[Advaita-l] Question/Clarification on Chanting Vaidika mantras

[Balasubramanian Ramakrishnan]

On Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 6:12 AM Balasubramanian Ramakrishnan <
rama.balasubramanian at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> That's taking it to the "extreme" level! Knowing the meanings of Mantras is
>> very good. One should add that knowing the *correct* meaning - not just
>> the literal
>> meaning - is excellent.
>>
>> Besides, the Veda doesn't consist of Mantras alone, but also Vidhis
>> (Brahmanas).
>> One can ask the question: "Which is more important - Mantras or
>> Vidhis/Brahmanas?"
>> Of course, the answer is that both are equally important, but some would
>> say
>> that the balance is 51-49 in favor of the Vidhis, since even to know
>> which Mantra
>> to recite comes from the Vidhis. Hence knowing the meanings of the Vidhis
>> is the
>> foundation of Dharma
>
>
> No. As per the mImAmsA shAstra, vidhi is like 99%. As a matter of fact,
> the true meaning of the mantra can be gained only from the vidhi. The
> mantras are ALMOST irrelevant.
>
> Rama
>
>>
What I meant to say here a little more precisely is that the mantras *by
themselves* are almost irrelevant.



>>