M A N T R A S

One of the forms of prayers is Mantra. It is defined as–“Mananen trayte iti” that which protects us by constant pondering. Mantras need not necessarily have a meaning. Mantras are so designed that they create certain vibrations in our body whether we are listening to them or whether we are reciting them ourselves. Since they are effective with the vibrations, they cannot be translated into any other language. They are like proper nouns, which have to be same irrespective of language. This also gives an open invitation for others to devise their own Mantras if they can. There is no bar. Only condition is that test your Mantra thoroughly for positive effect and early results for your own benefit.

Negative effects of vibrations are well known to all. Vibrations caused by noise, aeroplanes, bombs & earthquakes play havoc in our lives. Similarly the soothing vibrations received through patting, rocking, good music, and melodious voices of good speakers, singers, breeze etc, which affect us positively. They comfort us, calm us, put us to sleep and refresh us. They bring even a morose* to life. If simple vibrations can do so much good to us, imagine, what miracles properly designed mantra can do for us!

Let us now come to one of the important mantras. The most important is the monosyllable – Aum. Aum is so designed to generate vibrations, which originate at the navel and climb up the spinal cord to reach up to the medulla oblongata and the brain, which controls all functions and actions of our body.

“Tasya Vachakha Pranavah”, so says ‘Patanjali’ in the ‘Yoga-Sutra’. It means ‘Oum’ is the address of God. It actually throws light on God. It is the indicator of place of God, the real self i.e.“ the Brahman”.

Interestingly, navel is the main and the first source of energy in the beginning of any mammal’s life. In the mother’s womb, when the embryo comes to life, it is the umbilical cord connected to the navel that gives us the life sustaining juices and the oxygen or the ‘Pran’

This chanting really kindles the dormant energy lying at the base of the torso and at the end of the spinal cord. It travels upwards during the vibrations and finally reaches the brain spreading the light everywhere within.

To feel the vibrations, one can do a simple exercise during the chanting of “Aum”. Close your ears by both the hands, palms blocking the ears and the thumbs touching the rear side of the neck, wherein lies the medulla oblongata, other fingers going upwards closely touching the skull. Close your eyes. Continue the chant. You can feel the vibrations coming up, if Aum is chanted in the bass tone.

Similarly, interesting is the pictorial depiction of the ‘Oum’

Consider the human head, a side view of the respiratory as well as the food track, which is shown in any science textbook.

1. The upper pallet of the mouth

2. The throat & the respiratory track, leading to lungs.

3. The tongue.

4. The lower jaw

5. The vibrations depicted thus.

The fifth part that denotes vibrations, which follow the nasal, sound that fills the brain cells.

These vibrations bring the brain cells to an order like a magnet. Once all the cells are aligned in a particular way, the confusion in the mind/brain melts away. The darkness, which represents the confusion, is done away with and the brain is filled with light – a soothing light. With all the cells aligned in one single order, a tremendous clarity of thoughts is achieved. This enables a balanced view of any event or happening. This balanced view and perspective is called ‘Samadhi’. ‘Sama’ means equal or balanced; ‘Dhi’ means ‘Budhhi’, that is intellect.

This is a state that is desirable and retainable throughout the life. It must be clarified here that Samadhi is not the end of life, as generally people believe. This is the state in which we should ideally lead out life. It’s the state of permanent bliss.

Closing the senses, listening and seeing inwards, turns the sensory nerves inwards, so that you start seeing within the listening to yourself, which is the most desirable exercise in this ‘Sadhana’ that is the self-study. *

‘Tani sarvani sayamya yukta aasit matparah,

Vashe hi yasya indriyani tasya pradnya pratisthita ||’

--Bhagvadgeeta--

Let us now have a look at our body what could possibly happen inside.

Hypothalamus is a small area at the base of the brain. It plays a key role in regulating the body’s general level of activity. The hypothalamus helps control the autonomic nervous system that regulates such involuntary body processes as breathing and heart rate. The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary glands, the so-called master gland of the body’s endocrine (hormone producing) system.

Certain part of the hypothalamus regulates body temperature, breathing, sleep, hunger, thirst, urination, sexual drives and emotions. Other portions produce hormones called releasing hormones or releasing factors. These releasing hormones travel in the blood steam directly to the anterior lobe (front part) of the pituitary gland and control the secretion of individual pituitary hormones. The pituitary hormones in turn affect many of the body’s endocrine glands. These glands secrete hormones that influence growth, sexual development and the metabolic rate.

Pituitary Gland:

Is one of the body’s most important glands. It secretes a number of hormones, which control a wide range of body functions. The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea and lies under the brain near the center of the skull. The pituitary rests in bony depression. A short stalk connects it to the hypothalamus a part of the brain. The pituitary is sometimes called the hypophysis.

The pituitary has two main sections – the anterior lobe and the posterior lone. The anterior lobe secretes several hormones. Four of these hormones control the secretions of other hormones producing glands.

The four hormones and the glands they control are:

Hormones Glands

ACTH Adernocorticotrophic Adrenal

FSH Follicle – Stimulating Sex glands

TSH Thyroid Stimulating Thyroid

GH Growth Hormones

The exterior lobe of the pituitary also produces growth hormones that regulate the growth of the children and adolescents. The GH also controls the rate or metabolism. Prolactin, is a hormone that causes milk to be produced in the nursing mothers.

ATCH: is an abbreviation of the name of a chemical substance adreno corticotrophic hormone. This hormone is produced stored and released into the blood by the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ that lies at the base of the brain.

ATCH is necessary for the normal growth and function of the adrenal glands,two organs located on top of the kidneys. ACTH stimulates adrenal glands to secrete various hormones including a group called glucocorticoids, which regulate the use of digested fold and help the body adjust to stress.

Normally the pituitary releases high levels of ACTH in the morning and low levels at night. Physical or mental stress disruption of one’s normal sleeping habits can change this pattern. Disturbances in the production or release of ACTH can cause severe illness.

Doctors use ACTH in the treatment of certain illness and of inflammation. ACTH used for medical purposes is obtained either synthetically or from the pituitary glands of animals.

Gland is a tissue or organ that produces and releases a useful chemical substance –

Endocrine - release secretion into blood – ductless.

Exocrine - release secretion into small ducts.

Endocrine glands secrete chemical substances called hormones, which travel through the blood to all parts of the body. After the hormone reaches its target it causes action to occur. Hormones regulate such body processes as growth development and reproduction. Hormones also co-ordinate the body’s responses to the stress and help keep the chemical composition of the blood within normal range. Hormones regulate the metabolism – the process by which the body turns food into energy and living tissue.

Most endocrine glands are organs and produce one or more hormones.

The pituitary gland is one of the most important – endocrine glands. It consists of two parts, the anterior lone and the posterior lobe.

The anterior lobe release hormones that regulate the secretions of many other endocrine glands.

For this reason, the pituitary is some times called the master gland of the endocrine system

The anterior lobe of the pituitary is controlled by a part of the brain known as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus secretes releasing hormones, which cause anterior lobe to discharge its hormones.The hypothalamus consists of nervous tissue. It forms the main link between the body’s endocrine and nervous systems.

Gland	Secretion	Function of Secretion
Hypothalamus	ACT Releasing Hormone Growth H. , ,, or RH Gonaditeopin,, ,, ,, Thyrotropin. – RH – Prolactine inhibiting H.	Stimulates secretion of ACTH by Anterior Pituitary. ,, - GH ,, - ,, - FSH & LH ,, - controls secretion of prolactive.
Pituitary gland of Anterior to be	ACTH FSH Luteinzing Hormone Thyrotropin or Thyoroid – S.H. Prolactin BH Endrophius Melanocyte SH.	Stimulates secretion various hormones by adrenal cortex. -, - Growth of ovaries follicles and several ferrous tubules. Stimulates secretion of Hormones by ovaries and tests. Stimulate secretion of Thyroxin by Thyroid glands – Rate of Metabolism. -, - Production of Milk. -, - Body growth regulates. ACTS on Central Nervous System.

The hypothesis:

As we have seen in the beginning of the article that vibrations do have some effect on the surroundings. If that were so one cannot exclude the possibility of vibrations of a mantra like ‘Om’ having some effect on the glands close to the passage through which the vibrations travel.

See for example the figure below:

It is seen here that the vibrations of ‘Om’ travel upward through the trachea and the nasal passage before finally coming out. The cavity, which holds the pituitary gland attached to, the hypothalamus is very close to the passage through which the vibrations travel.

After a continuous practice of more than three decades of chanting ‘Om’ daily one is inclined to think indeed there has to be some likely relation between chanting of “om” and the gland that is located so close to the path the vibrations take.

In turn the constant good health, both physical and mental, (touch wood) that I have enjoyed through out from the beginning of practice of chanting Om regularly also makes me strongly believe that it is the “Om”kar that has helped.

Could it be that it has helped through this rout by moving and activating the pituitary and the hypothalamus with the subtle vibrations generated while chanting ‘Om’ in the daily practice over last 38 years?

I must share with you that till the age of 13 I was the weakest child amongst four brothers with a nickname ‘roti surat’ “crying face”. I had no strength to lift a cricket bat. Naturally I was the Jhadu wala (sweeper) of the team. From that condition I was able to develop myself to climb the first Himalayan peak 22490’ above sea level at the age of 26.Thereafter I was able to continue climbing even up to the age of 44 when I climbed another peak above 20,000’ along with my junior friends who were 18 years younger. Then I also ran to complete a marathon run not withstanding the fact that I had lost all the toes of right foot in the very first mountaineering expedition,and a triathlon race even at the age of 39.All this is stated only to confirm that there was a distinct change in my life from the time I started on this path with full faith.

Prakash Tendulkar

FA&CAO (W&S) Western Railway

Churchgate.

E-mail address: pstendulkar@yahoo.com