24 June 2014 by Carmen Burby
In the middle 1960’s George
Harrison became fascinated and an admirer of Indian Culture and Mysticism,
which he introduced to the rest of the Beatles’s group. During the filming of “Help” in the Bahamas,
they met with the founder of Sivananda Yoga, Swami Visnu-devananda, who gave
each of them a signed copy of his book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga.
In 1967 The Beatles met Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi and they became captivated by this teachings of Transcendental
Meditation. On 24 August 1967 they were
in the front row seats listening to The Maharishi’s lecture, which took place
at the London Hilton.
George Harrison explained why he attended the lecture, “I
got the tickets. I was actually after a mantra. I had got to the point where I thought I would like to meditate;
I read about it and I knew I needed a mantra – a password to get through to the
other world. And as we always seemed to
do everything together, John and Paul came with me” (George Harrison’s Anthology).
Ringo Star was unable to attend
the lecture because his wife Maureen had given birth to their son Jason on 19
August 1967.
After the event the Beatles were granted
a 90-minute private audience with The Maharishi. He greatly impressed them with his philosophy. The next day they all (including Ringo Star)
travelled to Bangor in North Wales, UK to attend a Transcendental Meditation
seminar.
The Beatles spent two nights in
Bangor where a personal mantra was given to each of them by Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi.
What is a Mantra?
Swami Visnu-Devananda says: “A mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound
structure”. The potency of the energy
is liberated by continuous concentration and repetition. Thus, its energy is released and takes form,
and gradually over time becomes powerful within us.
Sound is made up of energetic
vibrations. To release the energy from
the sound, we learn to repeat it with a specific rhythm. When you start repeating a mantra it creates
a specific thought pattern, which allows the energy to literally manifest
itself. When you repeat the name the
form comes to mind. Although you may
not consciously know the form connected to a certain mantra, it still creates a
specific thought pattern in the mind.
The thought pattern created by a mantra is positive, beneficial and
calming. Mantras are used to foster an
alert mind. It is said when we chant
Mantras we are creating a cushion of protection around us.
How a Mantra is created?
Every mantra is created from a
combination of sounds derived from the fifty letters of the Sanskrit
alphabet. Sanskrit is the most ancient
of human languages and is also known as Devanagri, which literally means “Language
of the Gods”. Sanskrit words are the
actual sound manifestations we use when chanting.
Can Mantras be translated?
Mantras can be translated, but these translations do not
possess the same power as the original.
I believe this is the reason why at the Ashram we are encouraged to
learn the Sanskrit words and use them while attending lectures or Satsang
evenings.
Have the Mantras ever been written by someone?
No one has ever, as far as is known, sat down and written
a Mantra as people write songs. Mantras
are energies, which have always existed in the universe and can neither be
created nor destroyed. The science of
Mantra is exact and precise and it is important that they should be pronounced
correctly. The constant repetition of
the Mantra is called Japa.
Are there any mental benefits attributed to Mantras?
Japa or Mantra repetition will help the mind to steady
itself. This in turn, helps us into a
meditative state.
Are there any physical benefits derived from Mantras?
On a physical level many benefits are derived from Japa or
Mantra repetition. Deep rest and
relaxation are given to all the cells and organs of the body. Toxins are removed and the nervous system is
relaxed. The lower emotions of lust,
anger, greed, hatred and jealousy are destroyed and replaced with pure
qualities, which protect us from our own mind.
The Beatles’ encounter with The Maharishi coincided with
their realisation that LSD did not hold the answers they were hoping for. They held a press conference to reveal their
new passion for meditation and announced that hey had given up drugs.
Did You Like The Chant?
What is your experience of Chanting?
Please let me know by leaving your comments at the end
of this page.
All the very best
On Namah Sivaya!
(I salute the divine within you!)
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This blog is based
on the teachings of the Swami Sivananda as outlined in the Yoga Teachers’
Training Manual 2013 and Swami Visnu-devananda’s book “Meditation and Mantras”
and articles from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Harrison#Hinduism
http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/
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