Mantra Yoga is an exact science. 'Mananat Trayate Iti Mantrah-by the Manan (constant thinking or recollection) of which one is released from the round of births and deaths is Mantra.'

A Mantra is divinity. Mantra and its presiding Devata are one. The Mantra itself is Devata. Mantra is divine power, Daivi Sakti, manifesting in a sound body. Constant repetition of the Mantra with faith, devotion and purity augments the Sakti or power of the aspirant, purifies and awakens the Mantra Chaitanya latent in the Mantra and bestows on the Sadhaka, Mantra Siddhi, illumination, freedom, peace, eternal bliss, immortality.

By constant repetition of the Mantra the Sadhaka imbibes the virtues and powers of the Deity that presides over the Mantra. Repetition of Surya Mantra bestows health, long life, vigour, vitality, Tejas or brilliance. It removes all diseases of the body and the diseases of the eye. No enemy can do any harm. Repetition of Aditya-Hridayam in the early morning is highly beneficial. Lord Rama conquered Ravana through the repetition of Aditya-Hridayam imparted by Agastya Rishi.

Mantras are in the form of praise and appeal to the deities, craving for help and mercy. Some Mantras control and command the evil spirits. Rhythmical vibrations of sounds give rise to forms. Recitation of the Mantras gives rise to the formation of the particular figure of the deity.

Repetition of Sarasvati Mantra 'OM Sarasvatyai Namah' will bestow on you wisdom and good intelligence. You will get inspiration and compose poems. Repetition of 'OM Sri Mahalakshmyai Namah' will confer on you wealth and remove poverty. Ganesa Mantra will remove any obstacle in any undertaking. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra will remove accidents, incurable diseases and bestow long life and immortality. It is a Moksha Mantra too.

Repetition of Subrahmanya Mantra 'OM Saravanabhavaya Namah' will give you success in any undertaking and make you glorious. It will drive off the evil influences and evil spirits. Repetition of Sri Hanuman Mantra, 'OM Hanumate Namah' will bestow victory and strength. Repetition of Panchadasakshara and Shodasakshara (Sri Vidya) will give you wealth, power, freedom etc. It will give you whatever you want. You must learn this Vidya from a Guru alone.

Repetition of Gayatri or Pranava or OM Namassivaya, OM Namo Narayanaya, OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, one and a quarter lakh of times with Bhava, faith and devotion will confer on you Mantra Siddhi.

OM, Soham, Sivoham, Aham Brahmasmi are Moksha Mantras. They will help you to attain Self-realisation. OM Sri Ramaya Namah, OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya are Saguna Mantras which will enable you to attain Saguna realisation first and then Nirguna realisation in the end.

Mantra for curing scorpion-stings and cobra-bites should be repeated on eclipse days for getting Mantra Siddhi quickly. You should stand in the water and repeat the Mantra. This is more powerful and effective. They can be recited on ordinary days also for attaining Mantra Siddhi.

Mantra Siddhi for curing scorpion-sting, cobra-bite etc., can be attained within 40 days. Repeat the Mantra with faith and devotion regularly. Have a sitting in the early morning after taking bath. Observe Brahmacharya and live on milk and fruits for 40 days. Or take restricted diet.

Chronic diseases can be cured by Mantras. Chanting of Mantras generates potent spiritual waves or divine vibrations. They penetrate the physical and astral bodies of the patients and remove the root-causes of the sufferings. They fill the cells with pure Sattva or divine energy. They destroy the microbes and vivify the cells and tissues. They are the best and most potent antiseptics and germicides. They are more potent than ultra-violet rays or Roentgen rays.

Mantra Siddhi should not be misused for the destruction of others. Those who misuse the Mantra power for destroying others are themselves destroyed in the end.

Those who utilise the Mantra power in curing snake-bites, scorpion-stings and chronic diseases should not accept any kind of presents or money. They must be absolutely unselfish. They should not accept even fruits or clothes. They will lose the power if they utilise the power for selfish purposes. If they are absolutely unselfish, if they serve the humanity with Sarvatma Bhava, their power will increase through the grace of the Lord.

He who has attained Mantra Siddhi, can cure cobra-bite or scorpion-bite or any chronic disease by mere touch on the affected part. When a man is bitten by a cobra a telegram is sent to the Mantra Siddha. The Mantra Siddha recites the Mantra and the man who is bitten by a cobra is cured. Does this not prove the tremendous power of Mantra?

Get the Mantra initiation from your Guru. Or pray to your Ishta Devata and start doing Japa of the particular Mantra, if you find it difficult to get a Guru.

The repetition of a Mantra with rigid spiritual observances a fixed number of times to obtain quick spiritual progress is known as Mantra Purascharana. It can be performed for material progress too. The practitioner should observe certain rules and undergo strict dietetic discipline to ensure quick Mantra Siddhi.

During the Purascharana take only fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, roots, barley and Havis-Anna (rice cooked with ghee, sugar, milk). A Sadhaka can live on pure Bhiksha (alms) also. If you can live on milk alone during the period of Purascharana it is highly laudable. You can have Mantra Siddhi even by repeating the Mantra a lakh of times.

Select any holy place of pilgrimage on the banks of sacred Ganga, confluence of rivers, mountain valleys of charming scenery, temples, Tulasi gardens, below Asvattha trees or convert a portion of your house into a temple by keeping the picture of the Lord, burning incense etc., and by suitable decorations. Purascharana done in holy places has a benefit hundred times superior to that done in one's own house.

You can select any Mantra for Purascharana. Your Guru Mantra or Ishta Mantra is the best. Sandhya time, sunrise, sunset, midday are all recommended for Japa. Repeat the Mantra as many lakhs of times as there are letters in the Mantra. You can do half of that number. In no case the number should be less than a lakh.

Sit facing East or North during Japa. Select Siddha, Padma, Svastika or Virasana for Japa. Never sit for Japa with a loaded stomach. Have fixed timings for Japa. Take a bath before you start, if possible, or at least wash hands and feet. Perform Achamana or sipping of Sanctified Mantra water. Deer skin, cloth, blanket, Kusa grass or tiger skin can be used as seats while doing Japa. Spatika, Tulasi, Rudraksha Malas can be used for counting the number of Japa. Have a Mala with 108 beads or half or one-fourth that number.

Abstracting the mind from all worldly objects, merged in the inner meaning of the Mantra, thinking of the Lord, the Mantra should be repeated with a uniform speed. Full concentration of the mind on the meaning and divinity of the Mantra brings quick Mantra Siddhi. Continue Purascharana till you attain Mantra Siddhi. Do not stop with one Purascharana. Due to the Doshas of the mind you may not get Mantra Siddhi at once. Madhusudana Sarasvati did 18 Purascharanas of Gayatri before he attained Siddhi.

Sleeping on coarse bed (strictly avoiding cushions and the like), observing strict celibacy, worshipping the deity three times a day, bathing thrice daily, abandoning oil bath, meat, fish, onion, garlic, tea, coffee, chillies, tamarind, observing silence or restricting the speech to a minimum, observing Ahimsa, speaking Truth, shunning all luxuries, one should perform the Purascharana. You should avoid as far as possible absent-mindedness, laziness, spitting during Japa, relaxation of hands and legs, sleeping during the day, mixing with undesirable persons, contact with women, receiving of gifts, looking at obscene pictures, speaking lies, the company of passionate men, chewing of betels, smoking, drinking etc., too much talk, speaking ill of others, finding fault in others, harming others in thought, word or deed, during the period of Purascharana. You should not dissipate your energy during Japa by looking hither and thither unnecessarily by shaking the body, by laughter etc.

Do the same number of Japa every day without variation. Homa or Havan should be performed after every lakh of Japa or at the end of the Purascharana.

After completing the Purascharana perform Homa th the number of Japa, Tarpana (water libations) th the number of Homa, Marjana (sprinkling) th the number of Tarpana and feeding of Brahmins th the number of Tarpana. You can do feeding and charity according to your capacity if you cannot adhere to the above strictly.

Mantra Purascharana has incalculable benefits. Brightness, clearness, or tranquillity of the mind, contentment, dispassion towards worldly enjoyments, Darshan of Ishta Devata, success in all undertakings, attainment of purity of the mind-all these will ensue. Give your best attention and earnestness in the performance of Purascharana.

May you attain Moksha or Immortality through performance of a series of Mantra Purascharanas!

(An easy, practical and scientific form of Yoga for modern busy people)

MANTRA-WRITING LEADS TO MEDITATION

Of the various methods of Japa described in the scriptures Mantra-writing is the most efficacious. It helps the aspirant in concentrating the mind and gradually leads to meditation.

BENEFITS...

Concentration-Distractions are minimised as the mind, tongue, hands and eyes are all engaged with the Mantra. This increases the power of concentration and efficiency in work.

Control-The mind is controlled by the power of Mantra and it will work better and quicker for you.

Evolution-Due to repeated innumerable impacts of the Mantra on the subconscious mind, subtle, spiritual impressions are made, which hasten the Soul's progress in evolution.

Peace-If you are disturbed due to worries or untoward incidents, the mind will get calm and peaceful.

Force-A mighty spiritual force is generated in course of time in the atmosphere of the place, where you write Mantras or keep the notebooks. It helps in secular and spiritual progress.

Conclusion-Begin today. Do not procrastinate. Give it a sincere trial. Be a master of your mind, not its slave. Write from one to three pages a day. Follow the rules as far as possible if you want quicker results.

Select a Mantra, or Name of God, and write it with ink in a notebook daily in any script on 1 to 3 pages.

Sit in the same place at the same time daily. If possible, keep it under lock and key.

Write after a bath, or after washing hands, feet, face and mouth.

Sit in one pose throughout. Don't move till completed.

Observe silence, and avoid talks, engagements, or calls.

Fix the eyes on the notebook. Don't move till completed.

Repeat the Mantra or Name mentally while writing.

Fix the mind on the form and attributes of the Lord, while writing the Name or Mantra.

Adopt one uniform system of writing, top to bottom or left to right.

Write each Mantra or Name completely at a time and not in parts.

Don't change Mantra or Name. Select one and stick to it for life.

Preserve all completed books near your place of worship.