Difference between Long & Short Great Compassion Mantra - Sanskrit

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vonacid
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue May 24, 2022 11:09 am

Difference between Long & Short Great Compassion Mantra - Sanskrit

Post by vonacid »

Hi everyone,

I am a buddhist by family origin but I have not taken Buddhism studies seriously until recently. I followed whatever was taught to me by my parent and many of which are a mix of taoism and Buddhism (it happens a lot here in Singapore).

Recently I started singing/chanting many times every day on the (I suppose short sanskrit version) of the Great compassion mantra. (it took me a while but finally able to chant it by heart).

Below is the one I used for chanting.
YouTube song I used to learn the pronunciation:


Nammo Ratna Trayaya
Nammo Arya Jnana
Sagara Vairochana
Byuharatchaya Tathagataya
Arahate
Samyaksam Buddhaya

Nammo Sarwa
Tathagathe Bhyay
Arahata bhyah
Samyaksam
Buddhe Bhavah
Nammo Arya Avalokite

Shoraya Bodhisattvaya
Maha Sattvaya
Maha Karunikaya
Tadyata Om Dara-Dara
Diri-Diri, Duru-Duru

Itte We Itte Chale Chale
Purachale Purachale
Kusume Kusuma
Wa Re Ili Mili
Chiti Jvalam
Apanaya Shoha
--------------
However I recently found that there is a longer (full?) version of the mantra.

Longer version YouTube I found:


Namo ratnatrayaya.
Namo aryavalokitesvaraya.
Bodhisattvaya.
Mahasattvaya.
Mahakarunikaya.
Om.
Sarva abhayah.
Sunadhasya.
Namo sukrtvemama.
Aryavalokitesvaragarbha.
Namo nilakantha.
[Siri] mahabhadrasrame.
Sarvarthasubham.
Ajeyam.
Sarvasattvanamavarga.
Mahadhatu.
Tadyatha.
Om avaloke.
Lokite.
Kalate.
Hari.
Mahabodhisattva.
Sarva sarva.
Mala mala.
[Masi] Mahahrdayam.
Kuru kuru karmam.
(Kuru) Kuruvijayati
Mahavijayati.
Dharadhara.
Dharin suraya.
Chala chala.
Mama bhramara.
Muktir.
Ehi ehi.
Chinda chinda.
Harsam prachali.
Basa basam presaya.
Hulu hulu mala.
Hulu hulu hilo.
Sara sara.
Siri siri.
Suru suru.
Bodhiya bodhiya.
Bodhaya bodhaya.
Maitreya.
Nilakantha.
Dharsinina.
Payamana svaha.
Siddhaya svaha.
Mahasiddhaya svaha.
Siddhayogesvaraya svaha.
Nilakanthasvaha.
Varahananaya svaha.
Simhasiramukhaya svaha.
Sarvamahasiddhaya svaha.
Cakrasiddhaya svaha.
Padmahastaya svaha.
Nilakanthavikaraya svaha.
Maharsisankaraya svaha.
Namo ratnatrayaya.
Namo aryavalokitesvaraya svaha.
Om siddhyantu.
Mantrapadaya svaha.

-----------
I am new to this and not many around which I can clarify about this. Therefore looking forward to some seniors and teachers here to impart some knowledge to me.

Question:
1. May I know what is the difference between the longer and the shorter version of the mantra?

2. Which one should I be practicing? how can I learn to pronounce the sanskrit mantra accurately?

3. There is a widely available Chinese mandarin version of the mantra call 大悲咒 out there but it seems to be referring to the longer version only. How is this different from the sanskrit version? should I have to learn it in Chinese instead of sanskrit?

4. Is there steps on what I should do everyday before and after the chanting? (I saw so many versions out there but never understand how and why?)

5. Understand the surface meaning of what emptiness and rightfully whatever i am facing is part of my karmic seeds I planted like a reflection of me. In that case, does it really make sense for me to spend hours chanting the mantra instead of going out taking actions to plant positive karmic seeds practising Tonglen (or meditation)?

Thank you to all seniors and teachers in advance!
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Aemilius
Posts: 4604
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:44 am

Re: Difference between Long & Short Great Compassion Mantra - Sanskrit

Post by Aemilius »

Two entirely different mantras, first one is the Eleven-Faced Thousand Arms Avalokitesvara Heart Dharani, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleven-Fa ... rani_Sutra

the secomd one is The Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī, also known as the Mahākaruṇā(-citta) Dhāraṇī, Mahākaruṇika Dhāraṇī or Great Compassion Dhāraṇī / Mantra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%ABla ... 9%87%C4%AB
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
vonacid
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue May 24, 2022 11:09 am

Re: Difference between Long & Short Great Compassion Mantra - Sanskrit

Post by vonacid »

Aemilius wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 4:35 pm Two entirely different mantras, first one is the Eleven-Faced Thousand Arms Avalokitesvara Heart Dharani, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleven-Fa ... rani_Sutra

the secomd one is The Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī, also known as the Mahākaruṇā(-citta) Dhāraṇī, Mahākaruṇika Dhāraṇī or Great Compassion Dhāraṇī / Mantra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%ABla ... 9%87%C4%AB
Thank you! I understand they are different Dharani now.
I wish to know the correct practices for both of these.

Can any seniors or teachers share with me please?
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