Why Spirituality?

Why Spirituality?

This is an important question that one should ask himself before want to pursue the path of Spirituality. The path of spirituality is different from path of rituals that are followed as spirituality now. So it is necessary for us to be clear as to why we want to pursue in the path of Spirituality

The nature of the human mind is that it always wants something or the other; because of this we undergo a series of emotions which is a never ending cycle of happiness and suffering. When a person realizes this truth and wants to transcend beyond this then his true spiritual journey begins.

Most of us are stuck at the level of Material happiness and reluctantly accept the suffering which comes along with it. We assume that all the happiness in the world can be acquired through money or material happiness is the primary source of happiness. We feel that outside objects around us is the source of happiness and try to accumulate more of it, but once you acquire what you want, there is an urge to acquire more and more. This becomes a never ending process and hence we fall in the trap of suffering.

The above point is important to understand as this realization is the stepping stone to spiritual progress. Only when we understand that outside objects is not the source of your happiness but rather is a tool to secure the body and its life for future contingencies. You will come to a profound understanding that happiness is not outside. Happiness is derived from within. The moment we understand money, objects and everything around us does not affect the way we feel about our self. We start the process of transcending this apparent material world.

Then at this crucial part of our life we try to find the answer for how we can experience true happiness and how to get over this cycle of suffering. At this stage we try to understand why am I suffering? This enquiry leads to the understanding mentioned above that attachment to material objects are the cause for suffering. Then next there is a void in our life as throughout our life we were behind money and objects and now we have now left the same. Then our mind works over time to go against the will and makes us to run behind objects again, but with will power we bring a control over our attachments. At this stage we give up objects and start having control over desires, and then we question ourselves what is the purpose of our life? Because throughout our life we were behind objects assuming that it’s the source of our happiness now that idea itself has crashed in our mind.

This is the stage where true transformation starts happening with the help of a Guru, were we start understanding the nature of our existence (because we have let go of objects and external world so only option left now is to turn inward and understand the nature of our existence). Once the renunciation of the material world beings (metaphorically as we still exist on earth only mental transformation happens) the questions like what is this life? What is the nature of the life? What is the purpose of the life? And most importantly who am I? Are the questions, that arise in the mind of the seeker. This is where he steps into spiritual path and he starts letting go of his attachment towards material world and starts understanding life by learning from a Guru, studying scripture and performing sadhana.

The spiritual seeks now learns the reason for his unhappiness and realizes that mind and ego are the source of all suffering, mind and ego gives rise to desire which is the cause of all the suffering. Then with meditation and learning from the teachings of the scriptures the apparent problems that he is facing would be of no consequence for him as he would just see all problems as the ones created by the mind, and he is not the mind or the ego but the observers of the both. At this stage he starts differentiating between himself and what is not he; through enquiry he will understand that he is not the body, prana, mind, false knowledge that he is the body and mind or the bliss arising from material object. He realizes that these are the objects of the experience and he is the observer of these. At this stage he finds true and everlasting happiness. Further he will realize that this observer which is the source of all objects is not restricted to himself but pervades everywhere as consciousness. This the ultimate stage where he realizes all is one and merges with the supreme consciousness. Getting away from the suffering permanently transcending Maya.

Note realization is not something which he creates or something that one searches for, this truth already exists but he realizes it now. At this stage realization happens and the apparent world becomes a maya for that being

Maya – The Grand Illusion

Maya – The Grand Illusion

If you go an elderly person ask what is life? They will just say that life is just a farce, they will say that things happen and we can control few and most of the other things are out of our control. We just ride the wave of what is happening to us with little or no control.

Though we feel that we have control on what we are doing or deciding, this control is conditioned by our surrounding, the way we are brought up and the habits/tendencies that we have acquired. It is these factors which have very high influence on our life which takes away our freedom and act based on the limitations that we are put into.

So these limitations that we are put into is nothing but Maya, to be precise the joy, sorrow, money, planets, talk, thought are all considered as Maya in Advaita Vedanta. To put in simple terms anything that can felt, seen, felt, understood or perceived is Maya. All that is physical is Maya.

Now this point creates lot of disturbance to people who are engaged in this world thoroughly and have difficult time agree with this point.

So why the yogi’s of the past and present say that the world and all the apparent things around is Maya, in fact Krishna say’s that world appears out of his Yoga Maya, or it arises from his yogic powers. This gives us a hint now that Maya is the power of the Brahman. This power arises out of Brahman and goes back into it. Meaning the apparent world arises out of Nirguna Brahman and goes back into the same, so one thing that remains always is Brahman and what comes and goes as a world is just nothing but a wave in the ocean of Brahman.

Now let us dwell more into this, the point here is that there is an underlying string which is the cause of all and this underlying factor gives rise to all that is. Now when there is something which is the source for the apparent world then how can the world be true existence? Its existence is completely dependent on Brahman. So now point becomes clear that world is a manifestation of Brahman.

Now people will come up with an argument that, the world is a manifestation of the God and hence there is God and from the God this world has come into being this existence and hence this existence is true as it is a manifestation from the Lord.

But Advaita goes even further to say that the world does not exist at all this world is just an appearance in the consciousness of the Brahman. This is where things get tricky. How and why do they say that this world does not exist at all?

It’s like this when a man dresses up like a women , the perceiving eye gets confused and misidentifies man to a women. Now we know that he is a man but his outer covering and dressing is making him to look like a woman but reality he is not. So man in this case is the absolute truth and looking like women is the Maya. The Man here has transformed himself to a women even though this has deceived others. Does it change the fact that he is man? No absolutely not.

Similarly the consciousness projects itself upon itself this world and assumes itself as this limited world, but this is wrong as it’s true nature is the absolute (Brahman) and the world is the projection in its consciousness. So for example if a person imagines himself to have four hands and now if he gets confused between reality and imagination and considers himself to have four hands. Does it change the fact that he has four hands? Absolutely not, so it is his mental projection (A mental image viewed as reality) which is giving raise such delusion.

This way it is quite clear that the apparent world and us are nothing but the projections in the Consciousness. It’s like we are in a child’s game where one day he build a castle and the next movement breaks it apart, similarly we are born in this projection (appear in the consciousness) and die in the same, but in reality there is no birth or death as everything is one reality i.e. Brahman. We have just put on this dress of body and discard it which is of no relevance to us as there is just Brahman.

Teaching through Silence

Teaching through Silence

In spiritual to learn and realize the ultimate truth we have to acquire the spiritual knowledge and without acquiring the spiritual knowledge progressing forward in this path is difficult as following some meditation or rituals would be mostly mechanical in nature and you would not know what’s next. Hence acquiring knowledge becomes important.

Here it does not mean that we should no practice but we have to have an understanding of what we are doing and know what is it that we are trying to achieve without which the practice becomes incomplete. In-fact a person needs to follow all the paths together to proceed successfully in spiritual life.

Meaning he has to acquire and understand spiritual knowledge (jnana yoga), second he should have the love towards the divine, practice Karma yoga (giving up the desire of outcome of an activity) and practice Raja yoga (meditation and associated techniques). When a person practices all these things together he will have the realization of the divine. People may say that each path can be independently followed for realization, but in practical life it is very difficult to do this. A homogeneous amalgamation of all the paths will always help the aspirant to move quicker.

So we will discuss about Jnana yoga. He the prime importance is given to acquire knowledge about the absolute and practice the same in our day to day life. What is the knowledge that we have to acquire here is question that comes to us first?

The teachings of the Upanishads are very clear and it says that “all is one”, meaning the entire existence and non-existence is nothing but Brahman and this is in the form is in the form of Absolute existence, absolute consciousness and absolute bliss. Further it says that the apparent universe is false and there is but only one reality that is Brahman and you the atman within is none other than Brahman.

To understand this, a person starts his spiritual journey to acquire the spiritual knowledge but learning from the books has its own disadvantages as everything is not clear and there is all possible chance of misunderstanding the scripture which is more dangerous than ignorance.

Hence next what a person does is that he goes and approaches a Guru to impart him with the knowledge of the self, based on the spiritual level of the student a self-realized Guru imparts the knowledge of the self by advising him to read and understand Vendantic scriptures and Upanishads. He explains the knowledge to the student and advice's him to contemplate on the teachings and come back for any questions.

If the student is of a higher caliber then the Guru advises the student to directly follow meditation and helps him to achieve the stillness required for realization. At this stage the Guru and Student communication at mental plane or to put it simply, the intention of the Guru is understood by the student without much verbal communication.

Again if the student is highest caliber the mere Silence of the Guru is enough for the student to understand that nature of the self is revealed is only in Silence and this silence is nothing but Brahman. 

The Silence of the Guru will always tell the student to still himself and understand that all these things that are happening around is nothing but Maya, i.e., the projection of the Self. The silence emphasizes that all that is happening around, the apparent world and the teachings of the Vedanta are Maya itself and the Silence beyond this is the absolute, i.e. Brahman. The best way to represent God is through silence as only when there is stillness there is realization.

When a Guru is uses his silence to teach it would mean that he expects the student to be still , all these actions around happens out of this silence and hence he says us to find that silence which is the Brahman and source of all.

Hence it is for this reason teaching through silence is regarded as the best way of the all.

The Supreme OM

The Supreme OM

If we start reading any Upanishad the one unifying topic that it touches upon is that of Supremacy of OM. In the 8 chapter of taittiriya Upanishad the importance of is explained as below.

To begin with Om is a three syllabled with A, U, M and is symbolically represented as OM.

“OM is Brahman, all is OM”, this means that OM is nothing but the representation of Brahman and it encompasses all sounds, it is both Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman. When one chants OM it means that he starts to learn about Brahman and any teachings starts with OM with the intention of “May I obtain Brahman” and by chanting the same leads to reaching the same. Any ritual starts with OM and any chanting should also begin with OM (meaning any mantra should start with OM and if the mantra does not start with Om, we have to add it)

In Mandukya upanishad Om represents as the Past, Present or Future, all these happen within Om as it is Brahman, and anything beyond past/present/future is also be Om. Om is the first sound to arise when the universe was created (Vedic Idea of creation – read Spandakarika).

Further the atman within is Om (manifestation via sound), the symbol Om, consists of three letters A, U and M which represents the three state of living, i.e Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep. Hence it is for this reason Om should be meditated upon as Brahman (Atman) to achieve the same.

The letter A in Om represents everything that exists and this letter is included in every sound uttered. It marks the start of the language. This is the letter to achieve whatever one desires. (The word used is Vaisvanara or the waking stage characterized by the individual gross body or sthula-sarira in the upanishad)

The second letter U represents the Dreaming state and U is superior to A. It is the link between the Waking and Deep Sleep state and acts as an intermediary state (Taijasa is the term used - Taijasa or the dream consciousness which has the subtle body or suksma-sarira as its object)

Finally M is the deep sleep state of a person (prajna is the word used in the book, prajna means the state of deep sleep, the Atman, limited by Prana, the vital breath, is called Prajna.)

The state of existence beyond these three is called as Turya (4^th state) where the atman shines and the Atman becomes aware of itself is the state of supreme consciousness is nothing but OM. At this state the mind is inactive and there are no thoughts at all, this leads to a state of pure awareness where the consciousness becomes aware itself and understands the falsity of illusion of this Mind and body. This state of being as I’m told cannot be explained but only experienced.

Based on the above we can easily say that one who meditates on Om verily realizes Brahman. There is no need to chant any other mantra or do any rituals. Just meditating Om will give as everything as it is both Saguna and Nirguna Brahman

Who is the Doer - Why God's will is the only truth

We often wonder why elders say that they are not the doer of anything but God makes them to do all the things. They are in-fact trying to convey the meaning that we are just an agent for God’s will and some go to the extent of saying that everything is God’s will and there is no individual will, meaning everything is happening because of his will and there is nothing other than God’s will. This sort of behavior always seems strange to people like us, for us the point that keeps running in the mind is that how can one say that God is making us to do these things when we are actually aware of what we are doing at a particular point of time, in-fact we become aware of the choices that we make and proceed with life.

It’s like this I’m aware that I’m now writing this article, so how can one say that it is the God’s will that is making me to write this? In-short this leads to a subtler meaning that it is God who is doing this activity and there is no existence other than God, the individual body that this mind is identifying with does not exist really/impermanent (Maya) and all is one and the same i.e. Brahman/God.

The above statement when uttered in front of a layman will appear to him as if the person who is talking like this is mad. Moreover an important question will come up that if everything is God’s will then what is happening here, what are we seeing here in this world? , what is this experience etc.

Let us try understanding one point at a time. The substratum of this existence is God/Brahman/It, we can call it God or anything, and the name does not matter. So anyone when starts finding the source of their creation/existence or of the world it will lead to a common denominator (this is what the modern science is trying find now, to find a common substratum of all – though it is not advisable to compare science with spirituality), which is the source of all and there is no source to it. In Vedanta we denote this as Brahman. That’s why when describing Brahman it is said to be biggest of the biggest and smallest of the small, it cannot be touched, felt or seen, and it is neither existent nor nonexistent and so on. The point that is being conveyed here is that the source of all is something which is indiscernible and from this the apparent world has come into being, this world which may exist for a very long time, and is not permanent as it has to go back to the source and dissolve itself in it. When everything comes out of this source and exists with the support of this and finally mergers back into this, how can we actually say that we are independent of this source/God. Meaning the most direct way of knowing that God exists is just looking at our-self as we cannot exist if there was no God/source of all. Given the above understanding how can one say now that he is the doer of everything, where we actually know that all that exists is only God and nothing other than the God.

Now second question that comes up is that of the awareness of doing the activity and taking decision. Meaning I know that I’m writing this article now, so what is making me to think that God is not doing the activity but it is me (Ego) who is doing this work then?

So let us try to understand what is happening here, when we start to enquire who we are first we will feel that we are the body, but body is useless as it is active only when the mind works (some instructions are given to it) and it is the mind which makes the body do everything and it does not exist in dream/deep sleep. So with this we understand that we are the mind now. But when we are in deep sleep the mind is inactive and yet we exist, so it will lead to a question, who are we? As we can now understand that there is an existence without body and mind which can exist in spite of the mind and body but the former cannot exist without it (God/Source). So now when the enquiry becomes complete we understand who we are, meaning we are God who is encased in this body and mind complex (which is created by God). Then what makes us to identify ourselves different to God? The answer is the mind, the mind which is outgoing in nature looks out side and forgets (ignorance) its source and starts identifying itself with the external creation, thereby creating a false identification in the form of Ego. But when this ignorance of false identification is removed by self-enquiry of who we are, Ego dissolves and mind realizes (in no-mind state) that it is just a creation of the source and it will finally merge back to it eventually. So now based on the above we can understand that we are not the doer of the activity but it is the Self/God within which is the source of all actions and it is due to our ignorance and mind/Ego we forget this truth. Forgetting the truth does not negate the fact that God’s will is supreme and there is no individual will.

But in practical life due to the presence of mind and its mis-identification we have some amount of freewill to lead our life (due to divine grace), the actions performed by wrongly identifying our-self with Ego and not God, leads to action and reaction (law of causation/karma). So it becomes very important that one should not identify our-self with mind/ego and identify with the lord within as this will not give rise to the law of causation. This can happen only when a person loves and surrenders to the God within. The only thing that is needed is that all our freewill and thought should be focused internally to first understand who we are (we are God at the subtlest level/consciousness level which uses this body and mind) and once we have acquired this knowledge then stop falsely identifying with mind/Ego (The source of these is the Self). For a realized person freewill does not exist and it is only the God’s will that exists

Based on this we can understand clearly that we are not the doer and it is due to Ego that this differentiation arises and hence this is the reason we say God’s will is the only truth.

  

Importance and Limitations of Rituals

Importance and Limitations of Rituals

In this present scenario spirituality is identified with Religiousness and because of this there is lot of confusions in the minds of the people where they are subjected to thousands of rituals in the name of Spirituality/Religion. People are now wasting their time, money and moreover faith on God due to such misconceptions about basic difference between Spirituality and Religiousness.

To put it in simple terms Religiousness acts as a foundation for a person who wants to pursue spiritual path in life. It’s like this we cannot directly go to graduation without finishing our schooling, similarly being religious and following rituals are like schooling and as the person proceeds further he will discard all these rituals and become Spiritual. Further a religious person usually ends up with spiritual life but a Spiritual is not religious/ ritualistic.

Religious process basically focuses on rituals, prayers and certain sacrifices (homa) etc, which are basically a tool to bring his restless mind at peace and to develop disciple. Moreover these practices are generally practiced for material benefits than spiritual benefit. On the other hand rituals lay a strong foundation for a spiritual life as it develops devotion in the mind of a person.

If we keenly observe the rituals that are being followed, you can see that each of them have certain benefits, so let us take some example below

Let us start with a basic ritual like fasting that is followed by many of us, this when we correlate with yoga, it follows the principles of Niyama (virtuous habits, behaviors and observances) and Yamas (Moral living). What are we trying to do in this ritual is that we are trying to take charge over the body and mind urges and there by try to control our mind, also at this time your thoughts are filled with thoughts of divine (as during fasting you are supposed think about the divine), the benefit of this is that you are taking charge of you mind and body by enforcing control over. You will realize that you are no longer a slave to your urges which have disastrous consequences. Again limitation is that only by fasting you cannot become spiritual and more over you should not punish your body by overdoing it. Fasting will not give you the required knowledge that you need for progressing further. But in the current world people are propagating false information’s saying that you fast on a Saturday and your problems will go away.

Another example for a ritual that we can take is for pujas/homas (Idol worship, daily prayers, homas etc). This method is a double edged sword as most of the people get stuck here and never go beyond this point in their life time. Though there is benefit by this method. This is not the final stage. It is this system that has become popular now and wrongly being projected as the ultimate solution to all problems of life. People are cheating others by charging exorbitant amount for these rituals by providing false promises to people saying all their problems will go away if one performs a particular homa or puja. They charge lakhs of rupees and have made situations worse than good for most. What we need to understand is that if a person is destined to suffer something in this life (prarabdha karma) he is bound to suffer/enjoy it. No ritual will work in this regard. But the people with vested interest have elevated these rituals as ultimate.

Contrary to the above opinion the benefits obtained from the above should also be considered now as they play a big role in our life and they help us prepare our-self for the path ahead. Pujas are important as it is here we try to establish a link with the divine. Here we see our-self and God as separate and devote our-self to the divine. When Pujas are done properly our ego reduces, disciple is established, devotion develops, love towards the divine increases and more importantly we can stop accruing new Karmas (Note through this only new karmas can be stopped but the existing karma which needs to be experienced cannot be undone). The reason why this not the ultimate path and is just the tool is that here we see God and our-self as two different beings; we are searching for a God outside which is dualistic in nature. We are giving an image to a God who is infinite; hence we are limiting our-self by giving a form to God who is Absolute existence, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss, this God is beyond Time and Space and we are trying to conceptualize this God within Time and Space, hence making the God limited (limiting our mind is the point here).

Hence once a person is firmly established in rituals and if his practice is genuine and yearns to progress the divine grace showers on that person and he starts moving into spiritual life, it is here that the person acquires spiritual knowledge (not ritualistic knowledge), by reading Upanishads, Gita and other scriptures which gives him knowledge of the Spirit, with divine grace a Guru will appear for a honest student and he will teach the path of spirituality and the ultimate knowledge saying “You are that”.    

Simple Ganapati Pooja Process

This is a simple version for doing Ganapati pooja for Ganapati festival or daily, approximately it will take around 15 to 20 mins to complete this.

Buy a Ganapati idol and keep it in you pooja room after cleaning the place then chant “Suklambaradaram Vishnum Sasivarnam Chathurbhujam Prasannavadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vignopashantaye” and light the lamp

Do achamana (sipping of water from spoon by reciting below mantras each time)

Om Keshavaaya swaha

Om Narayanaaya swaha

Om Madhavaaya swaha

Om Govindaaya namaha (here water you hand with a spoon of water and drop it into the bowl)

Perform Pranayama – Do alternate nose breathing (inhale slowly from left and exhale from right, inhale from right and exhale from left (1 cycle) do 3 cycles) No mantra required just do more cycles

Sankalpa – Take a vow for what reason you are doing the Pooja (think about Longivity, health, wealth, growth and to attain liberation)

Haridra Ganapati – prepare Ganapati in turmeric power (add some drops of water to turmeric and prepare a pyramid, this will be you Ganapati)

Chant - Om Tatpurushaya vidmahay Vakratunadaya dheemahi 

tannodanti prachodayat. (Offer flower to the turmeric idol)

Offer a peeled banana and place it upon a beetle nut and leaves with a coin along with banana and say “Kadali phala nevedhayaami”

Next for the main Ganapati Idol Chant the below mantra

Suklambaradaram Vishnum Sasivarnam Chathurbhujam Prasannavadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vignopashantayet (offer flowers to the idol)

Prana Pratistapana – Infusing Vital forces

Take a flower dip in with Sugar/jaggery, milk, honey, Ghee and curd and lightly place it upon the idol (just touching it and infuse vital energy to it – Visualize here) Chant below mantra for prana pratistapana

mamopatta samastaduriatakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvaraprītyarthe Shree Maha Ganapati prana pratiṣṭhāpanaṁ kariṣye ||

om aiṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ om āṁ hrīṁ kroṁ yaṁ raṁ laṁ vaṁ śaṁ ṣaṁ saṁ haṁ om haṁsaḥ sohaṁ sohaṁ haṁsaḥ Shree MahaGanapatim prāṇā iha prāṇāḥ ||

Once the above mantra is chanted and done with the idol is not supposed to be moved.

After this start with main part of the pooja as below

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah Dhyayami. (Visual Ganapati in your mind)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Avahayame. (Invite Ganapati by visualization and offer flower to the Idol)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah. Asanam samarpayami. (Visualize offering a place/more like a chair/throne that you offer when guest comes in – offer flower to the Idol)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Padyam samarpayami. (Visualize washing Ganapati’s legs, offer drop of water to Idols leg)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah Arghyam samarpayami . (Visualize offering water to God and offer water to the bowl next to you)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Achamaneeyam samarpayami . (Visualize offer water to God for drinking, drop some water in the bowl after showing in to the idol)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah Madhuparkam samarpayami . (Offer honey to God, visualize for all steps)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah Snanam samarpayami . (Offer bath, meaning drop few drops of water or do complete abhishekam)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah Achamaneeyam samarpayami . (Offer water to the bowl after showing it to the Idol)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah Vastram samarpayami (Offer clothing to the God)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Yagnyopaveetham samarpayami. (Offer sacred thread to the God)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā || Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Gandham dharayami .(Offer Sandal paste)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā || (36,54 or 108 times)

Chant any Ganapati Shloka, Stotra or Suktam and offer Flowers and Grass for the below

Om Sumukhaya namah
Om Ekadantaya namah
Om Kapilaya namah
Om Gajakarnikaya namah
Om Lambodaraya namah
Om Vikataya namah
Om Vignarajaya namah
Om Vinayakaya namah
Om Dhumaketave namah
Om Ganadhyakshaya namah
Om Phalachandraya namah
Om Gajananaya namah
Om Vakratundaya namah
Om Surpakarnaya namah
Om Herambaya namah
Om Skandapoorvajaya namah
Om Mahaganapate namah
Nanavidha parimala patra pushpani samarpayami.

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Om Ganapataye namah. Mahaganapatim sripadukayam poojayami tarpayami namah (3 times) (offer water to the bowl)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Mahaganapataye namah dhupam agrapayami, (Offer incense)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  deepam darsayami, (Offer lamp light)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  nivedyam samarpayami Madya madya paniyam samarpayami, (Offer food to the God)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  uttaraposhanam samarpayami, (offer some water to the idol and pour the same in the bowl)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  hasta prakshalanam samarpayami, (offer water for washing hand, meaning offer some water to the idol and pour the same in the bowl)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah pada prakshalanam samarpayami, (offer some water to the idol and pour the same in the bowl)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  achamaneeyam samarpayami, (offer some water to the idol and pour the same in the bowl)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  tambulam samarpayami . (Offer Tambula – Beetle nut and leaves)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Karpura Neerajanam darsayami.( offer some Camphor light to the God)

Om Tatpurushaya vidmahay Vakratunadaya dheemahi tannodanti prachodayat. (Offer flower)

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ||  Shree Mahaganapataye namah  Mantrapushpam samarpayami. (Offer flower)

Shree Mahaganapataye namah Pradikshana namaskaram samarpayami.

Shree Mahaganapataye namah Samasta rajopachara, devopacharan samarpayami.

Shree Mahaganapataye namah Anaya poojaya bhagavan sarva devatmaka sree ganapati supreeta suprasanno varado bhavantu.

Offer Prayer (Can chant again “Suklambaradaram Vishnum Sasivarnam Chathurbhujam Prasannavadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vignopashantayet” and offer flower) or any shloka etc

Prana Pratistapana Mantra taken from my Guruji and ammended. Any mistakes solely mine

Bhairavi Mantras

Bhairavi Mantras are below. Contact a Guru for practice. Meant for educational purpose

1. Tripura Bhairavi

OM hasaiM hasakarIM hasaiM  

ಓಂ ಹಸೈಂ ಹಸಕರೀಂ ಹಸೈಂ  

ओं हसैं हसकरीं हसैं  

2. Sampathprada Bhairavi

OM hasraiM haskalrIM hasrauM 

ಓಂ ಹಸ್ರೈಂ ಹಸ್ಕಲ್ರೀಂ ಹಸ್ರೌಂ 

ओं हस्रैं हस्कल्रीं हस्रौं 

3. Chaitanya Bhairavi

OM s~haiM sk l hrIM s~hrauM

ಓಂ ಸ್ಹೈಂ ಸ್ಕ್ ಲ್ ಹ್ರೀಂ ಸ್ಹ್ರೌಂ

ओं स्हैं स्क् ल् ह्रीं स्ह्रौं

4. Shatkutaa Bharavi

OM Dralks~hraiM Dralks~hrIM Dralks~hrauM 

ಓಂ ಡ್ರಲ್ಕ್ಸ್ಹ್ರೈಂ ಡ್ರಲ್ಕ್ಸ್ಹ್ರೀಂ ಡ್ರಲ್ಕ್ಸ್ಹ್ರೌಂ 

ओं ड्रल्क्स्ह्रैं ड्रल्क्स्ह्रीं ड्रल्क्स्ह्रौं 

5. Rudra Bhairavi 

OM hskphreM hsklrIM hsauH

ಓಂ ಹ್ಸ್ಕ್ಫ್ರೆಂ ಹ್ಸ್ಕ್ಲ್ರೀಂ ಹ್ಸೌಃ

ओं ह्स्क्फ्रॆं ह्स्क्ल्रीं ह्सौः 

Lalitha Trishati - A must for Sri Vidya Upasaka

Lalitha Trishati are the 300 names of the great Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari. A Sri Vidya Upasaka should always learn this.

It grants what one needs and it never be chanted with evil intentions as it will have negative effect.

Below I have given the given the link for Lalitha Trishati with its Nyasa and Viniyog. This can be used for the purpose of meditation. The current file is in Kannada Text.


Lot of care has been taken in translating this in Kannada Text, mistakes if any is mine. Kindly notify me so that I can make changes.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/218851617/Lalitha-Trishati-Meditation

Trishati in Hindi

https://www.scribd.com/doc/296085344/Lalitha-Trishati-in-Hindi

Pratyangira Devi Mantra for Black magic and Enemy problems

Prayangira Devi Maha Mantra

Viniyog:

Aum asya shri Prayangira Devi mantrasya Brahma Rsih, Anustup

chandah, Pratyangira devata,  om Bijam, Hrim shakthihi,

mamAbhIstasiddhaye, sarvopadrava shamanarthe jape viniyogah

NyAsa:

Hram Angustaabhyaam Namah - Hridayaaya Namah

Hrim Tarjanibhyaam Namah - Shriase Svaha

Hroom Madhyamaabhyaam Namah - ShikhayeVashat

Hraim Anamikaabhyaam Namah - Kavachaya Hoom

Hraum Kanishthikabhyaam Namah - Netratrayaya Voshat

Hrah Karatal karprashtaabhyaam Namah - Astraayaya Phat

Bhur Bhuva suvarom Iti Dik Bandhaha

Dhyana:

May the goddess Pratyangira destroy the magic spells employed by your enemies she is seated on the lion with a terrible form of dark complexion that instills fear in all the three worlds. Her mouths emits flames. She is clad in two fresh garments. Her splendor resembles the sapphire. She holds the sword in her right hand and the trident in the left. She is competent to protect her devotee.  

Mula Mantra:

Om Hrim Namah Krshnavaasase Shatasahasra Himsini sahasra Vadane Mahaa Bale Aparaajite Pratyangire Parasainya Parakarma Vidhvamsini Paramantrotsaadini Sarva Bhuutadamani Sarvadevan Bandha Bandha Sarva Vidyaashchindhi Chindhi Kshobhaya Kshobhaya Para Yantraani Sphotaya Sphotaya Sarva Srinkhalaas Trotaya Trotaya Jvala jjvalaa Jivhve Karaalavadane Pratyangire Hrim Namah

Process:

Chant 10000+1000+100 then chant 1000 times to remove black magic. Very powerful mantra to dispel enemy’s krtya (black magic). Very risky too. To be used only for good purposes.

Please take caution in reciting this mantra as powerful mantras are not for weak minded people

Rare Rama Mantra - for all that one needs

Om Namo Bhagavate Raghunandanaaya Rakshogna Vishadaaya Madhura Prasannavadanaayaa Amitathejase Balaaya Raamaya Vishnave Namah

OM namO bhagavatE raGunaMdanAya rakShOGna viSadAya madhura prasannavadanaayaa(a)mitatEjasE balAya rAmAya viShNavE namaH 

ಓಂ ನಮೋ ಭಗವತೇ ರಘುನಂದನಾಯ ರಕ್ಷೋಘ್ನ ವಿಶದಾಯ ಮಧುರ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನವದನಾಯಾ(ಅ)ಮಿತತೇಜಸೇ ಬಲಾಯ ರಾಮಾಯ ವಿಷ್ಣವೇ ನಮಃ 

ओं नमो भगवते रघुनंदनाय रक्षोघ्न विशदाय मधुर प्रसन्नवदनाया(अ)मिततेजसे बलाय रामाय विष्णवे नमः 

The above mantra is one of rare one and according to texts this mantra has the power to grant 4 purusharthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha)

It is said that great sages of ancient lore have used this mantra for attaining spiritual bliss and this mantra is said to confer child for childless couples.

It endows the person with knowledge, wealth, righteousness and a sense of detachment from unnecessary worldly ties

It is also said that this mantra should be taken from a guru and success can be achieved only through initiation.

In the present world getting an accomplished Guru is very difficult. So what I suggest is that write down the mantra a sheet of copper (used for yantra) or on paper and place it next to the picture or idol f Lord Shri Rama. Perform suitable prayer to this mantra and idol by offering Incense, Camphor and offer food to the God.

Later visualize that you are getting initiated to this mantra from the Lord Shri Rama itself, by this way you are considering the Lord to be your Guru.

Start chanting this mantra daily for 1000 times without breaks in-between.

Please note that lord Rama is a Great god who upholds Dharma, So as you progress with this sadhana you will put into situations where you will have moral dilemma on doing what is right. Please be true to yourself and be righteous as this will be test of your devotion to the lord.

Ideally Rama mantras needs to be chanted 1 million times to reap its full benefit but you can start seeing changes once you complete 15000 chants of the above mantra.

I wish all the very best to those who will take this sadhana up.

Sri Vidya Ganeshwari Mantra for Success, Prosperity and spiritual progress

Om Srim Hrim Klim Glaum Gam Ka E I La Hrim Ganapataye Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hrim Varavaradha Sa Ka La Hrim Sarvajanam Me Vashamaanaya Swaha

One of the most powerful mantra that provides material and spiritual benefits.
The above mantra is a combination panchadashi and Maha Ganapathy.

Panchadashi burns the sins and karma of the chanter and Mahaganapathy mantra provides success and removes all types of obstacles.

The above mantra is truly power as you can experience changes within one month of beginning of the chanting.
It is ideal to chant 444 times a day.

The mantra can be used for various reasons but this mantra very helpful in giving 4 arthas. 

Some people say that this only for material benefits.  Which is true but the addition panchadashi to the makes it highly powerful tool for spiritual growth.

Maha Ganapati Mantra for Removing Problems

Mantra below:

Om Srim Hrim Klim Glaum Gam Ganapataye Varavaradha Sarvajanam me  Vashamaanaya Swaha

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ग्लौं गं गणपतये वरवरद सर्वजनं मे वशमानय स्वहा 

Best to chant the above mantra 1000 times a day.

One more best way to use this mantra is to sprinkle some water on Ganapati idol in the form of tarpanam.

That is chant above mantra and add the word "Tarpayami Namaha" at the end of mantra and sprinkle some water on the idol.

This can be done 444 times each day. If not possible do it at least 100 times daily. You can experience changes in 3 months of starting this sadhana.

For each Tarpayami Namaha sprinkle some water on the idol.

Before starting this process visualise the Lord Ganapati is entering the idol (meaning energy is entering into the idol).
Then after completion visualise that the energy is returning back into your body.

Collect the water that is sprinkled and drink some of it and use the remaining for bathing purpose next day. You can also distribute this water to your family.

This mantra is very useful to remove problems, problems related to muladhara chakra, gives material prosperity and health and security.

Ganapati mantra for removing obstacles and fulfilling wishes

The mantra given below has to be chanted 600000 times along with 60000 homa (fire sacrifice).

Very good to remove obstacles,  karya siddhi, acquiring wealth, immense wealth.

Intense meditation of one or more hour hours for a minimum of 6 months, is said to accord wealth for happy living.

Maintaining celibacy is very important.

Not involving in unnecessary talks and having focused mind for this period towards sadhana is important

Tarpana offering is beneficial ( chant the mantra and add the word TARPAYAMI at the along with allowing the water flow on your palm to the tip of fingers)

Mantra is as below

(Om) Vakratundaya hum

Om can be added in the beginning

Durga Mantra for Enemy problems

The mantra:

OM hrIM duM durgAyai namaH

ಓಂ ಹ್ರೀಂ ದುಂ ದುರ್ಗಾಯೈ ನಮಃ

ओं ह्रीं दुं दुर्गायै नमः

Om hreem dum durgayai namah

This mantra needs to chanted 8 lakhs times. This will avoid or solve problems from anyone. Even problems associated with government can be avoided.

Every day 5000 chants needs to be performed.

The effects can be seen within one month. After completing 8 lakhs. Every chant for 1000 times.

This is a simple bit very effective mantra.

Have a Durga devi photo infront of you which will help to contemplate on the form of the goddess.

Mahalakshmi mantra for immense wealth

One of the most important aspect in life is to have stability and security in terms of finances.

Todays world has become so materialistic that without money nothing is possible.

Money plays an important role in the spiritual pogress also. Lets face it unless we have sufficent money we cannot pursue our interests without any problems. Only when we do what we like, then it leads to happiness and peace. Over a period of time the mind turns towards spirituality.

But one thing that needs to kept in mind id that, we should only aspire for what is needed and not for what we want.

So the below mantra that im providing here is the best mantra for 
goddess Mahalakshmi.

The great goddess when sincerely prayed upon will shower the devotees with abundance.

Goddess Mahalakshmi is the nourisher of this world and when you need stabilty in life there is no other god than her.

The mantra is as follows:

Om shreem hreem shreem kamale kamalalaye praseedha praseedha shreem hreem shreem om mahalakshmai namaha

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालयै प्रसीद प्रसीद श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥


om śrīṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ kamale kamalālayai prasīda prasīda śrīṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ om mahālakṣmyai namaḥ ||

This mantra chanted regularly for a minimum of 108 times daily, starts showing its effect within 30 days

I would personally recommend all to chant this mantra atleast 1000 times a day along with chanting of Sri Suktham.
This will surely bring a major change in ones life.

As per texts to acquire siddhi of this one should chant this 27 lakhs times (2700000)

Since navratri is in progress. It is the ideally time start practising this mantra.

Banesi Mantra for Marriage

The below mantra that I'm giving is meant for quick marriage. It is said that once the mantra chant is complete it takes only three months for marriage. The presiding deity of this mantra is Banesi.

The number of count to complete the cycle is 400000. Once complete chant another 40000 for fire sacrifice.

The mantra is as follows

ಓಂ ದ್ರಾಂ ದ್ರೀಂ ಕ್ಲೀಂ ಬ್ಲೂಂ ಸಃ

Dram Drim Klim Blum Sah

OM drAM drIM klIM blUM saH

ओं द्रां द्रीं क्लीं ब्लूं सः

This mantra can also be use to fullfill desire

Shiva Mantra for Spiritual Progress and for all round development

Shiva Panchakshari Mantra Sadhana

Asya Sri Shiva Panchakshari Mantrasya

Vamadeva Rishi, Pankthi  Chanda , Shiva Devata

Om Bijam, Nam Shakthihi, Mam Keelakam

Nyasa

Om Angustaabhyaam Namah                                                Hridayaaya Namah

Na Tarjanibhyaam Namah                                                      Shriase Svaha

Ma Madhyamaabhyaam Namah                                             ShikhayeVashat

Shi Anamikaabhyaam Namah                                                 Kavachaya Hoom

Vaa Kanishthikabhyaam Namah                                            Netratrayaya Voshat

Ya Karatal-karprashtaabhyaam Namah                                  Astraayaya Phat

Bhur Bhuvasuvarom Iti Dikbandhaha

Dhyana

Om Dhyaye Nityam Mahesham rajatagirinibham charuchandraavatamsam

ratnakalpa jwaalaangam parasu mriga vara bheetihastam prasannam

padmaasinam samantat smritammaraganyar vyaghrakrittim vaasanam

vishwaadyam vishwabeejam nikhilabhayaharam panchavakram trinetram

Mantra

Om Namah Shivaya

Chant One Crore Times or 24 lakhs Times 

Gives immense spiritual progress and good for all round development, peace, prosperity

Kali Mantra for Protection and Success

The below Kali Mantra is excellent for achieving success at any endeavor and usually for Karya Siddhi (getting work done).

Also it is important to know that Kali mantras have the tendency pre pone karmic events for a person, meaning these mantra usually make us to face our karma much earlier than we are supposed to face it, there by washes away our accumulated sins.

The mantra that I’m going to is a very popular one but the difference here that I will mention the method to energize this mantra effectively.

To energize, the mantra needs to be chanted 100000 times plus 10000 times in one days times (takes about 12 hrs of chanting). The chanting should start in the night time preferably.

Post energizing chant 10000 times daily (takes 1 hr) or a minimum of 1000 times (takes 6-7 mins) daily.

The person will experience changes within 10 – 30 days of completing this sadhana.

The Mantra is a single syllable letter KREEM, it has been mentioned in the texts that this can grant the aspirants supernatural powers if practiced regularly.

Anyone can use this mantra for Karya siddhi and protection from evil forces, spirits etc. Having purity of thought is essential for Kali sadhanas and use the gifts for good causes only.     

Multipurpose Hanuman Mantra

The below mantra that I’m going to give is used for various reasons, some of the uses are truly fascinating. The mantra is as follows

(Om) Namo Bhagavathe Aanjaneyaaya Mahaabalaaya Swaha

This mantra is taken from Mantra Mahodadhi and this text gives various uses of this mantra. I have listed down few important uses of this mantra below.

Complete 11000 chanting plus 1100 additional chanting of this mantra for energizing it

Once energized chant on daily basis for 108 times for relief from minor health issues

If the health issues are major then increase the same to 1000 per day

It can be used for settling disputes between two conflicting parties

It can be used to stop bad dream by chanting 108 times daily

Good for all round protection and increases courage

Ill placed planetary effects can be neutralized by chanting of the above mantra regularly for 1000 times per day

Even Black magic effects can be neutralized and problems associated with spirits