Kaliyug Mahamantra Meditation

The Kalira Mahamantra is one of the most revered mantras for the age of Kali Yuga. The mantra reads:

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare

Hare Rāma Hare RāmaRāma Rāma Hare Hare

This Mahamantra is described as the ultimate tool for overcoming the influence of Kali Yuga. Nirāṅkāra Jagannath tells Achyutananda that through this mantra, the negative impact of Kali Yuga will gradually fade away, and the jīva (soul) will be able to attain tāraṇa (freedom or liberation) from saṅsāra, the cycle of birth and death.

The Power of the Mahamantra: Ha and Ra

Lord Jagannath reveals a secret about the syllables "ह" (ha) and "र" (ra), emphasizing that together they form "हर" (hara), which holds the key to liberation. The word "Hara" symbolizes the divine energy that can wipe out mala—representing the impurities, tamas (ignorance), and obstacles that keep the soul bound to worldly existence. This purification enables the seeker to open the door to the "7th house," a metaphor for escaping worldly bondages and reaching liberation without tainting oneself with the burdens of the body, mind, or soul.

The use of the mantra "ॐ हराय नमः" (Om harāya namaḥ) found in the Śiva Mahāpurāṇa is also highlighted for its power to conquer tamas and negative influences, serving as a powerful invocation for Śiva's blessings and for purifying one’s soul.

Mahamantra Meditation Technique

The teachings move beyond the recital of the Mahamantra, explaining how it should be meditated upon and incorporated into one's breath, a practice known as ajapā japa. Ajapā japa refers to the repetition of a mantra in synchronization with the breath, making it an effortless, subconscious practice.

Nirāṅkāra Jagannath instructs Achyutananda on how to meditate using the Mahamantra with the breath. He says, “The wind is coming and going, get that ajapa into the mind.” This practice involves integrating the Mahamantra with the natural flow of breath:

• Inhale (Cool Breath): Recite internally "Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare."

• Exhale (Warm Breath): Recite internally "Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare."

  
  

At the first level, this process is called yogic śodhana—a purification technique that involves simply watching the breath and synchronizing it with the mantra. Gradually, the mantra becomes integrated with the natural rhythm of breathing, occurring effortlessly at a subconscious level, called ajapā.

At the second level, it becomes ajapā japa, akin to the so’haṁsa technique of pranayama, where the breath and mantra become one unified practice. By continuously mixing the Mahamantra with the breath, the practitioner experiences deeper states of consciousness, eventually transcending into a state where the mantra alone remains, lifting the prāṇa (life force) to higher levels and connecting it to the Paramātmā (Supreme Soul).

Śodhana and Sun-Moon Symbolism

Lord Jagannath further explains that as the Mahamantra merges with the prāṇa, it leads to the gradual dissolution of kāla (time). This symbolizes the attainment of timelessness, mastery over Prāṇāyāma (breath control), and ultimately achieving Pratyāhāra (withdrawal of the senses). The reference to Sun and Moon in the teachings represents Piñgala (right nostril, solar channel) and Iḍā (left nostril, lunar channel). This practice is known as Naḍī-śodhana—the purification of the energy channels, which brings balance between the two opposing forces of the body and paves the way for spiritual awakening.

Sri Jagannath advises Achyutananda not to get caught up in the technicalities of "ha" and "ra" and instead focus on practicing the Mahamantra diligently. When the breath, prāṇa, and mantra become one, this is Kevala Kumbhaka, a state in which both Prāṇa (life force) and Apāna (eliminating energy) are united, resulting in a stable, effortless retention of breath—a sign of success in meditation.

The Mantra Path and Samādhi

Lord Jagannath explains that through continuous practice, the mantra will stabilize within one’s consciousness, leading to the stabilization of the samādhi path—the ultimate state of deep meditative absorption. He emphasizes that the Mantra Marga (path of the mantra) is, in essence, the Samādhi Marga (path to samādhi). By mixing the Mahamantra with the breath, the practitioner establishes a foundation for samādhi, ultimately merging the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.

The Fruits of Mantra Practice

Lord Jagannath describes the fruits of practicing the Mahamantra. He says that once one has successfully integrated the mantra with their breath, they will enter a state of mantra bhāva—a state of immersion in the essence of the mantra—and drown in an ocean of eternal love, called prema. The seeker, experiencing this divine bliss, reaches a state of jivanamukta—living liberation—where they are constantly immersed in the love of the divine and live among the gods.

The State of Bāulā

Prabhu Jagannath continues by explaining that after countless repetitions of the Mahamantra, the practitioner will become bāulā—mad with divine love. This term is reminiscent of the ecstatic state of saints like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who were lost in the divine love of Kṛṣṇa and completely absorbed in the presence of the divine. This state of divine madness represents the ultimate transformation of the practitioner, where they transcend worldly attachments and live in eternal bliss.

The 16 Names and Oṁkāra

The Mahamantra consists of 16 names, which, as Jagannath explains, become fixed with the breath over time. He mentions that “Oṁkāra is the origin of the Mahamantra, and the brahma-jyoti (divine light) of Oṁkāra will enlighten due to the Mahamantra.” By mixing the mantra with the breath, it lights the ātma jyoti (the inner light), leading to self-realization in this very life. When the soul leaves the body at death, it leaves with the Mahamantra, carrying it to its origin—the divine Oṁkāra, the source of all creation.

The Ultimate Upadeśa (Teaching)

Shri Jagannath imparts the ultimate teaching: “Whichever mantra you fix with your breath, to that loka (or tala) you go after death.” By fixing the Mahamantra with the breath, the practitioner ensures that at the time of death, the soul, in its last breath, leaves the body with the mantra, guiding it to its divine destination.

The Manifestation of the Divine Within

Sri Jagannath also reveals that, through the practice of the Mahamantra, the pilgrim centers of Vrindavan (the home of Kṛṣṇa), Ayodhya (the home of Rāma), and Kashi (the abode of Śiva) will manifest within the practitioner. These sacred places, which symbolize different aspects of divine love and realization, will become a part of the practitioner’s inner experience, representing the ultimate union with the divine.

Conclusion

Achyutananda’s teachings on the Kalira Mahamantra serve as a powerful guide for seekers in Kali Yuga. The Mahamantra, when practiced with sincerity, dedication, and integration with the breath, becomes a potent means for attaining liberation and merging with the divine. It purifies the practitioner, dissolves the influence of time, and leads to a state of ecstatic divine love, culminating in samādhi and ultimately jivanamukti.

Through these teachings, Nirāṅkāra Jagannath shows us that the path to divine realization is not found in complex debates or rituals, but in the simple, sincere practice of the Mahamantra, integrated into every breath. It is a reminder that the divine is always within us, waiting to be realized through dedication, love, and unwavering devotion. By fixing the mantra with our breath, we embark on a journey beyond the limitations of time and space, merging our prāṇa with the divine and ultimately returning to the source—Oṁkāra.

Om Tat Sat