MAUNA VRATHA - Significance

What is Mauna Vratha? What is its significance? What are its benefits?

Literally Mauna Vratha means a vow to keep silent, remain mute, not speaking etc. It could be for a determined period of time say, one month either whole day or from Sunrise to Sunset or for few hours in a day. During Mauna Vratha one should avoid making gestures, watching TV, attending mobiles, sending messages, reading news papers and magazines etc. One can offer silent prayer to God.

In Bhagawadgita (sloka # 16 of 17th Canto) Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga-Yoga, Lord Sri Krishna speaks of silence and says that,

1. Manah-Prasadah (serenity of mind/thought); 
2. Saumyatvam (good-heartedness/gentleness/amiable temperament);
3. Maunam (silence);
4. Aatma-vinigrahah (self-control/restraint of the self); 
5. Bhaava-Samsuddhih (purity of nature/purpose);

are the five noble values of life together called the "mental austerity or Tapas (penance) of the mind where, 1 & 2 are preconditions for achieving silence (3) and when once silence (3) is achieved it results in 4 & 5.

The word Mauna is derived from the word Muni (state of Muni), literally meaning an ascetic who practices silence, the one who will be in the state of constant contemplation/meditation.

Mauna means absolute tranquility not just shutting mouth. Silence of speech must arise from the relative silence (reflection) of the mind. Mauna makes sense only when there is noiseless inner calm, which one comes to experience when corroding passions and exhausting desires are no more building up in one's mind.

Benefits.... 

It helps…

• In acquiring purity of speech; 
• Self control/self discipline;
• Growth of positive energy; will power; 
• Control of anger, anxiety, speech, negative thoughts;
• Opportunity for introspection of self;
• Change in personality; 
• Enhance self confidence; determination; 
• Improves meditative ability; inner peace;
• Above are essential for spiritual development

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu