Pancha Pallava - the 5 posturings of a mantra

Mantra… has five “shoots” (Pancha Pallava).

1. ‘namah’
2. ‘svaha’
3. ‘vaushat’
4. ‘hum’
5. ‘phat’

A shoot, or sprout, or posturing, in this context signifies the emergent attitude with which the mantra terminates. The body of the mantra contains the seed-syllables and the name of the deity; the devotee’s disposition towards, or orientation with regard to, the deity should find articulation at the end of the mantra, and this is the “pallava”.

Without Pallava, the mantra is described as ‘naked’ (“pallavena vina mantro nagnas tu parikrir titah”). The deity is then not properly represented in the sense that the devotee has not specified how he stands with regard to the deity.

Each of the ‘shoots’ or Pallavas has its own special significance and situational relevance.

1. ‘namah’ – means prostration
2. ‘svaha’ – signifies offering
3. ‘vaushat’ – is will to be protected
4. ‘hum’ – is to drive away (evil forces)
5. ‘phat’ – is the urge to break (the obstacles) down

Source: Pg35, book- The Yantras, author – Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India; ISBN – 81-7030-118-1

dasa maha vidya - 10 mothers

1. Kali – the evolutionary principle of primordial time; bijam –Krim
2. Tara – The power of spiritual ascent; bijam – Aum
3. Shodasi – perfection and totality; bijam – Aim, Klim Sauh
4. Bhuvaneshwari – Space, consciousness and dimensionality; bijam – Hrim
5. Chinna Masta – ever devouring ressurection; bijam – Hum
6. Bhairavi – the power of destruction; bijam –Hsraim, Hsklrim, Hsrauh
7. Dhumavati – Death, despair, destruction; bijam – Dhum
8. Bagala Mukhi – unconscious tendencies leading to illusions; bijam – Hlrim
9. Matangi – dominating over evil; bijam – Aim, Hrim, Srim, Aim, Klim, Sauh
10. Kamala – prosperity and purity; bijam – Srim

Figure: depiction of 10 placements of the 10 mothers (dasa mahavidya)

Source: Pg34, book- The Yantras, author – Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India; ISBN – 81-7030-118-1

Panchangopasana - the five fold prayer

1. Japa – repition of the mantra as prescribed
2. homa – fire oblations
3. tarpana – water oblations
4. abhisheka – bath offering
5. bhojana – feeding the deserving & needy

Source: Pg34, book- The Yantras, author – Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India; ISBN – 81-7030-118-1

Yantra Gayatri

Yantra Rajaya Vidmahae

Maha Yantraya Dhimahi

Tanno Yantrah Prachodayaat

Source: Pg30, book- The Yantras, author – Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India; ISBN – 81-7030-118-1

Aspects of a Mantra

Each mantra is said to have the following aspects:

1. Rshi – the sage who is the author f the mantra
2. Chandas – the meter in which the mantra is composed
3. Devata – the deity for whom the mantra is meant
4. Bija – the seed of the mantra
5. Sakthi – the power of the mantra
6. Kilaka – the ‘peg’ to which the mantra is tied, viz the activating principle
7. Viniyoga – the purpose for which the mantra is employed

If the mantra is said to have a human form, the sage is the head, meter is the mouth or face, the deity its heart, the seed its navel, the power its private organs, and the peg its feet.

The deity who is invoked by the mantra assumes the form of the mantra, and the mantra assumes the form of the universe:

“mantras tu devata-rupam mantra rupam idam jagat” (vatulagama)

Source: Pg34, book- The Yantras, author – Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India; ISBN – 81-7030-118-1