Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
हृदयं सबकः सूक्ष्मो लांतोऽनन्तान्वितो मरुत् । पंचाक्षरो मनुः प्रोक्तस्ताराद्योऽयं षडक्षरः ॥ २ ॥
hṛdayaṃ sabakaḥ sūkṣmo lāṃto'nantānvito marut | paṃcākṣaro manuḥ proktastārādyo'yaṃ ṣaḍakṣaraḥ || 2 ||
‘ಹೃದಯ’ ಮಂತ್ರವು ‘ಸಬಕ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ; ಅದು ಸ್ವಭಾವತಃ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ. ‘ಮರುತ್’ ಮಂತ್ರವು ‘ಅನಂತ’ದಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ‘ಲಾಂ’ ಅಕ್ಷರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತ್ಯಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ. ‘ಮನು’ ಐದು ಅಕ್ಷರಗಳೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ; ಮತ್ತು ಈ (ಇತರೆ) ಮಂತ್ರವು ‘ತಾರಾ’ ಅಂದರೆ ‘ಓಂ’ದಿಂದ ಆರಂಭವಾಗಿ ಆರು ಅಕ್ಷರಗಳಾಗಿದೆ ॥ ೨ ॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Mantra-technical context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It classifies mantras by their syllabic structure (five- and six-syllabled) and identifies technical components like praṇava (oṃ) and bīja (lāṃ), showing how precise mantra-form is treated as essential to effective nyāsa and inner worship.
While technical, it supports Bhakti by prescribing correct mantra-forms for devotional practice—japa and nyāsa—so the devotee’s worship becomes disciplined, focused, and aligned with traditional mantra-śāstra.
Mantra-śikṣā and applied ritual phonetics: identifying akṣara-count (pañcākṣara/ṣaḍakṣara), the use of praṇava ‘oṃ’ (tārā), and bīja syllables (lāṃ) in structured recitation and placement (nyāsa).