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The
purpose of mantras is to protect the mind. "Manas"
means the mind and "Tra" means to protect. From
our minds our world (and our karma) is created. To uncreate
negative thought patterns it's very helpful to practice reciting
mantras. Just like types of music changes our mood and our
thoughts, mantras do the same, perhaps more directly and powerfully.
The use of mantras, like the practice of yoga, is one of many
gifts of India that have made its way into the West.
In the article on 11/03/05
I shared a story that K.N. Rao writes about in his excellent
book, Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time, that
demonstrates the amazing power of reciting mantras for a specific
time period. This story involves the hymn called the Rama
Raksha Stotra that has been praised by famous astrologers
in India as a remedial measure. Spiritual practices of any
tradition will have value as a remedial measure, it doesn't
need to be from the Hindu tradition. Here is the translation
of that mantra with links to an audio version, Sanskrit version,
and English transliterated version.
Thus
begins the hymn of Lord Ram for protection
OM,
Salutations to Lord Ganesh.
(Note
- Every mantra has a deity, shakti and central point in addition
to its author, meter and type of usage.)
The
author of this hymn is Buddhakaushika. The deity is Sri Sita-Ramachandra.
The metre is anushtup. The power is Sita, central point is
Hanuman, and the usage is recitation.
Thus
begins the dhyana (meditation) of this mantra. One should
meditate on Rama who has arms reaching his knees, who is holding
a bow and arrow, who is seated in a lotus position, who is
wearing yellow clothes, whose eyes compete with petals of
a fresh lotus, who looks satisfied, whose eyes are fixed on
the lotus-like face of Sita sitting in his left lap, whose
color is like that of rain cloud, who has adorned different
jewelery, who is wearing hair reaching up to his thighs.
The
life story of Sri Rama has a vast expanse and each and every
letter of it is capable of destroying even the greatest sins
of mankind.
Let
us meditate on the lotus-eyed, dark-complexioned Rama who
is well-adorned with a crown of hair and has Sita and Lakshmana
by his side.
Let
us meditate on Rama who has a sword in a receptacle and bow
and arrows, who destroyed the demons, who is not born but
is incarnated to protect the world with his actions.
May
the learned read the Rama Raksha Stotram, which destroys
all sins and grants all desires.
(Begin
listing details of the body to be protected)
May Rama who is Raghu's descendant protect my head. May Rama
who is Dasharatha's son protect my forehead.
May
the lord Rama who is Kausalya's son, protect my eyes. May
Rama who is the favorite of Vishvamitra protect my ears. May
Rama who is the savior of yagya protect my nose. May Rama
who is affectionate to Lakshmana protect my mouth. May the
Rama who is a sea of knowledge protect my tongue. May Rama
who is saluted by Bharata protect my neck. May Rama who holds
divine weapons protect my two shoulders. May Rama who broke
Shiva's bow protect my two upper arms.
May
the Rama who is the husband of Sita protect my two hands.
May Rama who conquered Parashurama protect my heart.
May Rama who killed the rakshasa named Khara protect my abdomen.
May Rama who gave refuge to Jambavad protect my navel.
May
Rama who is master of SugrIva protect my waist. May Rama who
is master of Hanuman protect my two hips. May Rama who is
the best of Raghus and who destroyed the lineage of Rakshasas
(demons) protect my two thighs.
May
Rama who built the bridge protect my two knees. May Rama who
killed the ten faced demons protect my two shins. May Rama
who gave wealth to Vibhishan protect my two feet. Thus may
Rama protect my entire body.
May
the good man who reads this 'stotra', which has all the power
of Rama, be blessed with long life, happiness, children, success
and humility.
No
one who is wandering below the earth or on the earth or above
the earth or those who wander surreptitiously changing their
forms, will even be able to see the man protected by the name
of Rama, let alone bring any harm to him.
No
sin can attach to the man who singeth the praise of the lord
and he will prosper in this world and get salvation.
One
who wears this mantra of Rama Nama (the name of Rama) around
his neck will have all powers at his beck and call.
He
who wears this armour called vajrapanjara will be unscathed
and will win victory everywhere.
Buddhakaushika
was commanded in his dream by Lord Shiva to compose this hymn,
and he did so as soon as he awoke in the morning.
Rama,
who grants all desires, removes all obstacles and is the praise
of all three worlds is our 'Lord' indeed.
May
the two brothers ever protect us, who are young, handsome,
lotus-eyed and bark and deer-skin dressed.
May
these two sons of Dasharatha, the two scions of Raghu, the
brothers Rama and Lakshmana, the ones who are subsisting on
roots and fruits and practicing penance and celibacy, protect
us. May they who are the foremost among the archers, the destroyers
of the demons and the refuge of all beings, protect us.
Rama and Lakshmana, their bows pulled and ready, their hands
on the arrows packed in ever full quivers carried on their
backs, may they always escort me in my path, for my protection.
Ever
prepared and armed with sword, shield, bows and arrows and
followed by Lakshmana, Rama is like our cherished thoughts
come to life. May he, along with Lakshman, protect us.
Rama,
the scion of Raghu and the son of Dasaratha and Kausalya,
and ever accompanied by Lakshmana, is all powerful and is
the perfect man.
Rama
is perceived through Vedanta. He is lord of all yagya, ancient
and the best man, beloved of Janaki, whose bravery is immeasurable.
Lord
Shiva says, "my devotee who recites these names of Rama
with faith, will attain more religious merit than one obtainable
by other sacrifices. There is no doubt about it."
Those
who sing the praise of Rama, who is lotus-eyed, dark-complexioned
and dressed in yellow clothes, through this hymn are no longer
ordinary men trapped in the world. They become liberated.
I
salute that Rama who is handsome, the elder brother of Lakshmana,
the husband of Sita and the best of the scions of the Raghu
race, who is the ocean of compassion, the stockpile of virtues,
the beloved of the Brahmans, the protector of Dharma, who
practises the Truth, the Lord emperor of kings, the son of
Dasaratha, dark-complexioned, the personification of Peace
and tranquillity, the enemy of Ravana, the crown jewel of
the Raghu dynasty and the cynosure (north star) of all eyes.
I
salute that Rama who is benevolent and cool as the Moon, and
who is the lord of Sita and the master guardian of all.
I
surrender to that Rama who is the delight of the Raghus, elder
brother of Bharata and the tormentor of his enemies in the
war.
I
remember the two feet of Rama in my mind, I praise them by
my speech, I bow to them with my head, I take resort in them!
Rama
is like my mother, father, master and friend, indeed the kind-hearted
Rama is all I have. I know of no other like him, I really
don't!
I
salute that Rama who has Lakshmana on his right and Sita on
the left and who has Hanuman in his front.
I
take refuge in that Rama who is quite pleasing to the sight,
the master of the stage of war, lotus-eyed, lord of the Raghu
race and compassion-personified.
I
take refuge in the Lord Hanuman who is as fast as the mind,
equals his father, the wind-God, in speed, is the master of
the senses, the foremost amongst the learned, the leader of
the Monkey forces and the great messenger of Sri Rama.
I
salute the great sage Valmiki who sings the glorious name
of Rama resorting to his Ramayana as sweetly as a cuckoo will
sing sitting atop a tree.
I
bow again and again to Rama who removes all obstacles and
grants all wealth and pleases all.
The
roar of the name of Rama is the destruction of the cause of
rebirth (hence the cause of liberation), generates wealth
and scares Yama's (death's) messengers.
I
worship Rama, the jewel among the kings, through whom the
hordes of demons have been destroyed. Beyond Him there is
nothing to be worshipped. I am His servant, my mind is totally
absorbed in Him. O Rama, please lift me up. This verse gives
all the seven declensions of the singular word Rama and gives
one way of remembering them!
O
fair-faced Parvati! I enjoy saying Rama Rama. Uttering but
once the name of 'Rama' is equal to the uttering of any other
name of God, a thousand times.
Copyright
2005. All Rights Reserved.
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