Thread by @mmpandit

So, was asked a very good question by @25_shivansh about mantras.
Basically: “Can any mantra be chanted by anybody”?
Will answer slowly in thread:
But my two questions to myself:
1. What person am I?
2. What is one doing the mantra for?

First answer:
A1: What sort of person am I?
This question must be answered honestly for ourselves by these factors:
👇🏻
Are we the easy going type?
Can I tolerate discipline and for how long?
Can I pronounce Sanskrit well?
Am I easily scared?
What’s my affinity to?
What do I want?

If I can’t sit for more than 10 minutes and someone tells me to do 2 hours of japa, I will not be able to comply.
If I tell someone to do a sadhana for a year with Brahmacharya and they can’t stop for 10 days...
If I say, get up at 3 am to do sadhana and they get up at noon!!

Why do many Kshatriyas start off really well at sadhana?
It’s because there is a burning need to prove themselves.
This sadhana is not about Moksha (in any case most don’t get there anyway)..

Now let’s come to @25_shivansh Q:
Opinions vary:
No mantra (strictly speaking over lifetimes) will harm.
BUT Certain mantras cut attachments ie. things we like/love v quickly.
These are children/spouse/looks/wealth and ego in that order...

People looking on will be aghast.
XYZ was doing the mantra for great gains... but lost everything... because that mantra’s affinity was not attuned to what that person wanted.
Now.... certain mantras will do exactly what you want but you won’t usually get hold of them easily.

There are ways and means to choose mantras but better is to adopt a Mahamantra... that will give results slowly over the years and won’t make you ruin yourself with what you got from a mantra.

Do realise:
Kuladevata worship is best!
Graha devata worship is excellent for material desires.
Pitru satisfaction is v important.
Daily sadhana must be done.
Follow the life of greats and see the trouble they had to undergo so you can realise what real spirituality is.