Do mantras and rituals really work?

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

Others say the Word was Christ!

Same thing. Christ is not the same as Jesus.

 

[Kirran]

Same thing. Christ is not the same as Jesus.

Well, I'm with you.

 

[Spirit_Warrior]

Hinduism unequivocally teaches that all that is created emanated and emanates from the divine sound (AUM) and its iterations--not that all are pleasant to experience. From AUM all originates; likewise, in the Bible we have, "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God." (Some Christians believe this Word to be referring to the Bible, but that is incorrect, of course.) Hinduism also teaches that the Name of God and God are one and the same.

@Kirran and others here, as well as myself, can decidedly attest to the efficacy of the practice and embrace of mantra (maan = mind; tra = beyond). Anybody who's gone to a great bhajan session or puja performed by a devotional and knowledgeable pujari knows that bhajan or puja will do one thing to our temple unit (body/mind et al), while a heavy metal concert will do quite another.

There is a bit of misconception about this. The pranava which is the primordial vibration that is reverberating at the background of the universe is not literally AUM or OM, rather the AUM/OM sound is the human approximation to that sound, because the sound is produced when you open and close the mouth, mimicking the creation, preservation and destruction cycle of the universe and also because OM contains all sounds, so it is symbolic of the supreme logos principle or shabd brahman which is the origin of all vibrations in this universe.

I definitely get your point of the difference between the sound vibrations at a temple and a rock convert, they definitely produce different affects. I get this much, but my question was different, I want to understand how specific mantras can lead to manifestation of specific effects like attaining more wealth, better grades, love and attraction if they are chanted. As this sounds very close to incantations or spells to cast magic.

Similarly, I want to understand how rituals work, like the various rituals performed by Vedic priests, like ashvamedha sacrifice was done by kings to attain prosperity for their kingdom. I really cannot understand how sacrificing a horse could lead to prosperity for a kingdom. Have you tried the fire sacrifices in your home, as it ever produced any real effects, other than the initial nice aromas?

 

[Kirran]

There is a bit of misconception about this. The pranava which is the primordial vibration that is reverberating at the background of the universe is not literally AUM or OM, rather the AUM/OM sound is the human approximation to that sound, because the sound is produced when you open and close the mouth, mimicking the creation, preservation and destruction cycle of the universe and also because OM contains all sounds, so it is symbolic of the supreme logos principle or shabd brahman which is the origin of all vibrations in this universe.

If when you say AUM you just mean the sound when it's spoken in conversation sure, but when you meditate on it and go into the deeper levels of the noise it's a fast-track to that totality.

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

Well, I'm with you.

tee hee, ditto Kirran

 

[Aupmanyav]

Similarly, I want to understand how rituals work, like the various rituals performed by Vedic priests, like ashvamedha sacrifice was done by kings to attain prosperity for their kingdom. I really cannot understand how sacrificing a horse could lead to prosperity for a kingdom. Have you tried the fire sacrifices in your home, as it ever produced any real effects, other than the initial nice aromas?

That is a later belief. Ashwamedha yajna was not for prosperity of kingdoms and no horse was sacrificed. That is a wrong belief. Aroma from a yajna is important in the same way as the sound in the mantra is. (Aroma therapy)

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

That is a later belief. Ashwamedha yajna was not for prosperity of kingdoms and no horse was sacrificed. That is a wrong belief. Aroma from a yajna is important in the same way as the sound in the mantra is. (Aroma therapy)

Right, horse is not slaughtered in ashwamedha yajna. Likewise, engaging all six senses in puja and worship (smell [incense], taste [prasad], touch [akshata, etc.], sight [murtis] and hearing [bells, bhajan, mantra] i.e, the five senses in mundane, plus the one in "other") is to train them to appreciate more subtle experiences than the mundane. Ego often resists this training until it is subjugated to one's soul/divinely-guided will. Later, it almost cannot stand the cacophony of mundane assaults on the senses. This "cannot stand/rejection" of the expression of lila in all its manifestations must also be conquered.

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

There is a bit of misconception about this. The pranava which is the primordial vibration that is reverberating at the background of the universe is not literally AUM or OM, rather the AUM/OM sound is the human approximation to that sound, because the sound is produced when you open and close the mouth, mimicking the creation, preservation and destruction cycle of the universe and also because OM contains all sounds, so it is symbolic of the supreme logos principle or shabd brahman which is the origin of all vibrations in this universe.

I definitely get your point of the difference between the sound vibrations at a temple and a rock convert, they definitely produce different affects. I get this much, but my question was different, I want to understand how specific mantras can lead to manifestation of specific effects like attaining more wealth, better grades, love and attraction if they are chanted. As this sounds very close to incantations or spells to cast magic.

Similarly, I want to understand how rituals work, like the various rituals performed by Vedic priests, like ashvamedha sacrifice was done by kings to attain prosperity for their kingdom. I really cannot understand how sacrificing a horse could lead to prosperity for a kingdom. Have you tried the fire sacrifices in your home, as it ever produced any real effects, other than the initial nice aromas?

Namaste, Spirit_Warrior
May I propose this as an answer to at least your first paragraph's question? Since you already understand that the Divine Sound creates all that is created, it is not a huge leap to grok that he who has the knowledge of sound vis a vis how to intone and "manipulate" the vibration of sounds can, with God's consent (~anumanta), create and/or modify "things and universes" just like God does--whether it ultimately manifests in the gross or more subtle realms--remember, it is all appearance of differentiation, anyway.

Also, as one imbibes and "becomes one with/self-identifies with Self" more and more of the vibration/energy inherent in properly chanted mantra, the qualities of the deity whose Name one is chanting manifests in one's instruments (beauty, skill, wealth, etc). As you know, eventually said practice can even result in attaining the likeness of the deity (sarupya mukti).

As in all things spiritual, suspending doubt and bringing a bolus of faith to the project is not only advised but a requirement. Without that, one's date with the deity will be utterly fruitless--a disappointment to both of You.