Mantras

Below you will find select mantras and their explanations, as presented in the book “Yoga of the Planets” by Andrew Foss, PhD. These are direct excerpts from the book and the page numbers quoted correspond to pages in the volume. Some of these explanations might be slightly out of context as presented here. I encourage you to purchase the book. It is a thick reference volume you will be able to use daily and for years to come. Please also visit the book’s website for more details, a great deal of additional content, as well as downloadable audio recordings with the correct pronunciation for each mantra:: www.yogaoftheplanets.com

Meditating with a given mantra when you are better aware of its meaning and purpose will help you get to a state where the vibrations of what you utter or chant touch that part of your being, which the meaning of the mantra is supposed to activate, channel, heal or expand. Connect with what you know about each planet while you meditate with a given mantra and honor that planet and its energy.

I encourage honoring malefic planets (Saturn and Mars), rather than fearing, avoiding or aiming to pacify them. They each have lessons to teach about those complex elements of our soul and being that we carry with us throughout life, which cause us difficulties. I do not see them as dark outside forces that are angry at us for seemingly no reason – rather, they are a reflection of our inner failings but most of all the potential for growth. This is worth striving toward. In fact there is no greater gift than the one earned through a lesson learned. I welcome the blessings that benific planets offer (Jupiter and Venus), and equally cherish the knowledge that malefic ones help us gain.

Maybe you are particularly drawn to a given planet and want to honor it daily. Maybe you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. One natural and balanced approach would be to pick a specific mantra corresponding to a planet and meditate with it on the given day that is ruled by this planet. Andrew Foss has further detailed advice in his book on selecting mantras and using them for your benefit.

I am not a guru – real nor fake. I do not attach myself strictly to any given single religious or traditional spiritual practice, but meditation with mantras, as well as the exploration of Vedic astrology and mythology resonates with me well. My aim is merely to spread the joy I derive from diving into this domain. I do not see myself as a spiritual guide, but I do connect with the spirit of the world, and I hope you can do that too. Then we’d meet through time and space.

All excerpts published with permission from Andrew Foss.

Moon – Monday

om anantaya namah

The endless (Ananta).
While ever waxing and waning, the Moon continues. So does the mind or the activity of nature. (page 85)

om candraya namah

The luminous one.
Chandra is the most common Sanskrit name for the Moon and luminosity is its most obvious feature. (page 70)

Mars – Tuesday

om saktaya namah

Very competent (Shakta).
Mars people are very capable. That is why we trust them to build bridges, compute the orbits of spacecraft and play any number of critical roles. (page 150)

om dayakaraya namah

The compassionate.
Daya is compassion and Kara the one who promotes or causes it. Mars is a fiery planet and thus is associated with Pitta Dosha. This is a term from Ayurveda for the fiery body type. Pitta types are easily angered but are also naturally compassionate. They are especially kind to those who honor them. (page 124)

Mercury – Wednesday

om vandyaya namah

Worshipped (Vandya).
If people like your words, they may even become adoring fans, disciples or followers. Social media is heavily into Mercury! (page 183)

om satyavate namah

Truthful (Satya Vat).
While Mercury can represent many kinds of expression, the best is one that expresses the highest truth. Someone with a strong Mercury should be naturally truthful. However, Mercury, being mercurial, is easily influenced by other planets as well as the sign it is in. The influence of Jupiter and the Sun are good as they have a natural purity being Sattvic. The Moon is also Sattvic so its influence is good but, as we have discussed, Mercury has issues with the Moon. Other planets can lead Mercury astray. If if were not so, the lawyers would have little business to do.
The Tamas Grahas, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu can easily modify the truth for their own ends. They tend to be careless with it. Venus, being Rajas, likes the idea of truth but it is not always expedient. If Jupiter associates, then the person will likely be truthful. This is also true if the person’s Ascendant and Moon are strongly associated with the Sattva Grahas. (page 184)

om sarvarogaprasamanaya namah

Quieting (Prashamana) all (Sarva) diseases.
Roga is that which, literally, breaks up strength. Mercury rules over Virgo which is the place of herbs and medicine. If one’s Moon is in Virgo, or is connected with it, then one may follow a healing profession. Virgo is the sixth sign and is thereby connected to the sixth house, which rules over health and disease. Specifically it rules over the colon and good digestion is the key to good healthy. Virgo’s main issue is weak digestion. If the consciousness is pure, then the digestion is not disturbed by the fluctuating state of the mind. Medicine and meditation. Ayurveda and Yoga, are the means indicated here. Mercury is therefore a key planet for doctors and medicine. (page 186)

Jupiter – Thursday

om gunakaraya namah

The author or origin (Akara) of all good qualities (Guna). Abounding in them.
In a Vedic birth chart, Jupiter brings good qualities wherever it goes. If Jupiter is rising at the time of birth, the person is trusted by others and approached for advice. If Jupiter is strong in a chart, people tend to trust the person wherever it is placed. However, if it is not associated with the Ascendant, which represents the person, or the second house of speech, the person can even be a con artist if other factors support this. I have met several but they keep on getting away with it because of the illusion of trustworthiness. If Jupiter is placed in the third house with a sign of Venus rising, then especial care is needed to honor and respect truth and the wise teachers. (page 209)

om suraradhyaya namah

Worshipped (Aradhya) by the gods (Sura).
The teacher must be respected for the disciple to acquire the knowledge. It is an attitude that encompasses receptivity. Being receptive is a true form of worship. What more can one give than one’s full attention? (page 230)

Venus – Friday

om sukraya namah

Salutations to the essence of any entity
Whatever is the finest, most refined or most precious of or in any animate or inanimate entity is Shukra. In the human body, Shukra is the ovum in the female and the semen in the male. Ayurveda calls these the finest products of metabolism. (page 267)

om acintyaya namah

Of peaceful mind
Achintya means free of thinking, completely calm, or it also means that he is beyond conception. The inconceivable greatness cannot be grasped by the ordinary mind. In either case, this points to a liberated state of the soul, a true sage (page 294)

om santamataye namah

Peaceful. Of peaceful intentions.
Mati is the mind and its thoughts, intentions and beliefs. Shanta is tranquil and gentle. The mind is quiet and thinking can even fall still if not required. A noble mind is a peaceful mind. If the mind is agitated, one should understand that some impurity is afflicting it and seek to remedy this. Regular repetition of mantras and prayers can help. (page 297)

om ajeyaya namah

Unconquered (Ajeya). Hence they say “Love conquers all.” (page 300)

Saturn – Saturday

om ghanaya namah

The great one. Ghana is firm, compact, dense, concentrated, impenetrable. As such it is permanent and complete. It is auspicious (page 320)

om gudhaya namah

The secret one (Gudha).
Happiness and suffering are experienced but the real cause is not seen. This is because it is our past generosity as well as our errors that have created the present. Whatever appears to be the cause now, something else is responsible. (page 334)

Sun – Sunday

om vasave namah

He is himself a shining jewel, goodness itself (Vasu).
The Sun’s gem is the Padmaraga or ruby also called Manikya. His good qualities outshine any gem. (page 30)

om kanatkanakabhusanaya namah

Shining with golden (Kanatkanaka) ornaments (Bhusana)
Solar people are likely to be fond of gold and the Sun rules over golden things. The outer Sun is a golden orb. The name also indicates the golden luminescence that one often sees around the wise souls. As the perception refines, this golden aura can be seen around everything. (page 42)