[Advaita-l] Re: Advaita-l Digest, Vol 33, Issue 23

[Ravi Kumar G S]

Hi Manish, these are words of wisdom. Grateful thanks, and my namaskaram

Ravi


On 1/25/06, mwadhwa at uwm.edu <mwadhwa at uwm.edu> wrote:
>
> Hi Santosh,
>
>     The only thing I have to say is not to worry about anything. Your
> saying
> this thing as to if you can do anything "to reverse the negative effects"
> makes
> you fearful. I will say that those who have said that mantras have any
> side
> effects or this or that then don't get frightened, there is no point in
> that.
> Fear is in the first hand the greatest enemy. The intention in your heart
> determines everything. There are endless mantras and hence endless
> techniques.
> Your intention is to realize god then who is going to stop you from that.
> On
> the spiritual path there are endless things and confusions and you may
> find it
> hard at times. The only thing is to keep going in that direction and not
> to
> stop. If you are doing mantras not for your spiritual upliftment and for
> some
> other gains in your mind then it is better to have negative effects so
> that we
> may stop doing it for any other thing except for spiritual growth.
>
>    Also let me tell you about the whole reason to do japa and mantras. It
> is
> only to make your mind calm and attain its purity. All else is mere talk
> and
> other mantras for worldly gains are not going to do any good to you.
> Sticking
> to one mantra or japa has this thought behind it that it tries to throw
> away
> all other thoughts that arise in your mind when you do some kind of japa.
> Also
> it maintains devotion in you and also tries to bring surreneder.
>
>    Japa is helpful to that extent where it may bring to your own inner
> depths
> and tries to calm down the turbulent thoughts that arise in mind. The
> whole
> story is of the mind and to calm it down to the extent where the water of
> mind
> is not disturbed so that you may see beyond it at your own Self. Mind is
> the
> only adjunct beyond which everyone will have to reach to have self
> realization.
> So don't be afraid of anything, whatever is done is done, no fear, no
> worries,
> no one is going to punish you for anything. My suggestion is, if you
> really
> like japa, then stick to one japa of any deity or guru you have enshrined
> in
> your heart. There are no side effects. Is there any side effects of taking
> the
> name of God! Tell me if there is any logic and think for yourself! Mind is
> very
> useful in subsiding mind itself. Taking God's name has a side effect,
> isn't it a
> foolish thought. So remain pure at heart and do your japa whatever you
> feel like
> with all your purity of thought. What else is needed, whom to ask and
> where to
> go. Your own self will lead you to the supreme. The Self is the guru and
> the
> external guru if there is any is also your own Self.
>        If you are studying advaita then it will negate everything slowly
> and
> finally accept everything, and that is the way. What else is needed. Keep
> going
> and don't worry about anything. Self is the witness of everything, then
> where
> are side effects brother.
>
> I feel this email maybe of some use.
>
> Pranaam,
> Manish Wadhwa
>
>
>
>
>
> Quoting Santhosh  Nair <santhosh_twin at rediffmail.com>:
>
> ** Also, could you please let me know whether there is anythign I could do
> to
> ** reverse the negative effects of mantra chanting, if any, that has
> affected
> ** me?
> **
> **
> ** On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 advaita-l-request at lists.advaita-vedanta.org wrote :
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> ** >
> ** >Today's Topics:
> ** >
> ** >    1. New Member Introduction: Sri Ravi Kumar G S (Ravisankar
> Mayavaram)
> ** >    2. Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation (Santhosh  Nair)
> ** >    3. RE: Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** >       (Neelakanta, Nataraja)
> ** >    4. RE: Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation (Krunal Makwana)
> ** >
> ** >
> ** >----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ** >
> ** >Message: 1
> ** >Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 16:55:37 -0600
> ** > From: Ravisankar Mayavaram <abhayambika at gmail.com>
> ** >Subject: [Advaita-l] New Member Introduction: Sri Ravi Kumar G S
> ** >To: advaita-vedAnta List <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> ** >Message-ID:
> ** >    <fb2619990601231455g3ebc9cc3j18546cf4f9ad8e0a at mail.gmail.com>
> ** >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> ** >
> ** >---------- Forwarded message ----------
> ** > From: Ravi Kumar G S <ravikumar.gs at gmail.com>
> ** >Date: Jan 23, 2006 8:15 AM
> ** >Subject: Re: Please Send Your Introduction to Join Advaita-L
> ** >To: Ravisankar Mayavaram <abhayambika at gmail.com>
> ** >
> ** >
> ** >Dear Sir,
> ** >
> ** >I am a grahasta from Smartha Mulukunadu (Munikulanadu) brahmin family
> ** >of Yajurveda Apastamba sutra and Kashyapa gothra, and  based at
> ** >Singapore for the past three years. My name is Ravi Seshadri and I am
> ** >32 years old. I have been doing adhyayan of vedanta philosophy as an
> ** >amateur and seek the guidance and support of an organization like this
> ** >mailing list.
> ** >
> ** >I humbly request you to include me in the mailing list.
> ** >
> ** >With warm regards
> ** >SAIRAM
> ** >
> ** >Ravi Seshadri
> ** >
> ** >
> ** >------------------------------
> ** >
> ** >Message: 2
> ** >Date: 24 Jan 2006 11:07:57 -0000
> ** > From: "Santhosh  Nair" <santhosh_twin at rediffmail.com>
> ** >Subject: [Advaita-l] Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** >To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> ** >Message-ID: <20060124110757.30736.qmail at webmail26.rediffmail.com>
> ** >Content-Type: text/plain;   charset=iso-8859-1
> ** >
> ** >Hi,
> ** >I have a doubt about mantra recitiations. Some people say that if
> someone
> ** pronounces the words in a mantra incorrectly, it could bring adverse
> ** effects. Is this true? I used to chant mantras (Gayatri,
> Mahamrityunjaya,
> ** etc.) And I think I did this in an incorrect manner (including the
> position,
> ** diretion i faced, and the timing. If it has any ill-effects, is there
> ** somethiig I can do to correct it? Currently I chang only
> Vishnusahasranama
> ** and Narayaneeyam (3dasakas/day), at 7 am.
> ** >Please do let me know because now I am suffering from various physical
> ** problems.
> ** >
> ** >Thank you.
> ** >
> ** >------------------------------
> ** >
> ** >Message: 3
> ** >Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 17:43:58 +0530
> ** > From: "Neelakanta, Nataraja" <nataraja.neelakanta at sap.com>
> ** >Subject: RE: [Advaita-l] Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** >To: "Santhosh Nair" <santhosh_twin at rediffmail.com>, "A discussion
> ** >    group for Advaita Vedanta"      <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> ** >Message-ID:
> ** >    <B244143AC07FE74D8218D9F6E0EDF44A8F1870 at inblrle40.blrl.sap.corp>
> ** >Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="us-ascii"
> ** >
> ** >Dear Mr Santhosh,
> ** >
> ** >Its true that wrong chanting of mantras will bring in adverse effects.
> ** >Its definitely true with upadesha mantras that are to be done on a
> daily
> ** >basis. Mantras from Samhita are also very powerful. One has to be very
> ** >very cautious about chanting of mantras. Direction and timing do not
> ** >matter. To cite an example, during the wish for birth of a person who
> ** >can kill Indra (Vritrasura), mantra was incorrectly chanted. The
> meaning
> ** >got changed to wish for birth of a person who can be killed by Indra.
> ** >
> ** >Be careful while chanting mantras, concentrate on swara, take your own
> ** >time to do so. After a practice, one can chant without any issues.
> ** >
> ** >BR,
> ** >nattu
> ** >-----Original Message-----
> ** > From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> ** >[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org] On Behalf Of
> ** >Santhosh Nair
> ** >Sent: Tuesday, 24 January 2006 4:38 PM
> ** >To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> ** >Subject: [Advaita-l] Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** >
> ** >Hi,
> ** >I have a doubt about mantra recitiations. Some people say that if
> ** >someone pronounces the words in a mantra incorrectly, it could bring
> ** >adverse effects. Is this true? I used to chant mantras (Gayatri,
> ** >Mahamrityunjaya, etc.) And I think I did this in an incorrect manner
> ** >(including the position, diretion i faced, and the timing. If it has
> any
> ** >ill-effects, is there somethiig I can do to correct it? Currently I
> ** >chang only Vishnusahasranama and Narayaneeyam (3dasakas/day), at 7 am.
> ** >Please do let me know because now I am suffering from various physical
> ** >problems.
> ** >
> ** >Thank you.
> ** >_______________________________________________
> ** >Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> ** >
> ** >To unsubscribe or change your options:
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> ** >
> ** >For assistance, contact:
> ** >listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
> ** >
> ** >
> ** >------------------------------
> ** >
> ** >Message: 4
> ** >Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 13:21:28 +0000
> ** > From: "Krunal Makwana" <krunalmakwana at hotmail.com>
> ** >Subject: RE: [Advaita-l] Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** >To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> ** >Message-ID: <BAY102-F2439270239549FBF41D918BE130 at phx.gbl>
> ** >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
> ** >
> ** >namo nArAyan
> ** >
> ** >Dear Santoshbhai,
> ** >
> ** >It is correct that by chanting a mantra incorrectly can lead to
> adverse
> ** >effects. This is why vedic suktams and etc were not available to
> anyone and
> ** >everyone. The verses were passed down from generation to generation
> from
> ** >GUrU to adhIkAri SISya. The knowldge of the Veda is and should be
> imparted
> ** >on the masses of people but at the same time to keep the authenticity
> of
> ** the
> ** >Vedas, the vedas have to be kept safe from people who try and abuse
> it. For
> ** >this reason Veda vyAsji mAhArAj gave the world the pUrAnas and ItIhAs
> for
> ** >everyone to read.
> ** >
> ** >If i am not mistaken while a pupil is learning sanskrit, he comes
> across
> ** >vedANga, the six limbs of the Vedas, namely:
> ** >
> ** >sikSa
> ** >vyAkarana
> ** >nirUkta
> ** >chhanda
> ** >kalpa
> ** >jyotiSa
> ** >
> ** >According to mundaka upaniSad these have to be studied by a student of
> ** >vedas. Even mistakes may take place not just on the pronunciation but
> also
> ** >on the beat of the mantras (chhanda) and etc which would still lead to
> an
> ** >adverse effect.
> ** >
> ** >All of the above have to be given high regard when chanting Vedic
> mantras
> ** >especially. I may be wrong here and the members may correct me, but
> once
> ** >when i was at an ashram and discussing vedic mantras' i was told that
> if
> ** the
> ** >pronunciation or other aspects of chanting were incorrect than you
> commit
> ** >the sin of killing a cow due to the mistake commited in chanting. I
> ** >personally have not found a citation of that but if the members could
> ** >enlightment me if that is correct or not.
> ** >
> ** >My opinion and i stress this is my opinions, is that if mistakes are
> made
> ** in
> ** >reading stotras, pUrAnas, ItIhAs or other smR^iti texts that is fine
> BUT
> ** >mistakes should not be made while chanting Vedic suktams or what have
> you.
> ** >
> ** >I hope this clarifies things for you, if i have said anything that
> goes
> ** >against the grain i hope the learned members will enlighten me as to
> where
> ** i
> ** >went wrong and shower the true meaning. After all, life is a big
> learning
> ** >process.
> ** >
> ** >Warm regards,
> ** >
> ** >Krunal
> ** >
> ** > >From: "Neelakanta, Nataraja" <nataraja.neelakanta at sap.com>
> ** > >Reply-To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
> ** > ><advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> ** > >To: "Santhosh Nair" <santhosh_twin at rediffmail.com>,"A discussion
> group
> ** for
> ** > >Advaita Vedanta" <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> ** > >Subject: RE: [Advaita-l] Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** > >Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 17:43:58 +0530
> ** > >
> ** > >Dear Mr Santhosh,
> ** > >
> ** > >Its true that wrong chanting of mantras will bring in adverse
> effects.
> ** > >Its definitely true with upadesha mantras that are to be done on a
> daily
> ** > >basis. Mantras from Samhita are also very powerful. One has to be
> very
> ** > >very cautious about chanting of mantras. Direction and timing do not
> ** > >matter. To cite an example, during the wish for birth of a person
> who
> ** > >can kill Indra (Vritrasura), mantra was incorrectly chanted. The
> meaning
> ** > >got changed to wish for birth of a person who can be killed by
> Indra.
> ** > >
> ** > >Be careful while chanting mantras, concentrate on swara, take your
> own
> ** > >time to do so. After a practice, one can chant without any issues.
> ** > >
> ** > >BR,
> ** > >nattu
> ** > >-----Original Message-----
> ** > >From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> ** > >[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org] On Behalf Of
> ** > >Santhosh Nair
> ** > >Sent: Tuesday, 24 January 2006 4:38 PM
> ** > >To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> ** > >Subject: [Advaita-l] Effects of incorrect Mantra Pronunciation
> ** > >
> ** > >Hi,
> ** > >I have a doubt about mantra recitiations. Some people say that if
> ** > >someone pronounces the words in a mantra incorrectly, it could bring
> ** > >adverse effects. Is this true? I used to chant mantras (Gayatri,
> ** > >Mahamrityunjaya, etc.) And I think I did this in an incorrect manner
> ** > >(including the position, diretion i faced, and the timing. If it has
> any
> ** > >ill-effects, is there somethiig I can do to correct it? Currently I
> ** > >chang only Vishnusahasranama and Narayaneeyam (3dasakas/day), at 7
> am.
> ** > >Please do let me know because now I am suffering from various
> physical
> ** > >problems.
> ** > >
> ** > >Thank you.
> ** > >_______________________________________________
> ** > >Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> ** > >
> ** > >To unsubscribe or change your options:
> ** > >http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> ** > >
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> ** > >listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
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> ** >
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> ** >
> ** >------------------------------
> ** >
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> ** >
> ** >End of Advaita-l Digest, Vol 33, Issue 23
> ** >*****************************************
> **
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