The "Mantra Yoga Samhita" is a comprehensive text that delves into various aspects of mantra, initiation, worship, hand gestures (mudras), purification rituals (nyasas), chanting (japa), rosaries (japamala), and related subjects. Here's a synopsis of its contents:
- Mantra yoga: Focuses on meditation on Brahman through the repetition of divine names, forms, and seed syllables (beejaksharas).
- Deeksha (Initiation): Discusses the necessity of initiation and emphasizes the importance of having a guru with qualities such as knowledge of scriptures, self-control, expertise in rituals, and truthfulness.
- Disciple Characteristics: Describes the qualities expected from disciples, including desirelessness, obedience, self-control, and devotion to the deity.
- Preliminaries of Deeksha: Covers aspects like referring to diagrams such as Namachakra, Rashichakra, Nakshatra chakra, and Akadama Chakra to determine the appropriate mantra for initiation.
- Timing and Place for Deeksha: Advice on selecting the right time based on the almanac (panchanga) and discusses the importance of the proper location and mantra selection.
- Upasana (Meditation): Focuses on the worship of five deities: Shiva, Devi, Vishnu, Ganesha, and Surya, as well as their association with the five elements (panchabhutas).
- Devotion (Bhakti): Explores three kinds of devotion.
- Purification Rituals (Shuddhis): Details various purification practices, including purifying the meditation space (sthala shuddhi).
- Seats and Postures (Asanas): Discusses different types of seats like wool, deer-skin, and tiger-skin.
- Mantra Purification (Samskaras): Outlines ten types of purification processes for a mantra.
- Breath Control (Pranayama): Covers techniques of breath control.
- Fire Sacrifice (Havana or Homa): Discusses the ritual of offering oblations into the sacred fire.
- Worship (Puja): Describes puja rituals with various modes of service (upacharas) such as dasopachara.
- Chanting (Japa): Explores three kinds of chanting and different seed mantras for various deities like hrim, klim, krim, and aim.
- Counting Mantras: Explains methods of counting mantras using hand gestures and different types of rosaries (japamalas).
- Meditation on Deities: Provides detailed instructions for meditating on the various forms of deities like Vishnu, Devi, Shiva, Ganapati, and Surya.
- Samadhi and Mind: Describes states of absorption (samadhi) and discusses the nature of the mind and its aspects.
Overall, the "Mantra Yoga Samhita" serves as a comprehensive guide for practitioners of mantra yoga, offering detailed instructions on various spiritual practices and rituals associated with mantra meditation and worship.