A human being is defined to be an ensemble of the gross (physical) body, subtle (mental and energy) body and the astral body (the inner self or the domain of the soul). The existence of three perennial expressions of thy powers of the trinity Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, is said to be vital for the manifestation of Nature and life. The existence of the three bodies is similarly an integral part of the existence of any living being in this world. The three bodies, like the triveñi – confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, are separate as well as one – being the interwoven segments of a single individual self.
The refinement and development of any one of these bodies would be incomplete without the other two. Therefore, when we talk about the role of Sabda or Mantra Vijó³na in human-life, we must analyze the respective effects on each of the three forms (bodies) of a human being.
As discussed earlier, our world is physically constituted by three basic energies viz. Sound, Light and Heat. According to the electromagnetic wave theory, the ever-expanding universe is described as a limitless ocean of energy waves. Grasping and utilization of some of these has given rise to the inventions and discoveries like radio, telephone, television, X-rays, radio-rays, laser, gamma-rays, …., etc. Enormous combinations of superimposition of compatible waves are supposed to give rise to the energy particles, various subtle particle-states and ultimately to the atomic and molecular forms of matter. The root cause of the existence of different physical forms/states of any kind of material – howsoever subtle or gigantic it might be – is the ‘collision or superimposition’ of some of these omnipresent, ever vibrating, energy waves.
The eternal forms of sound and vibrations are synonymous with respect to their physical existence. Noting this, a natural conclusion of the above theory would be that – Sabda and Nada are the origins and the ultimate controllers of everything that exists (in a gross or subtle form) or happens (including the manifestation of life and death) in this universe. Our gross, subtle and astral bodies are thus naturally affected by ‘sound’.
Our gross body is a physical system consisting of bio-physicochemical components. The impact of sound on this system results in corresponding vibrations in the molecular, cellular (e.g., an enzyme in a cell or a membrane, or a hormone…) or organ (e.g., the liver, uterus or ears…..) components and generates isolated or cascade effects (positive or negative, depending on the type of sound) on the interconnected subsystems. Several examples of the negative physical effects of the impact of sound on the gross body have been described earlier in the context of the Doppler effect and noise pollution…. Examples of the positive physical effects (on the gross bodies of any living being), apart from those described earlier, include – increase in the immunity of human beings under specific therapies based on sound; acceleration of the growth rate of vegetation by special music…; increase in the reproduction rates of some varieties of fishes and hens under certain music-based treatments….
Out of the three most familiar manifestations of Sabda in energy forms, sound directly affects our gross body and heat and light influence our subtle and astral bodies respectively. The latter two types of effects often remain unrecognized because of the random and instantaneous vibrations in our conscious and unconscious mind and irregularities in our physical activities vis-à-vis the large number of stochastic interactions in the ever-dynamic modes of our sublime interaction with the above energies in Nature. Even if the supernatural effects (of Sabda) are observed, these are often attributed as ‘coincidences’ owing to the lack of sufficient knowledge or scientific data to analyse the causes…
A proper synchronization of a consistent state of our body and mind with any one of the above powers of Sabda for a given span of time and at a selected space, free from other (random) disturbances – is necessary for conducting scientific experiments to study some such effects, even at a gross level. The philosophy, discipline and practices of praña yoga, mantra yoga and dhyana yoga should be studied deeply under adept guidance and gradually applied for conducting feasible experiments of the above yogas on the gross body, subtle body and the astral body.
A large number of yoga exercises under different branches of spiritual disciplines are known to exist in this world. All of these can be classified into the three major types – praña yoga, mantra yoga, and dhyana yoga. Interestingly the most common and challenging hindrances in the successful practice of any sadhana or spiritual experiment of yoga can also be classified into three parent groups viz., lobha (greed), moha (selfish attitude and possessive attachments) and ahamkara (egotism). Moreover, the essential virtues which help the individual self-struggle against these internal enemies also fall under three major categories – sahasa (courage), samkalpa and samvedana.
The methods of Mantra Vijnana help refine, by sonic effects, the state and functioning of the gross body or any kind of material that exists physically. The mode of utilization and the performance of these methods depends upon three major factors –– (i) the structure of mantra in terms of the configuration of syllables and vowels i.e., the sonic pattern of the mantra; (ii) the overall character and personality of the sadhaka, and (iii) the faith of the sadhaka in the mantra by which the power of mantra amplifies and penetrates the innermost energy centers of the sadhaka.
The Vedic Mantras were originally created and compiled by the risis who were spiritual yogis and sages of the science of Sabda. Therefore, the coding of the sonic patterns in these mantras is perfect with respect to the impact of Sabda. Many a times, the realization of the syllables for subtle sounds (Nada) in the etheric ocean had occurred to the risis through an afflatus or intuition in their intrinsic inspirations or the mantras were just ‘heard’ by them in the state of trance. This is the reason why most of these mantras are known as – Sruti (‘heard’) or as – ‘conveyed by the Âkasa Vani – the cosmic voice’…. The Gayatri Mahamantra, Kalma-Sarifa, Bapatisma, ñamomksra and the syllable Hum in the Mañipada in different religious scriptures are examples of such self-generated eternal mantras or divine messages.
The tantra yoga is a special branch of mantra yoga. It deals with the development of ‘mechanisms’ for direct, fast and high-intensity ‘physical’ impact of the power of Sabda on specific targets. Compilations of the ‘harsh’ vowel “am” with some ‘hard’ syllables of the Sanskrit script are commonly used here. The single-letter mantras like – Kam, Kham, Gam, Gham, Yam, Cham, Jam, Jham, Pam, Fam, Bam, Bham, Srim, Klim, Hrim, Phat etc.– are frequently used as bija (the seed syllable) in the creation of a tantra. Because of the high-energy fields of the vibrations generated by the pronunciation (at specific intensities and speed) of the tantrika mantras, their physical effects bear intense and direct impacts at significantly rapid pace.
The extrasensory cakras, upatyikas and granthis in the body are suddenly stimulated by cyclic enunciation of the tantrik mantras. Little carelessness or lack of control or mistake in practising the tantras might therefore result in reciprocating reactions. The constructive or destructive effects of a tantra can be well understood from the example of the nuclear power… Thus, if a tantra is targeted for ill-intentioned goals to harm others, its user would risk – irreparable imbalance of hormonal secretions or activation of undesirable bio-electrical processes that could results in insanity, physical disability for torturous sufferings or even a sinner’s death…..
If thoroughly understood and used under adept guidance for noble goals, the knowledge of tantra vijiana, could offer enormous support and benefits to the ailing human society today.
Source: Eternity of Sound and the Science of Mantra
