NARAYANA PRASNAM KARMA KANDA

         There are a number of Mantras that we generally use for ‘ sandhya Vandana  and ‘devatharchana’ whose meaning we do not know. We merely repeat  those  mantras  mechanically. An attempt is made here to explain those mantras and their significance in the collection called “ Narayana Prasnam”. This is also called “ Yagniki” The mantras pertain to performing of Karmas.

                                                                                                         

Mantras concerning taking bath are now described;

Mantra; sahasra  paramadevi  satamoola sathakura sarvagum haruthu  me  papam  durva  dusswapna nasini

The following mantras are to be recited while taking bath. A blade of grass(durva) and a pinch of soil should be placed on the head while taking bath. This is a prayer for the presiding deity of  Durva.”let that deity remove all my sins. This is the best of all the purifying materials and radiant. It has numberless roots and sprouts and wards off bad dreams and accidents.

Mantra: kandath  kandath  prarohanthi  parushah  parushahpari   evano  durve  pratanu  sahasrena satenacha.

“O Durva! as it is your nature to sprout from every root and stem and spread out endlessly. Let us also propagate ourselves with hundreds and thousands of children and   grandchildren. The word ‘durva means that which destroys all sins.

Mantra: aswakranthe  rathakranthe  vishnukranthe  vasundhara  sirasa  dharayishyami  rakshswa  mam pade  pade.

“O pure Earth! The receptacle of many things, I wear you  on my head when I take my bath. So, kindly protect me while I go for my bath step by step. ”soil  stamped upon by a horse is very sacred. In the sacrifice called ‘agnichayana’ before collecting the soil for building the ‘ukha’, the horse is allowed to trample over it. After building, they smoke it with the hoofs of the horse. Then the soil is considered very   sacred. ’Rathakranthe’ is the soil over which  rathas  or chariots have sped. ‘Vishnukranthe’ is the soil which has been conquered by Lord Vishnu by one foot during his avatar as Vamana. So it becomes very sacred.

Mantra: Bhumir  dhenur  dharani  loka  dharini  udhruthasi  varahena  krishnena  satabahuna.

“O Earth! you have been retrieved  and saved by Lord  Maha Vishnu during his avatar as Varaha, wild boar with his dark hands during pralaya (the deluge). Like the Kamadhenu that fulfills all wishes, earth also fulfills the desires of all. Therefore it is called ‘dhenu’ As it is the source of all grains, it is called “dharani’ As it is the basis for all living beings it is called ‘lokadharini’.

Mantra: Mrutthike  hana  me papam  yanmaya  dushkrutam  krutham  mrutthike brahmadathasi  kasyape nabhi manthrita  mrutthike  dehime pushtim  thwayi  sarvam  prathishtitham.

“O Earth! Wash off all my sins due to my misdeeds! You have been stabilized by the Paramatma. You have warded off the sins of sage Kasyapa and others as they praised your qualities and took their bath. Following Him we recite your name and take our bath. Wash off our sins. Make us robust in health. All four types of living beings are established in you. So  make me ,your resident, strong and sturdy”

Mantra: mrutthike  prathishtithe  sarvam thanme  nirnuda mrutthike   thaya  hathena  papena gachchami  paramaam gathim.

O Earth! Destroy  all my sins. If my sins are warded off by you, the famous element, I will  attain emancipation or moksha. As all beings live on earth ,it is called “prathishtitha”.

Two mantras praying for”abhaya’(fearlessness) are described now:

Mantra: yataindra bhaya mahethto no abhayam  krudhi  maghavan chagdhi  thava  thanna  uthaye vidvisho  vimrutho  jahi.

O Indra! Protect us from the sins of which we are afraid. Similarly , let us not be afraid of hell and enemies. We do not merely ask for ‘abhaya’ but for the removal of the three sins. As we are your devotees  please destroy our enemies within and without.

Mantra: Swasthida visaspathir  vruthraha  vimruthovasi  vruushendrah purayetu nas  swasthida abhayankaraha.

Let Indra  come in advance and protect us as we go for a bath. The greatness and power of Indra is this: He grants happiness in the world below, and protects devotees. He killed the demon Vruthra. He controls enemies however strong they might be. He orders the cluster of clouds called “pushkara and  Avarth” and rains good over the earth. He grants happiness in the other world also. He grants fearlessness to one  and  all. As such he is capable of protecting  us proceeding to take our bath.

Mantra:  swasthina  indro vrudhassravaas  swasthinah  pushaa  viswa  vedaaha  swasthnas tharkshyo  arishtanemis  swasthino  bruhaspathir  dadhatu.

Let the greatly (abundantly) renowned Indra, the great jnani  Surya grant us happiness. Let Garuda, called  Arishtanemi and Bruhaspathi  ward off all our evils ,grant us happiness and protect us.

“nemi” is the hub of the wheel. One who has no impediment or obstacle to the progress of the wheel  is called  ‘arishtanemi’. Ie one who has unchallenged progress.

Prayer for paramatma:

Mantra:  brahma jagnanam prathamam purasthath dwisimathas surucho  vena  aavaha  sa budhniya upama asya  vishtaassthascha   yonimanathascha  vivaha.

Foremost among the devas, one who rises in the east as Surya, the great Paramatma has spread out all through the three worlds his self effulgence. It is He who makes all spaces, directions,akasa,vayu and others shine and work. Sruthi:”thasya bhasa sarva midam vibhathi” The whole universe shines because of the radiance of Paramatma.