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 ||
‘हृदय’ मंत्र ‘सबक’ नावाचा असून तो अत्यंत सूक्ष्म आहे; ‘मरुत्’ मंत्र ‘अनंत’युक्त होऊन ‘लाँ’ ने समाप्त होतो. ‘मनु’ पाच अक्षरी सांगितला आहे, आणि हा (दुसरा) मंत्र ‘तारा’ म्हणजे ‘ॐ’ ने आरंभ होऊन सहा अक्षरी आहे ॥ २ ॥
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).