How mantras are useful

From the time immemorial to the mankind, they have been practicing various mystical, tantrical and mantrical methods to achieve or fulfill their desires. Desires vary from man to man. One is in need of wealth, another is in need of health and still another is in need of worldly comforts including sexual desires. Desires have no limit. We are all forced to take recourse to various short cut method for accomplishment of desires.

Meditation, mantras being a few methods among them. While meditation is the art of concentration of mind, mantra is the art of sound vibrations. 

MANASIKA [ uttering through mind without moving the lips ] has been considered to be the best recitation technique. But a few do not agree with this. As they feel that mantra is the art of sound vibrations, recitation should be done loudly. When we utter the sounds loudly, our entire body starts vibrating and the more beneficial effect is that our attention is not diverted and we are completely engulfed in the mantras. 

But why mantras are kept secret? In this material world people at large are of destructive mind, selfish and do the acts through which they can gain, may others suffers, so if the mantras are not kept secret, others may adopt it and misuse. So mantras are to be kept secret. 

If at the time of japa someone is sitting by your side, then recite in a UPANSU [ it is a method where japa is done very slowly so that no body can hear it. Only lip movement should be there ] or MANSIC JAPA [ the japa carried out only in the heart without any sound or lip movement ]. But if you need to recite the mantra loudly then choose a lonely place where you are alone. 

For successful accomplishment of mantra sidhi practitioner must follow the following codes. 

• Take bath with water before the commencement of recitation. 

• Use correct asana 

• Use correct mudra 

• Wear the correct coloured clothes

• Recitation should be done in front of your favourite deity.

• Lit oil lamp and incenses.

• Offer flowers, banana, coconut and other eatables to the idol of deity before and after recitation.

• Keep a separate place for recitation.

• Take vegetarian food. 

• Observe brahmcharaya throughout the period of recitation. 

Recite the mantras with clarity, correct pronunciation and by giving pause between words. Don't be in hurry. Keep it a point that before the commencement of recitation think in your mind the purpose for which you are performing the sadhana. Mantras inflicting injury or harm to another and infatuation should be used only in a rare case. There is always danger of anti effect to self on these two types of mantras. Use rosary[ mala ] for counting.