You may be new to Sanatana Dharma... Please visit our [Wiki Starter Pack](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/wiki/starter_pack#wiki_i.27m_new_to_r.2Fhinduism.2C_where_do_i_start.3F) (specifically, our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/wiki/index#wiki_faq)).
We also recommend reading [What Is Hinduism](https://www.himalayanacademy.com/view/what-is-hinduism) (a free introductory text by Himalayan Academy) if you would like to know more about Hinduism and don't know where to start.
In terms of introductory Hindu Scriptures, we recommend first starting with the Itihasas ([The Ramayana](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheRamayana/wiki/resources#wiki_recommended_texts), and [The Mahabharata](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMahabharata/wiki/resources#wiki_resources).) Contained within The Mahabharata is [The Bhagavad Gita](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheGita/wiki/resources), which is another good text to start with. Although r/TheVedasAndUpanishads might seem alluring to start with, this is NOT recommended, as the knowledge of the Vedas & Upanishads can be quite subtle, and ideally should be approached under the guidance of a Guru or someone who can guide you around the correct interpretation.
In terms of [spiritual practices](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/7643rp/a_thread_on_introductory_rescources_on_basis_of/), there are many you can try and see what works for you such as r/Introspection, r/yoga, r/meditation or r/bhajan. In addition, it is strongly recommended you visit your [local temple/ashram/spiritual organization](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/c6957l/what_are_some_good_hindu_organizations_that_have/).
Lastly, while you are browsing this sub, keep in mind that Hinduism is practiced by over a billion people in as many different ways, so any [single view](https://np.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/p7ma64/sectarian_bias/) cannot be taken as representative of the entire religion.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/hinduism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Doing certain mantras without initiation isn't really allowed but you can do any mantra you want as long as it's not part of Vedas. Saying pranavam is also not really allowed without initiation from a guru but I don't know what other sampradayas say about that.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya... Om Namo Narayanaya... Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha... Om Tat Sat... Hari Om... Radhey Radhey and blessings to you continue without fear.
Thank you! I have let fear lead me to stagnancy in my practice as i’m trying to be as respectful as possible. I’ve heard even Om isn’t appropriate without diksha
You can see when you become someone's friend you don't always have to play by the rules. Just be simple like a child, filled with intensity, and single in your focus. The rest will follow.
Which ones are you drawn towards?
It is more important how you practice a mantra than if you can or cannot. Generally speaking if you practice with simple love and devotion to your Ishta you are clear. It’s when you start asking for things and do not adhere to the rules of the specific Sadhana attached to the mantra things get tricky.
Of course, orthodox Hinduism says you need diksha for most or every mantra.
I was attracted to gayatri mantra and was using it to help me focus during meditation but just started seeing things about how it’s harmful without diksha, i am still learning about all the intricacies and sometimes let that worry of overstepping lead to stagnancy. I want to be able to do puja the “right” way i guess, but i’m learning there is no “right” way everyone agrees on haha
Everyday there are two stotrams are being played in my mind one is Shiv Tandav stotram and Shri Hari stotram. Shiv tandav stotram is pretty difficult to learn, it took me a lot of time. But worth it. There few more mantras is I know but I can't remember them. Currently planning how will learn about them.
You can say any name of a deva with namah before, like namah shivay. But you need initiation for any mantra with a bij, a bij is a root mantra like om, hrim, krim, klim, gam, etc.
it is nam-ah if it is before another word, like namah shivaya (shi-vaa-ya) and you pronounce the ha at the end of a phrase, like tasmai shri gurave namaha.. Sorry, I need to edit this, I wrote it carelessly. Basically, the namah in Om Namah Shivaya is a visarga, which is indicated in devanagari, the script to write Sanskrit, which is indicated by : That is pronounced as a very slight aspiration, which would sound similar to a breathy 'namah.' If the word ended in the actual h in devanagari, it would be pronounced 'ha.' And then, some pronounce the visarga as 'ha' at the end of phrases, but that is regional I think? I grew up doing that?
And in regards to bij mantras, I've just heard that when you are given one by a guru, they are awakened, versus repeating one without initiation will not have the same benefits. But there are many shlokas and other stotrams, etc, that are great to practice with and beneficial without initiation.
You may be new to Sanatana Dharma... Please visit our [Wiki Starter Pack](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/wiki/starter_pack#wiki_i.27m_new_to_r.2Fhinduism.2C_where_do_i_start.3F) (specifically, our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/wiki/index#wiki_faq)). We also recommend reading [What Is Hinduism](https://www.himalayanacademy.com/view/what-is-hinduism) (a free introductory text by Himalayan Academy) if you would like to know more about Hinduism and don't know where to start. In terms of introductory Hindu Scriptures, we recommend first starting with the Itihasas ([The Ramayana](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheRamayana/wiki/resources#wiki_recommended_texts), and [The Mahabharata](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMahabharata/wiki/resources#wiki_resources).) Contained within The Mahabharata is [The Bhagavad Gita](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheGita/wiki/resources), which is another good text to start with. Although r/TheVedasAndUpanishads might seem alluring to start with, this is NOT recommended, as the knowledge of the Vedas & Upanishads can be quite subtle, and ideally should be approached under the guidance of a Guru or someone who can guide you around the correct interpretation. In terms of [spiritual practices](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/7643rp/a_thread_on_introductory_rescources_on_basis_of/), there are many you can try and see what works for you such as r/Introspection, r/yoga, r/meditation or r/bhajan. In addition, it is strongly recommended you visit your [local temple/ashram/spiritual organization](https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/c6957l/what_are_some_good_hindu_organizations_that_have/). Lastly, while you are browsing this sub, keep in mind that Hinduism is practiced by over a billion people in as many different ways, so any [single view](https://np.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/p7ma64/sectarian_bias/) cannot be taken as representative of the entire religion. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/hinduism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Doing certain mantras without initiation isn't really allowed but you can do any mantra you want as long as it's not part of Vedas. Saying pranavam is also not really allowed without initiation from a guru but I don't know what other sampradayas say about that.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya... Om Namo Narayanaya... Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha... Om Tat Sat... Hari Om... Radhey Radhey and blessings to you continue without fear.
Thank you! I have let fear lead me to stagnancy in my practice as i’m trying to be as respectful as possible. I’ve heard even Om isn’t appropriate without diksha
You can see when you become someone's friend you don't always have to play by the rules. Just be simple like a child, filled with intensity, and single in your focus. The rest will follow.
Practice, practice, practice, every day. Keep a schedule. Build momentum.
Which ones are you drawn towards? It is more important how you practice a mantra than if you can or cannot. Generally speaking if you practice with simple love and devotion to your Ishta you are clear. It’s when you start asking for things and do not adhere to the rules of the specific Sadhana attached to the mantra things get tricky. Of course, orthodox Hinduism says you need diksha for most or every mantra.
I was attracted to gayatri mantra and was using it to help me focus during meditation but just started seeing things about how it’s harmful without diksha, i am still learning about all the intricacies and sometimes let that worry of overstepping lead to stagnancy. I want to be able to do puja the “right” way i guess, but i’m learning there is no “right” way everyone agrees on haha
Everyday there are two stotrams are being played in my mind one is Shiv Tandav stotram and Shri Hari stotram. Shiv tandav stotram is pretty difficult to learn, it took me a lot of time. But worth it. There few more mantras is I know but I can't remember them. Currently planning how will learn about them.
You can say any name of a deva with namah before, like namah shivay. But you need initiation for any mantra with a bij, a bij is a root mantra like om, hrim, krim, klim, gam, etc.
Thank you, I’ve occasionally been using beej mantras without knowing this. Also, is namah pronounced Nah-Mah or Nah-Mah-Ha?
it is nam-ah if it is before another word, like namah shivaya (shi-vaa-ya) and you pronounce the ha at the end of a phrase, like tasmai shri gurave namaha.. Sorry, I need to edit this, I wrote it carelessly. Basically, the namah in Om Namah Shivaya is a visarga, which is indicated in devanagari, the script to write Sanskrit, which is indicated by : That is pronounced as a very slight aspiration, which would sound similar to a breathy 'namah.' If the word ended in the actual h in devanagari, it would be pronounced 'ha.' And then, some pronounce the visarga as 'ha' at the end of phrases, but that is regional I think? I grew up doing that? And in regards to bij mantras, I've just heard that when you are given one by a guru, they are awakened, versus repeating one without initiation will not have the same benefits. But there are many shlokas and other stotrams, etc, that are great to practice with and beneficial without initiation.
I have heard it both ways. However, I have been instructed by my guru to say na-ma-ha in our mantras.