Shaktanand Tarangani

    Hope all of you enjoyed whatever you did during Navratra just as one did in ones sadhna routine. While going through Shaktananad Tarangani, written by Parivrajakacharya Paramhamsa Teerthavdhoot Srimad Brahmanandgiriji and published by Kalyan Mandir Prakashan, Alopi Bagh, Prayag, one found many useful hints which can be of help.  They are being shared here with all the readers with a hope that benefits can be reaped from them.

    Mahamaya is of two kinds. One is called Vidya, which frees us from snares; and the other is Avidya, which drags us back into the world.

    Without Diksha one cannot get Moksha. There can be no Yog without a mantra and no mantra without Yog.

    As an object lying in a dark room can be seen with the help of light, in the same manner ones atma can be perceived by the light of our mantra. Hence by the age of sixteen one should be initiated.

     In 'GU RU', 'G' is the provider of Sidhi's while 'R' is the destroyer of sins, while O-kaar represents Sadashiv. In the tatnra shastra, it is written that a brahmin even if not following any achaar can be taken as a guru. It is also said that if a person delves in wrong doings all the time but the moment he takes diksha from a brahmin, all his sins are burnt , he achieves many sidhis and acquires divinity. In Navratneshwar, it is written that the end result of all kinds of dikhas is Moksha. As per Gurudiksha Tantra, it is said that even if a person's body perishes mantra will especially keep on following him/her to the next life. So we must take a mantra for our initiation.

     Bakul, Peepal and Vat (Banyan tree), these three trees are called Patra (leaf) Ratna (precious stone). Banyan tree leaf is used to write Shakti mantra, Peepal tree leaf is used for Vishnu mantra while Bakul tree leaf is used for Shiva mantra. Red sandal powder should be used to write Shakti manra, Malayagiri sandal powder be used for writing Vishnu mantra while Bhasm (ashes) should be used for writing Shiva mantra. One should use seven leaf from such trees to write mantra on them. Then one should do pran pritishtha of that very devta on them and perform poojan with five different things. After poojan, one should give one leaf with mantra written on it to his Guru who has to repeat that mantra 108 times sitting facing east. The disciple should sit in front face west. If the disciple is a man, the guru should chant the mantra three times in his right ear and one time in the left ear and if the disciple is a woman, or kshudra, then same is to be repeated three times in the left ear and one time in the right ear. After this the disciple should perform achman, nyas and repeat the mantra 108 times. After that guru should again chant the mantra 8 (eight) times in left ear of the disciple. Such is the method explained in various tantras. After that the disciple should pay dakshina to his guru and perform dandwat pranam (prostrate with full body on the ground). 

    When we want to perform tarpan with mantra various materials are used. Honey should be used for tarpan of Shakti mantras, camphor mixed water for Vishnu mantra and milk for Shiva mantra.

    As per Shivtantra, it is said that by praising one divinity, all are praised simultaneously. The divinities are not affected by our dual bhavas, of a sadhak, as they are beyond it. But when we speak ill of them, the divinities, then bad karmas are accrued by us and, because of it, makes us follow the path to Narka (Hell).

    It is said Devi's heart is so soft that it melts just by seeing her bhakta in trouble. She is the provider of both Bhog (enjoyment) and Moksha (salvation). Hence one should with effort perform poojan of  shakti.

    While doing poojan of Devi, one should use gold or silver rings. A gold ring should always be worn on the ring finger, while a silver ring should always be worn on the forefinger, One does not need to wear a Kusha ring during shakti poojan or jap.

    Tarpan of Ishta Devta should be done 25 times. But it can also be done 10 or 3 three times.

    As per Gandharva Tantra, it is said since Gayatri mantra provides final traan or moksha, that is why it is called Gayatri. One who has committed a great sin, chants it for even ten times, he is absolved of his wrong doing. If he chants it for 108 times then he is cleared of the sin and also cleansed to undertake poojan of the Divine.    

    One should never do poojan while standing in a river. Even if we are standing, we should mentally sit on our asan and then perform the poojan.

    While doing Devi poojan at night, face North and during the day face East. While doing Shiva poojan one can always face North. 

     It is said that divinity (God) always resides in a Shaligram, Fire, Water, Mani (gem), in our mind and in a flower. Hence there is no need to invite it into these things during poojan.

    When the breath flows through the right nostril, at that time Vidya is asleep and hence no jap should be done. When the left nostril is working, at that time Vidya is awake and mantra should be chanted or repeated. If we put 'Eem' beej in front and back of the mantra during jap, at that time sleep of bhagwati is disrupted and she arises.

    One should  cir-cum-ambulate Shiva half (one should not cross over the jalhari), Shakti once, Ganesha three times, Vishnu four times and Surya (Sun) seven times. 

     Padya is to be offered at both the feet with 'Padyoh Namah', Arghya is to be offered on the forehead with 'arghya swaha',  achmani should offered in the mouth with 'Achmaniyam Swadha', Madhupark should be offered with 'Madhuparka swadha', water for bath should be offered with 'Snaniyam Namah', and fragrance be offered with 'Gandah Namah'.

    Bilv, Ashok, Bargad, Kadamb, Ghintika, Champak, Vishva, Mango, Rudraksha, Karnikar; wherever these trees are seen one should fold hands with bowed head as Yoginis reside on these trees. 

    Whenever one sees a group of ladies, Ekling, cremation ground or a lady wearing red clothes one should mentally bow down. Whenever we see a black cat, rooster, hawk, jackal etc one should immediately bow down, as they are the forms of Kali. Just on hearing the noises made by jackal one should mentally bow down. By doing this all the obstructions are removed.

    Thanks to all the readers and followers who keep returning to the blog reading various articles and thus by their inspiration does one share various interesting things.
~Mother Be Praised!~  
               Om! Shaktanand.