Posts

Significance of विनियोग (Viniyoga), न्यास (Nyāsa), and ध्यान (Dhyāna) in Stotra and Mantra Recitation

Before beginning the recitation of a स्तोत्र (Stotra) or मन्त्र (Mantra), three crucial preparatory steps—विनियोग (Viniyoga), न्यास (Nyāsa), and ध्यान (Dhyāna)—are performed. These ensure the mantra's effectiveness by aligning the intent, energy, and consciousness with the divine force being invoked. विनियोग (Viniyoga) In the context of a स्तोत्र or मन्त्र, विनियोग (viniyoga) provides a structured framework that includes essential elements such as the ऋषि (ṛṣi), the seer who received and transmitted the mantra; the छन्द (chanda), which defines its poetic meter; the देवता (devatā), the deity invoked; the बीज (bīja), the seed syllable encapsulating the mantra’s essence; the शक्ति (śakti), which represents the energy that activates the mantra; and the कीलक (kīlaka), which metaphorically acts as a "pin" unlocking the mantra’s full potential. Finally, अर्थ (artha) states the intended purpose of reciting the mantra, ensuring that it is chanted with the right intent for maximum ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Śaktipīṭhas

The story of the Śakti Pīṭhas is connected to Satī and Śiva . Satī, the daughter of King Dakṣa , married Bhagavān Śiva against her father’s wishes. When Dakṣa organized a grand yajña but chose not to invite Śiva and insulted him, Satī, overcome with grief and anger, attended uninvited. She confronted her father, but when her attempts to defend Śiva failed, she immolated herself in the yajña fire in anguish and despair. Devastated by Satī’s death, Śiva carried her lifeless body and performed the Tāṇḍava , the cosmic dance of destruction. To save the universe from Śiva's wrath,  Bhagavān  Viṣṇu used his Sudarśana Cakra to dismember Satī’s body. The pieces fell across the Indian subcontinent, and each location where a part landed became a sacred Śakti Pīṭha. The number of Śakti Pīṭhas varies across texts and traditions due to differences in cosmic cycles ( Kalpabheda ). For instance, the Devī Bhāgavatapurāṇa mentions 108 Śakti Pīṭhas during the Sarasvata Kalpa , while t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Śrīmannārāyaṇa - Popular Mantras/Stutis attributed to him

This post provides insights into the popular mantras and stutis dedicated to Bhagavān Viṣṇu and His Avatāras , as described in the Vedas and various scriptures. 1. ॐ नमो नारायणाय (Aṣṭākṣara-nārāyaṇa-mantra) This  mantra  appears in  नारायणोपनिषत् Meaning - I bow to N ārāyaṇa It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IospxT7xl-I 2. ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय (Dvādaśākṣara-mantra) This mantra is told by  Nārada while initiating Dhruva in  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 4.8.54 Meaning - I bow to Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa(Vasudeva's son)  It can be listened here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKSGqeJ8U4Y 3.  श्री कृष्ण शरणम ममः ( Aṣṭākṣara-mantra) Meaning - Śrī Kṛṣṇa is my refuge It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDPcjSDwUfs 4. राधे कृष्ण राधे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण राधे राधे राधे श्याम राधे श्याम श्याम श्याम राधे राधे (Yugala-mahāmantra ) It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IulVov5Ns1I 5. हरे ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devī - Popular Mantras/Stutis attributed to her

This post provides insights into the popular mantras and stutis dedicated to  Bhagavatī  as described in the Vedas and various scriptures. 1.  देवी सूक्त( Devī-sūkta) or  अम्भ्राणी सूक्त( Aṃbhṛnī-sūkta) or  वाक्  सूक्त (V āk- sūkta) This s ūkta appears in  10.125 of Ṛgveda;  Ṛṣi: Vāgāmbhṛṇī , Devatā: Vāgāmbhṛṇī , Metre:  Virāṭtrisṭup It can be read here with the english translation:   https://shlokam.org/devisuktam/ It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cf30UbYnlg 2.  श्री सूक्त( Śrī-sūkta) It's part of Khilāni of  Ṛgveda;  Ṛṣi:  Ā nanda, Kardama, Ciklīta, Jātaveda , Devatā:  Śrī & Agni It can be read here with the  hindi  translation:  https://archive.org/details/kupdf.net_panchdev-atharvashirsha-sangrah-gita-press-sanskrit-hindi/page/n27/mode/2up It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT2yD-tXgdQ 3.  सरस्वती सूक्त(Sarasvatī-sūkta) This...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sūrya - Popular Mantras/Stutis attributed to him

This post provides insights into the popular mantras and stutis dedicated to  Bhagavān  Sūrya  as described in the Vedas and various scriptures. 1. सूर्य सूक्त(Sūrya-sūkta ) a.  This sūkta appears in 1.50 of Ṛgveda; Ṛṣi: Praskaṇva-kāṇva , Devatā:  Sūrya It can be read here with the english translation:  https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/rig-veda-english-translation/d/doc829500.html It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoFmYOugdtQ b.  This sūkta appears in 1.115 of Ṛgveda; Ṛṣi: Kutsa- Ā ṅgirasa , Devatā:  Sūrya It can be read here with the hindi translation:  https://archive.org/details/VedicSuktaSangrahGitapress/page/n83/mode/2up It can be listened here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlpT_QvKWdo c . It appears in Śukla-Yajur-Veda;    Ṛṣi:  Vibhrāḍ ,  Devatā:  Sūrya It can be read here with the hindi translation:  https://archive.org/details/kupdf.net_panchdev-ath...
Post a Comment
Read more