Respected Sriman Mohan, There is no doubt that we all give utmost importance to mUla mantra (ashtAksharI). I am trying to understand why many AchAryas do not prescribe japam of the mantra. I was just suggesting in my first mail to chant it once during guruparamparA dhyAnam. Once can chant it umpteen times without anga/kara nyAsam and attaching any importance to such chant. Ritualizing the chant of the mantra and expecting spiritual benefits out of it goes against the very meaning of the mantra as given by AchArya ParASara Bhattar. This leads to conflict between gnAna and anushtAna. Hence many AchAryas do not prescribe it as a spiritual practice. Certainly the mantra needs to be meditated upon (thought over) but not the way gAyatrI/harE krshNa are chanted even without counting the number. Such meditation can be meaningful and complete only in terms of the meaning of the mantra. The anushtAna of the meaning of the mantra is simple which involves faith that He is my means and goal and wishing serviceability to Him. AlwArs interpret such serviceability to the extent of being serviceable to His devotees. Thus trying to adhere to the meaning of the mantra brings in samskAra in the devotee which may even influence one's material lifestyle. Hence the importance is for mantrArtha or meaning of the mantra but not for the mantra (in a ritualisitc way). adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan Vishnu --- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Madhuri and Mohan <m_raghavan@xxxx> wrote: > I would beg to differ with Sri Vishnu on this. Mu:la Mantram is the > highest and most accessible of all mantrams, and can be chanted silently > at certain times of the day when prescribed by the a:cha:rya. From what > I have learned, contemplation on the thirumantram can follow the > ga:yatri during the performance of trika:la sandhya vandanam, and also > in place of ga:yatri by those who have not been initiated into it. It > should be noted, however, that unlike the ga:yatri, which has specific > count, the ashta:kshari should just be meditated upon without counting > the number of times that it has been chanted. > > But, it is important to note that meditation on this mantram should only > be performed when it prescribed and how it is prescribed by an > a:cha:rya. And, as Sri Vishnu has stated, learning about and trying to > live life in accordance with its meaning is just as important as simply > meditating upon it. > > Ramanuja dasan > Mohan > > > > > > >
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