Introduction

This is blog one of five blogs. Om Divine Grace Yoga comprises of four sections. The next four blogs will separately in detail expound on each of the four sections. Om Divine Grace Yoga sections have been written about and discussed in different parts my five previous books. This material is also available on this in the site. However now all this material is here reviewed, revised, and commented on, with the purpose of creating a workbook. A small book that will be published later That book(let) will be a spiritual practitioner reference source and guide for those interested in exploring this pathway.

The commentary will further enable the practitioner to complete a pathway leading to Enlightenment or Self-realization, There is no intent to promote this pathway above, beyond, or superior any other spiritual practice. It is simply a means that could be Divinely useful if I followed. it is also a system based on traditional and ancient spiritual and religious practices from the East. Interestingly, some of the components, such as Mantra use, Kundalini, and Chakras have become embedded in Westernized, spiritual practice to a point where they are not necessarily identified as belonging to a religion e.g. Hinduism.

When the blogs are all available, the order will be back to front. If you’re inclined jump 1st to blog 1 and work through to blog 5

Om Divine Grace Yoga

Incorporating

Devi Shakti Marg

देवी  शक्ति  मार्ग

Devī (Sanskrit: देवी), is the Sanskrit word for Goddess;

Shakti approximately means “power/energy”, in Hindu philosophy and theology.

Shakti is understood to be the active dimension of the goddess

Mārga, (मार्ग), refers to the “course” or “pathway”.

The Om Divine Grace Yoga “course” or “pathway” consists of four components:

• MANTRA YOGA

Using mantras for Enlightenment.

The mantra seeks to make our enlightenment a practical experience.

Something we can do through the body and mind down to the tips of our toes and through all emotional mental and physical states.

The type of mantra that will work requires that we understand the Chakra centres of our body.

• KUNDALINI YOGA

Kundalini as the “serpent” energy flows up and down between the body centres.

In Sanskrit these are called Chakras, which translates as “wheel”.

It’s a centre that takes in and gives out energy

Traditionally there are mantra like sounds associated with the chakras, plus there are “secret” Bija, (seed), mantras.

The Bija mantras allow access to the energy of the chakras to move negative energy up and out of the body. Also then Divine energies move down to the specific chakra that is being focused upon.

This focus is achieved with specific Bija mantras or seed mantras for Each chakra.

• SHAKTI YOGA

The seed mantras are allied to the Goddess Energy and to the spiritual path of Shakti, (Divine Energy seen as female in presentation).

They are in essence Tantric mantras. The word Tantra means: “go out into the world”, or “to weave’”. Tantra Yoga simply is about applying the spiritual processes, so as to be out in the world instead of seeking introspection.

By using seed mantras which relate both to specific Shakti forms, and to a chakra, we can infuse our yoga practice throughout the whole body.

As we meditate on all the chakras and their Shakti connection, we release the negative power and receive the Divine power.

(Tantric mantras can produce awakening of the Kundalini, the primal energy of Shakti).

• SIDDHA YOGA

The spiritual journey is open to anyone at any time. There are no rules which say you must have a guide, a teacher or a guru. The word guru means “one who leads from darkness to light”. A guru must be already in the light to be able to reach out and help others to attain the same illumination. A guru can only affect others to the degree of that guru’s own achievement. An enlightened guru can be a Siddha Guru.  Siddha means: “with full yogic powers”.

The spiritual aspirant will submit the dross, the mundane, and the un-enlightened mentality for the guru’s inspection. The guru prescribes the “medicine” and the aspirant then moves on to the next stage – whether to take the “medicine” or not.

When the guru is approached in the appropriate manner, then the guru becomes the means for rapid progress on the spiritual journey. A  Sat Guru is One Enlightened in Truth Awareness, and is therefore a Siddha. This knowledgeable awareness can be “transmitted” by the Sat Guru to a student, by subtle means that are not easily understood by a novice. In Sanskrit the word for this transmission is Shakti-Paat,which isthe transmission of Shakti energy by the Sat Guru to awaken the Kundalini.  In Hinduism and Buddhism this energy transference is known to also awaken the “third eye”, and allows the sleeping Kundalini force to rise up through the spine with a serpent like movement.

You can choose your cat to be your guru, indeed as you can choose any person as a teacher. However if you wanted to learn to fly a jumbo jet would you take lessons from a bus driver? The importance of finding a Sat Guru may be overlooked or ignored in haste to develop one’s spiritual experience within a short term timeframe. (Rather than looking at the need for a long-term, solid, and productive pathway).

Processes occurring as a result of practice of the four Yogas – as above

The spiritual growth may at times seem to increase negative emotions.

When the chakras are awakened the negative energies within them “come out”.

The tendency is that addictions, fear, depression, and anxiety etc. can bubble to the surface, and could thus create apparent problems. (Eventually though these are eliminated through the Crown Chakra at the top of the head).

This is a clearing process, but it can seem difficult – temporarily.

It can be also problematic if a person practices Tantric Kundalini awakening, (& perhaps uses seed mantras), without guidance. Mental disturbance can ensue.

Mantra used with Chakras

This is the fundamental practice underlying Om Divine Grace Yoga

The top most chakra, the Crown Chakra, (and also the Ajna Chakra between the eyes), is allied to the “bench mark” mantra AUM or OM, which is also a seed mantra. The prime mantra of them all!

OM is not specific to female/male energy.

This is the sound of the universe, the Cosmic Soul, that transcends everything. It is theoretically the key mantra for renunciate monks, or Sannyasins, as is enhances focus on the formless, transcendent to the world and human life. Using it on its own one can achieve awareness or knowledge of the formless God/Higher Power/Cosmic Consciousness.

In descending order after the crown plus the “third eye” chakra, comes the energy of Sarasvati, (the Goddess of learning) and is based in the throat.

Then the Maya energy in the heart chakra. Maya or Mahamaya as the Goddess, is the loci of our illusion, the world and the created universe. Seems real! Then seems to change, then vanish. Our dreams disappear. Our lives disappear! It’s real enough to the unenlightened person, but really we are not solid bodies at all! (Check Quantum physics, plus the scientific perspective regarding the atom “dance” of so-called solid matter).

Next chakra is associated with the Goddess of wealth, in the navel area, extending around the stomach area. Lakshmi is the Goddess energy associated here. This energy includes also sexual and blissful elements.

Then the two lower chakras are associated with the sexual energies and also the “dark” Goddess Kali

Sahasraram  Chakra            Crown Cakra – OM

Ajna Chakra                          3rd eye – OM

Vishuddha Chakra                Throat Chakra -Aim

Anahata Chakra                    Heart Chakra – Hrim

Manipura Chakra                 Solar plexus  Chakra – Srim

Svadhisthana Chakra           “Sex” Chakra – Krim

Muladhara Chakra               “Sex”  Chakra  – Klim

The repetition, (Japa), of these Bija mantra, is allied specific to each chakra. This method is not found easily in the ancient traditions, and is quite a secret teaching!

Om or AUM has always been associated with the third eye or the spot between the eyebrows even when it has not been associated with Kundalini energy or chakras. It is also connected to the Crown Chakra, especially when the sound “trails off “ into a long “Mmm”  AH is also  for the Crown Chakra, but practitioners of OM chanting may wish to focus on the final drawn out “M” sound of OM, trailing out of the crown and then out to the ether. This is a very powerful meditation, which may not come easily until other centres have been purified using other sounds.

OM is thus the most well know and expansive of the Bija mantras as it leads into the “soundless” space, to formless Samadhi. (Deepest meditation without thought forms). It can cause the Shakti energy to surge upward and outward beyond the Kundalini Chakras. It is a domain where there is a subtle vibration that signifies the Transcendental Divinity. Om proceeds from deep down in the body at the level of the stomach and moves up towards the chakra between the eyebrows, and terminates with what is called the Chandrabindu, (“the point on the moon”). This is shown above the M letter like a quarter moon with a dot above it. The M sound moves into a subtle vibration and ends with that dot which is one with the Divine.

Other Bija mantras also end with the Chandrabindu.  However their meanings are somewhat complex, because it is necessary to understand their connection with the energy form of Shakti in a specific chakra.

The seed mantras are part of Tantric lore, Goddess worship, Shakti/ Kundalini energy in a broad sense. Thus the seed mantras should also be considered in terms of both external focussed meditation and for the “reverse” flow of energy back down the body through the chakras. This is an essential concept of Tantra and helps spirituality to be also external life based.

OM

Aim, Hrim, Srim, Krim, Klim

Om (Source of all)

AIM – (pronounce Aiim), the Bija mantra of Saraswati, the goddess of learning.

HRIM (pronounced Hreem) is is the mantra of the Divine Maya. Through it we can control the illusion power of our own minds. Mahamaya, is the goddess of power over the created universe (of illusion).

SHRIM (pronounced Shreem) is a mantra of love, devotion and beauty, relating to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Beauty and Divine Grace, who gives us the good things of life, including health. It aids in fertility and rejuvenation. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth (in its broadest sense).

KRIM (pronounced Kreem) is the great mantra of Kali, has a special power relative to the lower chakras, which it can both stimulate and transform. It a main mantra of the Tantra. It should be used with care. Kali, the fierce goddess, has the power to destroy.

KLIM – (pronounce Kliim), the Bija mantra of Kameshwari, the goddess of desire or contentment and satisfaction.

OM AIM HRIM SHRIM KRIM KLIM (In that order)

These seed mantras could be used for personal wish or desire gratification. In Tantric views this is not necessarily “bad’ – just practice at a base level. Ultimately in the Tantric view, such diversions are temporary, as the repetition of mantra will always want to lead to the high purified spiritual levels. At such levels one is moved more into the heart and higher chakras, and the Divine etheric space, above and around. Then the mantras of choice would change.

OM or SOHAM are preferred.

Soham:  So, signifies God or Guru, and Hum signifies oneself. Repetition is an acknowledgement of one’s essential oneness with God and one’s spiritual teacher. It is to be repeated as one takes a breath in for the first part, and as one exhales for the second. It is also to be repeated when one is already in a quiet calm space, which may require use of other spiritual exercises. With this mantra one can enter into an extremely deep transcendental calmness. The process of repetition with awareness of breath and deep meditation practice is the path of perfection – the Siddha Yoga. 

Summary of Sanskrit terms used.

What is Bija Mantra? Bija means seed. “The Bija mantras are one-syllable seed sounds that, when said aloud, activate the energy of the chakras in order to purify and balance the mind and body. To truly understand the transformative power of Bija mantras, we need to realize that any form of sound in the universe is vibrational energy. Human speech or words is also a combination of sound waves each of which resonates at specific vibrational frequencies. According to ancient Indian texts, the whole universe was created through cosmic (sound) energy which was then followed by heat and light energy and eventually life forms. So sound vibrations are intimately connected to our Pranaor “life energy”.

What is a Chakra? In Sanskrit, chakra translates as “wheel”. These “wheels” can be thought of as vortexes that both receive and radiate energy. There are 7 major chakras, in the human body. They run from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Emotions, physical health, and mental clarity affect how well each chakra can filter energy. This in turn dictates how pure the energy is that’s emitted from different regions of the body.

Kundalini and Shakti. Otherwise known as the serpent power, Kundalini is considered to be like a coiled snake of energy at the base of the spine when dormant. When awakened, it arises in a sinuous movement through the center of the spine to the crown of the head, through the chakras.

Shakti is also considered to be the universal energy or Goddess energy, the creative force of the Divine. In one sense the masculine aspect is the transcendental and the female is the creation. It does depend on which school of thought of philosophy one reads. For some there is only one unified being, and the world is Maya – illusion. Those who are devotees of the Goddess, see the journey within the manifested world as the way to liberation or higher consciousness. This does involve partaking of all the world offers. This is the true meaning of Tantra, the spiritual acceptance of the external reality, and all its temptations. (And of course, it’s sufferings)!

Other yoga paths are: Gyana, Bhakti, Karma, Raja Yoga. (The yoga paths of Knowledge, Devotion, Service. Plus the “King” path of Raja Yoga).

About Paramhansa Ganesh Giri – Author of Om Divine Grace Yoga

In my younger years, from 1976, I was a monk in India for 10 years. (Ganesh Giri Paramhansa). Four previous books written prior to 2022.

I write & talk about Yoga, Mantras, Kundalini, and Gurus.

I was born in England in 1947 – Raymond Pattison

Previous books under that name. (Amazon etc.)

I have been a Mental Health Practitioner since 1980.

My Spiritual Practice & use of Mantras has helped to lead me towards mental, physical & spiritual health.

Get Mantra information & more on my web/blog site:www.goddessmantra.guru

Also:

Om Divine Grace podcasts

Mantra Guru-Raymond YouTube – for Kundalini tutorials.

I believe that Divine Grace has got me where I am, & now guides me, & inspires the writing. I share my experience & knowledge as a service, whilst respecting others beliefs, & what may work best

My, (Raymond Pattison), books are in paperback & ebooks:

English-Man, Beggar-Man, Holy-Man

My journey overland to India in 1976, & my 10 years there a monk

Divine Grace Journey

The post-India years spiritual journey plus teachings

.Goddess Inspired – Collected Writings

Om Divine Grace

Just the India Years plus early teachings.

The Transcendental Guru by Paramhansa Ganesh Giri

A different perspective!

MY MANTRA ART:

https://fineartamerica.com/art/raymond+pattison

Mantra for Enlightenment from:

mantraguru.raymond@gmail.com