Bija Mantra

[Cosinuskurve]

Dear forum,

what are bija mantras? I learned that they are "seed" mantras and that they cannot be translated. But what are they the "seed" of?

Thanks in advance.

[brahma jijnasa]

Namaste

From the Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary:

bīja

- seed (of plants) , semen (of men and animals) , seed-corn , grain RV. &c
- any germ , element , primary cause or principle , source , origin (ifc. = caused or produced by , sprung from) ChUp. MBh. Ka1v. &c
- the germ or origin of any composition (as of a poem , of the plot of a drama , of a magical formula &c ) R. BhP. Das3ar. Prata1p.
- truth (as the seed or cause of being) L.
- the mystical letter or syllable which forms the essential part of the mantra of any deity RTL. 197 &c

regards

[saswathy]

Bija manthras are the primardial sounds . OM is the first sound .OM is sabda brahman .The nature consists of three gunas From these thrigunas eight sounds have come . They are Ashtabeejas .
1.Ayi em-- saraswathi beeja , sreem - -lakshmi beeja , Hreem mayabeeja , Dum -- Durgabeeja , Hoaum --Sadsiva beeja, Kleem -kamabeeja , kshroum --Narasimha beeja , kreem -- Kalibeeja , Gum - Ganapathi beeja.
Ayiem beeja removes sorrow and gives knowledge .
Sreem beeja gives wealth
Hreem beeja destroys misery
Houm beeja also destroys sorrow and gives stamina .
Dum gives raksha and protects from evil forces .
Kshroum beeja destroys enemies and obstacles .
Kreem beeja givesprotection from internal and external enemies
Gumbeeja gives knowledge and removal of obstacles.
Kleem gives all pleasures, beauty and abundant riches