Which mantra is for sympathizers
Namaskar,
What Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna taught has been almost completely lost. Their dharmic teachings on sadhana have been converted into idol worship. The pictures of Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna that people use nowadays are merely a figment of the artist’s imagination. Thousands of years ago there was no concept of pictures. Before people did not even know how to make idols. Their craftsmanship was not refined enough to make idols. In the old caves of India, if you look at traces of pictures then you cannot even recognize the face properly. Making idols and idol worship is a recent phenomena.
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Sadhana in ancient days: photography
In the dhyana mantra of Lord Shiva, it is found that Lord Shiva was fair in colour, and the same colour was for Lord Krsna. In ancient times, sadhakas were taught to imagine the form as there was the absence of photography; that made sadhana very challenging. The life of sadhakas was very difficult in ancient times, struggling for their daily existence, what to speak of having time for artistic pursuits. Nowadays, dogma has crept in as the colour of Lord Shiva’s complexion is portrayed as blue, but that is wrong. Yet with the mushrooming of religious art, there are innumerable images that reinforce this dogma. In that manner, many of the original and true features of Lord Shiva discussed in the dhyana mantra have long been forgotten, as the pervasive nature of today’s paintings of Lord Shiva create an entirely different portrayal.
Ask for help from God
Ta’raka Brahma comes to the earth in yuga sandhi (crucial times) where there is a need, and He shows us the path. The most important thing is faith in Sadguru. Faith originates in a sadhaka when there is an urge for liberation. In this creation, Paramatma has no favoritism; all beings are His children. That is why freedom is granted to each human, whereby they have the right and opportunity to ask God for help. Those who utilize this freedom and ask for divine help get the path of sadhana.
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The principal meaning of the Ga’yatrii mantra is, “O’ Lord, lead me along the path of righteousness.” There is only one path; do japa of the Ga’yatrii mantra with a clear and sincere understanding of its meaning. Or in your mother tongue recite, “O’ Lord, lead me along the path of righteousness.” Here the point is that the idea is the key point. So one can do the practice without knowing the Sanskrit version.
By reciting the mantra japa of the Ga’yatrii mantra or cultivating that idea in the mind, one develops the desire for liberation, and by His grace one will get the right path. It will be clear in the mind that Ananda Marga is the right path; the mind will realize this truth. Unfortunately, many non-margiis in India do not follow the proper approach. Rather, they do the Ga’yatrii mantra japa for getting a good marriage for their children, for success in exams, for getting a prestigious job, or other mundane desires and allurements.
One will get the right path
There is always a play between vidya maya and avidya maya, and one should always try to request to the Lord that, “There are many beliefs, and many sayings in this world, and as an ignorant person I do not know what is the right path. Please show me the right path so that I can come closer to you.” When one’s longings become intense, and one searches for the right path, then one will get the tantra of Ananda Marga. This process happens and will continue to happen in the future as Parama’tma is one and seated within you and listens to your longings.
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Ananda Marga ideology states, “One requires divine help. And I know one is sure to get divine help. And I know further that one is getting divine help. And I know still further that in future, for infinite time and infinite space, one will be getting this divine favour. And you are all sádhakas. You will certainly attain that supreme stance and enjoy that divine blessedness. You are sure to enjoy it, my sons and my daughters.” (1)
In Him,
Nira’ka’ra
~ In-depth study ~
What to do
Question: Baba says that Parama Purusa should be called by one name only. But our Ista mantra and Baba Nam Kevalam are two different names. So how can Parama Purusa be called by one name.
Why different names in sadhana & kiirtan
In one’s own puja one should use the given Ista mantra in the sadhana lessons one does. But kiirtan is different. Kiirtan is common for all. In kiirtan, one loudly takes the Lord’s name so that others can also listen. Kiirtan is not done silently, unlike japa. When one is doing kiirtan then one conveys the meaning to the others around that Parama’tma’ is everything. The common name in kiirtan is Baba. Everybody will understand while singing kiirtan that one is taking Parama’tma’s name. Ista mantra is an indirect name of Parama’tma’ and it points towards the one omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient Entity.
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The Ista mantra is given to the sadhaka is used in meditation, whereas a name which refers to Parama Purusa which is common to all should be used in kiirtan. For example, a mother had various names, people call her using a different name in the office, at home, and in the neighborhood; in all these places she is called by different names. But for a child, a mother has a special link or connection. If the child calls the mother as Madam, or using full name, then the mother will not like it and it will not be a good feeling for the child.
So when one gets the Ista mantra that is used in the various lessons in sadhana. Since kiirtan is done collectively, one cannot use the Ista mantra in kiirtan That is why the Ista mantra is given uniquely to each individual sadhaka, and one collective mantra is used in kiirtan.
For committed sadhakas
Note: The below section is quite brief; only those will be able to understand who have some background in Ananda Marga philosophy.
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Question: There are some people who use one name both in pu’ja’ and in kiirtan. For example, the name of “Hare Ram Hare Krsna” both in pu’ja’ and in kiirtan.
One who likes “Hare Ram Hare Krsna” can certainly say that. But where spirituality is concerned there is a need for Sadguru and complete surrender to Sadguru is needed. When one has been caught in the grasp of maya, then one cannot get liberated from maya because the hands are tied by the noose of maya no matter how strong one individual is. That is why it is said in sadhana, tantra, and spiritual science that one has to take help from Sadguru. So whatever name Sadguru tells to chant, the sadhaka takes that very name---and does not choose whatever they like. If Sadguru tells to use the name “Ram” then the sadhaka will use the name “Ram”. In this way, one has to have full faith in Sadguru. If one does not have faith in Sadguru then the path is dark. If one chooses whatever one likes as every individual has the freedom to choose what one likes, then sadhana is doomed. There are about seven billion people in this world, and each one has unique knowledge as well as freedom. Many people choose whatever they like and very few choose the path of sadhana. Many people may say why not take the name of Christ or “Hare Ram Hare Krsna”. But that is not the tantric way. So…
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Stages of Samádhi
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
His rhythmic dance
“Mananer końe elo,kár se álo, keno áji bolo…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3082)
Purport:
Today, whose effulgence has illumined the far corner of my mind? Why has it come, please tell me. How did His luminescence shine within the inner recesses of my mental abode. Who is that buoyant, vivacious Entity, who fills the depths of my core with bhakti, after removing all of the blackness from my heart?
For ages and ages,, for such a long time, He was hiding in some remote spot, and now, suddenly, why did He come before me? How is it that He is standing in front of me in plain sight? Infusing my mind with endless melodies, He captivates me by His rhythmic dance and exquisite demeanor.
He can do anything and everything. There is nothing that He cannot do. He creates the universe in His mind, and whatever He thinks is what we perceive and experience. This entire expressed and unexpressed cosmos is His thought projection, and His thoughts are our reality. It is beyond comprehension. In the flow of His divine play, He makes us all laugh and cry. He cares for us in every way imaginable. Is that why He has come here…
PS Note: Throughout the vast gift of Prabhat Samgiita, in most songs the bhakta and Parama Purusa are communicating with one another. In some of the songs the style of conversation is direct while others are indirect. When the style of expression is indirect, it is not that the sadhaka is having a conversation with another sadhaka. But the bhakta is communicating with Parama Purusa - using indirect language. So in this song the sadhaka is talking with Parama Purusa, but in an indirect manner. In these types of compositions, some get confused and conclude that the sadhaka is having a conversation with another aspirant etc, but that is not the case. Rather, the bhakta is communicating with Parama Purusa - using indirect language. And verily, on certain occasions, some Wts and margiis also used to speak with Baba indirectly, using the 3rd person grammatical construction. For instance, they did not like to address Baba directly using the term You, i.e. “Baba, You are all-pervading.” Rather they would address Him and say, “Baba, is all-pervading and He knows everything.” So in the below composition, the sadhaka is using the same approach and communicating with Parama Purusa using indirect language.
== Section 3: Links ==
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