Vageesh Express

July 2006 Edition

Vedic Bytes

Mantras & Brahmanas

Mantras Continued….

Last month we saw mantras formed by taking a deity’s name. For example: "Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah" (Aum to Shri Ganesha). We continue on with few more important Mantras.

Gayathri Mantra

The most representative mantra of all the Hindu mantras is the famed Gayatri Mantra:

Om Bhūr Buvaḥ Svaḥ

Tat Savitur Vareṇyaṃ

Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi

Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Pracodayāt

It is considered one of the most universal of all Hindu mantras, invoking the universal Brahman as the principle of knowledge and the illumination of the primordial Sun.

Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

It appears originally in the Kali-saņţāraņa Upanişad (Kali Santarana Upanisad): It was spread through the 16^th century saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and later introduced to the rest of the world through His Holiness A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON. This mantra is considered an easy way of liberation in this Kaliyuga.

The Shanti Mantras

Om sahanaavavatu

Sahanau bhunaktu

Saha viiryam karavaavahai

Tejasvi naavadhiitamastu

Maa vidvishhaavahai

Om shaantih shaantih shaantih

May we be protected together.

May we be nourished together.

May we work together with great vigor.

May our study be enlightening

May no obstacle arise between us.

Om peace, peace, peace.

- Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Upanishad 2.2.2

Universal prayer

Sarveśāam Svastir Bhavatu

Sarveśām Sāntir Bhavatu

Sarveśām Pūṛṇam Bhavatu

Sarveśām ṃangalam Bhavatu

May good befall all, May there be peace for all, May all be fit for perfection, and May all experience that which is auspicious.

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha

Sarve Santu ṇirāmayaha

Sarve Badrāṇi Pasyantu

ṃā Kascidh-dhuhkha Bhāga-Bhavet

Om, May all be happy. May all be healthy. May we all experience what is good and let no one suffer.

To be continued…

References:

1. http://www.orientalia.org/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&file=search&query=Upanisads

2. Vedic Samhitas and Brahmanas by Vishal Agarwal

3. http://www.answers.com/topic/mantra?method=22

	Submit feedback to newsletter@mahaganapati.org with subject line as <Vedic Bytes> Disclaimer: Views of readers/column writers are that of their own and not of the Temple