The Power of Mantrams  - Abbe JA Dubois

These famous mantrams, which the Hindus think so much of, are nothing more than prayers or consecrated formulas, but they are considered so powerful that they can, as the Hindus say, enchain the power of the gods themselves. Mantrams are used for invocation, for evocation, or as spells. They may be either preservative or destructive, beneficent or maleficent, salutary or harmful. In fact, there is no effect that they are not capable of producing. Through them an evil spirit can be made to take possession of any one, or can be exercised. They can inspire with love or hate, they can cause an illness or cure it, induce death or preserve life, or cause destruction to a whole army. There are mantrams which are infallible for all these and many other things besides. Fortunately one mantram can counteract the effect of another, the stronger neutralizing the weaker.

The purohitas are more familiar with these mantrams than any other class of Hindus; but all Brahmins are supposed to be acquainted at any rate with the principal ones, if this Sanskrit verse, which one often hears repeated, is to be believed:—

Tan mantram brahmanadhinam Brahmana mama devata

© `Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies’ by Abbe JA Dubois, published (1999) by Book Faith India, 414-416, Express Tower, Azadpur Commercial Complex, New Delhi.

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