The symbol for 'OM' does not occur in the Rig Veda (circa 1500 BCE). OM isn't mentioned in the Rig because there was no written text back then (archaic Sanskrit) - the symbol for OM was added much later.
It is found mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, (udgitha), which was obviously composed after the historical Buddha's passing. OM is alluded to in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra (pranava) (circa 200 BCE), and in the Bhagavad Gita (circa 100 CE). The Gita appeared later than the great movement represented by the early Upanishads. So, if OM had been known before 400 BCE, it would have been mentioned by the Buddha, Shakya the Muni. The symbol OM isn't really a bija mantra at all; bijas didn't come into use until the age of the tantrics (circa 100 CE). If you inspect the archaic Sankrit of the Rig Veda, you will not find the OM symbol. OM was addded to the text during the time of their arrangement by Pannini. For example, you won't find the bija mantra 'phat' in the Rig Veda either. So, how did we get the Pranava 'OM'? It's just the symbol of the Transcendent, an expression that was added after the age of Tantrism, after the invention of writing. OM is the mantra of assent. It means yes and affirms and energizes whatever we say after it. OM is NOT a tantric bija mantra. Obviously, there were no esoteric symbols in Sanskrit before writing! The first instance of writing in India occurs on the Sarnath Pillar erected by Asoka (circa 200 BCE). There is no OM symbol in the Saraswati Civilzation (circa 2400 BCE). OM is a verbal expression, not part of the original Gayatri Mantra. OM is not a primordial symbol - it is an invention of tantrics that was added later. OM is merely a salutation, just like 'Amen" is used in Hebrew. For example, there's no Amen expression in the Old Testament - it is added when the passage is recited, as an affirmation. On Sun, Oct 13, 2013 at 11:05 AM, Richard Williams <pundits...@gmail.com>wrote: > Everyone knows that the Adi Shankaracharya was an exponent of the Kevala > Advaita philosophy; Ramanuja of the Visishtadvaita; Madhvacharya of the > Dvaita; Vallabhacharya of the Suddhadvaita; and Nimbarkacharya of the > Dvaitadvaita. Be that as it may, it might be useful if we review the terms > sampradaya and parampara. Sometimes people get confused between the terms > 'parampara' and 'sampradaya'. > > The first term would be applied to SBS who was in an unbroken line of > succession from the Adi Shankaracharaya through Swami Krishnanda Saraswati. > However, this term, 'parampara', wouldn't be applied to MMY, since he was > not in the direct line of succession in the Shankaracharya tradition - MMY > was of the illustrious line of Yogis.. > > The term 'sampradaya' would be more accurate - that terms refers to the > 'tradition' to which MMY adheres or identifies with. > > So, I'd say that MMY would more correctly be identified with the Mantra > Yoga tradition. Anyone can become a teacher in any tradition they choose. > Although MMY may not have been a 'guru' in the 'parampara' of > Shankaracharaya, he was a teacher in the Mantra Yoga tradition. > > "The Sanskrit word literally means an uninterrupted series or > succession..." > > Parampara: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parampara > > "...by receiving an initiation (diksha) into a parampara of a living guru, > one belongs to its proper sampradaya." > > Sampradaya: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampradaya > > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 11:23 PM, <s3raph...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> ** >> >> >> Have you heard of the suggestion of some mantra meditation teachers that >> for a newbie the most beneficial idea is to do the the following: find a >> quiet space where you won't be disturbed; sit down and close your eyes; >> gently allow your thoughts to arise and fall without trying to control the >> flow. Eventually a sound will emerge. A sound that becomes dominant because >> it charms you and naturally draws your attention. If that gentle pulse >> establishes itself - let's say the sound "om" - then that should be your >> personal mantra. That's what you should use whenever you meditate. >> >> If you ponder this line of thinking, isn't it suggesting that this is >> what the original rishis did, way back when. Of course, when those rishis >> found and then followed their own favourite, personal sound - mantra - they >> suggested that very same mantra to any curious students as a suitable >> syllable. That's how the list of mantras was eventually established as >> venerable tradition. >> >> So, what I'm wondering: could it be good advice to give to would-be >> meditators today? Do just what those dim and distant pioneers did and find >> out for yourself your own personal syllable as thrown up by your >> subconscious. >> >> >> Yes, it's not for me. As an incurable romantic, I quite enjoy using a >> mantra that has pedigree - if it does the job and, as a bonus, conjures up >> images of naked sadhus on faraway mountain sides. But maybe the claim that >> one would be better off finding a unique syllable that is your very own key >> to higher states of consciousness has some merit. There are many people >> who learned TM and then (without telling anyone) replaced their >> TMO-approved mantra with something they felt was more congenial. >> >> >> ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <fairfieldlife@yahoogroups.com> >> wrote: >> >> Our Mantra Yoga tradition begins with the Lord Narayana, the first >> meditator, who thought the first thought and set in motion this science of >> sound vibration. The thought sounds or mantras were cognized in ancient >> India by the rishis, that is, the seers of the science of sound, the first >> psychic pioneers of consciousness. >> In the Mantra Yoga tradition the first yogi was Yajnavalkhya, who >> cognized the first bija mantra, and passed this teaching to his daughter >> Shakti. >> >> According to the Tantras, bija mantras are shorthand for a complete >> description of the universe in the mind of Sri Saraswati, the Goddess of >> Wisdom, Learning and Knowledge. So, sounds, ergo language, was the primal >> vibration of Vac, that is, the Lord of human speech, who formed the first >> bija mantras. >> >> In a long line of illustrious masters comes this Mantra Yoga tradition >> from Vasistha and Parashara. >> >> So, lets review the TMer sampradaya: >> >> The TM teachers puja to SBS clearly states the desciplic succession from >> Shakti via the Jyotirlinga hence to Badarayana, to Gauda, to Govinda, hence >> to Shankara, founder of the Jyotirmatha, hence to Trotaka and on down to >> Brahmanand Saraswati and hence to Shantanand, hence down to Vasudevananda >> Saraswati, the current Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. >> >> Narayana >> Padma Bhava >> Vasishtha >> Shakti >> Parashara >> Badarayana >> Shudadeva >> Gaudapapda >> Govinda >> Shankara >> Trotaka >> Brahmanand >> Shantanand >> Vishnudevananda >> Vasudevananda >> >> >> > >
