Aksha Malika Upanishad
Aksha Malika Upanishad
The Upanishad of Rosary Beads
Om!
May my speech be based on (i.e. accord with) the mind;
May my mind be based on speech.
O Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me.
May you both (speech and mind) be the carriers of the Veda to me.
May not all that I have heard depart from me.
I shall join together (i.e. obliterate the difference of) day
And night through this study.
I shall utter what is verbally true;
I shall utter what is mentally true.
May that (Brahman) protect me;
May That protect the speaker (i.e. the teacher), may That protect me;
May that protect the speaker - may That protect the speaker.
Om! Let there be Peace in me!
Let there be Peace in my environment!
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!
1.
Then the Prajāpati (Creator) asked Guha:
"Oh Sir, (please) tell me the rules regarding the rosary of beads:
What is its characteristic? How many varieties of rosaries are there?
How many threads (does a rosary) contain? How should it be made?
What are its colours? How is it consecrated? Who is its presiding deity?
And what is the benefit (of using it)?"
2.
Guha replied:
"(It is made of any one of the following 10 materials):
Coral, Pearl, Crystal, Conch, Silver, Gold, Sandal, Putra-Jīvikā, Lotus or Rudrākṣa.
Each head must be devoted and thought of as presided over by the deities of Ākāra to Kṣakāra.
Golden thread should bind the beads through the holes.
On its right silver (caps) and left copper.
The face of a bead should face, the face of another
head and tail, the tail.
Thus a circular formation must be made.
3.
The internal thread must be thought of as Brahma (the Supreme Being).
The right side silver cap must be considered to be the place of Shiva
and Copper caps belonging to Vishnu.
The face must be thought of as Sarasvatī and the tail as Gāyatrī.
The hole is Knowledge. The knot must be thought of as nature.
The Beads representing vowels must be white (since they represent Sāttvika Guṇa).
Those which represent mutes-consonants must be yellowish
(since they are the result of mixture of Sattva and Tamas).
The balance must be red in complexion (since they are Rājasic).
4.
Then (after thus meditating the presiding deities in different part of the rosary)
bathe it (or clean it) in the milk got from 5 types of cows (like Nanda);
and then in Pañcha-gavya (a sanctified liquid prepared from the cow-dung, cow’s urine, ghee, curd and milk) and darbha grass immersed in water and then in the individual Pañcha-gavya (in the aforesaid 5 things separately) and in sandal water.
Then sprinkle water with darbha grass uttering Oṁkāra.
Besmear it with eight fragrant (pastes) of eight (sweet-smelling substances like Sandal, Kastūrī etc.,). Place it on flowers.
Meditate (all) the letters in the rosary (or each letter in each bead).
5.
ओमङ्कार मृत्युञ्जय सर्वव्यापक प्रथमेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ
Om aṅkāra mṛtyuñjaya sarvavyāpaka prathame'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om aṅkāra, the conqueror of death, Omnipresent,
be established in the 1st head!
ओमाङ्काराकर्षणात्मकसर्वगत द्वितीयेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om āṅkārākarṣaṇātmakasarvagata dvitīye'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om āṅkāra, He who of the nature of attracting, found everywhere,
be established in the 2nd head!
ओमिङ्कारपुष्टिदाक्षोभकर तृतीयेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om iṅkārapuṣṭidākṣobhakara tṛtīye'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om iṅkāra, the giver of wealth and firmness,
be established in the 3rd head!
ओमीङ्कार वाक्प्रसादकर निर्मल चतुर्थेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om īṅkāra vākprasādakara nirmala caturthe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om īṅkāra, the maker of clarity in speech and clear One,
be established in the 4th head!
ओमुङ्कार सर्वबलप्रद सारतर पञ्चमेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om uṅkāra sarvabalaprada sāratara pañcame'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om uṅkāra, the giver of strength, the essence of everything,
be established in the 5th head!
ओमूङ्कारोच्चाटन दुःसह षष्ठेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om ūṅkāroccāṭana duḥsaha ṣaṣṭhe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ūṅkāra, One who drives away evil spirits, the intolerable,
be established in the 6th head!
ओमृङ्काकार संक्षोभकर चञ्चल सप्तमेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om ṛṅkākāra saṁkṣobhakara cañcala saptame'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṛṅkākāra, One who disturbs the (the dis-order), the moving One,
be established in the 7th head!
ओमॄङ्कार संमोहनकरोजवलाष्टमेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om ṝṅkāra saṁmohanakarojavalāṣṭame'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṝṅkāra, the deluding one, the effulgent and shining,
be established in the 8th head!
ओम्लृङ्कारविद्वेषणकर मोहक नवमेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om lṛṅkāravidveṣaṇakara mohaka navame'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om lṛṅkāra, the hater, the devourer of everything else (or one who conceals everything),
be established in the 9th head!
ओम्लॄङ्कार मोहकर दशमेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om lṝṅkāra mohakara daśame'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om lṝṅkāra, the deluding one,
be established in the 10th head!
ओमेङ्कार सर्ववश्यकर शुद्धसत्त्वैकादशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om eṅkāra sarvavaśyakara śuddhasattvaikādaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om eṅkāra, One who attracts everyone, Suddha-sattva,
be established in the 11th head!
ओमैङ्कार शुद्धसात्त्विक पुरुषवश्यकर द्वादशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om aiṅkāra śuddhasāttvika puruṣavaśyakara dvādaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om aiṅkāra, the Pure and Noble (Suddha-sattvika), attracting human beings,
be established in the 12th head!
ओमोङ्काराखिलवाङ्मय नित्यशुद्ध त्रयोदशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om oṅkārākhilavāṅmaya nityaśuddha trayodaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om oṅkāra, the (base) of entire speech, eternally pure,
be established in the 13th head!
ओमौङ्कार सर्ववाङ्मय वश्यकर चतुर्दशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om auṅkāra sarvavāṅmaya vaśyakara caturdaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha
Om auṅkāra, of the nature of speech, capable of attracting the peaceful,
be established in the 14th head!
ओमङ्कार गजादिवश्यकर मोहन पञ्चदशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om aṅkāra gajādivaśyakara mohana pañcadaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om aṅkāra, capable of attracting elephants etc., attracting,
be established in the 15th head!
ओमःकार मृत्युनाशनकर रौद्र षोडशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
om aḥkāra mṛtyunāśanakara raudra ṣoḍaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om aḥkāra, capable of destroying death terrible,
be established in the 16th head!
ॐ कङ्कार सर्वविषहर कल्याणद सप्तदशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ kaṅkāra sarvaviṣahara kalyāṇada saptadaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om kaṅkāra, the remover of all poison, giver of auspiciousness,
be established in the 17th head!
ॐ खङ्कार सर्वक्षोभकर व्यापकाष्टादशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ khaṅkāra sarvakṣobhakara vyāpakāṣṭādaśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om khaṅkāra, the tormentor (or disturber) spreading everywhere,
be established in the 18th head!
ॐ गङ्कार सर्वविघ्नशमन महत्तरैकोनविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ gaṅkāra sarvavighnaśamana mahattaraikonaviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om gaṅkāra, He who puts dows all obstacles, the greatest,
be established in the 19th head!
ॐ घङ्कार सौभाग्यद स्तम्भनकर विंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ghaṅkāra saubhāgyada stambhanakara viṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ghaṅkāra, the giver of ....... (sanbhasya), stupefier,
be established in the 20th head!
ॐ ङकार सर्वविषनाशकरोग्रैकविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ṅakāra sarvaviṣanāśakarograikaviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṅakāra, the destroyer of all poisons, the sharp,
be established in the 21st head!
ॐ चङ्काराभिचारघ्न क्रूर द्वाविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ caṅkārābhicāraghna krūra dvāviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om caṅkāra, the destroyer of ....... (abhichara), cruel,
be established in the 22nd head!
ॐ छङ्कार भूतनाशकर भीषण त्रयोविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ chaṅkāra bhūtanāśakara bhīṣaṇa trayoviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om chaṅkāra, the destroyer of goblins, terrifying,
be established in the 23rd head!
ॐ जङ्कार कृत्यादिनाशकर दुर्धर्ष चतुर्विंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ jaṅkāra kṛtyādināśakara durdharṣa caturviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om jaṅkāra, the destroyer of ....... (krityas - abhichara), unstoppable,
be established in the 24th head!
ॐ झङ्कार भूतनाशकर पञ्चविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ jhaṅkāra bhūtanāśakara pañcaviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om jhaṅkāra, the destroyer of ....... (bhutas),
be established in the 25th head!
ॐ ञकार मृत्युप्रमथन षड्विंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ñakāra mṛtyupramathana ṣaḍviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ñakāra, the churner of ....... (mrityu),
be established in the 26th head!
ॐ टङ्कार सर्वव्याधिहर सुभग सप्तविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ṭaṅkāra sarvavyādhihara subhaga saptaviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṭaṅkāra, the remover of all diseases, the good One,
be established in the 27th head!
ॐ ठङ्कार चन्द्ररूपाष्टाविंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ṭhaṅkāra candrarūpāṣṭāviṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṭhaṅkāra, of the nature of moon,
be established in the 28th head!
ॐ डङ्कार गरुडात्मक विषघ्न शोभनैकोनत्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ḍaṅkāra garuḍātmaka viṣaghna śobhanaikonatriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ḍaṅkāra, the soul of Garuda, remover of poisons,
be established in the 29th head!
ॐ ढङ्कार सर्वसंपत्प्रद सुभग त्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ḍhaṅkāra sarvasaṁpatprada subhaga triṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ḍhaṅkāra, the giver of all wealth, the good One,
be established in the 30th head!
ॐ णङ्कार सर्वसिद्धिप्रद मोहकरैकत्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ṇaṅkāra sarvasiddhiprada mohakaraikatriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṇaṅkāra, the giver of all successes (siddhis), the deluder,
be established in the 31st head!
ॐ तङ्कार धनधान्यादिसंपत्प्रद प्रसन्न द्वात्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ taṅkāra dhanadhānyādisaṁpatprada prasanna dvātriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om taṅkāra, the giver of wealth and grains, who pleases one,
be established in the 32nd head!
ॐ थङ्कार धर्मप्राप्तिकर निर्मल त्रयस्त्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ thaṅkāra dharmaprāptikara nirmala trayastriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om thaṅkāra, One who yokes with dharma, faultless one,
be established in the 33rd head!
ॐ दङ्कार पुष्टिवृद्धिकर प्रियदर्शन चतुस्त्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ daṅkāra puṣṭivṛddhikara priyadarśana catustriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om daṅkāra, the developer of growth, with pleasing looks,
be established in the 34th head!
ॐ धङ्कार विषज्वरनिघ्न विपुल पञ्चत्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ dhaṅkāra viṣajvaranighna vipula pañcatriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om dhaṅkāra, the destroyer of mundane suffering (visajvara), the expansive One,
be established in the 35th head!
ॐ नङ्कार भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रद शान्त षट्त्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ naṅkāra bhuktimuktiprada śānta ṣaṭtriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om naṅkāra, the giver of enjoyment and liberation, the peaceful One,
be established in the 36th head!
ॐ पङ्कार विषविघ्ननाशन भव्य सप्तत्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ paṅkāra viṣavighnanāśana bhavya saptatriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om paṅkāra, the destroyer of poison and obstructions, the Evolved One,
be established in the 37th head!
ॐ फङ्काराणिमादिसिद्धिप्रद ज्योतीरूपाष्टत्रिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ phaṅkārāṇimādisiddhiprada jyotīrūpāṣṭatriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om phaṅkāra, the giver of eight siddhis, like atomic form, taking capacity, the effulgent nature etc.,
be established in the 38th head!
ॐ बङ्कार सर्वदोषहर शोभनैकोनचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ baṅkāra sarvadoṣahara śobhanaikonacatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om baṅkāra, the remover of all defects, the auspicious One,
be established in the 39th head!
ॐ भङ्कार भूतप्रशान्तिकर भयानक चत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ bhaṅkāra bhūtapraśāntikara bhayānaka catvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om bhaṅkāra, One who quietens the goblins, the terrifying One,
be established in the 40th head!
ॐ मङ्कार विद्वेषिमोहनकरैकचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ maṅkāra vidveṣimohanakaraikacatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om maṅkāra, the deluder of haters,
be established in the 41st head!
ॐ यङ्कार सर्वव्यापक पावन द्विचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ yaṅkāra sarvavyāpaka pāvana dvicatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om yaṅkāra, the Omnipresent, the purifier,
be established in the 42nd head!
ॐ रङ्कार दाहकर विकृत त्रिचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ raṅkāra dāhakara vikṛta tricatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om raṅkāra, the burning One, the odd shaped,
be established in the 43rd head!
ॐ लङ्कार विश्वंभर भासुर चतुश्चत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ laṅkāra viśvaṁbhara bhāsura catuścatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om laṅkāra, the hearer of the world, the effulgent,
be established in the 44th head!
ॐ वङ्कार सर्वाप्यायनकर निर्मल पञ्चचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ vaṅkāra sarvāpyāyanakara nirmala pañcacatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om vaṅkāra, the all-pervading One, the noblest One,
be established in the 45th head!
ॐ शङ्कार सर्वफलप्रद पवित्र षट्चत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ śaṅkāra sarvaphalaprada pavitra ṣaṭcatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om śaṅkāra, the giver of all results, the sanctifier,
be established in the 46th head!
ॐ षङ्कार धर्मार्थकामद धवल सप्तचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ ṣaṅkāra dharmārthakāmada dhavala saptacatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om ṣaṅkāra, the giver of righteousness, wealth and pleasure, .......,
be established in the 47th head!
ॐ सङ्कार सर्वकारण सार्ववर्णिकाष्टचत्वारिंशेऽक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ saṅkāra sarvakāraṇa sārvavarṇikāṣṭacatvāriṁśe'kṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om saṅkāra, the cause of everything, the undercurrent of all letters,
be established in the 48th head!
ॐ हङ्कार सर्ववाङ्मय निर्मलैकोनपञ्चाशदक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ haṅkāra sarvavāṅmaya nirmalaikonapañcāśadakṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om haṅkāra, the base of all speech, the pure One,
be established in the 49th head!
ॐ ळङ्कार सर्वशक्तिप्रद प्रधान पञ्चाशदक्षे प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ laṅkāra sarvaśaktiprada pradhāna pañcāśadakṣe pratitiṣṭha .
Om Laṅkāra, the giver of all power, the Supreme One,
be established in the 50th head!
ॐ क्षङ्कार परापरतत्त्वज्ञापक परंज्योतीरूप शिखामणौ प्रतितिष्ठ .
oṁ kṣaṅkāra parāparatattvajñāpaka paraṁjyotīrūpa śikhāmaṇau pratitiṣṭha .
Om kṣaṅkāra, the One who instructs on the main and subsidiary categories of the world,
of the nature of Supreme effulgence,
be firmly established in the crest gem!
Mrityu not only means death but carelessness, non-alertness consequent swerving from the path of spirituality. Hence ajñāna, nescience and the bodily perils like hunger etc., too are referred to as Mrityu.
Such invocation of sacred syllables (Āvāhana), their spirits
and the deity who confers a particular boon and of the nature of a particular form
must be invoked in the first head - right of central head.
Invocation must be done circularly and end in crest jewel.
6.
Then one must say:
"Salutations to those gods who are on and move about in earth!
Be firmly established in this rosary and bless us and forefathers too
after getting established in Akṣa-mālika permit us for auspiciousness and good!"
7.
Then one must say:
"Salutations to those gods who are in and move about in atmosphere!
Be firmly established in this rosary and bless us and forefathers too
after getting established in Akṣa-mālika permit us for auspiciousness and good!"
8.
Then one must say:
"Salutations to those gods who are in and move about in heaven!
Be firmly established in this rosary and bless us and forefathers too
after getting established in Akṣa-mālika permit us for auspiciousness and good!"
9.
Then one must say:
"Salutations to seven crore mantras and 64 arts"
and invoke their powers in rosary.
10.
Then one must say:
"Salutations to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva" and invoke their powers in rosary.
11.
Then one must say:
"Salutations unto the 36 Tattvas (the fundamental categories)"
and invoke the presence of the best Tattvas in it, praying to them
to make the rosary capable of yielding the desired fruit like a divine-cow (Kāmadhenu).
12.
Then one must say:
"Salutations unto Hundreds of Thousands of Śaivites, Vaiṣṇavites and Śaktas
(and seek their blessings and permission to use the rosary);
be pleased and permit me to use".
13.
Then one must say:
"Salutations unto the powers of Mrityu; Let you all make me happy, happy!"
14.
Then meditating on the rosary as representing everything as the form of God,
should start touching eastwards, feeling grateful to its help
and touch the heads (beads) 108 times.
15.
Then getting up, placing it (on flowers)
circumambulating utter the following incantation:
"Om, Oh goddess, salutations, mother of all mantras of the forms of letters, rosary of beads; He who attracts everyone, Salutations!
Oh goddess mantra matrike, rosary of beads, stupefier of everything, Salutations!
Oh goddess, the remover of Abhicharas, Salutations!
Oh goddess, eternal One, conqueror of nescience, the illuminator of everything,
protector of the all world, life giver for all world, creator of everything,
ordainer of the day, ordainer of the night,
mover to the other rivers, mover to other places,
mover to other islands, mover to other worlds,
shining everywhere always, she who illumines all hearts!
Salutations to you of the form of Parā!
Salutations to you of the form of Paśyanti!
Salutations to you of the form of Madhyamā!
Salutations to you of the form of Vaikharī!
Salutations! Salutations to you of the nature of all Tattvas, all knowledge,
of the nature of all powers, of the nature of all good,
worshipped by sage Vasiṣtha, attended to by sage Viśvāmitra!
16. If one studies this in morning, the sins of night are destroyed.
If one studies this in evening twilight, sins done in day are destroyed.
One who reads this both in the morning and evening,
even if a sinner becomes rid of sins.
The mantras recited with rosary immediately give benefits."
Thus said Guha to Prajāpati.
Thus ends the Upanishad.
Om!
May my speech be based on (i.e. accord with) the mind;
May my mind be based on speech.
O Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me.
May you both (speech and mind) be the carriers of the Veda to me.
May not all that I have heard depart from me.
I shall join together (i.e. obliterate the difference of) day
And night through this study.
I shall utter what is verbally true;
I shall utter what is mentally true.
May that (Brahman) protect me;
May That protect the speaker (i.e. the teacher), may That protect me;
May that protect the speaker - may That protect the speaker.
Om! Let there be Peace in me!
Let there be Peace in my environment!
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!
Here ends the Aksha-Malika Upanishad, as contained in the Rig-Veda.
Translated by K. Srinivasan