Durwakshat Mantra (Sanskrit: दूर्वाक्षत मंत्र) is a blessing mantra chanted in the Mithila region of the Indian Subcontinent.
Etymology Durwakshata is a compound Sanskrit word having two terms Dūrvā and Akshata. In the Mithila region, the Mantra is chanted by taking the sacred grass Dūrvā and Akshata in hand by Brahmins and at the end of the mantra, the sacred grass Dūrvā and Akshata is thrown on the blessee. Since the sacred grass Dūrvā and Akshata is used by the Brahmins as the material things for blessing in the Mantra, it is known as Durwakshata Mantra.
Description In the Mithila region of the Indian Subcontinent, the Durwakshata Mantra is chanted for the blessing in auspicious occasions by minimum five married elder male Brahmins. This mantra is generally chanted on the occasion of marriage, Kojagra, Upanayana and Mundan ceremonies, etc. It is chanted during the Chumavan ritual on these auspicious occasions. It is also known as the Vedic prayer for the nation. In Hindi, it is called "Vedic Rastriya Prarthana".
The Durwakshata Mantra is taken from the 22nd mantra of the 22nd chapter in the Madhyandina Samhita of the White Yajurveda. According to Maithil scholar Gajendra Thakur, the mantra was chanted for the devotion towards the Nation in entire Indian subcontinent by people in the early times.
But in the Mithila region, adding "मंत्रार्थाः सिद्धयः सन्तु पूर्णाः सन्तु मनोरथाः। शत्रुणां बुद्धिनाशोऽस्तु मित्राणामुदयस्तव।" after the mantra became the blessing Mantra in the tradition of Maithil Brahmins.
Translations The meaning of the first line of the Mantra can be translate in English as "O God! May a Brahmin teacher who is endowed with the light of knowledge arise in our nation." The translation of the second line of the Mantra is "May there arise brave, skilled archers, great warriors, rulers and soldiers Kshatriyas in our nation." Similarly the translation of the further lines of the Mantra in English is "In our nation, the Yajman's cow should be milky, the bull should be able to carry loads, and the horse should be swift. Women should be endowed with all virtues. Let all the charioteers be victorious, mighty and Yajman's sons be civilized. Let the clouds rain from time to time as needed in our nation. May crops and medicines mature with fruit and flowers. Yoga and Kshema should be practiced in the best manner in our nation. May the meanings of the mantras be fulfilled and may the desires be fulfilled. May the intelligence of your enemies be destroyed and your friends rise."
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