Paramacharya of SWAHA, Pundit Hardeo Persad
SWAHA’s teachings and practices are based on a belief in enlightened ritualism. All forms of worship, including rituals and prayers, have great depth of meaning. Mantras, for example, are formed from powerful sound vibrations. The Shiv Puraan states that every word and letter in the Sanskrit alphabet relates to a particular point in the body: the vowels relate to the head and the consonants to the rest of the body. These mantras that we chant contain energy within them that can positively affect the body; this is called shabda shakti. Thus, various mantras are chanted based on the effect required, such as the resolution of an illness or other challenges. For example, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya is chanted for liberating oneself from this cycle of birth and death.
All mantras have great power and can protect us from adverse circumstances. Chanting mantras creates a beneficial energy flow inside of us. In these times of COVID-19, everyone should recite the Mrityunjai mantra. Mrityu means ‘death’ and jai means ‘victory’.
Om Trayambakam Yajaa Mahay
Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvaarukam Iva Bandhanaan
Mrityor Mokshiya Maamritaat
Translation:
We worship and adore you, O Three-Eyed One.
You are the sweet fragrance of life who nourishes us, restores us and causes us to thrive.
Just as, in time, the stem of the cucumber is detached and freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death and lead us to immortality.
In Hinduism, each aspect of Divinity represents a particular quality or concept such as good judgement, detachment, willpower or devotion. Certain life situations require the development of certain qualities within us. The manifestations of Divinity are not different Gods but rather, divine qualities, principles and energies that we should worship so that we can connect with their protective and transformative powers. The mantra, because of the inherent energy with which it is imbued, can create that powerful energy vibration within the devotee when it is chanted. Mantras activate the energy vortices (chakras) within us that allow us to rise above the challenges with which we are presented. If we can awaken the energy within us, nothing is impossible.
Hinduism says that everything in this world is energy vibrating at various frequencies. This is an established scientific fact. There are three main channels of bio-energy: the ida, sushumna and pingala nadi. There are six main chakras located in the body: muladhara, svadishthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha and ajna. The seventh, sahasraara chakra, is said to be located above the crown of the head. Each chakra is connected to a particular mantra and yantra (mystical diagram) that energises and reactivates it. We can reenergise the chakras through fasting, praying and yogic techniques. This leads the devotee to higher levels of consciousness. Negative qualities are reduced and transformed. Positive qualities such as compassion, truthfulness, forgiveness, non-violence, etc., are increased. The individual ego is transformed to the cosmic ego and the devotee is drawn closer to the spiritual truth, Aham Brahmasmi, the Lord and I are One.
