Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda – A Tarak Mantra

Introduction

The term Tarak Mantra comes from the Sanskrit root “Tar,” which means to cross over or to liberate. A Tarak Mantra is a sacred chant or formula that helps the devotee cross over the ocean of worldly existence (samsara) and attain liberation (moksha). It is often associated with potent, spiritually charged mantras, and is capable of directly awakening the seeker to higher states of consciousness.

Characteristics of a Tarak Mantra:

  1. Liberating Power: It connects the devotee with the divine, dissolving ignorance and guiding them toward self-realization.
  2. Simple and Direct: Often short, easily repeatable, and accessible for anyone, regardless of their spiritual progress or background.
  3. Infused with Grace: A Tarak Mantra is empowered by a Sadguru, making it especially effective when chanted with devotion and surrender.
  4. Transforms Consciousness: It works on a subtle level, purifying the mind and aligning it with the higher self.

Examples of Indian Spirituality:

  1. Om Namah Shivaya: Known as a powerful Tarak Mantra, it invokes Shiva, the supreme consciousness, and leads to inner purity and realization.
  2. Rama Nama: The name “Rama” is often referred to as a Tarak Mantra, capable of liberating beings. This is mentioned in texts like the Ramayana and the works of saints like Tulsidas.
  3. Hare Krishna Mantra: In Vaishnavism, “Hare Krishna, Hare Rama” is considered a Tarak Mantra, uplifting the mind and soul.

Bhagavan Nityananda and Tarak Mantras

For devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda, mantras like “Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda” or the chants derived from his teachings act as Tarak Mantras. Empowered by the Sadguru’s grace, these mantras serve to remove obstacles (Hare), purify the heart (Pawan), and guide the devotee toward ultimate liberation.

The Mantra: Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda

The mantra “Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda” was imbued with spiritual potency by Shree Shaligram Swami, one of Bhagavan Nityananda’s direct and devoted disciples. This mantra is considered a Siddha Mantra—charged with divine energy to guide devotees on their spiritual path. While the mantra Om Namo Bhagavate Nityanandaya is widely chanted, Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda holds a unique place in the hearts of Bhagavan’s devotees due to its direct connection to Shree Shaligram Swami’s blessings and its simplicity, completeness, and transformative power.

Literal and Spiritual Meaning

Literal Meaning:

  • Hare Nityananda: “Hail Nityananda” or “O Nityananda, the destroyer of obstacles.”
  • Pawan Nityananda: “Pure and Auspicious Nityananda.”

Spiritual Meaning:
This mantra transcends its literal interpretation to reflect a profound invocation:
“I manifest Nityananda, the divine joy within me, now purified and ready to receive this supreme bliss.”

The mantra becomes an inward journey of transformation—an earnest plea to Sadguru Bhagavan Nityananda to cleanse the seeker of impurities and elevate them to a state of pure consciousness. It embodies a surrender to the Guru’s grace to awaken divine joy and inner purity.

Nijaswaroop and the Role of the Sadguru

Bhagavan Nityananda’s teachings, as understood by his direct disciples like Shree Shaligram Swami, emphasize the concept of Nijaswaroop—the Guru’s true essence beyond physical form. Chanting this mantra is not just about external repetition but an effort to align oneself with the Guru’s Nijaswaroop.

Tulas Amma’s compositions also resonate with this theme, describing how the Guru’s grace illuminates the path for a seeker to purify their inner field—body, mind, and heart—before planting the seeds of spiritual practice.

Preparing the Field for Sadhana

The direct disciples of Bhagavan Nityananda, including Shree Shaligram Swami, highlighted the importance of inner preparation for a spiritual aspirant. They likened this process to farming:

  1. The Field: The body, mind, and heart of the devotee.
  2. The Plow: Shraddha (faith) and Bhakti (devotion).
  3. The Bullocks: Bhajan (devotional songs) and Namasmaran (chanting the divine name).
  4. The Bells on Bullocks’ Necks: Satsang (association with the wise), keeping the aspirant inspired.

When the devotee ploughs their field with sincerity, Guru Kripa (grace) manifests as rain, nourishing the seeds of Sadhana and leading to spiritual fruition.

Removing Obstacles: The Role of ‘Hare’

The word Hare is not merely an expression of praise but also a plea for liberation. It signifies the Guru as the remover of the threefold afflictions (Trividhataap):

  1. Adhyatmic Taap: Suffering caused by one’s body or mind.
  2. Adhidaivic Taap: Suffering due to fate or natural forces.
  3. Adibhautik Taap: Suffering caused by interactions with others.

By chanting Hare Nityananda, the devotee surrenders these afflictions to the Guru, trusting him to eliminate these burdens and pave the way for spiritual progress.

Purity of Mind: The Call to ‘Pawan’

The second part of the mantra, Pawan Nityananda, reflects the aspirant’s earnest desire to purify their mind and heart. Purity, or Sudha Bhavana, is the cornerstone of spiritual evolution. As Shree Muktabai advises in her Abhang:
“Yogi Paavan Manacha. Chinta Krodha Mage Sara, Tati Ugdha Dnyaneshwara”
(A yogi possesses a pure mind, free from worry and anger, ready to manifest divine knowledge).

Only with a pure mind can one align with the Guru’s teachings and experience true liberation.

A Complete and Transformative Mantra

The simplicity of Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda conceals its immense depth. Unlike the complex practices promoted today, Shree Shaligram Swami and other direct disciples of Bhagavan Nityananda emphasized straightforward Sadhana. The mantra integrates:

  1. Cleansing the chakras.
  2. Aligning the aspirant with their divine purpose.
  3. Invoking the Guru’s grace for lasting transformation.

This mantra offers not just temporary spiritual experiences but enduring inner evolution. It encourages the aspirant to be steadfast and self-reliant, trusting the Guru’s guidance.

For the Common Devotee: Faith and Surrender

Amid worldly Pushes and Pulls—or Taap—the mantra provides solace and direction. It asks the devotee to surrender completely to Bhagavan Nityananda, cultivating faith (Vishwas) and patience (Saburi). By repeating this mantra with Sudha Bhavana and an open heart, even ordinary devotees can connect with the divine joy of Nityananda and transform their lives.

In Conclusion

“Hare Nityananda, Pawan Nityananda” is not just a chant but a path to spiritual awakening, a direct invocation of Sadguru Bhagavan Nityananda’s grace. It encompasses the essence of his teachings, helping devotees transcend their limitations and embrace their inner divinity. By chanting this mantra, one aligns with the eternal joy (Nityananda) and purity (Pawan) that is the Guru’s true nature.

Let us remember, as Shree Janananda Swami emphasized: “Simply Be.” Through the mantra, let us simply be in the divine presence of Bhagavan Nityananda, free from afflictions, pure in heart, and ever immersed in the joy of his grace.