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 efficacy.
Below, I am listing some examples of विनियोग (viniyoga) for various स्तोत्रs.
a. विनियोग of श्रीसरस्वतीस्तोत्रमन्त्र from Śrī-Nārada-Nandikeśvara-Saṁvāda of Brahma-Purāṇa, recited by Brahmā:
अस्य श्रीसरस्वतीस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य । मार्कण्डेयऋषिः । स्रग्धरा-ऽनुष्टुप्-छन्दः । सरस्वतीदेवता । ऐं वीजं । वद वद शक्तिः । स्वाहा कीलकं । मम वाक् सिद्ध्यर्थं जपे विनियोगः ॥
ऋषि – मार्कण्डेय, छन्द – स्रग्धरा-अनुष्टुप्, देवता – सरस्वती, बीज – ऐं, शक्ति – वद वद, कीलक – स्वाहा, अर्थ – वाक् सिद्धि (Perfection of speech)
b. विनियोग of श्रीरामरक्षास्तोत्रमन्त्र from Janma Kāṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, recited by Viṣṇudāsa:
अस्य श्रीरामरक्षास्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य । बुधकौशिक ऋषिः । श्रीसीतारामचन्द्रो देवता । अनुष्टुप् छन्दः । सीता शक्तिः । श्रीमद् हनुमान कीलकम् । श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रीत्यर्थे रामरक्षास्तोत्रजपे विनियोगः ॥
ऋषि – बुधकौशिक, छन्द – अनुष्टुप्, देवता – श्रीसीतारामचन्द्र, बीज – N/A, शक्ति – सीता, कीलक – श्रीमद् हनुमान्, अर्थ – श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रीति (For the love and devotion of Śrī Sītā-Rāma)
c. विनियोग of श्रीआदित्यहृदयस्तोत्र from Yuddha Kānda of Vālmīki's Rāmāyana, recited by Rāma:
अस्य श्रीआदित्यहृदयस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य | श्रीअगस्त्यऋषिः | अनुष्टुप्छन्दः | श्रीआदित्यहृदयभूतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा देवताः | ॐ बीजम् | रश्मिमतेरिति शक्तिः | ॐ तत्सवितुरित्यादिगायत्री कीलकम् | निरस्ताशेषविघ्नतया ब्रह्मविद्यासिद्धौ सर्वत्र जयसिद्धौ च विनियोगः |
ऋषि – अगस्त्य, छन्द – अनुष्टुप्, देवता – भगवान् ब्रह्मा, बीज – ॐ, शक्ति – रश्मिमति, कीलक – ॐ तत्सवितुरित्यादिगायत्री, अर्थ – निरस्ताशेषविघ्नतया, ब्रह्मविद्यासिद्धि, सर्वत्र जयसिद्धि (Complete removal of all obstacles, Attainment of the knowledge of Brahman, and Achieving victory everywhere)
d. Various विनियोगs of दुर्गासप्तशती from Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa - न्यास (Nyāsa)
न्यास is the process of imbuing different body parts with divine energy through touch and mantra recitation.
न्यास consists of करन्यास (hand gestures) and अङ्गन्यास (body part gestures). करन्यास is mostly the same in all deity worship, with mantra variations. अङ्गन्यास varies widely (6 to 54 steps) based on mantras, deities, and rituals.
a. करन्यास involves the मन्त्र-संयुक्त touch of fingers in a sequence—अङ्गुष्ठ, तर्जनी, मध्यम, अनामिका, and कनिष्ठा, followed by करतल and करपृष्ठ. Each finger represents one of the पञ्चतत्त्व—अङ्गुष्ठ (आकाश), तर्जनी (वायु), मध्यम (अग्नि), अनामिका (जल), and कनिष्ठा (पृथ्वी). The दक्षिणहस्त-अङ्गुष्ठ touches the वामहस्त-अङ्गुष्ठ with mantra recitation, followed by touching the remaining fingers, palm, and back of the hand.
Example(करन्यास for श्रीसरस्वतीस्तोत्रमन्त्र):
ॐ ह्रीं अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः । ॐ ऐं तर्जनीभ्यां नमः । धी मध्यमाभ्यां नमः । ॐ क्लीं अनामिकाभ्यां नमः । ॐ सौं कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः । ॐ श्रीं करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः ।
b. अङ्गन्यास involves touching 6 major body parts while reciting specific mantra endings: हृदय (नमः – humility and devotion), शिर (स्वाहा – surrender of ego), शिखा (वषट् – absorption of divine energy), कवच (हुं – protective shield), नेत्र (वौषट् – awakening of the third eye), and अस्त्र (फट् – destruction of obstacles).
The हृदयन्यास represents भक्ति and विवेक, detaching from अनात्म तत्त्व. शिरन्यास involves placing the palm on the head, signifying self-offering, while शिखा-न्यास, performed by touching the crown with the अङ्गुष्ठ, helps in receiving divine energy, similar to an antenna capturing signals. कवच-न्यास forms an X-cross with arms, symbolizing an energetic protective shield, while नेत्र-न्यास, performed using the तर्जनी, मध्यमा, and अनामिका, awakens the आज्ञाचक्र. Finally, अस्त्र-न्यास is performed with a तर्जनी-मध्यमा generating a sharp sound, symbolizing the burning of त्रिविध ताप (आध्यात्मिक, आधिभौतिक, आधिदैविक). This completes the न्यास प्रक्रिया, ensuring the transference of ब्रह्माण्डीय ऊर्जा into पिण्डीय ऊर्जा for spiritual elevation.
Example(अङ्गन्यास for श्रीसरस्वतीस्तोत्रमन्त्र):
ॐ ह्रीं हृदयाय नमः । ॐ ऐं शिरसे स्वाहा । ॐ धीं शिखायै वषट् । ॐ क्लीं नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् । ॐ सौं कवचाय हुम् । ॐ श्रीं अस्त्राय फट् ।
Note - For other स्तोत्रs, in place of ह्रीं, ऐं, धी, क्लीं, सौं, and श्रीं, some other मन्त्रs or बीज मन्त्रs may be used. - ध्यान (Dhyāna)
It is a crucial preparatory step in the recitation of a स्तोत्र (Stotra) or मन्त्र (Mantra). It involves deep meditative contemplation and visualization of the deity to whom the prayer or invocation is dedicated. This practice aligns the mind with the divine form, attributes, and essence of the deity, ensuring that the recitation is performed with full awareness and devotion.
Example(ध्यान of श्रीरामरक्षास्तोत्रमन्त्र):
ध्यायेदाजानुबाहुं धृतशरधनुषं बद्धपद्मासनस्थं पीतं वासो वसानं नवकमलदलस्पर्धिनेत्रं प्रसन्नम् । वामाङ्कारूढ सीतामुखकमलमिलल्लोचनं नीरदाभं नानालङ्कारदीप्तं दधतमुरुजटामण्डनं रामचन्द्रम् ॥
One should meditate upon Lord Rāmacandra, who has arms reaching his knees, who is holding a bow and arrows, who is seated in a lotus pose, who is wearing yellow clothes, whose eyes compete with the petals of a newly bloomed lotus, who looks contented, whose sight is fixed on the lotus-like face of Sītā, sitting on his left lap, whose colour is like that of the rain cloud, who is shining in various ornaments and has hair which is reaching till his thighs.
॥ ॐ श्री-सीता-लक्ष्मण-भरत-शत्रुघ्न-हनुमत्समेत -श्रीरामचन्द्रपरब्रह्मार्पणमस्तु ॥
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