A Sacred Mantra
Aa Na Aim
Ee Ma Kleem
Wu Shi Sauh[2]
Ye Va Hreem
O Ya Shreem
Om Sri Agastheeshwara
Mahamuni Prabhuve Namaha.
The primordial sound, which is
the root of all mantras and sound itself is ‘Aum.’ This contains the syllables
‘Aa,’ ‘U’ (pronounced Wu) and ‘Ma.’ It signifies the seed from which everything
originates. It contains the very essence of creation, preservation, and
destruction!
There are several root sounds or
Bija[3] mantras that are
used in Sanskrit chanting. These Sanskrit syllables are used to chant and
invoke a specific frequency of sound that channels cosmic energy to our bodies.
This mantra is very special in
that it combines the two principles of creation itself! Two Bija mantras in
each line are drawn from the Shiva and Shakti principles from two already
powerful mantras.
One is the very famous and easy
Shiva Panchakshari Mantra. The other is the more secretive but powerful Maha
Shodasi Mantra.
The second letter in each line
from the top-down forms the Panchakshari Mantra. These are Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya.
These denote the five different elements of creation. The elements of air,
water, fire, earth, and ether are present in these syllables.
The Shodashi Mantra has the
syllables Aum, Shreem, Hreem, Kleem, Aim and Sauh. It was devotee Manoj
Srivastava who identified these Bija mantras as being derived from the Maha
Shodasi Mantra.
‘Agastya Panchakshari Maha Mantra[4] is a powerful
combination of both these potent mantras. It is as if the entire concept of
creation and its creating principles have been beautifully captured into the
‘Sri Agastya Panchakshari Maha Mantra’!
It not only contains the five
elements of creation, but these are encapsulated with the very primal forces of
creation itself! The Absolute and the Manifest. The Absolute and the Creative
principle!
Interestingly, the Shiva
Panchakshari Mantra follows the same order in the Sri Agastheeshwara
Panchakshari Mantra, namely Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya. However, the Bija mantras of
Divine Mother from the Maha Shodashi Mantra follow a different order. Here they
appear as Aim, Kleem, Sauh[5],
Hreem, and Shreem.
It is only as you understand the
power of each of these mantras and their placement in the Sri Agasteeshwara
Panchakshari Mantra, that you understand that Sage Agastya has created a vortex
of power and in addition, worked the very purpose of Vazhipaadu itself into it!
At the very basic level of
understanding, the different Bija or root mantras or sounds used in this
incantation seem to indicate the following:
Let us examine the meaning of each line so that when we
chant each line we are fully aware of why we are chanting those sacred lines. Remember,
the human body is the microcosm of the macrocosm. So everything that has
happened in the manifested universe is also in us. With this powerful mantra,
we are beginning to understand the entire process within our own self!
We will take up one chakra at a time.
MULADHARA OR BASE CHAKRA
Aa Na Aim
Aa is Absolute existence. Na is earth. Aim
represents the principle of divine wisdom.
At the Muladhara, we are acknowledging the Absolute
existence of the
manifested world with the syllable Aa, as manifested in the very
basic element of Earth through the letter Na. Chanting the syllable Aim
at the end, we are bowing to the principle of divine wisdom, Shakti or the
creative principle who brings this universe into being.
It is the plane of Ego consciousness. Ego is connected to
the manifested world. The very basic of the primeval elements. The presiding
deity of this Chakra is Ganesha. And this thought came by itself as I wrote all
this down. Later as I cross checked, I found out that it was correct. For
Ganesha signifies the individual Ego.
SVADISHTANA OR SACRAL CHAKRA
Ee Ma Kleem
Ee is relative existence. Ma is water. Kleem
is the beginning of the process of creation, love. It unites and bonds.
As we begin chanting this line with the syllable Ee,
we are acknowledging relative existence, as the very first awareness of the
‘ego’ as separate from the Absolute. It
is the Genesis if you will within the human body. Ma is that life giving
water that is found in the human body as the essence that can create new life through
the sexual organs, which are the organs corresponding to the Svadhishthana
Chakra.
With Kleem, we are becoming aware of the principle of
creative energy, Adhi Parashakati as she begins the process of creation
bringing this universe into being with the greatest of all expressions - love.
The presiding deity of this Chakra is the Ardhanaareshwara.
The male and female principles required to bring creation into being.
MANIPURA OR NAVEL CHAKRA
Wu Shi Sauh
Wu is pervasive or continued existence. Shi is
fire. Sauh[1]
represents final liberation.
This line signifies the Consciousness about the manifest in
the form of fire, the first primeval element.
As we begin to chant Wu, we acknowledge the continued
existence of the universe that has been brought into being by the divine mother,
through Shi the primeval element of fire and corresponds to the navel or
Manipura Chakra. As we chant Sauh, we understand the combining of the
principles of the Absolute and the Creative energy without which this universe
would not exist! Ultimately, it is when that latent power of Shakti or creative
principle at the base of the spine reaches the Absolute at the crown of the
head, that we go beyond this created world.
Sauh, is perhaps the most powerful of the five Bija
mantras in this particular composition, because scriptures are said to declare
that anyone who is able to explain the proper meaning of this Bija mantra is
known as Shiva himself. Scriptures state that such a person can attain
liberation without any rites! Now, we must remember at this juncture, that Sage
Agastya declared in Vazhipaadu, that those who follow his guidance as given in
Vazhipaadu, can attain liberation without initiation.
The deity of this Chakra is Saraswati[2]
who is the personification of knowledge. The individual ego
has taken form or birth and begins the process of experience and expression and
thus acquiring knowledge.
ANAHATA OR HEART CHAKRA
Ye Va Hreem
Ye is by whom. Va is air and corresponds to
the heart chakra. Hreem also corresponds to the heart chakra and stands
for illumination.
Hreem is associated with Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, Mother of
the universe. It is at this level that we begin to ascend to higher
consciousness.
VISHUDDHA OR THROAT CHAKRA
O Ya Shreem
O signifies Brahma. Ya is space or akasha and corresponds to
the throat or Vishuddha Chakra.
Shreem is that powerful syllable that is the seat of Goddess
Lakhsmi, the epitome of knowledge. This then becomes the first awakening of
higher consciousness. It is through her blessing that we can activate the Ajna
chakra as we ascend.
AJNA OR THIRD EYE
CHAKRA
The final line Aum Sri Agasteeshwara Maha Muni Prabhuve Namaha is an oblation to the great Sage Agastya, who is the knowledge himself! With this line we acknowledge that all that we have learnt so far, all the progress we have made are all because of his benevolence and blessings! This line reiterates that Ajna Chakra is the portal of wisdom. This is the seat of Muruga, the God of Knowledge and Agastya who is also the personification of Knowledge.
Sahasrara or Crown Chakra
From there, we now move to Sahasrara Chakra. At Sahasrara, we move on to divine
perception and we will practice going beyond even the act of chanting.
It is the plane of highest consciousness, of the very
Absolute. This is where the Ego finally loses its consciousness as ‘I’ as a
separate entity.
Here we become quiet. For, it is in absolute stillness, in
the area beyond all thought, action, that liberation lies. After staying there
as long as you can with one pointed focus, when you become conscious of your
awareness returning, chant Aum just once with your complete being. We end one
cycle of meditation at this chakra which represents the perception of Divine, Self-Realization.
[1] Sauh is found in the Maha Shodashi Mantra. One that understands
the essence of this mantra becomes competent for final liberation without any
sacrificial rights. It must be noted that it was earlier thought to be Suvah as
in Gayatri mantra. However, devotee Manoj Srivatsava pointed out that going by
the other powerful mantras of Kleem, Hreem, Shreem and Aim, which are part of
the Maha Shodashi Mantra, it is natural that this word is Sauh.
Interestingly, the very first line of
the Maha Shodashi Mantra contains all these five powerful bija mantras. Yet,
they are not in the order as given in this Sri Agastya Panchakshari Maha
Mantra. In the Maha Shodashi Mantra, the order of these mantras is Aum, Shreem,
Hrim, Klim, Aim, and Sauh.
[2] Different authors
have cited different deities for each Chakra. For our purpose, we will go with
the confidence that all divinity is one. What we consider each one, is the
corresponding power or blessing that we will receive.
While this is an attempt to explain the potency of the
mantra just based on the meaning of the corresponding Bija mantra, there are
layers of
meaning that Sage Agastya will reveal to those that practice this mantra with
devotion and faith.
[1] This mantra was given to Gajaraj Swamigal by Gnananda Swamiji of
Kannur. Gajaraj Swamigal would chant this along with devotees in all Satsang’s
and also give it to devotees who attended his lectures. After one such
occasion, Sage Agastya who was giving a discourse through Gajaraj Swamigal
referred to the mantra given by Gajaraj Swamigal and said, “This mantra will
prevail as a sacred mantra.”
[2] This is spelled as
Sauh in some instances and Souh in others. I have adapted Sauh as prominently
found in many texts.
[3] Bija mantra is a seed
mantra that is comprised of three little words. It signifies the seed from
which everything originates. Bija mantras are Om, kreem (power, wisdom, and
strength), Shreem(wealth), hroum (peace, liberation), kleem (not chanted alone,
(happiness and good fortune), hreem (destroys enemies and sorrow), gam
(fulfills all wishes), dam (attainment of happiness), ayeim (success in
intellectual tasks).
[4] This name was given
to this mantra by Venkatesh Kiran, a highly developed devotee of Sage Agastya
who was fortunate to be blessed with the potent Dattatreya rudraksha by Gajaraj
Swamigal. He also explains that this mantra is similar to ‘Om Aim, Hreem, Shreem,
Kleem, Chamundaya Vicchay’ Mantra.
[5] Explanations of these
bija mantras from the Maha Shodashi Mantra are taken from the beautiful
explanation given on the website. Please do read this great article to
understand this mantra in depth.
https://www.manblunder.com/articlesview/maha-shodashi-mantra-explained.
[6] Sauh is found in the
Maha Shodashi Mantra. One that understands the essence of this mantra becomes
competent for final liberation without any sacrificial rights. It must be noted
that it was earlier thought to be Suvah as in Gayatri mantra. However, devotee
Manoj Kumar pointed out that going by the other powerful mantras of Kleem,
Hreem, Shreem and Aim, which are part of the Maha Shodashi Mantra, it is
natural that this word is Sauh.
Interestingly, the very first line of the Maha
Shodashi Mantra contains all these five powerful bija mantras. Yet, they are
not in the order as given in this Sri Agastya Panchakshari Maha Mantra. In the
Maha Shodashi Mantra, the order of these mantras is Aum, Shreem, Hrim, Klim,
Aim, and Sauh.
[7] It becomes very
important not to confuse the activation of the chakras by these mantras to the
actual sound of the chakras that are widely known and accepted. The sound of
each chakra is denoted as follows: Lam for Mooladhara, Vam for Svadhisthana,
Ram for Manipura, Yam for Anahata, Ham for Vishudha and Aum for both Ajna and
Sahasrara chakras.
[8] Sthana: Place of the
Guru.
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