Excellent thought provoking thread on the recent twitter controversy over mantra recitation adhikAra
Key point - Vedic mantras are not expressions of devotion or love like other religious songs in H-tradition
But viewed by insiders as divine instruments to achieve specific ends
Key point - Vedic mantras are not expressions of devotion or love like other religious songs in H-tradition
But viewed by insiders as divine instruments to achieve specific ends
Now many of us moderns may dismiss this view as "superstition" and reduce religion merely to ethical precepts, doing "done things" out of nostalgic sentiment
But that's not how genuine participants in the tradition see it. They see the mantras as a technology / applied science
But that's not how genuine participants in the tradition see it. They see the mantras as a technology / applied science
There is a reason the term "mantra" has entered the English language with the implied meaning being "solution / instrument"
What's your mantra for success in the coming election...as an example of its rhetorical use
Mantras are not stotras
What's your mantra for success in the coming election...as an example of its rhetorical use
Mantras are not stotras
The reason why even many genuinely H people don't see this point is because we are all thoroughbred moderns now
For us, religion is mainly about legendary lore, ethical precepts, and rituals and traditions that keep us rooted and lend discipline and regularity to our lives
For us, religion is mainly about legendary lore, ethical precepts, and rituals and traditions that keep us rooted and lend discipline and regularity to our lives
We value rituals yes
But mainly out of nostalgic sentiment. As "done things" to keep us rooted
Not as technology to achieve ends
But mainly out of nostalgic sentiment. As "done things" to keep us rooted
Not as technology to achieve ends
That's a pretty big departure from how tradition views the same mantras and ritual recitation, which is a lot more conservative as @huntersrolinson points out
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