Tantra Sāra 1.030 and 1.031
[samāsavyāsayōgēna vyāhr̥tyādīnāṁ catuṣṭayam। satyaṁ cāṅgāni tārasya prōcyantē aṣṭākṣarasya ca। kruddhamahāvīra dyusahasrasahitōlkakāḥ ॥30॥]
caturthyantā hr̥dādīni pr̥thagrūpāṇi tāni ca। viṣṇōrēvātyabhēdēpi tadaiśvaryāt tadanyavat ॥31॥
"BhurBhuvavahSvah" - is the combined vyahriti; "Buhu", "Bhuvaha", and "Suvaha" are the divided vyahrtis. These four, along with the word 'Satya', are used for the Taraka mantra (Ōm), for instilling deity in body parts, starting from heart. For pronouncing the eight letter mantra (Ōm Namō Nārāyanāya), the divine forms the lord Vishnu, Krudha (angry), Mahā (the great), Vīra (Valorous), Dyu (luminous), Sahasra (thousand), in conjunction with 'ulka', i.e. shooting star are used. These forms are non-different from His opulence, or Him.
Traditional method of meditating on a mantra:
The sound of 'Mantra' is not just a simple sound, but is the sound that eternally exists and reverberates in the universe. By meditating on a 'mantra', the devotee tries to connect with that sound, and in turn, the force and the deity governing that sound. Usually, the meaning of the mantra is not explained, as it is beyond the grasp of the language. It is believed, by meditating on the 'mantra' the Mantra itself will reveal its form to the seeker. So meditation is a divine activity where the seeker invokes the divine. Hence, there is a preparatory process that is traditionally followed to make the mind and the body ready to receive the divine energy.
It is customary to perform
'anganyasa', i.e. instilling the deity in various parts of the body before starting the meditation. Specifically, for Pranva mantra (
Ōm), the five body parts are touched and purified by invoking the divine with the following mantras:
- Ōm Bhūhu, Hrudayāya namaha (touching the heart)
- Ōm Bhuvaha, Shirasē svāha (touching the top of the head)
- Ōm Suvaha, Shikhāyai aushat (touching the upper back of the head, where the tuft used to be!)
- Ōm Bhūrbhuvah Svaha, Kavachāya hūm (touch shoulders making a crossed armour)
- Ōm Satyam, Astrāya phat (clap with a feeling the weapon is discharged for protection of the meditation)
For eight letter mantra (
Ōm Namō Nārāyanāya), the five body parts are touched and purified by invoking the divine with the following mantras:
- Krodholkaya, Hrudayāya namaha (touching the heart)
- Maholkaya, Shirasē svāha (touching the top of the head)
- Verolkaya, Shikhāyai aushat (touching the upper back of the head, where the tuft used to be!)
- Dyulkaya, Kavachāya hūm (touch shoulders making a crossed armour)
- Sahasrolkaya, Astrāya phat (clap with a feeling the weapon is discharged for protection of the meditation)