It is essential to understand about how the mantras were derived and by whom.
A frequently asked question is, why it is essential to take Mantra-Upadesha from a Guru only?
Below is the answer to this question based on one of the lectures given by PoojyaShri Omkarananda Swami.
Vedas were derived (heard/listened) from space, in the form of sound waves, by rishis and munis who did immense penance.
Hence when reciting Veda, it is sound that is of utmost importance.
The puranas were written basically by adopting the meanings and facts from Vedas. In Vedas and Puranas, the subject matter is the same.
The mantras are of 2 types - those which are obtained from Vedas (Veda Mantra) and those that are obtained from Puranas (Puranic Mantra). Some of the Veda Mantras (vakyas) are Tat-tvam-asi, Aham Bramhasmi, Ayam Atma Brahma, Pradnyanam Brahma, Shivoham etc. and then there are Veda Suktas such as Purusha Sukta, Sri Sukta, Rudra Namakam, Rudra Chamakam etc. Some of the Puranic (Puranic) mantras are - Om Namo Narayana, Om Namah Shivaya, Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram etc
Since the Vedas were obtained from god directly (as sound waves), the Veda Mantras are very powerful and are of highest energy level. Their real meaning and importance can be realized only by those who have done strict penance and have recited them countless times. Hence only those realized people can pass on these mantras to other deserving people, through upadesha, so that the mantra recital will carry full energy, strength and grace. Therefore it is essential to learn Veda Mantras from highly elevated persons, whom we call 'Guru'.
When we read puranas, we find that even the gods - Ram and Krishna obtained their knowledge from a Guru, which signifies the importance of learning from a Guru.
The Puranic mantras have been obtained from Smruti as they were written from Smruti (memory). So, to some extent we can recite them without getting it from a Guru. But in order to derive maximum strength, grace and energy, even from Puranic Mantra, it is essential to obtain it from a Guru as well. This is because, each and every mantra is always associated with some invisible Rishi, Muni or Devata.
A frequently asked question is, why it is essential to take Mantra-Upadesha from a Guru only?
Below is the answer to this question based on one of the lectures given by PoojyaShri Omkarananda Swami.
Vedas were derived (heard/listened) from space, in the form of sound waves, by rishis and munis who did immense penance.
Hence when reciting Veda, it is sound that is of utmost importance.
The puranas were written basically by adopting the meanings and facts from Vedas. In Vedas and Puranas, the subject matter is the same.
The mantras are of 2 types - those which are obtained from Vedas (Veda Mantra) and those that are obtained from Puranas (Puranic Mantra). Some of the Veda Mantras (vakyas) are Tat-tvam-asi, Aham Bramhasmi, Ayam Atma Brahma, Pradnyanam Brahma, Shivoham etc. and then there are Veda Suktas such as Purusha Sukta, Sri Sukta, Rudra Namakam, Rudra Chamakam etc. Some of the Puranic (Puranic) mantras are - Om Namo Narayana, Om Namah Shivaya, Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram etc
Since the Vedas were obtained from god directly (as sound waves), the Veda Mantras are very powerful and are of highest energy level. Their real meaning and importance can be realized only by those who have done strict penance and have recited them countless times. Hence only those realized people can pass on these mantras to other deserving people, through upadesha, so that the mantra recital will carry full energy, strength and grace. Therefore it is essential to learn Veda Mantras from highly elevated persons, whom we call 'Guru'.
When we read puranas, we find that even the gods - Ram and Krishna obtained their knowledge from a Guru, which signifies the importance of learning from a Guru.
The Puranic mantras have been obtained from Smruti as they were written from Smruti (memory). So, to some extent we can recite them without getting it from a Guru. But in order to derive maximum strength, grace and energy, even from Puranic Mantra, it is essential to obtain it from a Guru as well. This is because, each and every mantra is always associated with some invisible Rishi, Muni or Devata.
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