Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 23

Thread: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

  1. #11
    Join Date
    April 2011
    Location
    Florida, USA
    Age
    38
    Posts
    68
    Rep Power
    120

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Thank you for all the replies. They are very helpful. I am starting with Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha.

    My Japa mala recently arrived in the mail so I am just starting.

    Is there anything I should be made aware of that others may consider 'obvious' ?

    I read somewhere that I shouldn't touch the beads with my index finger.

    I also read that I shouldn't show my beads to anyone.

    Are these two statements true? If so, why?

    I ask that anyone inform me of any other similar 'rules'.

    Thank you for your time.
    Last edited by arjunah; 31 August 2011 at 10:45 AM. Reason: didn't spell the mantra correctly :/
    "The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance."
    - Charles Dickens

    "Every blade of grass, every insect, ant, and golden bee, all so marvelously know their path, though they have not intelligence, they bear witness to the mystery of God and continually accomplish it themselves."
    - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  2. #12
    Join Date
    July 2009
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Age
    36
    Posts
    860
    Rep Power
    1516

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Namaste Arjunah,

    Ganesha mantra is very easy and free-flowing, and is a good choice for starting mantra japa with.

    I am not familiar with the guideline about not showing your mala to other people, although I've heard about it vaguely. No idea why this is.

    The "rule" regarding avoiding touching the index finger to the mala bead is because symbolically this index finger is supposed to represent the ego, which ought not to work with the mala at all. Only the thumb moves the beads along as you recite, because the thumb represents God who is the force behind your hand which allows you to perform japa in His name. I think together all three fingers (thumb, index and middle fingers) represent the gunas of tamas, rajas and sattva - not respectively, of course, I just can't remember which is ascribed to which.

    I also try to keep the mala from resting on the floor or touching the ground in any way. Obviously if you wear it around your neck during the day, make sure to take it off before you enter the lavatory.

    Om namah Shivaya
    "Watch your thoughts, they become words.
    Watch your words, they become actions.
    Watch your actions, they become habits.
    Watch your habits, they become your character.
    Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

    ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
    Om Gam Ganapataye namah

    लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
    Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu

  3. #13

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Namaste Arjunah,

    Quote Originally Posted by arjunah View Post

    I read somewhere that I shouldn't touch the beads with my index finger.
    Yes, touching the beads with your index finger is frowned upon, as Sunyata explained. I have also heard of an additional reason that the index finger is generally used for "impure" activities. I personally found it a little weird to chant and move the beads without my index finger at first, but I got used to it after a short while.

    Quote Originally Posted by arjunah View Post
    I also read that I shouldn't show my beads to anyone.
    I also would like to know about this guideline, as I have never heard anything like this before. It wouldn't really matter for me anyway, as I don't wear my mala around outside, but if somebody comes over I don't make any effort to hide it, as it lies on my altar. Maybe this idea comes from some specific sect or something.


    Quote Originally Posted by arjunah View Post
    I ask that anyone inform me of any other similar 'rules'.
    There aren't really many other "rules" for a mala. I suppose the main things are no index finger and also to just treat your mala with respect, as it is a sacred object. Keep it off the floor, lying around in dirty places, handle it with care, etc. Best wishes.

    Jai Sri Ram
    Sanatana Dharma ki Jai!
    Jai Hanuman

  4. #14
    Join Date
    October 2010
    Location
    New Orleans, LA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    625
    Rep Power
    2262

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Namasté,

    To add to the list of rules, our dear Yajvan has taught us that the correct spelling is "mālā" (which may be represented as "mAlA" if lacking the ā character). The word mālā signifies a garland, a very beautiful meaning for our prayers, but mala means "waste product." (I am working from memory here, so please forgive me if I am wrong.)

    Regarding the index finger, I have also learned the meanings presented in this thread, as well as two others:
    a) that digit receives the positive energy raised by japa, hence should be extended while reciting,
    b) the finger is used for commanding, directing, or pointing in anger, and thus has an "aggressive" quality to it which does not mesh well with japa.

    I have read a few possibilities for why having others touch the mālā is to be avoided; one idea is that the person touching will take in some of the positive energy that your chanting has raised. Another is that japa helps you to work out your own karma, so you don't want others to touch this object that may be associated with your negativity/issues.

    Gazing with the eyes is considered a touch of sorts, a reaching out of the senses. Perhaps this is why the taboo also extends to looking.

    Indraneela
    ===
    Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
    Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.
    Last edited by Arjuni; 30 August 2011 at 11:36 PM. Reason: Changing an awkward phrasing.

  5. #15
    Join Date
    April 2011
    Location
    Florida, USA
    Age
    38
    Posts
    68
    Rep Power
    120

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Should I chant with my eyes closed or open?

    I also read that if we wish to store energy we should hold the mala in our left hand, if we wish to give out energy we should hold it in the right. Is this at all true?

    The reason I am chanting to Sri Ganesha is because I have problems I need to overcome and also I would like to improve my concentration.

    Again, thank you all for your time.
    "The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance."
    - Charles Dickens

    "Every blade of grass, every insect, ant, and golden bee, all so marvelously know their path, though they have not intelligence, they bear witness to the mystery of God and continually accomplish it themselves."
    - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  6. #16
    Join Date
    July 2009
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Age
    36
    Posts
    860
    Rep Power
    1516

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Namaste Arjunah,

    I think it depends on the level of mantra japa you are at. When I began reciting initially, I always recited aloud, mostly because I could not internally chant and hold concentration in my mind. For this reason, I also followed the advice to keep my eyes open (or at least, half-open; almost like you are allowing your eyelids to become heavy) in order to stop my mind from wandering. It was very helpful back then to focus on a point, like a murti or a flame while reciting.

    Reciting internally for a sustained period of time and with your eyes closed takes a tremenduous amount of discipline. I still find it difficult to sit still for more than five minutes doing this, so sometimes on nights when my concentration is waning, I try keeping my eyes open and reciting my mantra just under the breath.

    As for giving and receiving energy with right and left hands, I have never heard this before. If someone has knowledge of this, please do share it. Personally, Arjunah, I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the petty details that precede japa itself, other than the basic guidelines of treating and handling it with care and consideration. If you worry too much about the other things, this will remove focus from mantra recitation itself to just mere observances that have no meaning - such as hoping to wear a mAlA (nod of thanks to Indraneela for her point on the meaning of "mala" sans the diacritics!) for the purpose of bringing the wearer good luck. It's comforting to wear it to an exam hall, certainly, but to see it simply as a charm is a tad superficial. The mAlA is an instrument you use to cultivate and harness good energy within your body and mind; not an end in itself. Theoretically, one can even perform japa without any mAlA at all.

    I have no doubt that the Ganesha mantra can work very well for clearing away obstacles that are getting in the way of secular and spiritual duties. I have used His mantra many times, and can attest that it can provide benefit to all who chant it who wish to progress further spiritually. Remember that when you recite, you are asking Sri Ganesha to work through you yourself. Try not to separate the power of His grace from what is most strong, capable and diligent in yourself. Hope you find success in your endeavours.

    Om namah Shivaya
    "Watch your thoughts, they become words.
    Watch your words, they become actions.
    Watch your actions, they become habits.
    Watch your habits, they become your character.
    Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

    ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
    Om Gam Ganapataye namah

    लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
    Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu

  7. #17
    Join Date
    October 2010
    Location
    New Orleans, LA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    625
    Rep Power
    2262

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Namast,

    I am familiar with this rule about which hand to use, as it's associated with Wiccan magical practice. I was taught that your dominant hand - the one you write with and perform most daily activities with - is your "projective" hand, and your non-dominant hand is the "receptive." (This is usually simplified to "right" and "left" because that is the case for nearly everyone. However, a left-handed person like me will use the opposite hands for what "nearly everyone" does.)

    I forgot to mention: I've read before that you should not wear the mālā that you use for japa (though winding it around the wrist for carrying is acceptable), and you should acquire a separate mālā for wearing if wanting a necklace-mālā. I have not been able to find a good explanation of why this is so. The only interpretation I've read is that as your japa-mālā helps you to work out your karma, you don't want to put it around your neck and carry that weight around with you. This seems strange to me, as your karma is yours regardless of what object(s) you're wearing or not! (However, the one time I tried to put my japa-mālā around my neck, I instantly got the sense that this was a Very Bad Idea, and promptly purchased a different mālā to wear. So in my experience, at least, this is true.)

    Eyes closed, eyes open, there can be difficulty either way. I always sit before my iṣṭa-deva's image when doing japa; sometimes I gaze into his eyes, and sometimes I sit with eyes closed. Gazing upon something beautiful makes japa delightful, but sometimes I stop counting or quit chanting altogether because I'm so engrossed in looking. On the other hand, meditating with eyes closed helps me focus, but very late at night, it is hard to stay awake this way. I think it best to see how you feel each day, and be gentle, doing what helps most on any given day.

    Oh, and I found this essay by Swami Satyananda a little while ago and thought it was good reading on the subject. Perhaps that information will help, too!

    Indraneela
    ===
    Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
    Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

  8. #18
    Join Date
    March 2011
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    232
    Rep Power
    287

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Quote Originally Posted by arjunah View Post
    I ask that anyone inform me of any other similar 'rules'.

    Thank you for your time.

    Namaste,

    In my opinion, I do keep Asana ( a rug on which I sit doing japa) also separate. Do not sit on floor.

    It is better to keep your timing same everyday, as japa deals with mind. Your mind gets habituated to your japa after a while.

    For beginner - Vachika Japa - Audible is good. But as you make progress you will go for semi - audible japa and finally Manasa Japa. But takes a long long long long long time.

    Do not worry about making progress to fast, or getting to the meditation. Doing more and more japa makes your spiritual foundation very strong.
    Namaskar,

    AmIHindu ?

    यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि ।

    नाम्नोऽस्ति यावती शक्तिः पापनिर्हरणे हरेः । श्र्वपचोऽपि नरः कतुँ क्षमस्तावन्नकिल्विषम् ।।

  9. #19

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    I personally love this video. It always fills me with such joy:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKFVEINKuQA

  10. #20
    Join Date
    April 2011
    Location
    Florida, USA
    Age
    38
    Posts
    68
    Rep Power
    120

    Re: Sri Krishna and Sri Ganesha Mantras

    Is there a special way to hold the mala so it does not touch the floor when I am sitting for japa?
    "The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance."
    - Charles Dickens

    "Every blade of grass, every insect, ant, and golden bee, all so marvelously know their path, though they have not intelligence, they bear witness to the mystery of God and continually accomplish it themselves."
    - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •