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 ||
‘ہردیہ’ منتر ‘سبک’ کہلاتا ہے، جو نہایت لطیف ہے؛ ‘مرُت’ منتر ‘اننت’ سے یُکت ہو کر ‘لاں’ پر ختم ہوتا ہے۔ ‘منو’ پانچ اَکشر کا کہا گیا ہے، اور یہ (دوسرا) منتر ‘تارا’ یعنی ‘اوم’ سے شروع ہو کر چھ اَکشر کا ہے ॥ ۲ ॥
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).