Table of Contents
Om is the Sound of the Universe
Om is the primal sound; all sounds emanate from the fundamental vibration of Om. Nada Yoga is the ancient science of Sanatana Dharma that can be used as a tool to connect to the primal sound Om and thus get complete access to the dimension of infinity, the core of creation.
What is Nada Yoga?
Nada Yoga is the science of inner transformation. It is truth proven many times over through the system of Sanatana Dharma that everything that exists and that which is unmanifest is pure vibration. There is only apparent physicality in the nature of things. People, thoughts, emotions, and all that we understand about the world fundamentally—each and everything—is simply a sound vibration.
If one connects with the origin of sound, one can transcend this apparent reality and graduate to the realm of truth, to that which is real. Nada Yoga is the science of resonance. If used effectively, it can help treat physiological, psychological, and spiritual conditions. A regular practitioner of Nada Yoga can never be attacked by disease; he shall, more or less, become immune to them.
It is to be understood that diseases are physical in nature and are caused because of turbulent vibrations existing within the human system. If one were to rectify them through correct training of Nada Yoga, naturally, the unnecessary harmonics of turbulence will be neutralized. If so, how can disease exist in such a body?
What Can Nada Yoga do For Us?
The practice of Nada Yoga raises the pitch of the chakras within the body and balances them. The chakras start operating at a very high frequency, raising the consciousness level of the practitioner, connecting him to the higher dimensions of existence much beyond the physical. In Nada Yoga, there are two types of sound: internal or Anahata and external or Ahata.
With a focused mind and controlled breath, concentration on external sounds allows the mind to become so quiet that the practitioner can listen to his own Anahata sound. The Anahata, which is also known as the heart chakra, is considered responsible for the reception of this internal music, but not in the way of a normal sensory organ.
Nada Yoga as a Means for Meditation
Nada Yoga also qualifies as a very superior form of meditation that calms the mind. Using music and sounds to connect to a higher state of consciousness is a very common practice in Hindu spiritual traditions.
The practice of Nada Yoga starts by developing a ear for listening to external sounds. Nada Yoga is best practiced by developing an interest in the ancient and pure form of Indian classical music, which is based on the symphony inherent in nature. Listening to the sounds of nature in a forest or in a cut-off village is an ideal way to begin the practice of Nada Yoga.
How Can one Practice Nada Yoga?
The practitioner should sit quietly and focus all his attention on natural sounds or on Indian classical music. Once the practitioner becomes aware of the mood of the music or sounds, his concentration will become refined and sharp, and automatically, but slowly, his attention shall be drawn inwards.
As meditation becomes more and more refined, listening to the inner sounds, the external music can be gradually turned down. Once internal sounds can often be perceived as bells, flutes, or an electric hum, some of these sounds are actually the sounds of the body, such as the blood flowing or the energy of the nerves, and individuals’ Anahata connect directly with the sound of the energy center of the body.
7/8 Questions from Sanatana Dharma
The scores generated in this Quiz may or may not be absolute. There may be right or wrong answers to each Question. A percentage towards 100 indicates that you are more aligned to the overall subject matter.
Mantra Yoga is directly Connected to Nada Yoga
If a practitioner becomes fortunate enough, then through the medium of the energy channels of chakras, he shall automatically get connected to the secrets of this vast universe. One such Great Manifestation of Nada Yoga is Mantra Yoga or the Science of Chanting Mantras.
We shall cover the following topics under Mantra Yoga
- Entering the World of mantras
- Structure of mantras
- The process of meeting the Ishta Devata
- Science behind sounds and forms
- Various mantras and mantra forms
- Nama of the Supreme Being
- Types and Processes of Japa
Mantra Yoga: Into An Unknown Terrain
Mantra Yoga is a perfect science. However Mantra Yoga, cannot be whimsically practiced without guidance. Uttering mantras is like entering an unknown terrain. Hence it is important to take along with you someone who has already been there. Your guru, preceptor, spiritual master or guide is one such person, who will help you enter the world of mantras.
The 6 Components of Mantra
A Mantra, according to Santana Dharma, has the following six parts. It has got a Rishi (a man of Self-realization) to whom it was revealed for the first time and who gave the specific Mantra to the world.
He is the Drashta or Seer for a Mantra. Sage Vishwamitra is the Rishi for Gayatri.
Secondly, the Mantra has a meter (Chhandas), which governs the flow or variations of the voice.
Thirdly, the Mantra has a particular Devata or supernatural being, higher or lower, as its informing power. This Devata is the presiding deity of the Mantra.
Fourthly, the Mantra has got a Bija or seed. The seed is a significant word, or series of words, which gives a special power to the Mantra.
The Bija is the essence of the Mantra. Then, we should know that every Mantra has got a Shakti. The Shakti is the energy of the form of the Mantra that is the vibration-forms set up by the pitch and sound. These carry the man to the Devata that is worshiped.
Lastly, the Mantra has a Kilaka – pillar or pin.
This plugs the Mantra-Chaitanya or Mantric Consciousness that is hidden in the Mantra. As soon as the plug is removed by constant and prolonged repetition of the Name, the hidden Chaitanya or Consciousness is revealed.
The Sound and Form Are One
The devotee gets Darshanam or direct meeting of the devotee with his or her Ishta Devata takes place. Sounds are vibrations. They give rise to definite forms. Each sound produces a form in the indivisible world, and combinations of sound create complicated shapes.
Repetition of a Mantra has a mysterious power which manifests Divinity, just as the splitting of an atom manifests the tremendous forces latent in it. When a particular Mantra dedicated to a particular god is properly recited, the vibrations create in the higher planes, a special form into which a particular god enters for the time being.
The repetition of the Panchakshari Mantra – Om Namo Shivaya – produces the form of Lord Siva. The repetition of Om Namo Narayanaya, the Ashtakshara Mantra of Vishnu, produces the form of Vishnu. The Name of God, chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or unknowingly, carefully, is sure to give the desired result.
Just as burning quality is natural to and inherent in fire, so also, the mantra carries within itself the power to destroy sin.
The mantra, especially the one which contains the name of the Lord Such as Shankara, Shiva, Shakti, Rama, Hari etc brings the aspirant into blissful union with the Lord through Bhava-Samadhi.
The glory of the Name of God cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can be experienced or realized only through devotion, faith and constant repetition of the Holy Name or Nama. There is Sakti or power in every word. Although material words and their actual representations are totally unconnected, our brains make inner associations between words and their actual representations.
The Power of Words
If you utter the word ‘excreta’ or ‘urine’ when someone is taking meals, he may at once vomit his food. When you utter the words lemon and salt, your tongues will salivate.
When anyone suddenly shouts ‘Scorpion! Scorpion!’, ‘Snake! Snake!’ you will at once jump in fright. When such is the power of the names of the ordinary things of this world, what tremendous power should there be in the Name of God.
Nama of Bhagavan is the Same as Bhagavan
Bhagavan is the completion or the fullness of existence. Hence, the Name which denotes Him, too, is full and perfect. Therefore, the power of the Nama is incalculable, for it is the height or the zenith of power. The Name or Nama of Bhagavan can achieve anything.
There is nothing impossible for it. It is the means to the realization of Bhagavan Himself. The name of a thing in this world generates the consciousness of that thing in the mind.
In a much more amplified manner, the Name of Bhagavan generates God-consciousness in the purified mind and becomes the direct cause of the realization of the Highest Perfection or Bhagavan. There are three ways of repeating Nama or the names of Bhagavan
Ways to Repeat a Mantra of Bhagavan
Repeat the Mantra verbally for some time, in a whisper for some time, and mentally for some time. The minds wants variety. It gets disgusted with any monotonous practice.
Mental repetition is very powerful. It is termed Manasika Japa. The verbal or loud repetition is called Vaikhari Japa. The loud Japa shuts out all worldly sounds. There is no break of Japa here.
Repetition in a whisper or humming is termed Upamshu Japa. Even mechanical repetition of Japa without any Bhava has some purifying effect on the heart or the mind. The feeling will come later on when the process of mental purification goes on.
Likhita Japam of Bhagavan
Write down daily in a notebook your Ishta Mantra or Guru Mantra for half an hour. This is Likhita Japa or Likhita Japam. When you write the Mantra, observe Mouna. Write the Mantra clearly in ink. On Sundays and holidays, write this for one hour.
This is Likhita Japa you can develop a wonderful power of concentration. The benefits of Mantra-writing or Likhita Japa cannot be adequately described. You can benefit greatly from our Video on Likhita Japam.
Besides bringing about purity of heart and concentration of mind, mantra-writing gives you control of Asana, control of Indriyas, particularly the sight and the tongue, and fills you with the power of endurance.
The benefits of Mantra Japa are unending. The more we tune our consciousness to the process of Mantra Japa, the more we shall become free from the compulsions and bondage of the material world.
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