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