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