The Ancient Science of Mantras: Wisdom of the Sages

I'm grateful to Om Swami for this comprehensive guide to mantra sadhana. When so many spiritual organizations seem to want people to be dependent on them, to come back over and over for "the next step," Om Swami clearly has our best interest in mind, wanting us to be independent, empowered seekers. For a book that handles such complex topics, it's incredibly well organized and easy to follow. I'm excited to apply the practices in my life! Note: I first read the Kindle version. There's some editing and mechanical errors, such as the Gayatri mantra being misprinted and certain instructions in sadhanas pointing to non-existing sections (e.g. It says the Ganesha sadhana will have different ingredients for every night and says the different ingredients will be listed later on. There's no list that follows. It's likely that this is an editing mistake and the sadhana doesn't require different ingredients after all). I got the printed version to see if these mistakes were Kindle-only, but it's in the printed version too. Long story short--The Kindle and print version seem to be the same, so don't bother doing what I did.

As a longtime mantra practitioner, I devoured the book. Though a lot of it was stuff that I found unnecessary and not applicable to my situation, the background info itself was worth the price and time. The downside was that less that halfway through the book, it started coming apart page by page and in the end, I have a book of looseleaf paper. I contacted the publisher, and they sent me a new one through Amazon, but my other version has all my notes. Getting the replacement was great, but not having it fall apart would have been much better!

The subject of mantras has historically received a wide variety of reactions. There are the nonbelievers (who perhaps would like to be addressed as ones with a scientific temperament). To them mantras are an archaic, irrational and irrelevant malady of the society. There are the agnostics, who at most are intrigued by this occult art but won’t delve deeper. There are the zealots who unquestioningly accept it as an ancestral heritage and don’t see a need to evaluate the rationale behind these practices. And then there’s the author of this book, Om Swami, who begs to differ…. The Ancient Science of Mantras is a result of a lifetime of research and experiments from a scientist who won’t settle for anything less than empirical evidence. This work will startle you with the conviction of the author. His authority over the subject is undeniable. Add to that his powerful communication style and his relentless pursuit for the truth, and you have in front of you a compendium rich in analogies, analysis and explanations that appeal to the modern mind. In his inimitable style, the author first lays the foundation with a captivating and colorful background. He recognizes that some of this is not easy to digest for several of his readers and in anticipation of this he proactively answers all the questions that pop up in our head. The second half of the book is a manual of sorts. One where the author has provided a step-by-step guide to get to the desired goal. This is the section that separates the men from the boys. Once you get into this section - you can only be in one of two camps. Either you decide to go for the prize, or you are clear that this is not for you in the foreseeable future. Either way, you won’t be left with a doubt in your mind. Long story short, the author lays out the path of mantra for you - the benefits, the trials, the tribulations. You may or may not pursue it. But this is the ONLY book that you would ever need to read to find that out. Period.

Some incredible information in this book but also very overwhelming as there is so much information and so many practices described that are very complex.

This book is a manual for walking on a path of self awakening. Many in medical profession will recall the first night of being on call. You are worried, concerned and apprehensive. You have the knowledge but NO experience. But you feel reassured by a small book that you carry in your pocket, and it tells you how to treat various maladies. For a novice like a medical intern on call, for a devotee on a call to find his Rama", this book tells you all the techniques, precautions,almost like a senior surgeon guiding an intern during complex operation. But here the operation is on "Self" to get to know "ReaI I ", the instruments are mantra and swami ji is senior surgeon. Swami ji tells one how to reach: "तू तू करता तू भया, मुझमें रही न हूं। बारी तेरे नाम पर, जित देखूं तित तूं।।". I recommend this book highly for any spiritually oriented person who is interested in ancient Indian wisdom, to have a step wise manual for spiritual awakening. Every book by swami ji thoroughly researched, full of easy to understand examples, and sprinkled with swami ji's wisdom,charm and love. The narration is so beautiful and realistic you feel as if it happening in front of your eyes. If words have power, swami words do, for you get so engrossed that within the lines of the book, you see Shiva, you feel Ma Ganga, you touch Gyatri. Please do not doubt me if I tell you, Swami ji is Tulsi, Dinkar, ShivMangal Sing Suman,Galib, and Wordsworth...all combined in one. Please read his other books like "A fistful of love"...you would be convinced.

A great book by the venerable Swami. This book lays the foundations of the science - all the technicalities involved, the methods of invoking Mantras, the rules of the "game" so to say (not disrespectfully). But, there is some art in it too - and that is the Bhakti, the faith involved. One may think of that as the "axioms" in any scientific subject. Swami claims that if one is ready to believe in the axioms and follows the rules with zeal, results will be forthcoming. Even though, this is all too hard to believe, without doing what he says, one can hardly claim anyways. But the book is a gem - coming from a true adept, a person so steeped in his devotion, that his diction speaks of itself. A must read for the enthusiast. However, rest assured, following Mantra Yoga will be not significantly easier even if you read this book! As Swami says (maybe elsewhere) - "If you do what I did, you will get what I got". But what he did, is in itself a herculean task ....

This book is at once a exposition and a manual on Mantra Science. It is a must have for anyone who wants to know, understand or practice the science of Mantras. The book has something for every audience. It satisfies the curious but casual mind with a clear background about Mantras and the science behind them. At the same time it provides clear laid out steps and details for the more serious and sincere seeker. Most importantly, the book presents tried and tested techniques that provide proven results. It is not based on some theoretical research and study but is the work of a realized master who has "been there and done that". It is rare to find a teacher/author in the spiritual sciences who actually has experienced the greater dimension and speaks not from some bookish knowledge but from personal experience. This is not second hand knowledge that is shared in the book but systematic proven methodology which if followed correctly can give the practitioner the results they are seeking. My recommendation: pick the book up now; before it gets sold out and you have to wait for a reprint.

This book is so full of details that I felt like S someone is teaching me personally. It's full of knowledge, steps, and practical applications. I wish I could enter to meet him in person and make him my guru. However, until that time, I will treat this book as a perfect guide. A couple of topics are still ambiguous, like what mantra Siddhi means, why is needed, etc, but he touched upon it slightly. Rest you will have to figure it out by yourself.

Great, learn a lot! Thank you swami ji 🙏 So many topics and knowledge about mantra science and mantra sadhana, compiled in one handy book.

Wer sich für das Mantra-Singen interessiert und es selbst praktizieren möchte, wird hier durch dieses Buch von Om Swami "The Ancient Science of Mantras - Wisdom of the Sages" auf den richtigen Weg geführt. Ich verstehe dieses Buch als Inspiration, Anregung und Anleitung - auch wenn man als westlicher Mensch vielleicht nicht alles im Detail umsetzen kann. Allein durch das Lesen des Buches und durch das Integrieren von Ansätzen in die tägliche Mantra-Praxis ist meines Erachtens schon viel gewonnen! Eines der besten Bücher, die ich je las. - Eine klare Kaufempfehlung! Als ich noch mit Tabitha und den anderen zusammen arbeitete, fingen wir an mit dem Mantra-Singen (Gayathri Mantra). Unsere Wege trennten uns, denn im Gegensatz zu den anderen blieb ich beim Mantra-Singen. Jede/r hat ihre/seine Wahl... und muss unter Umständen auch mit den Konsequenzen leben.

The book begins as the Lord of the Lords de-mystifyies us, with the dissolution of this creation and then the origination of the Mantras, their source. Swamiji has unlocked a whole new world for us. Everything from the types of Mantras and Mantra Sandhanas, how to select a Mantra Sadhana, everything has been written in this profound work. There are numerous images in which Swamiji has Himself shown the Mudras to be performed for the Sadhanas. One can actually use this book like a manual, following the steps without the need of a Guru in physical form. Swamiji has mentioned that He shied away from writing on this topic before. Do you want to know why? Well grab a copy and know for Yourself. For the ones who just want to know more about Swamiji, in this book Swamiji has written about His own Sadhanas as well. You don't need to look at any person or book to know about Mantras and their application. I have run out of words and expressions to be amazed and appreciate Swamiji’s creation, His work. If I mention any word of appreciation here for this work that would be like showing a lamp to the Sun. Thank You Swamiji.

I was waiting for this book since a long time, in fact I had pre-booked it a month ago, and to be honest it worths the wait. It was amazing to read and know the power of Mantra not only in Theoretical sense but also in present day applicability. As commonly believed today that mantras are just a pseudoscience and its effectiveness is just a placebo effect. Author of this book breaks that misbelief and establishes the ancient science of mantra at its right place. Let us go through some common questions and their answers, so that it will become clear that whether we should purchase this book or not : * What is genre of book? This belongs to Non Fiction genre, since it is about science of Matntra, so it covers technicalities from the base to end and also establishes the cause and effect relationships between various sadhna’s. * What does it covers? Apart from what is mentioned in last question, it covers every nook and corner of successfully taking up Mantra Yoga as your main mode of spiritual journey. * Will it be interesting and useful to me? Let me quote the author’s words here “ If you don’t believe that God exists or that He (or She) can have a form, let me tell you at the outset that mantra yoga is not for you. You will not stand to gain much by walking the path of mantra yoga or reading this book” With all due respect to the author, let me differ from the his words here: after reading this beautiful book, With a strong conviction I can tell you, it doesn’t matter whether you are interested in mantra science or not, just read it to see what the power of mantra can do. It will atleast give a peace of mind that something so powerful like this science exists! * Does it Provides methods for successfully Realising your dreams and achieving your goal? The way in which whole structure of mantra science is laid down in this book, it becomes imperative that you are going to successfully achieve your goals through it “Most important is to follow it right from the beginning to the end” as far as I understand it is a equation, where every variable is of utmost importance, you could only get result after getting the equation right. * What is the approach of book, Traditional or Modernistic? Since it is talking about an ancient science so naturally it is inclined towards traditional side of the subject, but we need not to be concerned about it, because afterwards author also amalgamates the modernistic side, otherwise this book will not fulfils its purpose of establishing Science of mantra at its right place. * What is Structure of the book? There are basically 4 units in the book i.e Foundation Practices Sadhanas Detailed notes All the above units covers several chapters that will talk about various topics such as Six limbs of mantra, Selecting right mantra, flaws in mantra and how to correct them, how to chant them correctly, invocation and its hurdles, Hand locks(mudras), Essential steps of Puruscharana (invocation), and so on….One will get amazed by plethora of topics introduced by author and mind it, while reading, you will realise each word in the book is from primary source and experience, not from secondary means of literature. * What are the Sadhanas that are covered in the book? Oh! my, while reading those sadhanas, it took me to another world, since Author himself does not specifically mention the names of sadhana, so I will let you read them yourself, but I can’t resist the temptation to share the name of one sadhana which I haven’t find anywhere else with such a clarity and precision. It is “SRI SUKTAM” * Things worth special mention!! - Most wonderful are the real life pictures of Author performing mudras (hand locks) for you, it makes content more practical and accessible. - If nothing else, then you are surely going to love his personal anecdotes while treading the path of Mantra Yoga. -This book gives you a hope and faith that if you dont have a guru then worry not, it will work as a guru for you and guides you on the path of mantra yoga and if you really want a Physical Guru then it gives you a special sadhana to ‘get your personal guru’ Last but not least, I feel that book like this comes once in a lifetime or centuries and gets to the status of scripture, it is a collector’s edition.

I am so glad that Om Swami offered his words of wisdom on mantras - this book contains priceless knowledge. I fully recommend this to anyone who is interested in knowing the truth about mantras and their correct application.