What is Mantra? - Jain perspective

In Jainism, 14 Poorvas (Parts of Scriptures) are believed to be in existence. The name of the first Poorva is Utpaad, that has around 10 million clauses. The name of the last Poorva of Jainism is Lokbindusaar, that is filled with around 12.5 million clauses. These 14 Poorvas encompass complete knowledge pertaining to varied topics. In it, the name of the 10th Poorva is Vidyanupravaad, in which there are 1.1 million clauses. In these millions of clauses, lies the descriptive and comprehensive knowledge of mantra (मंत्र), tantra (तंत्र), hymn  (स्तोत्र), yoga, medicine, miraculous lores,  how to accomplish tasks, how to become invisible, mantra of tirthankar, ways to please deities & yaksha, how to transform form, how to make a mantra, etc.

As per Jain philosophy, shabd (vocable) is pudgal, that is, it keeps changing its form; as soon as it gets uttered from the mouth, it reverberates around the universe. There lies infinite power in these vocables. In Sanskrit grammar, vocables are bifurcated to two categories: Swar (vowel) and Vyanjan (consonant). A (अ),  Aa (आ), E (इ), Ee (ई) and so on are the 16 vowels, and Ka (क), Kha (ख), Ga (ग), Gha (घ) and so are the 33 consonants. All these vocables are mantra in themselves individually, for in them lies the unique phenomenal power. The vocables have a color, gender, nakshatra (constellation), rashi (zodiac) and celestial body associated with them.

To make a mantra is to endow it with a distinctive power by constituting the vocables attached with varied powers.

Assembly of vocables is mantra. Such a mantra, when uttered again and again, gives birth to astounding power.

Mantra has many definitions in the scriptures.

मननात् त्रायते इति मंत्रः (Mananaat traayate iti mantrah) - From whose thought, one is protected, is mantra.

According to the ascetic Abhaydev Suri, मंत्रो देवताध‍‍‍‌िष्ठितो साक्षर रचना विशेष (Mantro devtaadhishtto saakshar rachna vishesh) - The composition of specific letters established by deity, is mantra.

गुप्तोपदेशो मंत्रः (Guptopadeshto mantrah) - The secret advice from preceptor, is mantra.

Some kind of wave comes from the sound of the spoken vocable, that flows in the atmosphere. These reverberated waves circumnavigates the entire world, or even casts a vibration throughout the universe, irrespective of the magnitude. The deities are attracted towards these vocables only. Wherever the deity maybe, be it in any realm of universe or in any galaxy or any sphere, immaterial of the distance from you physically, the waves of the mantra associated with that deity do reach. And as a result of the attraction, either the deities themselves have to visit or perform the task intended for which the mantra is being uttered. Where no one reaches, the waves of the vocables reach.

With the assistance of these waves or vibrations, someone can be killed or even saved. Someone can be made hale & hearty or even sick. From these vocables only, that is, from the power of mantra, occurs the process of shedding of karmic bondage, with ultimate goal being salvation.

Bhala Ho (Stay blessed)

© by Manas Madrecha