Knowledge Bank

Who was the first among the Rishis?

Varuna performed a yaga towards the end of Chakshusha manvantra that caused the seven rishis to be born on earth. Bhrigu was the first to emerge from the homa kunda.

What kind of praying method is mantra?

Mantra chanting is called Japa yoga or Mantra yoga. It involves repetitive chanting of mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya, or Om Namo Narayanaya with absolute concentration. The chanting can be aloud, as a whisper, or mental. Mantra is repeated a fixed number of times such as 108 or 1008 usually with the help of a japamala. The purpose of mantra chanting is to get the blessings of the devata whose mantra is chanted and ultimately become one with him/her.