Namaskāra dear all,
As said by esteemed Ramesh Kutticad in the Article on "Japa Sādhana" here in the forum, there are 7 characteristics of a mantra.
He named them as: ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, bīja, śakti, kīlaka, and nyāsa.
In many manuals we find, that the ṛṣi is invoked on top of the head, the metre on the mouth etc.
So the question arises: How important is it to know all of them and, are they needed if Guruji did not teach them to us?
If they are important, could one pick them freely up from texts?
Many thanks in advance!
Om Śrī Gurubhyo namaḥ