POWERFUL MANTRAS
NAVGRAH MANTRA
Describing the significance of worshipping Navgraha (nine planets), Lord Vishnu told Rudra –‘ One who worships the Navgraha with appropriate rituals attains all the four ‘purusharth'(objectives of man’s life)-dharma(religion), artha(money), kaam(sex) and moksha(salvation).’ He then went on to give various mantras related with the Navgrahas, which a devotee should chant while worshipping them —
SURYA(SUN) — OM SURYA MURTAYE NAMAH.
OM HRAM HRIM SAH SURYAY NAMAH.
CHANDRAMA(MOON)– OM SOMAY NAMAH.
BHAUM(MARS)–OM BHAUMAY NAMAH.
BUDDH(MERCURY)–OM BUDDHAY NAMAH.
VRIHASPATI(JUPITER)–OM VRIHASPATAYE NAMAH.
SHUKRA(VENUS)–OM SHUKRAY NAMAH.
SHANI(SATURN)–OM SHANAISHCHARAY NAMAH.
RAHU(DRAGON’S HEAD)–OM RAHAVE NAMAH.
KETU(DRAGON’S TAIL)– OM KETAVE NAMAH.
SHIVA MANTRA
There are various mantras used in the rituals of Shiva worship. A devotee should begin by worshipping the ‘Aasan’ (the pedestal) on which the deity is seated. There is a specific mantra for this particular ritual- OM HRAM SHIVAY NAMAH. Subsequently, a salutation to lord Shiva is made by chanting – OM SHIVA MURTAYE NAMAH. A special ritual named ‘Shadanganyas’ is then performed by chanting different mantras associated with the specific parts of the deities’ body such as –
OM HRAM HRIDAYAY NAMAH,
OM HRIM SHIRSE SWAHA,
OM HOOM SHIKHAYAI VASHAT,
OM HRAIM KAVACHAY HOOM,
OM HRAUM NETRA TRAYAY VAUSHAT,
OM HRAH ASTRAY PHAT.
Having accomplished the above mentioned rituals, a devotee should then worship each of the five faces of Shiva by chanting the following mantras –
OM HRAM SADDYOJATAY NAMAH
OM HRIM VAAMDEVAY NAMAH,
OM HOOM AGHORAY NAMAH,
OM HRAIM TATPURUSHAY NAMAH,
OM HRAUM ISHANAY NAMAH.
VISHNU MANTRA
While worshipping Lord Vishnu, first of all a devotee should worship the ‘Aasan’ of the deity by chanting
– OM VASUDEVA AASANAY NAMAH.
He should then make salutations to Lord Vishnu by chanting the following mantras–
OM VASUDEVAY MURTAYE NAMAH,
OM AIM OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAY NAMAH,
OM AAM OM NAMO BHAGAVATE SANKARSHANAY NAMAH,
OM AIM OM NAMO BHAGAVATE PRADYUMNAY NAMAH,
OM AH OM NAMO BHAGAVATE ANIRUDDHAY NAMAH.
Subsequently, a devotee should worship the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, his weapons as well as his different mounts by incorporating the rituals of ‘Shodashopachar’ and by chanting the following mantras–
OM NARAYANAY NAMAH,
OM TATSAD BRAHMANE NAMAH,
OM HOOM VISHNAVE NAMAH,
OM HRAUM NAMO BHAGAVATE NRISINHAY NAMAH,
OM BHUH OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VARAHAY NAMAH, ETC.
SARASWATI MANTRA
A devotee should begin his worship by making salutations to goddess Sarswati by chanting– OM HRIM SARSWATYAI NAMAH.
He should then perform the rituals of ‘Shadangnyas’ by chanting the following mantras– OM HRAM HRIDAYAY NAMAH,
OM HRIM SHIRSE SWAHA,
OM HOOM SHIKHAYAI VASHAT,
OM HRAIM KAVACHAY HOOM,
OM HRAUM NETRA TRAYAY VAUSHAT,
OM HRAH ASTRAY PHAT.
LAXMI MANTRA
A devotee desirous of acquiring wealth and prosperity must worship Goddess Laxmi with appropriate rituals. He should begin by making salutations to the goddess by chanting the following mantra —
OM SRIM HRIM MAHALAKSHMYAI NAMAH.
Then follows the rituals of ‘Shadangnyas’ that is performed by chanting the specific mantras meant for them.
ASTROLOGY IN GARUDA PURAN
THE CHARIOTS OF NAVGRAHAS
While describing the chariots of all the nine planets, Lord Vishnu told Rudra–‘ The chariot of Surya deva(sun) has an unbelievable expanse stretching up to nine thousand yojans. The axle of the chariot is one crore and fifty seven lakh yojans long and wheels are fixed at both its ends. The wheels have six circumferences symbolizing the six main seasons and five spokes symbolizing the five different units of time measurement in them. The chariot of Surya(sun) is pulled by seven horses. These horses symbolize the seven ‘chhands’ (stanzas used in poetry)- gayatri, vrihati, ushnik, jagati, trishtup, anushtup and pankti.
The chariot of chandrama(moon) has three wheels in it. It is pulled by ten white horses. The color of Mangal’s(mars) chariot is golden and is pulled by horses of dark red color. Buddh’s(mercury) chariot is of brown color and is pulled by eight horses of the same color. The chariot of Vrihaspati(jupiter) is made of gold and is pulled by eight horses of yellowish complexion. Jupiter remains in each of the twelve zodiacs for a year.
Shukra’s (venus) chariot is well escorted by his army. The chariot has a mast on it’s top and is pulled by horses that are found on earth.
Horses pulling the chariot of Shani(saturn) are of varicolored.
The chariot of Rahu is pulled by eight horses, which are of the color of smoke.
The chariot of Ketu is pulled by eight horses, which are red in color.
DESCRIPTION OF YOGAS AND MUHURTAS
Giving elaborate description of inauspicious days on which one should not undertake travels or journeys, Lord Vishnu told Shiva– ‘Various Yoginis (goddesses) dwell in different directions on specific days and one should never set out on journeys on those days. A yogini named Brahmani dwells in the East on Pratipada(first) and navami(ninth) of both the fortnights of each month and nobody should travel on both these dates towards east. Maheshwari dwells in the north on second and ninth of both the fortnights of each month and hence nobody should travel towards north on both these dates. Varahi dwells in the south on the fifth and thirteenth of both the fortnights of each month and hence it is unadvisable to travel towards south on the above mentioned dates. In the same manner, Indrani dwells in the west on sixth and fourteenth of both the fortnights of each month and therefore nobody should travel in this direction on both the above mentioned dates.’
While giving names of some auspicious Nakshatras suitable for undertaking journeys, lord Vishnu said–‘ Constellations like Ashvini, Anuradha, Revati, Mrigashira, Mool, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hast and Jyeshtha are auspicious for undertaking journeys.’
Lord Vishnu, giving some specific combinations of days and tithis considered to be inauspicious said-‘ One should never travel on the following inauspicious days: Dwadashi falling on Sunday or Ekadashi falling on Monday or Navami falling on Wednesday or Ashtami falling on Thursday or Saptami falling on Friday and Shashthi falling on Saturday.
AMRIT YOGA — It is the most auspicious yoga for commencing any work. The conjunction of a particular day and specific nakshatra constitute this yoga. Few examples of Amrit yoga are Mool nakshatra falling on Sunday, Shravan nakshatra on Monday, Uttara bhadrapad on Tuesday, Kritika on Wednesday, Punarvasu on Thursday, Purvafalguni on Friday and Swati nakshatra falling on Saturday.
VISHA YOGA –It is considered to be an inauspicious yoga and unsuitable for commencing any important work. Few examples of this particular yoga are Bharni nakshatra falling on Friday, Chitra nakshatra on Monday, Uttarashadha on Tuesday, Dhanishtha on Wednesday, Shatabhisha on Thursday, Rohini on Friday and Revati nakshatra falling on Saturday.
GRAHA DASHA
Describing the period for which a particular planet is supposed to have its influence on the native, Lord Vishnu told Shiva– ‘ Surya’s dasha continues for six years and brings turbulence, turmoil and agony to the concerned person. Moon’s dasha continues for fifteen years and is considered very auspicious as it brings happiness and prosperity. Mangal’s dasha is considered inauspicious and lasts for eight years. It brings sorrow and misfortune. Buddh’s dasha is auspicious and lasts for seventeen years. It brings all kinds of favorable results and is extremely rewarding in every respect. Shani’s dasha lasts for ten years and brings all kinds of inauspicious results to a man. Vrihaspati’s dasha continues for nineteen years and is extremely auspicious. Rahu’s dasha continues for twelve years and is inauspicious. Shukra’s dasha lasts for twenty years and is auspicious.’
NOTE — The period of years stated in the above mentioned Graha- dashas are at variance from those mentioned by sage Parashar, which is in practice nowadays.