Mouth is described in Ayurveda as the
locus of the agni cakra - the subtle centre for generation of metabolic powers
and thermal energy. The group of energies required for various metabolic and
physiological processing is described to have its field of action beginning
from the mouth and spreading up to the stomach. The mechanical role of mouth
and its energy (utilized in the process of chewing and gulping, for instance)
in the digestive system is well known. More important is its role as linked
with the vocal cord and hence with the functions of speaking and singing…. The
power of speech is among the most significant gifts bestowed upon the human
species. Its importance can be very well understood simply by realizing the
limitations and disabilities of a dumb fellow.
At the gross level, agni cakra of mouth
performs the initial phase of digestive mechanism, at the subtle level, it
'produces' voice and helps pronunciation. At the astral level it generates
divine flows of the ;currents' of Sabda in the individual consciousness. While
the first two are well known to most of us, the third and the most significant
role is experienced only by the experts of the japa yoga - the spiritual
endeavors associated with japa and meditation of mantras. The inlet of mouth is
also regarded a living havan kunda with respect to the divine importance of the
sonic energy as a source of expression of multiple manifestations of Sabda. One
would be surprised to note that the enormous impact of japa yoga is based on
this sublime power of his mouth.
That word spoken could well become the
cause of an affectionate relationship or of hatred and hostility - illustrates
the fact that the words are not only the carriers of information but they do
retain and convey the sentiments of the speaker. The currents of consciousness
of the speaker endowed in his speech flow with the sonic vibrations produced by
the pronunciation of these words. These elements produce 'conscious effects' at
the destination with which the associated sound waves collide. While the
acoustic effects could be studied by physical means, the 'conscious effects',
being latent and subliminal in nature, can only be realized and analyzed
through spiritual practices of yoga sadhanas.
Extraction of the essence of
consciousness power of sound (Sabda) is aimed at in the japa yoga. the physical
vibrations generated by the sound of rhythmic enunciation (japa) affect the
body of the chanter (Sadhaka) and his surrounding space and the associated
elements of consciousness force induce his mind and the inner self and
gradually expand upto the related conscious energy centers in cosmic domains.
The science of mantra is founded on the
science of the consciousness power currents of the Sabda inherent in the
musical sound generated by a conscious being. The meaning of the mantras has
negligible importance as compared to the specific configuration of
syllables/phonemes in them. The Gayatri Mantra is regarded as supreme of all
the Vaidika Mantras. In terms of linguistic meaning, it is a universal prayer
of awakening and illumination of righteous intellect in all. Many other divine
prayers written in different languages might also imply similar meanings, but
it is the unique sonic pattern that gives a unique importance to this mantra.
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