Acharya Prashant addresses a question about whether chanting the Mahamrityunjay mantra can help control mental tendencies. He begins by emphasizing that chanting any mantra without understanding its meaning is entirely futile. He explains that the literal meaning of the Mahamrityunjay mantra is a prayer to detach from life at the time of death as effortlessly as a ripe fruit separates from its vine. However, he points out that this literal meaning, in itself, does not offer any profound spiritual benefit. He cautions against the mechanical repetition of mantras, stating that it leads to nothing more than a shallow self-confidence and a form of self-deception, where one might falsely believe they are spiritual simply because they chant. This practice, he notes, is often propagated by mediocre gurus who prescribe mantras like medicine. He reiterates a point he has made countless times: repeating anything without knowing its meaning will yield absolutely no results. Acharya Prashant clarifies that a mantra is a verse (shloka) that originates from a very high state of consciousness, such as the verses of the Upanishads. The purpose of a mantra is to elevate the listener's consciousness. This elevation is achieved not by mere repetition, but by first understanding the mantra's meaning and then deeply contemplating it (manan). He stresses that depth must precede repetition. When one delves into the meaning of a mantra and falls in love with its beauty, the chanting (jaap) begins to happen spontaneously within, like an internal song. He refers to Kabir Saheb's concept of "chanting the inner rosary" to illustrate this point. The true beauty of a mantra, he explains, lies in its liberating power. He concludes by defining the essence of religion (dharma) not as blind imitation, but as the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and insight (bodh) to dispel ignorance.
