







By reciting ashtakshari with devotion and sincerity, one is cleansed of all sins and attains the qualification for comprehending the essence of Mahavakyas and thereby attains realization.





The sacred ashtakshari mantra is as follows:





"Om namo naaraayaNaaya"





The Rishi of this mantra is sAdhya nArAyaNa, chandas is gAyatrI and Mahavishnu is the Devata.





The Kara-Anga nyasas are performed with the mantras – kruddholkAya – maholkAya – vIrolkAya – dyUlkAya – sahasrolkAya, prefixing each nyAsa pAda with praNava.





Some other works specify the Rishi as antaryAmi.





Either of these names refer to the great sage nArAyaNa (of the nara – narayana pair) residing in Badarikashrama.





The Rishi and Chandas for each of the letters have also been detailed:





OM - Gautama – Gayatri





na - Bharadwaja – Ushnik





mo – Vishwamitra – Anushtup





naa – Jamadagni – Brihati





raa – VasisTha – Pankti





ya – Kashyapa - Trishtup





Naa – Atri - Jagati





ya – Agastya – Virata









The seven mudras to be displayed before the recitation of the mantra are:





shrivatsa, kaustubha, vanamaalaa, shankha, chakra, gadaa and padma.





The number prescribed for purashcharana is 8 lakhs (akShara lakSha).





However, as indicated by shastras, the number prescribed in Kali Yuga would be four times which is 32 lakhs.





After purascharana, one can recite the mantra along with lakshmi bija to obtain prosperity.





For protection, Nrsimha Bija is added to the mantra.





For removing the effects of poison, the mantra is recited in combination with garuDa panchakshari.





For overcoming hurdles, the mantra is recited with gaNapati bija.





For mastery over scriptures, poetry and other branches of learning, vAni bija is used.





The first three Varnas should recite the entire eight letters of the mantra.





Those belonging to the fourth mantra and women should recite the mantra without praNava.





For liberating knowledge, one should recite the mantra with praNava at both the beginning and the end.





Further details on ashtakshari charyA are seen in Nrsimha Purana.





One should recite the mantra 1000 times every day after Nitya Karma to obtain the grace of the Lord.





Else, one should recite the mantra 108 times every day and especially on dwAdashI.





By reciting a lakh, one attains Atma shuddhi.





With two lakhs, one achieves mantra shuddhi.





By three lakhs, one attains the heavenly worlds.





By fourth lakh, one achieves nearness to the lord.





By fifth lakh, one's mind gets fixed on the Lord.





By sixth lakh, one achieves pure knowledge.





By seventh lakh, one realizes the true form of one-self.





By eighth lakh, one achieves realization and liberation.





It is to be noted that in Kali Yuga, purashcharana samkhya is the four times the said number.



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SRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA