Mantras In Religion

Religions explore a variety of methods that may bring insiders closer to the sacred. Whether it is an action, or the recitation of words, there are deliberate ways that help to bring the sacred and profane worlds together. In Hinduism, that would be a mantra. Mantras are defined as “a sacred utterance, incantation, or invocation repeated aloud or in meditation in order to bring about a prescribed effect, such as the calming of the mind or a vision of a deity (“Mantra”).” Mantras are carefully formulated in order to create these visions and the state of consciousness an insider resides in. Mantras can vary in different aspects, being one single word or phrase, or being recited by one or more Brahmins. The particular mantra that was interpreted

is Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. It is recited by a group of twenty-one Brahmins, is a repetitive phrase, and is in reference to the G-d Shiva. When listening to the mantra, there is a single underlying note that the listener experiences. It continues throughout the entire hymn, and comes back in tune with the chant at the initial OM at the beginning of the mantra. OM is said to be “a primordial sound, inherent in the Universe…the sound of Om allows a statement of an individual’s potential for oneness and wholeness to be put out in the universe (Ian Prattis).” Though the listener cannot see the Brahmins physically reciting the mantra, is creates the image of the Brahmins with closed eyes, sitting still, solely reciting the sacred words. If you listen to it over and over you begin to relax. Your brain first wonders what it means, you are curious. You then try to interpret what may be experienced within the Hindus. If you listen to it long enough you eventually reach nothing, your brain is unable to come up with anything else to think about, and you have an empty conscious. This then brings the question of what is going on in the Brahmin’s mind? If you—an outsider—are reacting in this way to the phenomenon, you cannot begin to imagine what the insider must be experiencing.
What is so significant about this ritual that it leads an insider to complete inner peace?

There is something deeper going on in these mantras that lead the Brahmins to a hierophany. Swami Satchidananda states that “G-d vibrates on a particular wavelength…So, to receive the Lord’s message, his blessings, his light, and his love, we can be helped by technical means to tune our heart radio to that wavelength (Satchidananda).”Mantras and OM cause the insider to be “in tune” with the G-d. Continuing with the analogy of the radio, to be in tune one must be set at the correct “station.” The insider must create the “station” that will allow them to be in tune with the sacred. They must have the correct thoughts, and mindset, which is also created through mantras. Therefore, we ultimately question what state of consciousness is a Hindu in when chanting? The state must be specific enough for Hinduism that it is able to bring them closer to the sacred. Patton E. Burchett claims that “from the Hindu perspective, the mantra—when used properly—enables one to come into touch with the power of divinity…” Therefore, the Hindus believe that when the proper mindset is created through the recitations, you can become in touch with this divinity. This puts an insider into certain states of consciousness that must be established in order to achieve a transcendental goal. In his XVI and XVII lectures on Mysticism, William James proposed four characteristics that a phenomenon should have in order

to be classified as mystical. Three he describes include Noetic quality, which is described as “states of insight into depths of truth…illuminations, revelations, full of significance and importance.” He describes transiency as “mystical states that cannot be sustained for long…what is felt as inner richness and importance.” He lastly describes passivity as “the oncoming of mystical states may be facilitated by preliminary voluntary operations…yet when the characteristic sort of consciousness once has set in, the mystic feels as if his own will…grasped and held by a superior power.” These three qualities make a phenomenon mystical. Therefore there must be aspects of Hindu mantras that correlate to these characteristics of mysticism and consciousness during a phenomenon.
Ian Prattis describes the science behind mantra and claims that the syllable of AUM/OM can create multiple states of consciousness when recited by a Hindu.

He describes the energy centers (chakras) that must be unified in order to bring the insider closer to the sacred. This can be done through recitation of mantras and OM. The belief is that through this chanting Hindus are unified in a deep state of consciousness that allows them to be in touch with the divine entity. Prattis explores AUM and the levels of consciousness each separate syllable brings an insider into. “A, U, M, correspond to different states of consciousness: Waking, Dream, Deep Sleep.” Mantra links the mind, body, heart, soul, and conscious through the alignment of your chakras. It takes you from a state of self-consciousness—being aware of only yourself and details of your life—to a state of what Prattis describes as “deep-inner consciousness.” This state of consciousness brings you to be aware of things. This form of consciousness unifies the insider with the sacred. This answers our question referring to the state of consciousness a Hindu is in when chanting. We find them going through a series of states from self-consciousness to deep-inner consciousness. Prattis spent two years in India learning and teaching meditation. He describes his experience as “the queries…so imperative at previous levels of consciousness, became redundant at other levels of consciousness. It was obvious to me that I was moving

through a series of states of consciousness to different levels of cognition…I always felt a sense of being present and aware of where I was, totally cognizant of what was taking place in the different levels of consciousness experienced.”