BRAHM MANTRA DHYANAM (MEDITATION)

The simple and easily available means for going nearer and nearer to the supreme soul is remembrance of His name. IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE NAME THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT AND CONTINUOUS CONNECTION WITH THE SUPREME SOUL. And that is why, in The ‘Bhagvad Gita’, Japa-Yagna has been said to be the highest amongst all types of Yagnas.

[Chapter-X = God is the source of all; to know Him it to know all.

Shloka 25 ;- YAGNANAM JAPAYAGNOSMI.

Translated by Shri S.Radhakrishan:- Of utterances, I am the single syllable AUM.]

From ancient to present times, many saints and devotees have attained the Supreme Soul with the help of Japa (utterance) of the Name of the Supreme Soul. And that is why, in the Path of Bhakti (devotion), the majesty and dignity of this practice has occupied a paramount position for all times to come. Based upon His own experience, Rev. Prabhushree has through out His life, laid emphasis upon the continuity of this means. In His own residence, at many locations, the words Japah, Japah are seen to have been painted. He used to wish that any work whatsoever should be done while performing Japa. An auspicious work should without fail be done while performing Japa. IN MOMENTS OF LEISURE, IF HE FOUND ANY ONE INDULGING IN LOOSE TALKS THEN WE WOULD PUT A STOP TO IT WITH DUE ADMONISH AND SUGGEST TO PERFORM JAPA.

JAPA IS THE MEANS OF CREATIVE ADHYATMIKTA (spiritualism). Out of the five means as shown by Rev. Prabhushree, the one of Japa-Smaran (Japa- Remembrance) leads one to a higher and higher level of Adhyatmikta. If Japa is performed while simultaneously observing Great Vows (Satya, Non-Violence, Brahmcharya) to the perfection, then self-development takes place speedily. It is written in the “Shri Rammpanishad that by repeatedly uttering the name ‘Rama’ ninety-six crore times (Ten millions, one hundred lakhs i.e. 96,00,00,000 times) all the ‘Karmas’ of the man are washed out and he assumes the form of Lord Shri Rama”. Bhakta (devotee) Shri Tyagaraj had, by performing Japa in this way, had attained the Supreme Lord. However, Prabhushree had explained that Japa of this Brahm-Mantra consisting of eight words ‘AUM HRIM RAM, JAYA RAMA, JAYA JAYA RAMA’ 12 crore times is equivalent to 96 crores.

In the normal course, performing Japa as shown above takes 22 ½ years. However, AS THE QUANTUM OF JAPA INCREASES, THE MECHANISM BECOMES NATURAL BY AND BY. AND SO ROUTINE SPEED AND QUANTUM OF TIME IN THE JAPA INCREASES. As a result of which, it is possible to attain the Supreme Soul in lesser number of years. An example of this, we can find it in the life of Shri Narayan Swami residing at the Badrinath in the Himalayas. This saint who had lived just before a few years, had attained the Supreme Lord only by means of the performance of Japa within a period of three years, six months and twenty-four days. Shri Vishnu Bhagawan Himself had appeared before him and given ‘Darshan’ to the saint with his eyes open. The reason for this was that quantity of Japa performed daily had continued to increase with passage of time and at a later period of time he used to perform JAPA for twenty-two hours and slept only for two hours. He did not possess any knowledge of ‘Yoga’ or ‘Dhyan’ (meditation). This great saint who can be a source of inspiration to the people has advised everyone to perform 51 rounds of rosary (of 108 beads). Prabhushree had also met this great saint.

Prabhushree had expounded that it is most necessary for the people to become oriented towards the Supreme Soul, which is possible by constant remembrance of the Holy Name. CONSTANT REMEMBRANCE OF THE HOLY NAME IS THE MASTER KEY OF ADHYATMIKTA (Spirituality). By going on performing ‘Japa’, a vast banyan tree of ‘Adhyatmikata’ (Spirituality) gets developed in an individual . As by sowing a seed of a banyan tree, it develops into a majestic banyan tree and such a tree gives shelter to innumerable living beings, exactly in the same manner, through performance of ‘Japa” such an individual is able to do welfare of innumerable living beings of the entire living organism.

CONSCIOUSNESS GETS PURIFIED THROUGH JAPA’. UNBROKEN-ROUND-THE-CLOCK ‘JAPA’ IS A SPECIAL KIND OF ‘TAPA’ (penance). Mere remembrance of the Supreme Soul does not increase ‘Tapa’, but through Japa (chanting) of the Holy Name ‘Tapa’ goes on increasing by and by. Thorough ‘Tapa’, the dark (evil or sinister) coverings of the heart and mind go on getting removed and as a result in the completely purified heart, the light of the Supreme Soul can be experienced in a natural course. Prabhushree has considered Japa (chanting) one type of a Yogic procedure. Japa generates into constant Pranayam. A kind of wonderful internal change takes place in such a way that the performer of Japa even does not realize it. The amount of stupendous effort undertaken by the Yogic (Ascetics) in awaking the power of Kundalini, gets awakened in a natural way through Japa in due course of time. That is why Prabhushree had told that, IN ORDER TO RETAIN A HIGH LEVEL IN ADHYATMIK LIFE, ALONG WITH GNAN (knowledge), YOGA IS ALSO NECESSARY, WHOSE SIMPLE MEANS IS CONSTANT JAPA OF THE HOLY NAME.

There is a kind of ‘Shakti’ (power) in Japa which ACTS LIKE A SHIELD AGAINST AND DISTURBANCE CAUSED BY FORCES OF MAYA. Constant remembrance of the Holy Name purifies the consciousness, as a consequence of which ‘Chaitanya Shakti’ of the Supreme Soul manifests in the heart and so the all-round natural protection of the individual from the magic obstructions always continues to take place.

The kinds of ‘Japa’ and rules framed about them are many. It is necessary to follow them in ‘Anushthan’ (commencement of ‘Japa’ as an undertaking) or in the ‘Nitya-Niyam’ (practice of daily routine of fixed rules). However, FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE FOR THE SUPREME SOUL, IN THE DESIRELESS BHAKTI (DEVOTION) JAPA OF ‘HOLY NAME’ CAN BE DONE UNIVERSALLY AT ANY TIME AND AT ANY PLACE. Further, there is no necessity in ‘Japa’ of some specialized knowledge. Illiterate or educated person can perform ‘Japa’. One of the means for performing ‘Japa’ is a rosary which is called ‘Smarani’ (memorabilia). Many saints go on rotating rosaries in their hands, the reason for which is the aim of continuing the performance of ‘Japa’ of the ‘Holy Name’. As when the quantum of ‘Japa’ increases, there is automatic release from rosary and the state of ‘Ajapa-japa’ is in a natural way attained in due course of time.

It is also necessary to know the difference between ‘Japa’ of ‘Holy Name’ and ‘Mantra-Japa’. Japa of ‘Holy Name’ means ‘Japa’ of any Name of the Supreme Soul or its remembrance, whereas ‘Japa of Mantra’ means Japa of ‘Siddha Mantra’ of any form of the Supreme soul. The Japas by which high souls in the past had attained the Supreme Soul have become ‘Siddha Mantras’. In such A ‘Brahm MANTRA’, THERE RESIDES A CONSCIOUS POWER and such a power becomes most helpful in attainment of the Supreme Soul. Adhyatmik (spiritual) development takes place very speedily. A few seekers of truth get a Mantra’ directly either from the Supreme Soul or through a ‘Sad-Guru’. And by obtaining such a ‘Mantra’ attainment of the Supreme Soul can be speedily achieved. In short, it is to be said that the ‘Mantra – Japa’ is greater than the ‘Japa’ of the ‘Holy Name’.

In the five main principal means as shown by Rev. Prabhushree, the words used in them exist in the form of elemental sentiments. Taking them as a supporting base, a principle or a path of means and the knowledge in harmony with the same gets established. For example, the essence of compassion establishes the principle of non-violence. The word ‘Pavitryam’ (purity) establishes the principle of ‘Bhrahmacharyatmak Purity’. In the same manner, the ‘Brahm-Mantra Dhayan’ shows the importance of the means of Japa. The meaning of ‘Dhyan’ is contemplation – concentration and that is possible only through ‘Japa’. With the help of Akhand-Japa of the ‘Brahm-Mantra’ it is possible to remain in contemplation of ‘Brahm’. And that is why, Prabhushree has laid a very great emphasis upon ‘Japa’ of ‘Brahm-Mantra’ and ‘Dhun’.