing that side into equal parts. Now, the triangle is divided into 49 parts.

From the top left box, start writing the Sanskrit alphabets in each box. Once this is done, invoke Lipi Saraswati Devi into this triangle and worship her.

Now, the aksharas of your mantra—imagine lifting the syllables of the mantra from this triangle one by one in order—and write them down on another bhurja patra. This is called mantra janana.

2. Deepana (Illumination):
You must chant the mantra given to you, samputita with the Hamsa mantra, 1,000 or 1,008 times.

For example:
If your mantra is 'Ramaya Namah,' then it will be:
हंसः रामाय नमः सोऽहम्

3. Bodhana (Awakening):
Chant the mantra samputita with हूं (Hum) 5,000 times.

For example:
हूं रामाय नमः हूं

4. Thadana (Impression):
Chant the mantra samputita with फट् (Phat) 1,000 times.

For example:
फट् रामाय नमः फट्

5. Abhishechana (Consecration):
Do abhimantrana of water in a kalasha with the mantra रों हंसः औम् (Rom Hamsah Aum) 1,000 times. Touch the water while chanting. Then sprinkle this water on the bhurja patra on which your mantra is written.

6. Vimaleekarana (Purification):
Chant your mantra 1,000 times samputita with ॐ त्रों वषट् (Om Trom Vashat).

For example:
ॐ त्रों वषट् रामाय नमः ॐ त्रों वषट्

7. Jeevana (Life Infusion):
Chant the mantra samputita with स्वधा वषट् (Swadha Vashat) 1,000 times.

For example:
स्वधा वषट् रामाय नमः वषट् स्वधा

8. Tarpana (Offering):
With milk, water, and ghee, perform tarpana 108 times each using your mantra.

For example:
रामाय नमः रामं तर्पयामि

9. Gopana (Concealment):
Chant the mantra samputita with ह्रीं (Hreem) 1,000 times.

For example:
ह्रीं रामाय नमः ह्रीं

10. Apyayana (Nourishment):
Chant the mantra samputita with ह्रौं (Hroum) 1,000 times.

For example:
ह्रौं रामाय नमः ह्रौं

These are the ten samskaras. Only after performing them will your mantra be ready for daily chanting. Otherwise, it is just a dead foetus in the womb. Then don’t complain that it is not working.

Mantra shastra and mantra sadhana are not for casual armchair spiritualists or social media aspirants. It requires dedication and hard work. If you are not ready, don’t get into it and spoil it.

Bad students bring a bad name to the school. Gurujis, if you don’t know the subject, please don’t touch it. You may be good at something else—do good work in that.

There are many mantras, shlokas, or stotras that don’t require any formal initiation or deeksha. You should know which ones they are.

Knowledge Bank

What is special about Rameshwaram temple?

Rameswaram temple is a Jyotirlinga installed by Sri Rama and Seetha Devi. There are a number of holy teerthas in Rameshwaram, a dip in which is spiritually purifying. Rituals to propitiate forefathers are also carried out at Rameshwaram.

Rishis could curse even the Devas

You must be familiar with the story of Ahalya. Ahalya was the wife of Sage Gowthama. Indra was interested in Ahalya even before her marriage to the Sage. Once, when the Sage was away, Indra came to the Ashrama disguised as the Sage himself and this ended up in their physical union. Gowthama came back and saw them together. He told Ahalya that she would become invisible. She would observe tapas staying without food till the time Lord Rama gave her back her form. This was to purify herself. The Sage cursed Indra severely - 1 Indra developed 1000 vaginas all over his body which later Durga Devi turned into 1000 eyes. 2. Due to Gowthama's curse, Indra's testicles fell to the ground and he became impotent. 3. The invincible Indra suffered defeat several times. 4. Indra had to suffer the consequences of half of the sins committed by humans on earth.