When troubles beset us, where do we turn to?
mantra heenam kriya heenam
bhakti heenam
Meaning & Discussion.
om mantra hinam, om kriya hinam, om bhakti hinam … Janar-dana.
om mantra heenam, om kriya heenam, om bhakti heenam … Janaar-dana.
om mantra hīnam, om krīya hīnam, om bhakti hīnam … Janār-dana.
yat pūjitam mayā devāya,
ādi pūrṇam tad astu me.
pari pūrṇam tad astu me.
om mantra hīnam, om krīya hīnam, om bhakti hīnam … Janār-dana.
(translation) When our meditation (mantra) is deficient, when our spiritual practice in daily life (kriyā) is deficient, when our devotion to practice (bhakti) is deficient, then …
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that spiritual of mine move towards
practice radiant Presence
May my spiritual practice take me towards radiant Presence.
ādi pūrṇam. tad astu me
first be purified, that be so for me
priority whole, complete.
“May I give my spiritual practice first priority, so it may be purified and made whole and complete.”
“May this be so for me.”
om mantra heenam, om kriya heenam, om bhakti heenam … Janaar-dana.
om mantra hīnam, om krīya hīnam, om bhakti hīnam … Janār-dana.
yat pūjitam mayā devāya,
ādi pūrṇam tad astu me.
pari pūrṇam tad astu me.
om mantra hīnam, om krīya hīnam, om bhakti hīnam … Janār-dana.
(translation) When our meditation (mantra) is deficient, when our spiritual practice in daily life (kriyā) is deficient, when our devotion to practice (bhakti) is deficient, then …
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that spiritual of mine move towards
practice radiant Presence
May my spiritual practice take me towards radiant Presence.
ādi pūrṇam. tad astu me
first be purified, that be so for me
priority whole, complete.
“May I give my spiritual practice first priority, so it may be purified and made whole and complete.”
“May this be so for me.”
The Song.
A beautifully clear and soaring song by Sacred Earth, named ‘Bhakti Heenam’. This is track 2 of their album Bhakti, 2008. This song and mantra really follow on from related song on this same album : ‘Om Bhakti Jai’; track 6, and you may wish to explore that song first, before you do this one. You can listen to and buy these songs as singles as downloads at –
https://www.sacredearthmusic.com/copy-of-listen-download Album Bhakti, tracks 2 and 6.
Sacred Earth gave a magnificent performance of ‘Bhakti Heenam’ in concert in May 2021. It was very moving and healing for me. A few weeks later they released a Facebook video of this same song and mantra. This portrays Sacred Earth performing in studio, an informative contrast. Available on –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlyALiq065w With Gavin as guest percussionist. These two performances, in concert and on Facebook, prompted me to do this writeup in early June 2021.
We Sacred Earth supporters received an email in late May 2021, which told of this Facebook video of their studio recording. This email promoted their Course “Journey into Stillness”, starting July 15 2021, which promises to be something really special. So perhaps this song could be a musical introduction to the Course should you do it. Certainly the hidden meaning of this mantra suggests this …
The Mantra Discussed.
man-tra, kriya, bhakti, Janār-dana Discussed.
mantra.
Much of this website is about mantra, where a mantra is a series of Sanskrit words that have been recited in devotional setting for so long that they have become charged with a special energy. But to access the full benefit of this particular mantra, we need to explore what ‘mantra’ actually means.
man-tra literally means to train the manas or mind, thus man-tra can mean mind training. Training our mind to let go of unhelpful and unnecessary thoughts, by shifting attention away from thoughts, and towards sound and image and touch. Move from thinking to sensing, as an essential first step to restore some stability, focus and collected-ness. Then it will be so much easier for us to cultivate something more positive instead, something wholesome and healing.
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita is entitled “Bhakti Yoga”, and provides important recommendations on the practice. It begins in BG 12. 8 by advising us to be fully Present, even “surrendering” to Presence, then it says in BG 12. 9 -
abhyāsa yogena tato
return practice then
repeatedly
“Practice repeatedly returning your attention to Presence.”
In English, we normally call this “meditation”, which comes from the Latin meditari = frequent. In meditation or mind training, we frequently return to our meditation object; sound, touch or image, as frequently as our attention wanders away. When our mind is focussed, then we frequent the spiritual Qualities such as contentment, appreciation, good will, enjoyment, determination and many others. Consciously and purposefully cultivate and build up these important Qualities. This gives the following interpretation, for this mantra –
Like any pursuit, meditation need undivided attention to succeed. Thus meditation training begins on the cushion, where we put all our attention onto our meditation object. My “Course in Meditation”, published on this website, details this training. Thus meditation really is for non-work time, for re-creation, when we make and take opportunity to re-create our spiritual essence or sugandhim. Instead of being drawn into screen sensationalism and consumerism.
krīya kriyā (kriya).
Yet there is much to do in this life. Indeed, even a genuinely committed meditator will spend far more waking time out of formal meditation than in it, except on retreat. This brings us to the next word in our mantra, krīya. Note I spell it krīya when writing about Prem’s song, for this matches the sound of the song, which is important in Kirtan. But the dictionary word is kriyā which means “activity, occupation”, and this suggests daily tasks; domestic or at work. For our spiritual practice to succeed, it is most important to apply the spiritual Principles to daily tasks, as best we can, as often we can, with whoever we can, wherever we can. Because so much of our time is invested in “doing”, and spent in “doing.” Indeed, far more of this website is really about spiritual practice in daily life rather than about sitting meditation. This suggests the following interpretation –
Such a pursuit is easier said than done, and some kind of commitment is need for us to succeed in this important endeavour. This brings us to the next word in our mantra –
Janār-dana.
When we have fallen into a slump, when suffering assails us, when difficulties drag us down and cease to be challenges that stimulate our vital energy, then we need assistance. We need to activate something that has been dormant and neglected. We need to turn towards something for assistance, and God helps those who help themselves. Such times are ideal opportunity for spiritual practice, and they are not times to be dragged down into harmful addictions. For such behaviour will only perpetuate our problems.
Now, more than ever, do we need to practice an essential Quality of Presence : being the Director. Consciously and purposefully redirect our thinking, attitudes, judgements, values back to the wholesome and the healing, back to the positive. This brings us to the next word in our mantra, which is the Name for Deity in our mantra : Janār-dana.
When our mind has been invaded by pain driven and pain filled thoughts, then it is quite difficult to direct our own mind and heart, for something else has taken over. Indeed, the Director is more likely to be away on sick leave. We need some additional techniques to help us. Positive affirmations that wish the best for ourselves are most important at such times. We need to remind ourselves of our purpose and goal, and the value of being clear and purified, instead of being defiled and down. This leads us to lines 2 and 3 of our mantra.
Much of this website is about mantra, where a mantra is a series of Sanskrit words that have been recited in devotional setting for so long that they have become charged with a special energy. But to access the full benefit of this particular mantra, we need to explore what ‘mantra’ actually means.
man-tra literally means to train the manas or mind, thus man-tra can mean mind training. Training our mind to let go of unhelpful and unnecessary thoughts, by shifting attention away from thoughts, and towards sound and image and touch. Move from thinking to sensing, as an essential first step to restore some stability, focus and collected-ness. Then it will be so much easier for us to cultivate something more positive instead, something wholesome and healing.
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita is entitled “Bhakti Yoga”, and provides important recommendations on the practice. It begins in BG 12. 8 by advising us to be fully Present, even “surrendering” to Presence, then it says in BG 12. 9 -
abhyāsa yogena tato
return practice then
repeatedly
“Practice repeatedly returning your attention to Presence.”
In English, we normally call this “meditation”, which comes from the Latin meditari = frequent. In meditation or mind training, we frequently return to our meditation object; sound, touch or image, as frequently as our attention wanders away. When our mind is focussed, then we frequent the spiritual Qualities such as contentment, appreciation, good will, enjoyment, determination and many others. Consciously and purposefully cultivate and build up these important Qualities. This gives the following interpretation, for this mantra –
- man-tra can mean “meditation.”
Like any pursuit, meditation need undivided attention to succeed. Thus meditation training begins on the cushion, where we put all our attention onto our meditation object. My “Course in Meditation”, published on this website, details this training. Thus meditation really is for non-work time, for re-creation, when we make and take opportunity to re-create our spiritual essence or sugandhim. Instead of being drawn into screen sensationalism and consumerism.
krīya kriyā (kriya).
Yet there is much to do in this life. Indeed, even a genuinely committed meditator will spend far more waking time out of formal meditation than in it, except on retreat. This brings us to the next word in our mantra, krīya. Note I spell it krīya when writing about Prem’s song, for this matches the sound of the song, which is important in Kirtan. But the dictionary word is kriyā which means “activity, occupation”, and this suggests daily tasks; domestic or at work. For our spiritual practice to succeed, it is most important to apply the spiritual Principles to daily tasks, as best we can, as often we can, with whoever we can, wherever we can. Because so much of our time is invested in “doing”, and spent in “doing.” Indeed, far more of this website is really about spiritual practice in daily life rather than about sitting meditation. This suggests the following interpretation –
- krīya or kriyā (kriya) can mean “spiritual practice in daily life”.
Such a pursuit is easier said than done, and some kind of commitment is need for us to succeed in this important endeavour. This brings us to the next word in our mantra –
- bhakti can mean “devotion, dedication to spiritual practice.”
Janār-dana.
When we have fallen into a slump, when suffering assails us, when difficulties drag us down and cease to be challenges that stimulate our vital energy, then we need assistance. We need to activate something that has been dormant and neglected. We need to turn towards something for assistance, and God helps those who help themselves. Such times are ideal opportunity for spiritual practice, and they are not times to be dragged down into harmful addictions. For such behaviour will only perpetuate our problems.
Now, more than ever, do we need to practice an essential Quality of Presence : being the Director. Consciously and purposefully redirect our thinking, attitudes, judgements, values back to the wholesome and the healing, back to the positive. This brings us to the next word in our mantra, which is the Name for Deity in our mantra : Janār-dana.
- Janār-dana can mean “the Director.”
When our mind has been invaded by pain driven and pain filled thoughts, then it is quite difficult to direct our own mind and heart, for something else has taken over. Indeed, the Director is more likely to be away on sick leave. We need some additional techniques to help us. Positive affirmations that wish the best for ourselves are most important at such times. We need to remind ourselves of our purpose and goal, and the value of being clear and purified, instead of being defiled and down. This leads us to lines 2 and 3 of our mantra.
Lines 2 & 3 Discussed.
- pūjita can signify mantra + krīya (kriya) + bhakti.
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that spiritual of mine move towards
practice radiant Presence
“May my spiritual practice take me towards radiant Presence.”
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that spiritual of mine bestow
practice radiant Presence
“May my spiritual practice bestow radiant Presence on me.”
Positive affirmations like these are most important for our spiritual practice, and for the success of our spiritual practice.
As we develop our skills and experience in spiritual practice, we are able to apply to more and more of our daily life, whether still or active. Spiritual practice and the profound healing it can afford to us becomes more and more familiar to us. Thus pūjita also means “frequented” in the dictionary. This gives additional meaning to line 2 -
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that frequented by me bestow
radiant Presence
“May that frequented by me bestow radiant Presence on me.”
This is an indirect way of describing spiritual practice. In this interpretation, we do not name it directly as “spiritual practice”, but rather suggest it indirectly, for the meaning of words can be limited. Spiritual practice involves re-connecting with the Divine or sacred within the heart of our Being, and the Divine is without limits and restrictions.
ādi pūrṇam then follows, to give additional meaning to line 2.
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that spiritual of mine moves towards
practice radiant Presence
“May my spiritual practice take me towards radiant Presence,”
ādi pūrṇam. tad astu me.
first be purified, that be so for me
priority whole, complete.
“and may I give it (my practice) first priority,
so it may be purified, and be made whole and complete.”
“May this be so for me.”
Positive affirmations like these are most important for our spiritual practice, and for the success of our spiritual practice.
There is another very similar version of this mantra on line, which gives further interpretation for lines 2 and 3.
yat pūjitam mayā devāya
that spiritual of mine moves towards
practice radiant Presence
“May my spiritual practice take me towards radiant Presence,”
pari pūrṇam tad astu me.
after a lapse, be purified, that be so for me.
be richly whole, complete
“and may it, after a lapse, be purified,” or
“and may it be made richly whole and complete.”
“May this be so for me.”
Positive affirmations like these are most important for our spiritual practice, and for the success of our spiritual practice.
Derivation Details.
Hinam Heenam.
The correct spelling is hīnam, and the superscript, called diacritic, is important for it indicates proper pronunciation of Sanskrit. A bar over a vowel letter is a long sound. But these diacritics are not on the key board, I have to find them in the list of symbols available in MS word, or copy them from websites, and insert these special symbols into my typing. So diacritics are usually omitted, when Sanskrit is published, and the same letter printed without diacritics. This leads to changes in spelling and pronunciation. The closest spelling to hīnam is heenam, not hinam. But both heenam and hinam occur frequently in webpages for this mantra, for it is a popular mantra.
hīnam is the accusative form of the noun hīna = inadequate, lacking. Thus mantra hīnam literally means “mantra is inadequate and ineffective.” And if we approach mantra recitation from the wrong angle, such defeatist attitudes about mantra will become self fulfilling.
Sacred mantra and verse are generally composed to be sparse and succinct, and line 2 is an exception to this general rule. In mantra, all unnecessary words are (usually) omitted. We really need to add words to make them sensible and workable. Indeed, knowing what words to add is a test of spiritual understanding. This leads to the following interpretation –
- mantra hīnam can mean : “When mind training is deficient or even absent, then …”
and the other lines then follow as explanation. And likewise for krīya hīnam, bhakti hīnam.
Janārdana is another Name for Krishna. Krishna is a most prominent Name for Deity in India, where there are many temples and devotees of Krishna. Prabhupada was of the Krishna school, and in his word-for-word translation of the śrimad bhagavātaṃ, Canto 1, section 9. 31, Prabhupada interprets this Name as follows –
Janārdana can mean “One who directs the people.”
- janas = jana means “the people”, and
- janas = jana means “person nearest to me” ie myself.
- dāna means “gift”, “giving direction or instruction”.
This suggests the following interpretation –
- Janār-dana can mean “the Director”.
In this, I mean our ability to direct our mind away from pain filled and pain driven thoughts, and towards something more wholesome and healing. It is a primary Quality of Krishna as Presence of Deity.
pūjita, pūjana, pūjaka mean “honoured, respected, recommended” or even “acknowledged” as dictionary words. Also –
pūjita, pūjana, pūjaka mean “worship, adoration” or even “God” in the dictionary.
In context of our mantra and seeking the hidden meaning of line 2, we need a translation of pūjita that will link directly to line 1. Then line 2 can offer a solution to the problems defined in line 1. For people who are theistically inclined, then pūjita can mean “worship,” or “prayer and praise to God.” For those seeking alternatives to main-stream religion, pūjita can mean “spiritual practice.” And much of this website is devoted to spiritual practice, and discovering the hidden meaning of key Sanskrit and Pali words that express the Wisdom of the East
deva means a God, or the Gods “as shining beings” in Monier Williams dictionary. This suggests the following interpretation –
- deva can mean “radiant Presence”.
devāya is the dative form of the noun deva, and
- The dative case can mean “moving towards”, and
- The dative case can mean “bestowed upon.”
ādi means the first one, or the beginning, or headed by, according to Prabhupada. This suggests the following interpretation for line 3 –
- ādi can mean “of primary importance.”
pūrṇam is the accusative form of the noun pūrṇa, which can mean “pure” or “purified.”
This is the closest English word in sound and meaning. The dictionary gives additional information thus –
- pūrṇa means “completed”, or “made whole”.
- pari means “after a lapse” and also
- pari means “full, abundant, rich, beyond the mundane”.
©Copyright by Mike Browning, 2021. You are permitted and encouraged to copy text from this webpage and use as you see fit, provided it is not harmful to mantra-translate.
