NIRGUNA
MANTRA :
As
Saguna Mantras have
form, Nirguna Mantras
are without form. There are
no deities or personalized aspects
of God to be invoked. Rather,
one uses the abstract Mantras
and Vedantic formulas to assert
identification with all the
creation.
The abstract mantra creates
a vibration in which the meditator
or Sadhak identifies
with the whole of the Cosmos.
With the repetition of one of
these Mantras, the meditator
loses his individual identity
and merges with nature. He avows
that he is identical with that
homogeneous substratum, that
energy or power of existence,
which underlies and permeates
all that exists.
All Mantras are hidden in OM
, which is the
abstract. OM is the
manifest symbol of the Sabdabrahaman
vibration, or God; but it must
not be equated with the Divine.
The universe has come from OM,
rests in OM and dissolves in
it. AUM, as it is sometimes
written, covers the threefold
experience of man;
A
represents the physical
plane,
U
represents the mental
and astral plane, and
M
represents the deep
sleep state and everything beyond
reach of the intellect.
Because
of its universality, OM can
be used as a Mantra by all who
are unable to find a guru. However,
its very universality and lack
of particular form make it very
difficult for a beginner to
grasp. The mind must be very
strong to be able to concentrate
on formless and abstract Mantras
such as OM. |
 |
Correctly
pronounced, the sound proceeds from the navel with a deep
and harmonious vibration, and gradually manifests itself at
the upper part of the nostrils. The larynx and palate are
the sounding boards; no part of the tongue or palate is touched.
As the U is pronounced, the sound rolls from the root of the
tongue to the end of the sounding board of the mouth. M is
the last sound, and is produced by closing the lips. |
Just
as the various deities are aspects
of One Supreme, so the various
beeja, or seed Mantras are aspects
of the supreme Mantra, OM. Beeja
Mantras are seed letters directly
derived from the fifty primeval
sounds, and are very powerful.
Generally a beeja Mantra consists
of a single letter, although
some, such as HREEM ,
are compounded. The sounds for
ether, air, fire, water and
earth are, respectively, HAM,
YAM, RAM, VAM and LAM. Every
deity also has its own deed
syllable. Because of their innate
force, beeja Mantras generally
are not given for initiation.
Those who are in a pure state
may practice Japa on them, and
intricate rituals precede their
use.
SOME POPULAR NIRGUNA
OR ABSTRACT MANTRAS:
OM
Description - There is no translation
of OM. It consists of three
letters: A, U and M. It signifies
the three periods of time, the
three states of consciousness
and all of existence. A is
the waking state, U is the
dreaming state, and M is the
deep sleep state. OM contains
nada and bindu
. Nada is the prolonged
vowel sound and Bindu is the
humming sound, made with closed
lips, with which the Mantra
ends.
Soham
Meaning - I am That I am
Description - The meditator
is existence itself. He is without
form, without quality, without
past, present or future. No
bonds or limitations restrict
the aspirant who has Soham
firmly fixed in his hand.
Aham
Brahma Asmi
Meaning - I am Brahma
Description - Aham Brahma
Asmi is a great Vedantic
formula. The meditator asserts
himself to be One with the ever-present
Brahma. In doing so, he denies
confinement to the body and
mind, and affirms unity with
the Absolute.
Tat
Twam Asi
Meaning - That Thou Art
Description - "That"
is the eternal Brahma, and "thou"
is the meditator. Tat Twam
Asi , is one of the greatest
of the Vedantic statements,
identifies the individual as
one and the same with Brahma,
the Absolute Substratum of Creation. |
