The Origin of Letters

   Humans are the only animals who are blessed with power to speak and, that too, it starts with feeble meaningless incoherent sounds, signs, symbols, letters (called akshara malini) and words. Even now there remains much to organize words in a coherent, meaningful way and speak properly to express what is cognized or felt! Only a few blessed ones can excel in beautiful expressions! It is the divine grace of the Mother that gives us good expression in words and deeds!

  The origin of letters, syllables, 'akshara' is beautifully explained by Devi Lakshmi, the Creative power and Glory of Vishnu, the All-pervading Consciousness'. Let's us know this from Her own pronouncements here, (Lakshmi Tantra, MLBD. p 106-108).  

  "I am the primary, total 'I-hood' ('ahanta'), of Hari. characterized by the creative urge (Shirshika). Being the supreme shakti manifest as creation, i become creatively active." She the Devi, goes on to narrate how She manifests as all the Creation that exists and comes to our limited power of cognition; the more will be Her grace on us, the more we can get to know of it!. She says, "I have fifteen dasha, the powerful syllables that create! These are vowels (svara) 'a' to 'au' (Samsk.). The eternal essence of myself (as) vac (speech) is 'a-kara' which is primary and self-revealed in consciousness and the root of the entire domain of speech." This expression of the self-revealed 'a-kara' (first syllable) brings joy, ananda, Thus the second syllable 'A' , dheerga svara of the alpa svara 'a' is created! Lakshmi is vac-devi, the divine grace of 'vac' (speech)!

  "The third vowel appears as ichha, 'i' and the fourth is 'Ishana'. and the fifth is 'u' - unmesha and the sixth is said to be 'U' (oo)- Urja. Four middle vowels- ru, Ru La, Lu are modification of ichha. Combination of 'a' (the first vowel-full of creative power) with ichha produces 'e'-kara (ye), when combined with Ananda ('A) produces 'ai'- jagadyoni! Similarly, 'a' combined with 'u' (unmesha) becomes 'au' -sound as sadyojata! Thus all the powerful syllables supported by a )brahmn) are created! Incidentally, Om is the beginning and end!  The syllables 'am' and 'ah' are the most powerful bijaksharas that contain the powers that be!

  Here, the question is what is ichha and whose ichha is it to create? The answer is simple. It is the ichha of the Lord to manifest Himself as the Creative [power, Shakti into modifications of all that we see, hear, feel, experience, cognize and express as the subtlest, subtler-most, to the grossest of the gross material world ! Whatever is cognized by the senses and the mind is expressed in multiple ways!:

  Some of the modifications of other syllables and their meaning are: b + h + bh+a=bha meaning maya due to ichha of 'brhmn'. similarly, b p, ph+a=buddhya, manas, 'aham'. The syllable 'I' -kriya shakti of vishnu, anala, chit or agni. It becomes a powerful mantra when supported by 'm' becomes 'Im' or 'yem' or aim as Lakshmi! The syllable 'I' is by itself a powerful protective sacred letter 'tarika mantra' 'Im' is pancha bindu (m- bindu is yogini, trailokyasundari or tripurasundari, parameshvari) has power of srushti, sthiti, laya, tirodhana and anugraha. 'ksha' consisting of k sh s h a as panchabrahma, parabrahmasvarupini. The syllables ya ra la va are dharana (powerful wheels of creation- tarika sukshma and sthula. the syllable m is vyomesha and 'ma' is cognizant power. prajnya sthiti. Devi is represented by 'na' and Na- in subtle and gross forms, respectively. 'h' is srushtikrut, anupashree are 500 powerful mantra. vibhava are the source, origin of bhuta shakti. 'ha' is prana, life force. 'ra' is fire anala (fire).'aa' is gopana,  ai is airavana,

tarika or protective mantra is: Om bija- hrAm, hrIm, hrum, hrom, hraum- represent the five anga- jnyana,  aishvarya, shakti, bala and tejas.equivalent are located in hridaya, shiras, shikha, kavacha and netra. The mantar is: Om aishvaryaya shirase savaha | Om hruh viryaya astraya phaT | (astra mantra). These mantra protect our feet, stomach, arms, high, etc. The number of mantra are innumerable, asankhya! Of what use is the mantra if one does not know the bijakshara, the associated deities and the power inherent in the syllables that constitute it?