Importance of Devi Beej Mantra

Often while reading a Purana, Mahabharata or Ramayana, we come across instances where it is stated that an army or a soldier or a particular person was bound by reciting a mantra. What actually it means? This question arises in our minds.

It means that the person concerned becomes immobile, loses consciousness and remains unaware of his surroundings. Human beings are capable of controlling their mind and reach above mentioned state. This state can be considered to be the ladder which connects us with the Almighty and obtain supreme bliss. Mantras help us to achieve this state. Hence, mantras can be considered to bridge the gap between us and the Almighty. As the mother responds to single call of her child, Devi (Goddess Mother) also responds in same manner when we recite her stotras or namavalis. When we recite her 1000 names, she provides a shield around us without our own knowledge.

Under the command of Lalithadevi, Lord Hayagriva explained to the Sage Agastya, the importance of chanting the Devi mantras (Naam). According to Lord Hayagriva, by chanting a single name from the sahastra naam of Lalithadevi, we obtain the same Punya (benefit or boon) which is greater than the Punya obtained due to following deeds.

1. Taking bath in all sacred tirthas
2. Establishing enumerable Shiva lingas in Kashi which is called Avimukta Kshetra
3. Giving crores of gold coins to Brahmin and Vedic pandit on a Solar eclipse day
4. Performing Ashwamedha yaag infinite times on the banks of the sacred river Ganga.
5. Digging innumerable wells where the people are suffering without water
6. Performing innumerable number of Annadaan during a famine.

Furthermore, by reciting one naam, from the namavali, helps remove all the sins irrespective of their magnitude. Mere recital of single name of Lalithadevi, removes the sins due to all acts of errors and omissions of all duty. Hence the recital of sahastra naam is considered to be the most important aspect of worship in spiritual path. In that also the worship of Devi is considered to be one of the greatest.

The word Lalith itself indicates that she is lovable, adorable, beautiful, benevolent, affectionate, passionate and so on. Hence the practice of worshiping Devi with 1000 names i.e. Lalitha sahastranaam, is largely prevalent. The greatness of this Sahastranaam with respect to other Sahastranaams is that it contains exactly 1000 names without any repetitions. It also does not contain the words meant for rhythm. It is not only the namavali but it also contains (tells) rules and guidelines for the Upasana.

Among the Devi mantras, the most important is known as PANCHADASI which is a combination of 15 beejaksharas (seed letters) divided in 3 parts 

Part 1 : ka (क), ae (ए), e (ई), la (ल), hrim (ह्रीं),
Part 2: ha (ह), sa (स), ka (क), ha (ह), la (ल), hrim (ह्रीं),
Part 3: sa (स), ka (क), la (ल), hrim (ह्रीं). 

Lalitha Trishati contains 300 names. Each of these 300 names start with a letter from panchadashi.  For example there are 20 names starting with ka (क), 20 names starting with ae (ए) and so on. Making total 300 names. 

Every part of panchadashi ends in HREEM, which is called Maya Beej Mantra. This mantra is considered as the seed (beej) of all the mantras. The Sanskrit word HREEM contains 4 alphabets.

HAKARA -HA (ह)

REKARA -RA – (र)

IKARA  – EE – (ई)

ANUSWARA – MA (.)

HA represents Aakash tatva which is endless and denote Lord Shiva. RA denotes Ishwara and his inseparable Shakti. Hence it represents the sound which is pure Chaitanya. IKARA denotes the stage of Vishnu which is spread everywhere. MA represents the destruction of sound or stage all mingle to become a new one. Thus we can conclude that this Beej Mantra represents the Tri Shaktis namely Creation, Protection and Destruction. Therefore Lalitha Devi bears the title, HREEMKAR LAKSHANA.

Again the three alphabets in this Beej mantra represents Satva, Rajas and Tamaa gunas. They are again represented by the colors White, Red and Black. By this Beej mantra all evil forces move away.

This mantra has both Saguna and Nirguna qualities. Therefore it has to be recited in same manner in which we recite the Pranava mantra - OM.

Of the 5 Beej mantras of Devi, HREEM has the capacity to grant virtues. Hence we can consider these Beej Mantra as a bridge between Human being and Goddess Devi.

This mantra is the most powerful and whoever chants it makes him a leader of men. 

Beeja Mantras

In our previous article series on Mantras, we have already covered much information about Mantras - their benefits, how to chant them etc. In this article we are providing little detailed information about beeja mantras.

Beeja means seed. Every creation is out of seed. Puranas mention that Brahma used seed mantras to create the universe and all parts of it. These are also called as Beejaksharas. Beeja mantras are combinations of three to nine syllables. For example om (ॐ) is a combination of a (अ) (represents creation i.e. utpatti), u (उ) (represents sustenance i.e. sthiti),  ma (म) (represents destruction i.e. laya) and ardhamatra which represents goddess i.e. shakti which gives life to all other mantras. Om is called pranava (pra-nava) i.e. primal sound. Om is also called as prakash-pranava. Like Om, there is another beeja mantra, hrim (ह्रीं), which is called vimarsha-pranava or maya-beeja. Hrim is considered as mother of all beeja mantras. We will cover details about hrim in next article “Importance of Devi Beej Mantra”

Every beeja mantra represents a power of particular god or goddess. 

Here is a list of some beeja mantras and gods/goddesses/elements/qualities associated with that mantra.

Beeja mantra	God/element/power/quality/usage	Combined from
Om	Origin of universe. Represents paramatma	A (Bhuh), U (Bhuvah), M (svah) and ardha matra that represents fourth stage called turiya
hrim	Maya bija	Ha, ra, im
aim	Saraswati bija
klim	Kama bija
shrim	Lakshmi bija	Aim, hrim, shrim together are called as tritari
gum	Guru bija
Gam / glaum	Ganapati bija
dum	Durga bija
ksham	Kshetrapal bija
lam	Earth and also muladhara chakra
vam	Water and also Swadhisthan chakra
ram	Fire and also Manipura chakra
yam	Air and also Anahat chakra
ham	Ether (akasha) and also vishuddha
Sum	Represents union of three gods - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Jum	Quickening, animation, inspiration
Sah	Invokes universal soul
Tam	Getting rid of disease, worry, fear
Kreem	Kali beeja mantra. Kali mata is responsible for health, strength and protection from evil powers
Hroum	Represents Lord Shiva. For moksha
Fraum	Hanuman bija
Dam	Vishnu bija
Bhram	Bhairav bija
Dhoom	Dhumavati Devi bija
Hleem	Bagalamukhi Devi bija
Treem	Tara Devi bija
Kshraum	Narasimha bija
Dhaam	Kuber bija
Phat	Attacking enemy
Krom	Krodha Bija

Beeja mantras do not carry any specific meaning. Their power is in the sound vibrations produced by chanting them. These sound vibrations bring out a desired effect. For example, beeja mantra aim (ऐं) represents knowledge. So sound produced by chanting aim helps gain knowledge required to bring a desired effect. Similarly beeja mantra klim (क्लीं) represents Kaama i.e. desire. Sound vibrations produced by chanting klim helps in creating favorable conditions to fulfill desires. Of course, as mentioned in one of the previous articles on Mantras, to have a desired effect of mantra it is important to receive it from proper Guru or as per ordained by previous birth sanskara. 

Srimad Devi Bhagwat contains stories that signify importance of beeja mantras. For example story of Satyavrata (Book 3 Chapter 11) who received highest knowledge by repeating even half letter “ai” of beeja mantra aim. And story of Sudarshana (Book 3 Chapter 17) who got all his and his mother’s wishes fulfilled by repeating half letter “kli” of beeja mantra klim.

Beeja mantras are either chanted directly or they are chanted through shlokas where these beejaksharas are hidden. For example one of the Sri Vidya mantras is Panchadashi mantra which contains 15 beejaksharas - ka (क), ae (ए), e (ई), la (ल), hrim (ह्रीं), ha (ह), sa (स), ka (क), ha (ह), la (ल), hrim (ह्रीं), sa (स), ka (क), la (ल), hrim (ह्रीं)

All these fifteen beejaksharas are hidden in following shloka from Devi Atharvashirsha

कामोयोनि कमला वज्रपाणिर्गुहाहसा मातरिश्वा भ्रमिन्द्रः |

पुनर्गुहा सकला मायया च पुरुच्यैष्या विश्मातादिविद्योम् ||

So when we chant this shloka, indirectly we chant beejaksharas of panchadashi mantra.

Similarly following shloka from Lalitasahasranaama also has secret beejaksharas hidden in it. For example beejakshara hrim is hidden in the first word of this shloka i.e. raagaswarupa-paashadhya

रागस्वरूपपाशाढया क्रोधाकारान्कुशोज्वला |

मनोरुपेक्षुकोदण्डा पञ्चतन्मात्रसायका ||

The most common use of beejaksharas can be found in puja when we perform praanapratishtha of idol. During praanapratishtha vital energy of worshiper is infused into idol by chnating beejaksharas. 

For example, here are mantras that are chanted during praanapratishtha of an idol e.g. Ganapati idol.

ॐ आं ह्रीं क्रौं अं यं रं लं वं शं षं सं हं क्षं अ: क्रौं ह्रीं आं देवस्य प्राणा इह प्राणा ||

ॐ आं ह्रीं क्रौं अं यं रं लं वं शं षं सं हं क्षं अ: क्रौं ह्रीं आं देवस्य जीव इह स्थित: ||

ॐ आं ह्रीं क्रौं अं यं रं लं वं शं षं सं हं क्षं अ: क्रौं ह्रीं आं देवस्य वाङ्ग्मनश्चक्षु: श्रोत्रजिव्हाघ्राणपाणिपादपायूपस्थादि सर्वेन्द्रियाणि सुखं चिरं तिष्ठन्तु स्वाहा ||

Using above beejaksharas, praana i.e. vital energy, jiva - existence and then all organs are developed in idol. For example यं (yam) रं (ram)  लं (lam) वं (vam) हं (ham) represent five great elements (pancha-mahabhutas) from which organs of action and organs of perception develop. And then as if an idol has taken birth, by chanting om fifteen times, pancha dasha sanskaras are performed on idol.

Because in puja, worshiper’s praana is infused into idol, if puja is done properly, it can develop oneness between worshiper and the god that is being worshiped.

We attempted to explain importance and usage of beejaksharas. Hope you have found it useful. We seek forgivance for omissions or mistakes.

Mantras - Part V

This article is based on Satsang of Saint Melmaruvattur in TamilNadu. He explained the guidelines for reciting mantras or for doing NamaSmaran.

1. Everyone should recite the Mantra by sitting erect (with exception of those who are sick or disabled). Waves emanating from Mantra activate 72000 Nadis in our body. These have a direct relation to the thoughts produced in our mind. The Mantra recital gives a sort of control over these thoughts and help us in attaining peace.

2. Below the navel we have a Chakra known as MoolaDhar Chakra. In this the Kundalini shakti resides like a coiled snake. Those desirous of supreme knowledge can awaken this Kundalini shakti by doing Mantra recital in a proper and disciplined manner. Finally this makes them attain certain Siddhis.

3. As far as possible we should understand the meaning of the Mantras we recite. Even if we are unable to understand the meaning, we should learn to recite them in proper tone as the sound is the most important part of the Mantra.

4. Mantras should be recited with high concentration, that is we should not be disturbed by any one calling us or we not make signs to others for conveying our messages. That is, ignore all movements around us. The total concentration should be on the mantra. Our thoughts should revolve around Guru, God or Saints.

5. It is essential that we don't move our limbs during the recital. As far as possible we should not sneeze or yawn or feel drowsy during the recital. These are considered as Dosha (evil or sinful acts). Therefore it is advisable to take bath and wear fresh cloth for reciting mantras.

6. We should not rush through the recital to complete in a set time period.

With this article we are concluding article series on Mantra. Hope it was useful.