Guest Editorial
Japa: Chanting of a Mantra
Relation between God and His Name After describing the characteristics of Ishvara in three sutras, Patanjali mentions Om as the indicator, vaachaka, or name of Ishvara. तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः (1.27) In Katha Upanishad too, Om is mentioned as supreme or best आलम्बन support, means. (1.2.17). However, in the just preceding shloka it is equated with akshara brahma or the Supreme Spirit. In the Mandukya Karika, it is said that Om is no other than the Lower as well as the Supreme Brahman, without beginning; and also the beginning, middle and the end of all; unique and changeless. (I, 12, 27-29) We also get the proof of this attitude in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna in Sri Ramakrishna’s conversation with a devotee from Dakshineswar village. Initially Sri Ramakrishna expresses the view that there must be something indicated by the Word. However, when the contending devotee says
that the Eternal Word itself is Brahman, the Master agrees with him. (p.188) According to the third view of the devotees, the name of God is greater than God Himself. They quote two charming examples. Hanuman jumped across the ocean chanting the name of Rama, whereas Rama himself had to build a bridge to cross it! Once Krishna was being weighed. All the available gold, gems etc., became insufficient and Sri Krishna continued to remain seated in the lower of the pans of the balance. But when His name written on a tulasi leaf was placed on the other pan, the pan on which the Lord was sitting became lighter!
The meaning of the mantra Since the name of God must be repeated with thinking of its meaning, it is important that before chanting, the meaning is well understood. This again depends upon knowledge. The meaning of a gentleman named Mohan will be very much different for his mother and for a casual acquaintance. Hence it is often suggested that we must try to gain from various books and scriptures as much knowledge as possible about our chosen ideal, whose name we shall be chanting. Every divine personality has three aspects: an external form, divine qualities, and the indwelling divine spirit of which He or She is the embodiment. The mantra represents all the three. A devotee, when he begins chanting the name of his chosen ideal, first thinks of the holy form. This for him is the artha-bhavanam.
The author, a former editor of The Vedanta Kesari, lives in Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Varanasi. brahmeshananda@gmail.com
April 2019
Japa or chanting the name of God is given great importance in all the re l i g i o n s o f t h e world. It is not only an integral part of all devotional spiritual practices, even Sage Patanjali has given an important place to it in his Yoga system. Patanjali recommends repetition of Om with thinking of its meaning as an effective means of control of mind: तज्जपस्तदर्थभावनम्(1.28)
9 The Vedanta Kesari
PA G E S P O N S O R : A D E V O T E E , H O U S T O N , U S A
SWAMI BRAHMESHANANDA
