ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ

“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”

The concept of Mantra originated in India during the Vedic period.

Mantra is a sacred utterance, which can be a phoneme, syllable, or a group of words.

The word, Mantra, comes from the Sanskrit word “man,” which means “to think.”

During the Vedic age, people started chanting Mantra as a part of their meditations.

Later on, in the middle of the Vedic Period (between 1000 BC -500 BC), Mantras evolved from the three Vedic texts.

hey are the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Yajur Veda.

Even today, people continue to recite hymns and verses from these Vedic texts.

Mantras have a sacred formula and can enhance us emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically.

As per the Sanskrit text, Amarakosa, there are two types of Mantras.

They are Dhatu or seed Mantra and Krit Pratyaya or Ghan.

The Seed Mantra can protect us and act as secret speeches.

Ghan has a close connection with Karma or Bhava. Mantras are instruments of mind.

They can be melodious and have mathematical precision.

Sometimes Mantras may not have any literal meaning associated with them.

However, they continue to affect us positively.

Most of the Mantras that we chant are in Sanskrit and might be hard for us to comprehend.

It is essential to understand that Mantras focus on sound and their vibrations rather than on their meanings.

Though chanting of Mantras in Pujas, rituals, and meditation, originated during the Vedic Period, it gradually grew.

Different schools of Hinduism started in India, and they included Mantra recitation as their part.

Each of these schools has different views and ways of chanting Mantras.

For instance, the Tantric School believes the universe is sound, and they give a central position to Mantra recitation.

he Tantric School believes that each deity has a Bija or seed Mantra corresponding to them.

Another concept associated with Mantra is in Linga Purana.

As per the text, Mantra is one of the 1008 names of Lord Shiva.

Significance of Mantra: Chanting of Mantra has several significances.

It can help in our physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

They can calm and soothe our minds. It is essential to recite or chant them in devotion and faith to the deities.

The constant repetition of Mantras can help us embrace positive energies and vibrations.

Mantras play a crucial role in yoga practices and meditations as well. Here, we will look into the significances or importances of Mantra recitation in the Hindu belief system.

1. Mantra chanting can help in balancing the imbalances of our Chakras.

Each Mantra can activate different parts of our bodies.

The seven Chakras in our bodies help in the flow of energy through our bodies.

Each of them has frequencies corresponding to them.

Chanting Mantras belonging to that frequency can help in curing the imbalances or blockages of our Chakras.

2. Nada yoga is a discipline of yoga that focuses on sound.

As per Nada yoga, whenever we utter a sound, it can create powerful forms.

So when we recite or chant Mantras in Sanskrit, they can produce representations that help us in imbibing positive energies.

3. The sound formed from wind, trees, and footsteps is also Mantras.

As per the belief system, God, in the beginning, manifested on Earth as sound.

Everything came into existence from the sound, Om or Aum.

It was from the sound, Om, that everything in the world originated.

Thus, Mantra is the key to existence.

4. Another significance of Mantra is that it forms an armor or Mantra Kavach.

The Mantra Kavach shields and protects our bodies.

They can help in changing negative energies to positive vitalities.

5. Chanting the Mantras while you are in a temple or a serene place can help us to improve our concentration.

It is a way of transcending from the material aspects of life to the non-material realm.

By regular recitation of Mantra, we can come in contact with the Ultimate consciousness of the world or the Brahman.

6. Recitation of Mantras while meditating can solve many problems in our lives.

It can also help us move away from depression, hypertension, anxiety, and stress.

These are some of the significances of chanting Mantras.

They can play a crucial role in improving our mind-body well-being.

They help us in attaining peace, calmness, and solace.

You can relieve yourself from frustrations, anger, and stress as well.

How to chant Mantras?

Chanting Mantras is also known as Japa.

You can chant Mantras as a part of your meditation, personal prayer, or during Pujas. However, it is essential to chant Mantras correctly.

When we recite Mantra in the wrong way, it can have a negative impact.

You can chant Mantras in the morning or evening or at any time that suits you.

But it is crucial to have a clear mind while you engage in Mantra recitations.

You can chant Mantras internally, loudly, or softly.

When you chant a Mantra softly, it aids in soothing your nerves.

When you recite it as a musical note, it can enchant your heart.

It is also essential to learn the correct pronunciation of Mantras for embracing its positive effect.

You can chant each Mantra 108 times.

It is auspicious. You can also recite it 5, 10, 28, 1008 times based on the time and length of the Mantra. Most of the devotees have a Japa Mala with 108 beads.

They count on them to keep track of their repetitions.

After completing an entire cycle, the devotees turn the Mala around to start the second recitation.

You can also practice Japa Yagna, where you would be silently repeating the Mantras.

Gayatri Mantra, Shanti Mantra, Ganesh mantra, Durga mantra, Shiva Sutra Mantra, Purusasukta Mantra, and Pavamana Mantra are some of the Mantras chanted by devotees.

You can also chant hymns and verses from the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Yoga Sutra, and Mahabharata.

Thus, chanting of Mantras can invite positivity and improve our connection with the divine entities.

Regular chanting of “Om” can also help you in moving forward in the spiritual path.

What Is Mantra?

What To Know About Mantras for MeditationEffective meditation can be a great way to combat the stress of modern life. But there are many different meditation methods, and you may not be sure which one would work best for you. Read on to learn more about one of the oldest mediation tools described in the Indian scriptures — mantras.

What Are Mantras?

The term “mantra,” which comes from the Sanskrit language, means sacred sound. Mantra can also be split up into its root Sanskrit words “man,” which means mind, and “tra,” which means to deliver or release. Therefore, mantras can act as a tool to ease the mind and release worrisome thoughts.

Mantras may be a collection of sounds or may include words that have a literal meaning. They can be chanted, spoken, or whispered repeatedly, aloud or in the mind.

Many religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, attribute spiritual powers to mantras. However, mantra usage is not restricted by religion or language. Some examples of mantras include:

The Sanskrit chant of Om, Om Shanti, or So Ham

Hindu chants such as the Gayatri mantra

Christian chants like Hail Mary or Ave Maria

Buddhist chants like Om Mani Padme Hum

Generic secular affirmations in English or your native language, such as peace or love

Personalized affirmations in English or your native language

What Is Mantra Meditation?

Mantra meditation is a technique that involves using mantras to relax the mind and help it focus.

Studies have shown that meditation produces a relaxation response. This is because the nerves that control physiological changes, such as a slowing of the heart and respiratory rates as well as a lowering of blood pressure, are activated during meditation.

Four components are essential to producing a relaxation response. They are:

A silent environment

A comfortable posture

An object of focus

Repeated attention on the object of focus

This object of focus can be of many types, such as focusing on the breath or a religious symbol, or even listening to a devotional song or poem. The object of focus is not as essential as one’s ability to bring attention back to the object every time you’re distracted by stray thoughts.

In mantra meditation, the object of focus for producing a relaxation response is a repeated word or phrase called a mantra. If the chosen mantra has a deeply personal or spiritual meaning to you, it can even act as a touchpoint or spiritual anchor to assist you in your meditation.

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How To Meditate With Mantras

Once you’ve chosen your preferred mantra, you’re ready to get started with the meditation process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to meditate effectively using mantras.

1. Pick a suitable location. Meditation requires a quiet environment where you will not be disturbed. Select an appropriate location in your house or elsewhere and get comfortable. Turn off notifications on your phone.

2. Find a comfortable position. There’s no rule for which position is best. According to your fitness level, pick a position that you can comfortably maintain for a long time without needing to fidget or move around. This could be sitting cross-legged on the floor, sitting upright in a chair, standing, lying down, or even walking. Ensure that your spine is erect but not stiff. Relax your arms and place your hands on your lap.

3. Fix a schedule. Decide the duration of your meditation in advance and then set a timer accordingly. This will keep you from stressing out and repeatedly checking the clock. Carve out a specific time of the day, such as early in the morning or late at night, when you’re less likely to be interrupted. Try to meditate regularly around the same time. This will help in building a meditation habit.

4. Start with something simple. If you’re feeling restless or have difficulty sitting still, then gently close your eyes and try to relax your body. You could play some ambient sounds or soothing music, recite a prayer, count down from a hundred, or focus on your breath to calm your mind.

5. Chant your mantra. Once your mind is relatively quiet, start chanting your mantra out loud or in your mind as you continue to breathe slowly and steadily. To achieve a smooth and regular rhythm, you could try matching your chants to the timing of your breathing. If it’s a long mantra, you could chant a part of it as you inhale and the rest as you exhale. If it’s a short mantra, you could repeat it as you inhale and exhale.

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6. Maintain your focus. Distractions are inevitable during mediation. Don’t be discouraged or frustrated if your mind frequently wanders off in the beginning. Patiently redirect your attention back to your mantra and use your breath as a guide to regaining your rhythm. As you build your practice, your ability to concentrate will get better in time.

7. Bring your meditation to a close. Once your timer goes off, don’t rush to stop chanting and immediately open your eyes. Let the rhythm of your mantra chanting naturally taper off. Then, sit still and observe the void of silence in your mind. Notice the changes in your emotions. Even a small improvement in your mood can serve as great encouragement for your next meditation.

8. Set achievable goals. If you’re a beginner at meditation, don’t set unrealistic meditation targets that will set you up for failure and leave you feeling discouraged or unmotivated to try again. Start with an introductory five- or 10-minute mantra meditation until you get the hang of it. Regular meditation practice is more beneficial than a lengthy meditation once in a while.

Bottom Line

Mantras are a powerful tool for improving your meditation practice.

Select a mantra that closely reflects your intent for meditation.

This will retain your interest and motivate you to practice so that you can attain your goals while receiving all the health benefits of regular meditation.

Mantra

A mantra is a sacred word, sound or phrase, often in Sanskrit, recited within a wide variety of religious and spiritual traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Yoga. The word mantra is derived from two Sanskrit roots; manas meaning ‘mind’ and tra meaning ‘tool’. As such, mantras are considered to be “tools of thought,” used as a means of harnessing and focusing the mind.

A mantra can be understood as any sound, word or phrase that alters consciousness through meaning, tone, rhythm, or physical vibration. When chanted with devotion, certain utterances are thought to create powerful vibrations within the body and mind, enabling deep states of meditation.

Traditionally, mantras are believed to have spiritual and psychological powers, each with its own particular intention and meaning behind it.

Mantras can either be recited in repetitions or chanted with melody. Repetition of a mantra can be used to evoke higher states of consciousness, to harness the power of intentions, to manifest positive affirmations and to enter deeper states of awareness.

The use of mantras is ancient, with many scholars suggesting origins that predate the Vedic period in India (c. 1500 – 500 BCE). Some even consider mantras to be older than language itself.

Many of the mantras commonly used in yoga today are believed to have been composed by the sages, saints and practitioners of early Hinduism and Buddhism, though mantras are also found across other religious traditions such as Sikhism and Jainism.

In modern usage, the word mantra is commonly equated to a spiritual aphorism or positive affirmation. In this sense, mantras are used to cultivate a particular state of mind, in which their meaning seeps into the subconscious to transform negativity.

The use, structure, function and importance of a mantra varies according to tradition. However, each mantra is believed to have a distinct meaning, unique vibrational frequency and distinctive healing effects.

When chanting a mantra, the individual begins to vibrate within the frequency of that mantra, not only spiritually, but on a physical, molecular level. When chanting mantras aloud, the vibrations and movements of the tongue stimulate some of the key glands of the endocrine system, which is responsible for governing and regulating hormones in the body.

Additionally, the soothing and harmonious combination of sound, breath and rhythm – an inevitable outcome of mantra chanting – has a profound impact on the parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the “rest and digest” system. This, in turn, slows the heart rate and triggers the body’s healing response.

By focusing on the repetition of a specific set of words or sounds, mantra chanting can also act as an object of concentration, helping to bring the mind into the present moment. As such, mantras are commonly used to still the mind for meditation, particularly for japa meditation, much in the same way that some practitioners concentrate on the breath.

A great way to retain focus and remain present whilst practicing meditative mantra chanting is to count each repetition on a garland of beads. Known as mala in Sanskrit, these prayer beads are used throughout religious and spiritual practices to mark the repetition of devoted recitations. Meditative states can be used to connect to the Divine within, and mantras are an effective way to maintain that connection.

What is a mantra and how does mantra meditation work? Meaning, benefits and instructions

A mantra touches, inspires, comforts, empowers and gives strength. It frees you from negative thoughts, expands your consciousness and activates the chakras. In yoga, a mantra is usually repeated continuously during meditation before or after the practice. The yoga teacher recites once alone and the group of participants repeats the mantra. Sometimes the mantra is already known and all recite it together from the beginning. Even if the mantra was previously unknown, it does not take long to join in and follow along without any problems. Mantras are usually easy to remember and run in a memorable cadence.

It is similar to the practice of 108 sun salutations: thinking, whispering, speaking or even chanting a mantra for an extended period of time gives an almost suspended, meditative feeling and in this way the belief or desire manifests into the subconscious mind.

What is a mantra?

Mantras are sacred syllables, words or whole verses from the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. They have been around for thousands of years. Mantras have their origins in early Indian, Mongolian and Tibetan peoples, whose shamanic seers noticed early on the positive effects of rhythmic drumming. Traditionally, at these times, they were passed on from a teacher to his student.

Nowadays there are millions of different mantras for all kinds of life circumstances to fall back on. However, they are broadly divided into two different super-groups of sacred verses: so-called moksha and siddhi mantras. Moksha mantras are meant to lead to liberation and enlightenment, such as the famousMantra OM. Siddhi mantras, on the other hand, are meant to release certain powers and energies, which would be, for example, protection and healing mantras.

TheMantra OMdescribes the primal sound of creation, the sound of the universe and everything that surrounds us. It stands for the purest form of energy and leads to spiritual knowledge. It is also probably the most famous and most frequently used mantra. Yoga classes are often started or ended with a threefold common OM.

How does a mantra work?

Themantra meditationis one of the most common relaxation techniques in the world. However, you don’t have to have studied Sanskrit or be able to understand every single word. Mantras do not primarily work on the “thinking level” within us. It is much more about the energetic effects of the word sequences and the devotion that is expended during the mantra practice. The continuous repetition in the same rhythm creates sound vibrations that affect the entire energy field in the room. The resulting vibrations penetrate the entire body all the way to the sensitive soul, where they become life energy. They give strength, calm the mind and bring into a meditative state.

Whoever wants to intensify such experiences in their life is in good hands at a Kirtan evening. Here, mantras are sung together in a group, usually accompanied by a harmonic, guitar or drum. The more often one attends such evenings, the more mantras one knows by heart and can concentrate fully on singing and on the overflowing power of these chants. In large groups, the energies flow particularly high, as vibrations build up more quickly and make the room glow.

What are the mantras? Popular mantras for meditation

There are old traditional mantras and new modern mantras. Basically, any syllable, word, verse or phrase that feels right for you and resonates with you can be used as a personal mantra. In the following, we would like to introduce you to some widely used mantras that are used in yoga.

OM

The sound OM, which actually consists of the three sounds A-U-M, is a sacred syllable that corresponds to the primordial sound and from whose vibration the entire universe is said to have originated. It is also often symbolic of the world soul. The sound OM is firmly anchored in many different faiths and philosophies. In Hinduism, it is considered the holiest of all mantras. Therefore, this sound is also contained in many multi-syllabic mantras.

SO HAM – I AM THAT – I AM (THAT)

This mantra is not linked to any religion or concept of God and simply means “I am (that)” or in English “I am that”.This mantra can be combined very well with inhalation and exhalation (inhalation SO, exhalation HAM). The mantra has a calming effect, helps you to focus on the present moment and to internalise that you are perfect exactly as you are right now.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA – I DEPART FROM SHIVA

This mantra is a very well-known mantra from Hinduism and Shivaism. It means something like “I bow to Shiva”. This does not necessarily mean Shiva as an external deity, but rather Shiva symbolically stands for the divine within ourselves. This mantra commemorates the inner wisdom and divinity that we all carry within us.

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU – MAY ALL LIVES BE FREE AND HAPPY AND MAY I CONTRIBUTE WITH MY THOUGHTS, WORDS AND ACTIONSIN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY

In this mantra, a major fundamental philosophy of yoga emerges: we are all one and we are all connected. This mantra reminds us that we can contribute to the common good through our words and actions, illustrating the importance of
Learning mantra meditation – a step-by-step guide

Step 1: Find the right mantra

First, find a mantra that suits you and your current life circumstances. Naturally, you may also create your own mantra.For example, you can use “I am ….” and add an important quality or a state that you wish for at the end. Perhaps your mantra would then be “I am happy”. It is important that you stay in the present, because this way your brain suggests to your body during the recitation that this state is currently present and releases messenger substances. It puts you in this state internally through the power of your thoughts.

If you choose a mantra in Sanskrit, make sure that you understand the content, because only then can the complete effect unfold.If you have chosen a longer and more complex mantra, you can support this byrunning along quietly in the background, so that you can still relax and concentrate on the mantra without having to concentrate too much on every single syllable.

Step 2: Arrive at a quiet place

Now find an uninterrupted and quiet place where you feel comfortable. Make sure you are left undisturbed for the duration of your meditation. Sit in a comfortable position and begin your meditation practice with a short intention. This will help you to clearly set your focus for the meditation practice and create the right atmosphere.Now observe your breathing for a few moments. Just let it flow freely without trying to control it. Observe how your breaths gradually become calmer and your body relaxes.

Step 3: Recite the mantra

Now begin reciting your mantra. Whether you do this silently, correlate it with your breathing, murmur it softly to yourself or prefer to chant it is entirely up to you. Just do what feels best and most natural for you.Meditate as long as you like. You can either set a timer for the duration of the mediation or do it without a limit.

Step 4: End meditation practice

End your practice with a few deep breaths and repeat your intention again or express your inner gratitude for all the wonderful people, states and things you have in your life.If you have already developed your own meditation practice, then integrate the mantra as it seems coherent for you.

How do I meditate properly? 4 steps to mindful meditation

More and more people are becoming aware of the topic of meditation , as it shows many positive effects. Meditation promotes mindfulness, calm, serenity and better concentration. But getting into a regular routine is not that easy for many. Perhaps you have already tried to meditate once or more often or have planned to do so for a long time. Have you ever asked yourself: How do I start or how do I meditate properly?

With these 4 steps we would like to make your path to mindful meditation easier. However, there are no rules, so there is no right or wrong. Meditation is a process that never ends and will always give you new insights.

1. Create time & space

In order for you to be able to get into a meditation routine, it is important that you consciously make time for it in your everyday life. Find a time that is convenient for regular meditation. Many people meditate in the morning or evening because they don’t have access to a quiet retreat during the day. It is best to enter your practice plan in your calendar so that you are reminded of it every day.

In addition to the time, the place for your meditation is also important. Find a quiet place and set it up according to your preferences. Use a cushion or meditation cushion so you can sit in a comfortable position. Decorate the place with things that create a nice and pleasant atmosphere. These can include plants, candles, incense sticks, crystals, symbols or pictures.

2. Find a comfortable position

Once you’ve made time and space for your practice, it’s all about getting into a comfortable sitting position. For example, sit cross-legged on your pillow so your hips are elevated. If you have problems with your knees, you can also meditate in the heel seat. For example, you put a meditation cushion upright and push it under your buttocks, between your calves. Now stand up, relax your shoulders and put your hands together or on your thighs.

If you can’t sit cross-legged, heeled or lotus for health reasons, that’s no problem at all – just set up a place on a chair and sit there. In our blog post on the correct sitting position when meditating, we go into detail about the different sitting positions and also explain when the chair or bed might be better suited than sitting cross-legged.

3. Focus on your breathing

The use of a timer, which gently brings you back from your meditation, is particularly suitable for beginners . Once you are in a comfortable position, start the timer and close your eyes. Now breathe in deeply for about 3 seconds and then out again for about 6 seconds. Notice the path your breath takes. Feel it move through the nostrils, throat and lungs. Just focus on your breathing.

Especially at the beginning, thoughts and feelings can arise. Accept them as they are without judging them or getting lost in them. Of course, this can still happen, because it is part of your practice path. Bring the focus back to your breathing as soon as you can. This cycle can be repeated several times during meditation. With regular practice, you will sharpen your concentration and be less likely to be distracted.

4. Be understanding and grateful

Don’t get angry if your mind wanders, if you get restless, or if you should fall asleep. This happens and is completely normal. Change the sitting position or meditate at a different time to prevent this. Your concentration gets better with every meditation.

When the timer goes off, keep your eyes closed until you’re ready to open them. No matter how the meditation went, be thankful for the time you took and the practice that stayed with you for a few minutes or longer.

Meditation Challenge

 

What Is a Mantra and How Do You

Choose One?

The origins of mantras

“Mantras have been used in spiritual traditions in the east and west throughout the ages and are also the basis of the centering prayer in Benedictine Christian traditions,” explains meditation expert Deepak Chopra, MD, founder of The Chopra Foundation and Chopra Global.

Mantras are most commonly used in Asian meditative traditions.

Still, you’ll find them in some Western religions, such as the Jesus prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Church, adds Cortland Dahl, chief contemplative officer at Healthy Minds Innovations and a research scientist at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

What is the meaning of mantra?

The word ‘mantra’ has two roots: man and tra, explains Dr. Chopra, who is also a clinical professor of family medicine and public health at the University of California-San Diego and author of many books, including Total Meditation.

“‘Man’ is etymologically related to man, human, woman, and mind,” he says. “‘Tra’ is an instrument of the mind that takes you beyond the mind to the source of mind, which is consciousness.”

Like breath work, “the mantra takes you away from thought processes [your internal dialogue],” he says. “There are moments where there is no mantra and no thought. These moments are referred to as transcendence.”

It’s also important to distinguish a mantra from any word or phrase that you may repeat as part of a meditation, Dahl says.

“A mantra typically has roots in spiritual or religious texts and cannot be changed or altered, so creating an inspiring phrase and repeating it in one’s mind, or taking a single word, like ‘love, and repeating it over and over, can be a very helpful way to meditate, but it would not be considered a mantra,” he says.

How to choose your mantra

You can choose your own mantra, and there are generic mantras to pick from. Dr. Chopra’s book has 52 of them.

“However, in Eastern wisdom traditions, mantras can also be selected based on Vedic astrology,” he says. “Buddhist traditions have their own methodologies of selecting mantras.”

Traditionally, a teacher or religious leader might give a student a mantra to use for a period of time, Dahl says. If you’re just starting out, you might ask your teacher for a mantra you can try.

“This may be based on a variety of factors, which might be that the student has an affinity for a particular kind of mantra or that they are at a point in their meditative journey when they might benefit from a specific mantra or form of meditation,” he says.

There is no right or wrong mantra, Dahl stresses.

Neda Gould, director of the mindfulness program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, agrees. “It’s just finding one that is right for you that aligns with your broader intentions in some way,” she says.

Ask yourself why you’re meditating—to reduce stress and get calm? To gain confidence? The answer may guide your choice of mantra.

Journaling your thoughts and what you want in life can also help you pick a mantra.

Mantra examples

Your mantra may be a word or phrase. Or you might repeat a syllable—like the “om” you might associate with meditation.

Some examples of mantras you may use in meditation are:

• I am calm.
• I am present in this moment.
• I am at peace.
• I am conquering my fears.
• I am happy in my body.

How to use a mantra

All right. You know the definition of the word mantra, you’ve chosen one, and you’re ready to meditate.

First, get comfortable. Pick a quiet place where you’ll be able to focus.

Breathe deeply, focusing on the breath. As you continue to breathe, begin to repeat your mantra. Your thoughts may wander—don’t stress about it. When you notice it happening, come back to your mantra.

You can go for as long as you’d like, or you can set a timer before starting.

The benefits of mantra meditation

All meditation practices offer a host of physical and mental benefits, but the goal of meditation is not to anticipate a response, Dr. Chopra says.

“Everyone experiences a state of relaxation and deep rest,” he says. “As we progress, we have further insights that lead to revelation and inspiration.”

Like other types of meditation, mantra meditation promotes better self-awareness and self-compassion, less stress, more calmness, and a more-positive attitude.

In fact, a review study published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine found that mantra meditation, including transcendental meditation, can have positive effects on mental health.

It doesn’t require a lot of your time—you can do it in 10 minutes. And if you have trouble making time for meditation, you can try morning meditation or these 10 ways to sneak meditation in to your day.

What if mantra meditation isn’t for you?

Let’s get one thing straight: you don’t need a mantra to meditate.

If repeating a mantra doesn’t sound like your thing, that’s fine.

“The best way to meditate is the one you will actually do, so it can help to experiment with different methods until you find one that resonates,” Dahl says. “Mantras can be helpful, but for some people, other forms of meditation might be more helpful.”

What is Mantra?

What are the benefits of Chanting Mantras?

Mantra is a Sanskrit word derived from “Manah” and “Yantra”. Manah literally means “Mind” and the word “Yantra” means instrument. So, the mantra is the instrument for the mind.

In Sanskrit: मनः यन्त्र इति मंत्रः |

This phrase also indicated the same meaning of mantras. Practically, the mantras are sacred syllables given or suggested by the Gurus/Teachers. The students (Sadhaka) should follow the Mantras given by his/her Guru.

The mantras are basically divided into 2 forms:

1) Mantra Chanting

2) Listening to the Mantras

The word “chanting” means to revise or to utter any phrase or words repeatedly. Listening simply means paying attention to hearing the mantras. Now the common question that comes into mind is; what are the benefits of Mantra Chanting?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MANTRA CHANTING?

If you check any of the religions, you will find that prayers are the important parts of spirituality. Mantras are selected prayer phrases that are offered to gods and goddesses to get the blessings that we need for motivation in life. So do not worry, all mantras have positive meanings.

Mantra chanting and listening both have benefits but Mantra Chanting is more powerful than listening.

For example, taking food is good for health, but cooking food gives one additional benefit that is you can cook anytime in future and get the food cooked. But if you are dependent on someone for food, you have to wait until he/she won’t cook.

Same, listening mantra is like a downloaded movie and you just enjoy by the level of ears and brain. But when you chant the mantra, your mouth, ears, brain, heart, and many more organs are involved in this activity.

If you notice your body, you will find that it is like a musical instrument when you say something the vibrations are common, but when you chant mantras in the right way, you will immediately feel the vibrations in the body. The reason behind it is that the words selected in Vedic Mantras are in the Sanskrit language and the Sanskrit language is the ancient language ever on earth that has balanced characters/alphabets.

If you understand it more deeply, you will see that the vibrations are always around where the body is empty. Such as throat, stomach etc but never on the filled flesh part such as hand or thigh. Listening to the mantra is also beneficial for a peaceful life, good sleep, reducing stress, reducing anger, and much more.

Scientists have researched a lot on mantras and found that chanting the mantras can affect positively The nervous system and the brain. Each of the mantras has a different sound, a different pitch, tone and speed of utterance. Each mantra also has different meanings and of course, humans pray for what they have not, not for what they already have. Suppose, you have a lot of wealth, of course, by mantras you say thanks to God and also wish for other essentials such as health and happiness. Mantras give results according to the intention/motive or tenor.

Let’s understand this by an example:

Suppose someone is chanting a mantra for happiness and he is doing it regularly, in this case, the Gods and Goddesses or angels get the prayers and try to understand the word “happiness”. Because happiness is a mental state and it can be different for everyone. For someone, happiness is just travelling to different places, for someone, happiness is a successful business and maybe for someone, it is a good job.

Therefore, if you are cooking food and chanting mantras, like your childhood favourite song, it will never work for you. Because not only singing or chanting is important, but also paying attention is important too.

NOW YOU MAY BE THINKING, WHY IS PAYING ATTENTION SO IMPORTANT?

For example, there is a small baby who is weeping for a colourful toy. The father bought him a good toy and gifted him, now he was happy for just some minutes but again he started to weep because he realises that he wanted a specific toy and that is an animal i.e. an elephant. The same rule applies to Mantras, you have to be straightforward and accurate about your desires otherwise you will not get any results.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MANTRAS?

Choosing a mantra is something very focused work because once you take this decision, you will turn your life accordingly. Although, I advise that you have to find a Guru for this who can give you Guru Mantra according to your life situations.

But here are some common mantras that anyone can listen or chant in daily life:

1) GANESH MANTRA

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ।

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha |

Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvadaa ||

2) VISHNU MANTRA

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय।

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay ||

3) ASTA LAXMI MANTRA

अष्टलक्ष्मी नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि।

विष्णुवक्षःस्थलारूढे भक्तमोक्षप्रदायिनी।।

Ashta Laxmi Namastubhayam Varde Kaamrupini |

Vishnuvakshah Sthlarudre Bhakt Mokshpradayini ||

4) GURU MANTRA

ॐ गुरुभ्यो नम:।

Om Gurubhyo Namah |

5) GAYATRI MANTRA

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।।

भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि।

धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ।।

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ |

tat savitur vareṇyaṃ ||

bhargo devasya dhīmahi |

dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt ||

6) MAHA MRITYUNJAYA MANTRA

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् |

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ||

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam |

Urvarukamiv bandhananmrityormukshiyya mamritat ||

7) DEVI DURGA MANTRA

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः।।

Ya Devi Sarvbhuteshu Shaktirupen Sanshthita |

Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namah ||

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU CHANT OR PRONOUNCE THE MANTRAS WRONG?

If you are following the Bhakti Marg (Path of Devotion), there will be no right – no wrong situation for you because, in Bhakti, intention and intuition are more important than anything else. But if you are practicing Mantras for any special objective, it does matter to pronounce them in the right way.

Sanskrit Mantras and Chanting: An Overview

Mantras have the potential to help you progress financially, academically, and spiritually.

The chanting of Sanskrit Mantras is an ancient practice that has been used as a form of prayer and worship for centuries.

Sanskrit mantras are believed to have healing powers.

What is a mantra?

Mantras are mystical hymns and syllables written in the most ancient language of our world – Sanskrit. Every word in Sanskrit can be sung and assigned to a rhythm.

Sanskrit Mantras: The Origin

The origin of all the mantras ever created is said to have emerged from the damaru, Lord Shiva’s instrument.

It is important to note here that if you do not believe in a God that has a form, mantra science will be of little use to you. It would be more beneficial for you to perfect the art of meditation instead.

According to Puranic legends, when Shiva performed his cosmic dance, the Mahatandava (the Great Dissolution), the vigorous play of his damaru created many sounds scattered in the universe for eons. Seventy million different sounds manifested that covered the entire spectrum of all mantras to be ever created.

But that’s not all.

Eleven trillion years after the Mahatandava, Devi, who had been reborn to King Daksha as Sati and married Shiva, asked him, “Why do billions of lifeforms have to go through suffering? What can they do?”

“They must remain connected to the source, the universal energy,” Shiva replied. “For, the source has all the wisdom anyone ever seeks.”

And how does one remain connected?

By picking any sound the damaru created.

But, you see, the Mahatandava was witnessed only by Devi before she merged into Shiva. Nobody else knew of the sounds that were created during the great destruction. So, how would these sounds reach the beings who so needed it?

And so, Shiva chose to perform the Tandava this time, his dance of love. Out of compassion for all living beings across the universe, he raised his damaru and began playing it. As he danced to its heady rhythm, millions of sounds spread in the sky. Every time the string of the damaru swooshed through the air, it created a sound.

Many other sounds of different frequencies were produced when the beads at the end of the string would strike the damaru heads. Shiva’s moving hands and feet all created sounds. His swaying matted locks, the sound of the rudraksha beads around his wrists, the slithering cobra around his neck – every movement gave birth to a sound.

And each sound was a mantra representing the feminine, masculine or neutral aspect of creation.

On the path of mantra yoga, Shiva is the only creator of mantras.

The sages of yore, meditating on the formless, were quick to perceive these sounds. Some of these seers, like Parasurama, Gautama, and Dattatreya, chose to pass on the mantras to the flourishing yet suffering race we know as humans today.

They put down the sounds into 14 categories that captured 57 letters. These 57 letters formed the basis of Sanskrit.

Mantra meaning is not as important as the sound of the mantra, which is considered to be a sacred vibration. When you chant a mantra, you are said to be “waking up” this vibration and bringing it into your life. As such, mantras are often associated with Hindu gods or goddesses who represent different aspects of reality.

Mantra definition is that it is a sacred sound, word or group of words that is repeated during meditation as a means of focusing attention. Chanting mantras has been shown to help people focus their thoughts on the present moment and get into an altered state of consciousness (ASC).

The Common Mantras

Given India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, many of these mantras have trickled down into all households across the country. They are commonly used in daily prayer, religious rituals, chanting, and even hymns.

Here is a list of some of the most common mantras:

1.   Aum/Om

2.   Om Namah Shivaya

3.   Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya

4.   Hare Krishna, Hare Rama

5.   The Gayatri Mantra

The above and many more, like Om Krishnaya Namah and Om Sri Matre Namah, are an inextricable part of daily living in Indian culture. When chanted consciously or unconsciously, every mantra keeps us yoked to the Divine source.

What are the most powerful Hindu mantras?

Some powerful Hindu mantras are:

Om Namah Shivaya: This is a very powerful mantra that can be used to invoke Lord Shiva. It is very effective in using it for meditation and to have a deeper understanding of the universe around us.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya: This mantra is used to invoke Lord Krishna into our lives. It also helps in increasing one’s spiritual powers and gives self-confidence, intelligence and knowledge.

Om Sri Maha Vishnuaya Namaha: This is a very powerful mantra that can be used to invoke Lord Vishnu into your life. It helps in bringing happiness, peace and prosperity into your life.

Om Surya Narayanaya Namah: This is one of the most popular mantras that are chanted by many people across India because it helps in keeping away all the bad energies from your life, giving protection from evil forces and also brings about positive energy into your life

Below is the most commonly practiced list of mantras and their benefits.

Om Namah Shivaya Mantra

Om is the sound of the universe. It is the primordial vibration that was present at the beginning of creation itself. By chanting this mantra, you are connecting with your highest self and all that is. The word “namah” means “I bow to” or “I worship,” and Shivaya is derived from Shiva, meaning “auspiciousness” or “good fortune.” This mantra invokes Lord Shiva, who represents the supreme consciousness.

Om Mane Padme Hum Mantra

This mantra is said to be the most powerful mantra in Buddhism, and its recitation leads to enlightenment. The name translates as “Homage to the Jewel in the Lotus,” and it’s known for its healing properties, such as cleansing negative karma and past life trauma, relieving stress, promoting inner peace, and fostering compassion for others.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mantra

This mantra is dedicated to Krishna, one of Hinduism’s most popular deities who represents love and devotion. As such, it’s said that reciting this mantra will bring you closer to God or Krishna himself by invoking his name through repetition while performing different.

Aum Shri Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha: This is a very powerful mantra that helps in removing poverty, disease and brings prosperity to you.

Om Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah: This mantra is used for removing obstacles in life and attaining success.

Om Sri Maha Lakshmi Nama: This mantra is used for prosperity in life and attaining success.

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah – A universal prayer for happiness and well-being.

Sat Kartar – “True Creator” – A mantra that reminds us that all creation comes from God and it is only God who can create anything new from nothingness; hence being True Creator means He has no equal or rival, and no one can match His greatness! This mantra helps one realize that everything in this world has come into existence through Him alone!

Om

Om is a sacred sound that is the source of all mantras. It is the first mantra of the Vedas, from which all other mantras are derived. The Om symbol has three sounds – A, U, and M – representing creation, maintenance, and destruction, respectively.

Benefits: Repetition of Om brings peace and tranquility to mind. Recitation of this mantra helps in healing diseases, as well as in attaining mental peace and happiness.

Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most revered mantras in Hinduism, originating from Rig Veda. The Gayatri Mantra is said to have originated from Savitur (the Sun God), who learned it from Brahma himself. This mantra is considered very sacred because it contains three Vedic deities – Savitr, Vishnu and Brahma.

Benefits: The Gayatri Mantra has been used by Hindus for centuries for its healing powers and spiritual development. Reciting this mantra can help in achieving mental clarity and concentration levels, which eventually leads to enlightenment or self-realization.

List of Mantras in Sanskrit

Mantras in Spirituality

The energy of mantras is aimed at calling upon the universal energy, drawing attention toward us. And mantra yoga is a path to strengthen your bond with this universal energy so that you may realize your potential.

Mantra sadhana, the practice of mantra yoga, helps you connect with the universe at a higher realm of consciousness beyond the comprehension of the average mind.

The basic principle of the mantra sadhana is to practice the utterance of a sound with such intensity, fervor, and determination that your whole being starts reverberating with that sound. You become the sound itself.

When you become one with a mantra, you no longer remain the individual you are. The path of the sadhana has the power to make you the master of your destiny.

A mantra is usually passed on traditionally and orally in a guru-disciple relationship.

Chanting a Mantra

Let’s start with the most common mistake people make in chanting mantras.

Chanting without feeling or chanting just for the sake of it does not bring the promised rewards.

The quality of chanting is as important as the quantity of chanting. For this, devotion and faith are the two most important factors. These two are synonymous with spiritual love.

When you chant sincerely and mindfully, there are four stages that you normally go through:

1.   Spoken Chanting: Here, the mantra is verbalized and uttered. When we speak or write the mantra, we strengthen our connection with the external world. Mantra sadhana is, however, an inward process that brings us gradually to the second stage.

2.   Whispered Chanting: In this, you move your lips just about. When you whisper the mantra, the mind naturally concentrates a bit more. Be sure to whisper discreetly so that you are the only one able to listen to your mantra.

3.   Mental Chanting: Here, there’s no external sound, and your lips don’t move either. Remember, though – mentally chanting your mantra loudly is not real mental chanting. Real mental chanting is to recall your mantra with concentration, one word at a time.

4.   Unspoken Chanting: In this, the mantra is no longer chanted. It is not a conscious act. It is something that happens to you. This fourth stage is reached naturally when the first three are followed diligently over a long period.

The Transformational Power of Mantras

Mantra science believes that when we use the right words to train our mind, sharpen its focus and channel the divinity in the universe, we can rise above every negative tendency that holds us back and go past the shackles of the limited conscious mind.

When practiced correctly, you can benefit immensely from the power of mantras materially, intellectually, and spiritually; they help you progress. How you use mantras to further your cause is, of course, an individual decision.

However, the ultimate reward for a mantrin is to merge his spiritual consciousness into the universal consciousness while alive.

Because mantra grants the seeker liberation.

What is a mantra?

A mantra is a sacred word, syllable, or phrase used as an invocation or as object of meditation; its use is far older than Buddhism and dates back thousands of years to India. In its Indian context, a mantra is considered to be a kind of magical spell that can even cause physical events to happen. But mantra is also a way to focus the mind and transform it from an ordinary state to an extraordinary one. Mantra is most closely associated with tantric Buddhism, but throughout the Buddhist traditions, there are also mantra-like practices involving chanting and repetition of phrases. Although these practices aren’t technically mantra, they function very much like them.

In the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, certain mantras or dharanis (long mantras) may invoke enlightened energies or call on the help of buddhas and bodhisattvas for protection. In Tibetan Buddhist schools, for example, mantras are central to the practice. “Om Mani Padme Hum” is one widely used mantra, which represents and invokes Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. By chanting the mantra, Tibetan Buddhists endeavor to become embodiments of compassion themselves. And many Zen Buddhist groups at the beginning or end of meditation chant the Heart Sutra, which ends with the mantra “Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha” (“Gone, gone, gone beyond, fully gone beyond, awake, so be it!”)

In Theravada Buddhism, mantra-like practices are used simply to develop concentration in meditation. In the Thai Forest tradition, for example, new meditators are often instructed to repeat the word buddho, Pali for “awake.” Ajaan Thate Desaransi, a Thai Forest master, once wrote that technically, you could meditate on the word table and get the same effect—meditative absorption—as long as you are able to concentrate your mind.

WHAT IS MANTRA & HOW DO WE USE IT RESPECTFULLY?

As you begin your yoga practice, you are probably searching through a lot of information. Some of this information you may come across is most likely unfamiliar territory. After all, there is a lot that goes into REAL yoga. From its history, to its poses, to avoiding the cultural appropriation, and to the language used in the practice. Here we will dive into Mantras specifically, learning what they are and how to incorporate them into the practice, as well as our everyday lives.

So, what is a mantra?

When dipping your toes into something new, especially new cultural things, it is essential to know the technicalities of elements. It is important, in order to be able to practice these things respectfully and accurately, to gain a holistic and full scope of appreciation for what we are doing. Mantras in yoga are a culmination of words in Sanskrit said repetitively, that are believed to work into one’s unconscious mind and clear the inner self. Mantras may:

• Increase self awareness
• Help calm overriding emotions
• Align your focus
• Help with anxiety

Let’s focus on anxiety for a second, because mantras can help immensely when you’re in the midst of an anxiety attack. Because mantras allow you to help calm emotions, this may be a tool you can incorporate if you should ever have an anxiety attack. Simply repeat your mantra, focus on it and allow yourself to calm down through the process. Now that we know what Mantras are here are a couple examples of mantras in Sanskrit:

• Om
• Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
• Sat Nam
• Neti-Neti

What are disrespectful ways in the practice?

On another note, you may be wondering why we talk about engaging in respect while learning the practice of yoga. This is because within yoga there has been a history in the US of westernizing and appropriating the practice culturally. It is great to appreciate the culture from which the practice comes, but, in order to do so, we need to make sure we are being respectful to the traditions and the accuracy of yoga. 

Disrespecting the practice may come in many forms, one of the more common ones is playing pop music during class. Yoga is certainly meant to be a peaceful practice. When teachers strive to make their class palatable to Western tastes, it’s outright disrespectful. The usage of pop music does not encourage peaceful practice the way it is meant to. Nor should yoga be about breaking a sweat, or limiting seated meditation time.

Now back to mantras specifically; if someone is singing sacred, Vedic mantras and hymns because they are practicing the spiritual tradition (regardless of their race), then they are NOT doing anything inappropriate. If that person is singing mantras at a music festival while high just to be ‘exotic’ and cool, without any understanding of what they are actually saying or how to pronounce them properly, that IS disrespectful and inappropriate.

How can we fix this?

Easy! With Mantras! We now have the knowledge of what they are and what they are meant to do, as well as some examples. Instead of playing pop music, make a conscious effort to walk into class with a mantra in mind. Or, if you are an instructor, encourage your students to relax and set up a mantra that will be ready for them to practice during the class. There is nothing wrong in engaging in activities of other cultures, however a problem is created when we do not do so respectfully. This is done by dishonoring the origin, butchering sacred texts, focusing only on the physical aspect of yoga, or treating it like a commodity if you own your studio.

MANTRAS

What is a mantra? | What is sanskrit? | How do I get a mantra?

 

Mantras

Quote: “Meditation is the only royal road to the attainment of Freedom.  It is a mysterious ladder which reaches from earth to heaven, from error to truth, from darkness to light, from pain to bliss, from restlessness to abiding peace, from ignorance to knowledge, from mortality to immortality.”
– Swami Sivananda in “Bliss Divine” 

 

What are mantras?

Swami Sivananda says in “Japa Yoga” that, “Mantra Yoga is an exact science.  By the constant thinking of mantra, one is protected and released from the round of births and deaths. 

A mantra is so-called because it is achieved by a mental process. The root “man” in this word mantra comes from the first syllable of that word meaning “to think”, and “tra” from “trai” meaning “to protect or free” from the bondage of the phenomenal world.  A mantra when constantly repeated awakens the consciousness.”

Swami Vishnu-devananda in his book “Meditation and Mantras” says that, “A Mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure.”

Upon repetition of the mantras, the energy is released.  Mantras are Sanskrit invocations of the Divine.

Sanskrit is also known as Devanagari, or the language of the Gods.  Sanskrit is not a foreign Indian language but an ancient universal language.  The 50 letters of Sanskrit alphabet are based on the pure vibrations of our chakras.

By using the mantras, we create a certain pure vibration in our astral body and mind, and we purify ourselves of all of our impurities and negativities.  It is like washing the mind with soap made of sound.

A mantra can not be created or tailored for an individual.  It is a sound formula given to us by Rishis, or Seers, of the mantra, who have used the mantra and attain the highest realization.

Every mantra has a seed, a Shakti (or power), a presiding deity, a specific meter, a specific wavelength, and a plug or lock.  It is an exact science and needs to be studied properly under a teacher.

 

What is Japa yoga?

Japa Yoga is a method of meditation using the sound vibration of a mantra.  It is the most effective method to meditate and to clear our negativities.  It helps us to make our mind strong by increasing our concentration.

It keeps our mind focused on one pure vibration, thus counteracting the constant jumping and restlessness of the mind on many objects.  One can repeat the mantra verbally or mentally, daily, at all times or at specific times, using mala beads, or by writing the mantra.

 

How do you get a mantra and how do you practice?

A mantra can be chosen by you on the basis of the sound that it makes, the image of the deity which it represents, and the meaning of it.

The mantra can also come to you through intuition.  But, to really be able to benefit from the mantra, you need to get initiation to the mantra.  The process of initiation links you spiritually to the Gurus or sages and empowers your mantra with the Shakti of the Guru.

During initiation, the spiritual vibration of the mantra will be transmitted to the mind of the spiritual students.  It is like transmitting a flame or a light from a candle that is already lit as compared to creating the fire out of rock.

Initiation to the mantra has to be done by a genuine spiritual teacher who has used the mantra him or herself.

Please note that a mantra cannot be created or changed just for you because all mantras came from meditation of ancient sages who had used the mantras to attain highest level of realization, and who handed down this sacred sound formula to you in the present time.

The mantra, once initiated should not be changed and has to be repeated daily for a specific length of time.  Spiritual energy needs to be renewed and reconnected. 

Only one pointed dedication to the mantra will bring about the desired results.

 

Relationship with Guru

The word Guru literally means “the remover of darkness.”  In the Sivananda organization; we follow a long lineage of teachers, ending with Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnu-devananda.

It is important to stick to one lineage of teacher and not shop around for gurus.  It is important to qualify yourself as a disciple and practice the teachings instead of looking for miracles that come from your guru. 

The blessing of the Gurus is important, but you have to make self effort; no one can eat for you if you are hungry for you have to eat for yourself. 

Mantra, once initiated, creates a link between you and the spiritual teacher and this psychic and spiritual relationship should be kept alive to really benefit you.  

The longer and more consistently you work with the mantra faithfully, the faster the purification will be.  The teacher will initiate you when you are ready.  Keep the practice of meditation and endeavor to purify yourself. 

Be like a white piece of paper which is able to absorb the ink, or an empty cup which is able to hold tea. 

In other words, you have to let go of your ego in order to receive spiritual teachings.

 

Kinds of Mantras

There are different kinds of mantras, depending on your personality and vibration, corresponding to the different aspects of deities. 

There are also abstract mantras with no particular form, but with meaning.  God is one and not many, even though there are many deities. 

All genuine mantras will lead you to the same realization, but remember that they cannot be fakes, or sold, or modified. 

If you are attracted to one mantra more than another, it is because of your temperament or mindset, and not because one mantra is superior to the other.

There are three aspects of God: Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Siva (Destroyer or Transformer). 

It is the same reality that is represented by the three aspects, and you can appeal to one or the other depending on which you like. 

God includes all three aspects, and also beyond (see the different mantras in precedent chapter).

The role of faith:

You become what you think upon most.  In Japa Yoga, Faith is the important factor for the mantra to be effective, not the intellect or ego.  There is a story of a simple farmer to whom a teacher taught many mantras but he could not retain any, until the teacher gave him the mantra of “Om Buffalo.”  He was so attached to his buffalo that this was the only name he could remember.  After some time, the teacher was ready to give him further instructions but could not find him.  Arriving at his hut, the teacher called out his name and after some commotion, he replied: “O teacher, I want to see you, but I can’t get out of the door, my horns are too big!”

The teacher knew then that his mind was completely absorbed in the form of the buffalo, and he was then ready for initiation.

 

Kali Yuga

Japa yoga is a direct path towards concentration and meditation, and it is the easiest meditation method in this time, the Kali Yuga.

 

Story of woodcutter

There is a story of a genie who promised not to kill his master if the master could keep him busy.  After some time, his master, a woodcutter, became worried because he was running out of ideas.

His Guru came to his rescue and told him to ask his genie servant to cut a tree trunk and plant it in the courtyard, and then to ask him to climb up and down the tree as his job.

After some time the genie gave up, as his mind could not cope with the repetition.  In the same manner, our mind is always restless and full of desires.

By constant mantra repetition, our mind becomes saturated and gives up distractions, leaving us in Peace.  Mantra repetition is the most effective way to keep the mind under control.

 

The Universal mantra Om:

In the beginning of your meditation practice, you can use the universal mantra Om (or AUM, which represents the three states of consciousness [waking, dreaming, and deep sleep] and the transcendent fourth state, which is that of the pure witness of the other three states). 

Om is the sound of creation, the sound of Unity, a sacred universal sound that is at the basis of all language. 

If you have not been initiated into a mantra, you can use the universal mantra Om for meditation independent of your religious faith.

As your mind purifies, and your connection with your spiritual path and your Gurus ripen, you can approach a spiritual teacher for initiation.

The Sivananda Vedanta Center gives mantra initiation after determining if the aspirant is committed to meditation, often at the end of the one month intensive training called TTC (Teachers Training Course).

The intensive training helps to tune teacher and students, and provide the preliminary purification necessary for initiation to take place.

TTC is a powerful way to prepare you for a lifelong practice of meditation and mantras.

 

The goal of mantra meditation

The goal is to attain the transcendental state in which everything merges together. 

Through the medium of the vibration of mantra, the thought is purified and comes to a telepathic state, followed by the transcendental state. 

This transcendental state, which can be reached in meditation, is commonly called God.

Sanskrit Mantras to Uplift Your Practice & Life

Sound is an invaluable component of a yoga class. This is why a yoga class will typically begin and end with a sound or phrase that you may or may not know how to pronounce. In addition, you may or may not know the meaning. These words may be in Sanskrit or translated into English but you are chanting a mantra. To add meaning and benefit to the opening and closing of your time in a yoga class, read on further to find out about this sacred practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras! 

What is a Mantra?

Sanskrit mantras have been an essential part of a holistic yoga practice. You may have experienced the power of mantras in your yoga class or a chanting session. The word mantra is comprised of two words man and tra. Man means the conscious and subconscious mind and tra means system. So mantras can be defined as a system to control or affect our conscious and subconscious mind. Mantras are made up of sounds that can be used to control the mind. Mantras can also be a word or phrase with a specific meaning attached to it, or without meaning.

What a Mantra is Not

It is common to find Sanskrit mantras on YouTube and Instagram. We are called upon to chant these mantras 9 or 108 times. We are prompted to chant these mantras with the promise of good health, wealth, protection, or good luck. It must be clearly stated that mantras have no inherent magical powers. Instead, chanting Sanskrit mantras with the right understanding can help one set an intention before practice and can be used to keep us in the present moment. It is critical to emphasize that the sound or phrase of mantras is meaningless on its own. Simply and mindlessly repeating mantras over and over again, will have no positive impact on you or your yoga practice.

Mantras and Yoga

The mind naturally wanders. Mantras act as a tool to reign in the mind, back to the present time and back to the intention of the practice. Mantras can control the mind by giving it direction and focus. When we chant a Sanskrit mantra and know the meaning of it, we are then able to steer the mind in a positive direction and keep it focused. This is why setting an intention before a yoga class is so helpful. If we have an intention, we have direction.

The Benefits of Mantras & Chanting

Mantras are in the Sanskrit language. As explained, mantras must be understood and pronounced correctly to have any meaningful impact. You can enjoy various benefits such as:

• Mantras help you stay focused in your practice.  
• Mantras can bring calm to the mind.  
• Mantras chanted as prescribed can emit feelings of gratitude, positivity.  
• Mantras can help improve one’s mindset and welcome the wisdom of yoga philosophy into one’s belief system. 

 It is worthwhile to find a mantra that resonates with you and find the meaning of that mantra. Set your intention using the meaning of the mantra. For example, there is a mantra from the Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Upanishad that is recited before the scriptural study. Chanting it sets an intention for both Guru and disciple. You can then fully enjoy the benefits of chanting mantras. 

Om Saha Naav-Avatu 

Saha Nau Bhunaktu 

Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai 

Tejasvi Naav-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai 

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Om, May we all be protected

May we all be nourished

May we work together with plenty of energy

May our intellect be sharpened, may our study be effective

Let there be no animosity amongst us

Om, peace (in me), peace (in nature), peace (in divine force)

Reciting this Sanskrit mantra with understanding and intention sets the tone for learning. It is an intention the Guru keeps in mind to return to why she is teaching. Throughout the process, the disciple keeps returning to why he is learning. This is the power of chanting a mantra with intention and understanding.

Key Mantras for Yoga and Meditation

As a result, it is now clearer that for mantras to be useful, they must be pronounced correctly. To help with this, here are some tips to help you with pronunciation:

• Using the mouth and throat as an apparatus
• Using the above to develop the sound of the mantra clearly
• The sound of the mantra itself; each syllable
• Coordinate breath to the sound of the mantra

Aum

AUM stands for God or the highest form of divinity.

• In this mantra, there is an ‘n’ sound at the end as in “AAAUUUMMMNNN”
• Start with the “A” sound at the base of the throat, the larynx.
• The “U” sound uses the mouth and lips. 
• The “M” uses the nasal cavity and for the “n” sound, imagine the sound being directed upwards toward the crown of the head.

Om

Om is the seed mantra of the Third Eye Chakra.

• The “O” sound comes from the mouth
• The “M” comes from the nasal cavity.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti 

At the end of a yoga class, you may hear “Shanti,” which means peace. We chant it three times to bring peace to the physical, astral, and spiritual bodies.

The Gayatri Mantra 

This Sanskrit mantra is directed to Goddess Gayatri. The Sun is a divine symbol with a male and female side. Surya is the male side and Gayatri is the female side. We use this mantra to ask Goddess Gayatri for light in the darkness of our ignorance so that we may move to Truth. 

 Om bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ 

 Tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ 

 Bhargo devasyadhīmahi 

Dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt 

Truth & Peace Mantra 

This Sanskrit mantra is about dissolving one’s ignorance, darkness with the light of Self-Knowledge, and liberation from the birth-death cycle. 

Asato Ma Sat Gamaya

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya 

Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya 

From illusion lead me to truth,

From darkness lead me to light,

From Death, lead me to Immortality.

May you find the right mantra for you and use it correctly in your yoga practice!

What Is Mantra?

The word mantra means liberating the mind from thoughts through the power of sound vibrations.

The origins of mantra

Chanting mantra is a science that helps balance the energy between the mind and body.  Mantras have not been randomly created through someone’s intellect.  They arose from sacred experiences of the sages in their highest states of consciousness, who discovered that when they chanted mantras, it focused and calmed their mind by bringing their awareness from the past and the future into the present.  It balanced the energy between their body and mind and helped connect them with their inner life.

 

 How mantra helps bring you peace?

All our previous memories and experiences (samskaras) are stored in the subconscious and unconscious mind.  Chanting mantra brings your mind into the present, creating space for these different memories and feelings to be released. 

The sound and vibration of mantra penetrate your unconscious mind, which helps to remove energy blockages caused by deep-rooted memories.  When these blockages are released, your energy flows more spontaneously, providing a sense of peace and relaxation so that you can heal and act with greater balance.

The mind is constantly distracted by both pleasant (klishta) and unpleasant (aklishta) thoughts and memories.   These separate you from reality as they drag you into the past or the future.  They also shape your reactions to your current experiences, keeping you in a loop of similar thinking; and this limits the possibilities of your world. 

Every thought you have and every word you utter carries a different vibration.  Each word in a mantra vibrates at a high frequency, and when you continually chant this mantra it helps to raise the frequency of the energy within your body.  It is the vibrations of the sound – not the meaning – which is healing.  The vibrations carry spiritual energy which connect you with your soul – the Source of your spiritual energy, which exists within you.  It is like rubbing two sticks together to make a fire – the mantra’s energy connects with the soul’s energy to create peace and harmony.  Repeatedly reciting the mantra creates the same series of vibrations which help clear the blockages.

 How to chant mantra?

The pure sound resulting from chanting mantra is expressed through three different stages of repetition: 

• *  out loud;
• *  whispering (lips and tongue move, but no sound is audible); and
• *  mentally

When you chant loudly, it develops awareness by focusing on the sound and vibrations.  The next step is to whisper it; next, through constant and dedicated repetition, the mantra gradually becomes repeated mentally without conscious effort.  There may be a melody associated with mantra, but it is not a song to sing – it is a sacred set of words to raise your consciousness, and this will only happen when you bring your mind into the practice.

You can choose between the heart centre (anahata chakra) or the eyebrow centre (ajna chakra – Third Eye) on which to focus while chanting.  The vibrations of the mantra affect all the other centres as well, but when you regularly focus on the same centre repeatedly, it deepens the channel which connects you with your inner world.   When your mind wanders, squeeze your perineum (apply mula bandha) and be more conscious of your posture.  Controlling these two areas helps you bring your focus back to the process.

The best time to practice mantra is in the early morning (brahm murath) or at sunset (sandhya) because energetically, the body and mind are more closely aligned at these times.

The effects of practicing mantra

When practiced mindfully, the effects of chanting mantra are twofold and powerful:

1. The vibrations of the mantra balance the energy between your ida/pingala energy channels (lunar and solar energies within you); and
2. The consciousness between the outer focus of your first three chakras (your animal nature) and the inner focus of your next three chakras (your human nature) is balanced.

All mantras are powerful – it is your faith that makes them so.  Once you experience how they transport you within, it will strengthen your faith even more. 

Mantra meditation – japa

Repetition of one mantra regularly is known as japa.  Practicing at one fixed time each day develops a meditative awareness.  Sound and breath are the two vehicles through which one can develop focus.  It is a potent tool to connect you to the Source of your life and the key to easing your stress or depression to help you experience peace and happiness. 

Benefits of chanting mantra

Through the awareness of sound and vibration, you can:

• *  balance the chakras
• *  develop deeper awareness and concentration through mantra meditation, which is one of the most authentic, ancient yogic practices
• *  experience relaxation and a soothing effect on the body and mind

When you continually practice mantra, the lower vibrations of your primal nature give way to the higher vibrations created by the chant.  Then your interest in practicing mantras expands, and your focus also becomes deeper.

In our next article, we will continue our discussion on mantras, focusing on different types of mantra and their benefits.

The Meaning and Concept of Mantra in Hinduism

Mantras are an important aspect of Hinduism. They are used in ritual and spiritual practices to express devotion, establish communication or fulfill desires, and in many respects serve the same purpose as prayers and supplications. Chants and incantations have been used since the earliest times by various ancient cultures to invoke or appease gods, ancestors and spirits or to cast spells.

Mantras in Vedic tradition

In ancient India, mantras formed a vital part of Vedic religion. It is possible that the Indus people also might have used similar practices to invoke their gods. Vedic mantras are derived mainly from the Vedas, which are primarily books of mantras, which go by different names such as the Riks, Samans and Yajus. They were chanted or sung or used in formulae in elaborate Vedic, sacrificial ceremonies.

Mantras have traditionally been used in both ritual and spiritual practices and worldly activities for various ends. They still occupy an important place in Hinduism as the manifestations of divine speech and expression of gods and heavenly knowledge. In Hindu ritual practice and prayers, mantras are used to communicate with gods and invoke their power to achieve certain ends.

Mantras constitute the heart of Hindu sacrificial ceremonies, which cannot be performed without the intervention of experienced priests. On such occasions, the mantras are usually chanted aloud by one or more priests while others may join them in chorus or when required. One may also silently chant them to maintain secrecy or for convenience. The Vedas suggest that the efficacy of prayers and mantras increase manifold when they are silently chanted in mental worship rather than when they are uttered aloud.

Hindus also have the tradition of writing mantras (usually the name of a god) on paper as an offering to God or to express love and devotion to a particular deity. The practice usually consists of writing the name of a deity or a specific mantra for a certain number of times, which is usually ten million times. Once the goal is reached, devotees carry the papers or the notebooks in which they have written the name and leave them as an offering at the temples or sacred places of the deity.

The meaning of mantra

Literally speaking, in Sanskrit “mantra” means to consult, seek advice or help, think or deliberate. The source of the mantras is God. In the human body it is the breath in the speech which gives each mantra a verbal form, awakens its hidden power and sends it across the space as sound vibrations to its desired destination. Mantras are thus divine vehicles which carry the thoughts and prayers of devotees to the heaven and help them establish communication with gods.

Thus, in the religious parlance, mantras are primarily meant to communicate with gods, consult them or seek their advice and help. An associative or derivative word is mantri, which means a minister who gives counsel or advice to a ruler or a head priest (pradhan mantri). As the products of the mind, mantras are also associated with intelligence or mental brilliance. In a pure mind, mantras manifest themselves, as they did in the minds of the Vedic seers. Each divine mantra (man + tra) is an expression of the pure mind, or a mind suffused with the brilliance of the Self. The purer the mind is, the greater will be the effect of a mantra. Since mantras manifest on their own in the minds of pure devotes, they are also considered eternal, not man-made (apauruseya) and only heard (sruti) as in case of the mantras from the Vedas.

In traditional usage, a mantra is a sacred utterance, word, phrase, syllable, sentence or prayer containing one or more of the five divine powers of God namely creation, preservation, concealment, destruction and revelation. A mantra may have a specific meaning or not. However, most mantras and even single syllables (bijaksharas) which are used in Hinduism have either a literal meaning or a symbolic or hidden meaning or both.

Of all the mantras, Aum is considered the source (mula) mantra. It is the highest and the purest and Brahman himself in word form (Sabda Brahma). It is also known as mantra Purusha (God as mantra) Pranava (life supporting mantra) and Taraka (secret), having potency to divinize and purify all other verbal expressions and word forms. Hence, it is customarily used as a prefix to all other mantras to infuse them divine power and purity.

Beliefs associated with mantras

Mantras are used as sacred sounds or utterances. Since they are taken from the sacred texts, they are considered auspicious and God in word form. As stated before, they are endowed with one or more of the five divine powers of God. Hence, they been extensively used to in the pursuit of the four chief aims of human life namely dharma (religious duty), artha (wealth), kama (sexual desire) and moksha (liberation).

They have also been used in the study and recitation of scriptures and contemplation. Many mantras are still used as mental hooks to remember complex philosophical concepts or religious ideas. There is also a lot of secrecy associated with the mantra tradition. Because of their potency or specific effects, some mantras cannot be revealed to all or revealed to qualified people only. For example, traditionally the Upanishads are considered secret knowledge and taught only in person by a teacher to qualified students. A student or disciple is also expected to keep secret any initiation mantra given to him by his teacher or spiritual master.

Each mantra will have a seer (rishi) who composed it, a rhythm or meter (Chhanda) which determines its sound, and a deity (devata) who presides over it and manifests when the mantra is correctly pronounced. It also contains a seed syllable (bija) which imparts to it manifesting power (Shakti) and a support (kilakam) which makes it strong or stable until it delivers the intended result.

Because of these hidden components and their divine aspects, many rules are associated with the chanting of the mantras. The attitude and the personal purity of the person who utters them also matter. Pronunciation is of utmost importance in the use of mantras. Without right pronunciation and intonation, the deity in the mantra may not respond. Equally important is the intention for which a mantra is used, since the use of mantras for any purpose produces karmic consequences and influences the destiny of its user.

Why mantras are used

Mantras are used both for positive and destructive purposes. The following are some of the most important purposes, for which mantras are used in Hinduism.

1. To communicate with gods and express devotion
2. To invoke gods and seek their help or counsel
3. To propitiate fierce gods who are displeased or angry and avoid their wrath.
4. To seek divine protection against evil forces and enemies
5. To cleanse the mind and body for liberation or self-transformation
6. To stabilize the mind in the contemplation of God
7. To consecrate a place of worship before starting a sacrificial ritual or ceremony
8. To install the images of gods in a temple or during domestic worship.
9. To fulfill worldly desires and achieve peace and prosperity in life
10. To attract opposite sex and enchant them or repel rival lovers and discourage competition
11. To overcome death, diseases adversity, bad karma, or unfavorable circumstances
12. To help the departing souls who are on their way to liberation or rebirth
13. To cast spells, charm, delude or destroy opponents
14. To control or enchant animals, wild beasts, serpents, etc.
15. To restrain the mind and enter deep sleep or higher states of consciousness
16. To earn divine grace or the grace of a guru
17. To gain siddhis or spiritual powers (siddhis)
18. To express profound spiritual and philosophical truths
19. To validate truths with verbal testimony (sabda pramana)
20. To achieve success in sports, duels, debates and battles

Types of mantras

Depending upon their use and purpose, mantras can be classified into various categories, which are stated below.

General purpose mantras

They are popular mantras (such as Hare Rama Hare Krishna or Jayaram Sri Ram), which are known to general public and which are used by devotees for various purposes, without the need to follow austerities, rules and restraints. Devout Hindus use them in their daily lives to express devotion, overcome fear, ward off evil, instill confidence, or just to calm their minds. Some are also used as autosuggestions or affirmations to change their thinking or behavior or train their minds.

Specific purpose mantras

These mantras are chanted for specific purposes or on specific occasions, and only by people who have the permission to use them because of their birth, virtue, knowledge or allegiance to a particular sect or teacher tradition. A few examples are the mantras which are used in Vedic and Tantric rituals by priests to address specific gods and goddesses or to achieve specific ends. Mantras which are used in sacrificial formulas and mystic diagrams (yantras) also come under this category. Those who use them have to observe certain rules and restraints to obtain desired results. The rules pertain to how many times they should be chanted, when, where and under what circumstances.

Peace mantras

They are usually chanted at the beginning of sacrificial ceremonies, yoga, spiritual discourses or to begin new tasks. They are also used to ritually cleanse homes and places of worship, drive away evil forces or in meditation to stabilize the mind and the body. Most peace mantras are used to address Brahman or the triple gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They usually end with the phrase “peace, peace, peace,” which means peace in the heaven, peace upon earth and peace within.

Purification mantras

They are used to cleanse ritual places and sacrificial pits where sacrificial ceremonies (yajnas) are performed. They are also used to purify sinners, those who are afflicted with impurities (doshas), the host of sacrifice (yajaman), the images used in worship, or the offerings and utensils that are used in ritual worship. Most purification mantras are chanted along with the sprinkling of ritual water. One may also chant them while taking a bath or a dip in a sacred river or on auspicious occasions to cleanse the house, the host of sacrifices or all the people who participate in them.

Expiation mantras

As their name suggests, these mantras are used to seek forgiveness for any mistakes one may have intentionally or unintentionally committed while performing the sacrificial ceremonies or domestic worship. Most Vedic rituals and methods of worship contain a provision for expiation, since they are elaborate rituals with a number of steps which require the participation of many people. The expiation is usually performed by the head priest or the Brahman priest, who chants the mantras on behalf of all to seek mercy and make the worship complete.

Ritual mantras

These mantras are used in elaborate Vedic ceremonies (yajnas), daily sacrifices (nitya karmas), domestic worship (puja) or sacraments (Samskaras) such as conception, the birth of a child, initiation, marriage or death. The mantras are taken mostly from either the Vedas or Tantras or vernacular literature. Depending upon their use they may be introductory mantras, invitation mantras, main mantras, conclusion mantras farewell mantras, etc., which may be uttered by one or more priests or individuals. The chanting may last for hours or days or even months.

Initiation mantras

It is customary during the initiation ceremony (upanayana), for a teacher or an elderly person in the family to utter certain sacred syllables or words in the ears of the young initiates to mark the beginning of his education in the Vedas or initiation into spiritual knowledge. These mantras are also used by spiritual teachers, or his appointed disciples, to initiate new members who join their tradition, or the monastic discipline either as a lay disciple or as advanced practitioners.

Destructive mantras

These mantras are meant to cause mental or physical harm or injury. There is a whole branch of demonic knowledge (kshudra vidya) which is meant for this purpose. The Vedas also contain many hymns which are used for negative purposes to destroy lives and property or cause psychic damage. The epics and the Puranas suggest how mantras were used in warfare to unleash destructive weapons and arrows upon enemies to kill them, shock them, delude them or weaken their resolve. The Atharvaveda contains many mantras which are ritually used to inflict harm or destruction upon enemies, and potential rivals in marital relationships, love affairs, etc. The Veda also contains hymns for use during animal sacrifices.

Negative aspects of mantras

On the negative side mantras contribute to ignorance and superstition. Because of their popularity they are used by unscrupulous charlatans and religious frauds to attract gullible people with the promise to cure diseases, remove adversity, enchant opposite sex, exorcise evil energies and attract abundance in exchange for money or personal favors. People end up paying large sums for charms, amulets, rings and bracelets inscribed with secret mantras to fulfill their desires or overcome some problem. Some also indulge in gory rituals and superstitious practices, using mantras, to gain evil powers for destructive purposes. Mantras are meant for the welfare of society and the order and regularity of the world. They have to be used as an offering to God by people who are pure and devoted, as part of their obligatory service to God. Any misuse of mantras with selfish intention produce sinful karma and leads to one’s spiritual downfall.

Mantras in Hinduism

Mantra means

Hinduism has a very ancient and continuing tradition in the form of mantras. Mantras are the heart and soul of Hindu ritual tradition. What is a mantra? A mantra is sacred sound in the form of a syllable, word, prayer, phrase or hymn, usually in Sanskrit. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, magical chants or vibrations that produced a desired result either in the mind and body or in the life of an individual.

Some mantras are used to invoke gods, seek protection against enemies and evil powers or inflict harm upon others. They are used extensively in Vedic rituals and Hindu religious ceremonies to appease gods and secure their support to accumulate wealth, conceive children, earn name and fame, invite peace, or achieve victory against enemies and adversity. The tradition of using mantras is not unique to Hinduism. Several prehistoric and historic traditions, including that of Egyptians, Greeks. Mayans and Zoroastrians used magical chants to communicate with gods and obtain boons and supernatural powers. Prayers and chants were used by them to cure diseases, ward off evil influences and invoke deities and ancestral spirits.

Therefore, we cannot say that the mantra tradition originated in India or it was unique to Hinduism. However, we can say that the word mantra and the concept of mantra as a sound power moved by the mind power is unique to Hinduism. Also, no other religion used mantras as extensively as Hinduism. For a very long time, the Vedic education was centered around learing and remembering long hymns from the Vedas which were then used in the performance of the rituals. While many ancient religions that used magical chants became extinct, Hinduism carried forward the tradition. Mantras are also used traditionally in Jainism and Buddhism. We have reasons to believe that the use of chants in rituals was a prehistoric tradition which continues in many tribal communities even today.

The word mantra is a Sanskrit word consisting of the root man- “manas or mind” and the suffix -tra meaning, tool, hence a literal translation would be “mind tool”. Mantras are interpreted to be effective as sound (vibration), to the effect that great emphasis is put on correct pronunciation (resulting in an early development of a science of phonetics in India). They are intended to deliver the mind from illusion and material inclinations. Chanting is the process of repeating a mantra.

Introduction

Mantras have some features in common with spells in general, in that they are a translation of the human will or desire into a form of action. Indeed, Dr. Edward Conze, a scholar of Buddhism, frequently translated “mantra” as “spell”. As symbols, sounds are seen to effect what they symbolise. Vocal sounds are frequently thought of as having magical powers, or even of representing the words or speech of a deity. For the authors of the Hindu scriptures of the Upanishads, the syllable Aum, itself constituting a mantra, represents Brahman, the godhead, as well as the whole of creation.

Merely pronouncing this syllable is to experience the divine in a very direct way. Kukai suggests that all sounds are the voice of the Dharmakaya Buddha — i.e. as in Hindu Upanishadic and Yogic thought, these sounds are manifestations of ultimate reality. We should not think that this is peculiar to Eastern culture, however. Words do have a mysterious power to affect us. Accepted scholarly etymology links the word with “manas” meaning “mind” and ‘trâna’ for protection so that a mantra is something which protects the mind — however in practice we will see that mantra is considered to do far more than simply protect the mind.

For many cultures it is the written letters that have power — the Hebrew Kabbalah for instance, or the Anglo-Saxon Runes. Letters can have an oracular function even. But in India special conditions applied that meant that writing was very definitely inferior to the spoken word. The Brahmins were the priestly caste of the Aryan peoples. It was they that preserved the holy writings — initially the Vedas, but later also the Upanishads. For years, they were the only ones who knew the mantras or sacred formulas that had to be chanted at every important occasion.

However, with the advent of egalitarian Hindu schools of Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra and Bhakti, it is now the case that intra-family and community mantras are passed on freely as part of generally practiced Hindu religion. Such was the influence of the more orthodox attitude of the elite nature of mantra knowledge that even the Buddhists, who repudiated the whole idea of caste, and of the efficacy of the old rituals, called themselves the shravakas, that is, “the hearers”. A wise person in India was one who had “heard much”.

Mantras then are sound symbols. What they symbolise and how they function depends on the context, and the mind of the person repeating them. Studies in sound symbolism suggest that vocal sounds have meaning whether we are aware of it or not. And indeed that there can be multiple layers of symbolism associated with each sound. So even if we do not understand them, mantras are no simply meaningless mumbo jumbo — no vocal utterance is entirely without meaning. We can look at mantra as a range of different contexts to see what they can mean in those contexts: Om may mean something quite different to a Hindu and a Tibetan Buddhist. The analysis of Kukai, a 9th century Japanese Buddhist is revealing. See below.

While Hindu tantras eventually came to see the letters as well as the sounds as representatives of the divine, it was when Buddhism travelled to China that a major shift in emphasis towards writing came about. China lacked a unifying, ecclesiastic language like Sanskrit, and achieved its cultural unity by having a written language that was flexible in pronunciation but more precise in terms of the concepts that each character represented. In fact the Indians had several scripts which were all equally serviceable for writing Sanskrit.

Hence the Chinese prized written language much more highly than did the Indian Buddhist missionaries, and the writing of mantras became a spiritual practice in its own right. So that whereas Brahmins had been very strict on correct pronunciation, the Chinese, and indeed other Far-Eastern Buddhists were less concerned with this than correctly writing something down. The practice of writing mantras, and copying texts as a spiritual practice, became very refined in Japan, and the writing in the Siddham script in which the Sanskrit of many Buddhist Sutras were written is only really seen in Japan nowadays. However, written mantra-repetition in Hindu practices, with Sanskrit in any number of scripts, is well-known to many sects in India as well.

Mantras were originally conceived in the great Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas. Within practically all Hindu scriptures, the writing is formed in painstakingly crafted two line “shlokas” and most mantras follow this pattern, although mantras are often found in single line or even single word combinations.

Mantra in Hinduism

AumThe most basic mantra is Aum, which in Hinduism is known as the “pranava mantra,” the source of all mantras. The philosophy behind this is the Hindu idea of nama-rupa (name-form), which supposes that all things, ideas or entities in existence, within the phenomenological cosmos, have name and form of some sort. The most basic name and form is the primordial vibration of Aum, as it is the first manifested nama-rupa of Brahman, the unmanifest reality/unreality. Essentially, before existence and beyond existence is only One reality, Brahman, and the first manifestation of Brahman in existence is Aum. For this reason, Aum is considered to be the most fundamental and powerful mantra, and thus is prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu prayers. While some mantras may invoke individual Gods or principles, the most fundamental mantras, like ‘Aum,’ the ‘Shanti Mantra,’ the ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and others all ultimately focus on the One reality.

In the Hindu tantras the universe is sound. The supreme (para) brings forth existence through the Word (Shabda). Creation consists of vibrations at various frequencies and amplitudes giving rise to the phenomena of the world. The purest vibrations are the var.na, the imperishable letters which are revealed to us, imperfectly as the audible sounds and visible forms.

Var.nas are the atoms of sound. A complex symbolic association was built up between letters and the elements, gods, signs of the zodiac, parts of the body — letters became rich in these associations. For example in the Aitrareya-aranya-Upanishad we find:

“The mute consonants represent the earth, the sibilants the sky, the vowels heaven. The mute consonants represent fire, the sibilants air, the vowels the sun? The mute consonants represent the eye, the sibilants the ear, the vowels the mind”

In effect each letter became a mantra and the language of the Vedas, Sanskrit, corresponds profoundly to the nature of things. Thus the Vedas come to represent reality itself. The seed syllable Om represents the underlying unity of reality, which is Brahman.

Mantra Japa

Mantra Japa was a concept of the Vedic sages that incorporates mantras as one of the main forms of puja, or worship, whose ultimate end is seen as moksha/liberation. Essentially, Mantra Japa means repetition of mantra, and has become an established practice of all Hindu streams, from the various Yoga to Tantra. It involves repetition of a mantra over and over again, usually in cycles of auspicious numbers (in multiples of three), the most popular being 108. For this reason, Hindu malas (bead necklaces) developed, containing 108 beads and a head “meru” bead. The devotee performing japa using his/her fingers counts each bead as he/she repeats the chosen mantra. Having reached 108 repetitions, if he/she wishes to continue another cycle of mantras, the devotee must turn the mala around without crossing the “meru” bead and repeat.

It is said that through japa the devotee attains one-pointedness, or extreme focus, on the chosen deity or principle idea of the mantra. The vibrations and sounds of the mantra are considered extremely important, and thus reverberations of the sound are supposed to awaken the prana or spiritual life force and even stimulate chakras according to many Hindu schools of thought.

Any shloka from holy Hindu texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra, even the Mahabharata , Ramayana, Durga saptashati or Chandi are considered powerful enough to be repeated to great effect, and have therefore the status of a mantra.

A very common mantra is formed by taking a deity’s name. Called Nama japa and saluting it in such a manner: “Aum namah ——” or “Aum Jai (Hail!) ——” or several such permutations. Common examples are “Aum namah Shivaya” (Aum I bow to Lord Shiva), “Aum Namo Narayanaya”; or “Aum Namo Bhagavate Vasudevãya,” (Salutations to the Universal God Vishnu), “Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah” (Aum to Shri Ganesha) and “Aum Kalikayai Namah” and “Aum Hrim Chandikãyai Namah.” (i.e., mantras to Devi.)

The Hindu Bija Mantra

In Hinduism the concept of mantra as mystical sounds was carried to its logical conclusion in “seed” (Sanskrit bija) mantras that have no precise meaning on their surface but instead are thought to carry within their sounds connections to various spiritual principles and currents. For example, worship of the Mother Goddess Kali, in mantra form, is famously reduced to the powerful Bija mantras of the Shakta tradition of Hinduism: Aum Krim Krim Krim Hoom Hum: Krim Krim Krim Hum Hum Hrim Hrim Swaha Of course, the most revered of all Bija mantras is Om/Aum. The Bija mantra is part of the Hindu monistic understanding that while reality manifests itself as many/multiple, it is ultimately one.

List Of Powerful Mantras Their Significance and Benefits

The alphabet makes words and words meaningful and mantra words have the power to change our reality, the power to change the way we think and reorganize our subconscious mind. The Mantras are powerful organizations whose names are believed to create the energy field around us. Repetition is the key to getting the best out of the powerful Mantras. Mantra meditation is one of 31 types of meditation. By meditating on the mantra you meditate on sacred sounds, often meditating on one of the first 108 sounds.

It is said that Mantras are sacred words that are heard in the depths of our soul, in harmony with the frequency of the universe and when repeated, they purify the mind and soul, bring clarity, and transform negative thinking into positive thoughts.

Most mantras are written in Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages ​​known to mankind. Some linguists also consider it to be the complete language associated with the microcosm of our bodies and the macrocosm of the universe. In other words, its correct pronunciation evokes a unique vibration in the Universe, putting into action whatever you are trying to express with your mantra.

How many times do you chant Mantras?

Mantras are often sung 108 times including repetition with the help of mala beads, which have 108 beads on the string. Singing and the tradition of holding beads in your hand helps to set goals and keep you focused.

Here are 10 Powerful Mantra in the Vedas, singing that can improve your quality of life.

1. The most basic Mantra: OM – ॐ

Universal sound. First, the actual vibration, representing birth, death and the process of rebirth.
It is said that just singing OM, 3 times, can reduce your heart rate and make you feel 20% calm in just a few seconds. Singing the OM of sound brings us to harmonic resonance and the universe – this is the truth of science! OM is said to be performing at 432 Hertz, which is the Universe’s natural musical voice.
Reducing your frequency to match the Atmosphere silences mood swings, allowing you to practice yoga with sound. OM is an unusual way to start and end a practice of yoga or meditation.

2. Shanti Mantra

Om Saha Naavavatuॐ सह नाववतु मंत्र । Om Sahana Vavatu | Sahana Vavatu Shanti Mantra

Saha Nau Bhunaktu

Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai

Tejasvi Aavadheetamastu Maa Vidvishaavahai Om

ॐ सह नाववतु ।

सह नौ भुनक्तु ।

सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।

तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Meaning: May the Lord protect and bless us. May He feed us, empower us to work for the good of mankind! May our reading be enlightening and meaningful! May we never turn to one another!

3. Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय)

What it means: It means “I bow down to Shiva,” which is your true inner self, the divine consciousness that dwells within each of us.
Om Namah Shivaya is a very powerful mantra and is one of the most famous Hindu mantras. This mantra is believed to aid in the destruction of dignity and the rebirth of the soul.

4. Gayatri Mantra

Om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥGayatri Mantra – Wikipedia

tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ

bhárgo devásya dhīmahi

dhíyo yó naḥ prachodayat

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि

धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

The Gayatri mantra is highly revered in every word, found in the Rig Veda. Goddess Gayatri is also called “Veda-Mata” or Mother Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Saam, and Atharva – because they are the very foundation of the Vedas. Basically, the truth behind the knowledgeable universe and the known universe.
The Gayatri mantra is composed of a meter consisting of 24 syllables – usually arranged in a triplet of eight words each. Therefore, this meter (tripadhi) is also known as the Gayatri Meter or “Gayatri Chhanda.”
Translation: We meditate on the Supreme Being, the Creator, whose light (divine light) illuminates all kingdoms (physical, mental, and spiritual). May this divine light illuminate our wisdom.
Definition of the word: Om: The primeval sound; Bhur: body of flesh / kingdom of flesh; Bhuvah: life force / place of mind Suvah: place of soul / spirit; Tat: He (God); Savitur: Sun, Creator (source of all life); Vareñyam: adore; Bhargo: effulgence (divine light); Devasya: supreme King; Dhīmahi: meditate; Dio: ingenuity; Yo: May this light; Nah: our; Prachodayāt: illumine / inspire.

5. Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

Om tryambakam yajaamaheसावन में करना चाहिए महामृत्युंजय मंत्र का जप, इसका धार्मिक, आध्यात्मिक और  वैज्ञानिक महत्व भी है | Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: Religious, Spiritual and  Scientific Importance of …

sugandhim pushthivardhanam;

Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan

Mrityormuksheeya maamritaat.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे

सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्

मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

Translation: We serve a three-eyed (Lord Shiva) scent (in a state of ecstasy), and support all living things. May He deliver us (eternal cycle of birth and death). May he lead us to immortality, just as a cucumber is released from its bondage (the vine attached to it). ”
One can sing 108 Mantras or Mala daily. 108 is important because it has a large number of statistics. 108 is a multiple of 12 and 9. The 12 here refer to the Zodiac signs and the 9th refers to the planets. When a person sings this Mantra 108 times all his planets and star signs instead or to make good and downward moments in life follow and remain calm and because of their changed nature human life is stable again.

6. The kundalini mantra for protection

Aad Guray Nameh

Jugaad Guray Nameh

Sat Guray Nameh

Siri Guroo Dayvay Nameh

I bow to the Primal Wisdom
I bow to the Wisdom of all the ages
I bow to the True Wisdom
I bow to the Great Invisible Wisdom

7. Lalitha Sahasranama

Lalitha Sahasranamam is a stotra from the Brahmanda Purana in the Chapter on the dialogue between Hayagreeva and Agasthya. Hayagreeva is Vishnu’s body with a horse head and is believed to be a repository of knowledge. Lalitha Sahasranamam has three parts. The first is called ‘poorva bhaga’ the middle part called ‘stotra’ has 1000 words and the last part is called ‘uttara bhaga’.
The word Lalitha means ‘take it easy’ or ‘play easy’. By singing this we develop mental maturity so that we can take all the difficulties easily and deal with them with renewed energy.

8. Ganesh mantra Om Gum Ganapatayei Namah

ॐ गम गणपतये नमः

Translation: I adore Ganesh, the elephant-faced god, who can remove all obstacles. I pray for blessings and protection.
Ganesh or Ganapatayei is known as the barrier and king of beginnings. Whenever you sing this mantra, you ask the power of Ganesha to help you face life’s challenges, move toward your goals with confidence and adapt to the outcome you desire.

9. Durga Gayatri Mantra

Aum Mahaa-Dhevyai Cha Vidmahe

Durgaayai Cha Dhimahee

Thanno Dhevee Prachodayath.

Translation: “Oh, let me meditate on the goddess who is Kathy’s daughter,
O God of the virgins, give me the wisdom above,
And let the goddess Durga enlighten my mind. ”

10. Rudrayamala Tantra Mantra

The Rudrayamal Tantra mantra for destroying enemies is one of the most powerful magic mantras. People have used this (and similar words) for thousands of years to destroy enemies and end competition.

om visvaaya naam gandharvalochni naami lousatikarnai tasmai vishwaya swaha.

11. The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference

Usually associated with AA, however, the Serenity Prayer can be a useful mantra to get you through tough times giving you strength and knowledge through serenity.

12. Prayer for assistance

O God come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me

If things have taken a turn for the worst, take solace in these words. This mantra calls God to help and support you.

13. Om Mani Padme Hum

This mantra is derived from Buddhism and is related to the compassionate Bodhisattva. This is one of the most common expressions used by Buddhists and is repeated many times to express feelings of compassion and love.

Before singing the mantra, understand its meaning:
Om – The vibrating sound of Om destroys our self-esteem and pride.
Mani – Here, the letter ‘ma’ removes your jealousy and the word ‘ni’ dissipates our attachment to desire and zeal.
Padme – the ‘Pad’ character erases our judgmental ideas and ‘I’ disintegrates our proprietary behavior.
Hum – dissolving our attachment to hatred.
Explain this powerful mantra over and over again with the pure intention of clearing your soul from any evil forces.

14. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

An ancient Sanskrit prayer often recited at the end of a yoga practice. The description is excellent:
“May all creatures everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my life contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom of all.”
This prayer removes us from our thoughts and helps to illuminate the power and love of all people and to feel a positive effect on us.

15. Tayata Om Bekanze

This mantra is better known as the Medicine Buddha mantra as it heals our pain and suffering. It eliminates the pain of death and rebirth and all of our daily life problems.
When the mind is relaxed, no illness can affect your body because your body, mind, and soul go hand in hand to function properly which increases your risk of infection.
Repeat this very powerful mantra to alleviate any suffering and pain.

16. Om Vasudhare Svaha

Also known as Buddhist monetary mantra, it is a prayer to the Bodhisattva of abundance, the Vasudhara. Beat this powerful mantra over and over again to get plenty of life, wealth or health.
The abundance here is not limited to material possessions but also to spiritual prosperity in the form of relief from suffering.

17. Ehi Vidhi Hoi Naath Hit Moraa

This is a mantra of success and knowing how to achieve success, sing this mantra every day over and over again. Sing a powerful mantra with faith and respect for the opportunities that will come to you.
“Jehi Vidhi Hoi Naath Hit Moraa Karahu Therefore Vegi Daas Main Toraa,” means “O Lord, I am your servant. I do not know what to do. So quickly do whatever is good for me. ”

18. Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih

This powerful mantra is dedicated to Bodhisattva Manjushri representing wisdom. Singing this life-changing mantra will enhance your learning skills. The more often this mantra is sung, the more benefits it will bring.

Description:

: A leads to the realization that the essence of all things is not produced.
: RA leads to the realization that all things are clean and undefiled.
: PA leads to the understanding that all dharma is “defined in the final sense.”
: CA leads to the realization that the occurrence and disconnection of objects cannot be caught because there is actually no emergence or cessation.
: NA leads to the understanding that although the names of objects change the nature of the objects behind their names they cannot be gained or lost.
: Dhih is defined as thought or wisdom.

19. Om Sarveshaam Svastir Bhavatu

The mantra is a peace prayer for peace and happiness in everyone’s life.

The mantra:

Om Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu |

Sarveshaam Shaantir-Bhavatu |

Sarveshaam Purnam-Bhavatu |

Sarveshaam Mangalam-Bhavatu |

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti ||

Translation:

May there be prosperity in all things,

Peace be with you all,

May it be fulfilled in all things,

May there be good luck in all things,

Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

When peace fills your life, you will think more clearly and respect each and every opportunity you will find in life. You will become a more appreciative person.

Benefits of Chanting Mantra

1.) It helps to get rid of all the bad things in your body and mind making you calm and happy.
2.) It cleanses your aura.
3.) It increases self-confidence and willpower.
4.) It develops angelic qualities namely compassion, truth, love, purity, fearlessness, patience, courage, faithfulness, etc.
5.) Your perceptive powers increase.
6.) It sharpens your mind.
7.) It makes you stronger.
8.) You get a good night’s sleep and help with insomnia
9.) It increases your focus.
10.) It controls your passion, anger, and greed.
11.) It removes toxins from your body.
12.) OM singing empowers your vocal cords and the muscles around you
13.) It controls your blood pressure, and your heart beats to a normal rhythm.
14.) Reduces stress.
15.) It improves your endorphin level which improves your mood and makes you feel refreshed and relaxed.
16.) Improve emotional stability.
17.) He develops a stable and balanced personality.

With these Mantra japas, one can be assured of peace and prosperity within them.

Mantra

Mantra is a vehicle for self-discovery. Mantra means a sacred utterance, numinous sound, or a syllable, word, phonemes, or group of words believed by some to have psychological and spiritual power in Sanskrit. Each syllable of a Mantra has specific sound vibrations for instance “OM” is a universal sound vibration that activates the Chakras in our body. The specific grouping of these powerful sound vibrations of the syllables of Mantra has an impact on the mental and psychic consciousness.

Mantras help the mind to focus (memorization via discipline) and become one-pointed. Where repression (avoid or escape) is not the intent, but a stabilization to help us work through what needs to be worked through (and healed). As with yoga, the use of mantras eventually evolves to a more subtle practice, leading our attention inward whereas the conscious effort and increased awareness allows for the internal arising of the mantra (and for the transformation toward self-realization).

The powerful vibrations created by Mantra chanting strokes the Chakras and activates divine forces especially the Gayatri Mantra performs the same task and that is why Gayatri proclaims the fundamental doctrine of Vedas that a man can get realization of God in his life with his own efforts without the intervention of any prophet or Avtar and there lies the glory of Gayatri Mantra and because of these miraculous power of this Mantra it is termed as mother of Vedas.

Every Mantra activates the Chakras in our body in a unique way and especially the Gayatri mantra is best in achieving this objective. There is one other secret Gayatri the power of which is three times more than Vedic Gayatri mantra and this secret Gayatri is known as Srividya.

These powerful Mantras are used for awakening intelligence and Kundalini. The power of these Mantras is sufficient not only for achieving worldly comforts but they also lead to salvation and realization of God and in that way the glory of these Mantras is unlimited.

The process of activation of Chakras with the help of continuous Mantra chanting mysteriously heals our spiritual, physical and psychological body. It is very important that Mantra chanting should be enjoyed and one must surrender to this experience.

Different types of mantras contain different types of vibrations. If a mantra is chanted for 10 minutes every day by an individual then with in few days the person shall know whether the vibrations of that particular Mantra feels right for him/her.If the Mantra chanted is given by some competent Guru then the individual is fortunate and if he or she has to select it on the basis of choice in that case it should be made sure that the Mantra chanted appeals the mind fully when spoken verbally.

Man has unlimited powers inside him and these powers can be awakened with the miraculous power of meditation with Mantra.There are thousands of Mantras which are chanted with objective of the accomplishment of specific goals. The comprehensive collection of various important Mantras has been incorporated here in this section.

9 Powerful Mantras in Sanskrit and Gurmukhi

Have you ever gotten a song stuck in your head? You know how it repeats again and again?

If you are going to have something repeating in your mind, it may as well be something that you have chosen intentionally.

And how about saying something over and over again that has a positive message?

Repeating ancient mantras out loud, silently in your mind, or as part of a mala meditation can be a powerful addition to your daily well-being practices.

Some of the most powerful mantras are in Sanskrit, an Indo-Aryan language that dates back to approximately 1,500–200 BCE. Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world and is the language of many of India’s spiritual texts, including the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. Other powerful mantras are in Gurmukhi, which is the script used to write the Punjabi language in India. Gurmukhi, which means “from the mouth of the guru,” was standardized by Sri Guru Angad Sahib Ji, a Sikh spiritual leader, in the 16th century. Gurmukhi is also the language of the sacred literature of the Sikhs.

Though it would be valuable and inspiring to study with devoted Sanskrit and Gurmukhi scholars, it may not be feasible or likely for you to do. In the absence of such guidance, you can rest on the assurance that part of the magic of these ancient languages is that their power does not depend on you being able to pronounce the words perfectly or read the original form; the power is in the intention behind the words and your own interpretation and experience of the sounds.

Weaving Mantras into Your Daily Spiritual Practice

There are a variety of ways to create a personal mantra practice that is uniquely yours. A traditional practice is to chant a mantra. Vocal vibrations are powerful healing tools. Chanting, singing, and humming, especially with a group, have been scientifically shown to calm the nervous system, improve mood and regulate stress responses, and positively change the brain.

Your mantra practice could also include silently repeating a mantra during meditation, mindfully writing or drawing a mantra in its original language, writing out the translations that speak to your heart, or listening to recordings of mantra chants. In fact, listening to the tones and vibrations of the chants can be as powerful as singing them. You can easily find online sources of video and audio recordings of Sanskrit and Gurmukhi mantra chants played at various tempos and performed in different musical styles.

You can begin by exploring these nine ancient mantras to calm your nervous system, raise your energetic vibration, and honor the teachings of Eastern spiritual wisdom.

1. Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo

I bow to the Creative Wisdom. I bow to the Divine Teacher Within.

Known as the Adi Mantra, this Gurmukhi mantra is traditionally sung or chanted to invoke divine wisdom before a Kundalini Yoga practice. It is commonly translated in English as I bow to the Creative Wisdom, I bow to the Divine Teacher within. This mantra was important in the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, an Indian spiritual teacher who brought the practice of Kundalini Yoga to the West. It is used to tune in to the self-knowledge within. You can also use this mantra when you feel confused or alone and want to connect to the infinite wisdom of your true self or spirit.

2. Om Eim Saraswati Namaha Om

We call in Saraswati, the goddess of creativity and language.

This Sanskrit mantra invokes the goddess Saraswati, the powerful Hindu incarnation of Shakti energy in the form of creativity, language, wisdom, knowledge, art, and music. Its English translation is We call in Saraswati, the goddess of creativity and language. The sound Eim (pronounced I’m) is the bija (seed) mantra for Saraswati; within that one sound is all that Saraswati represents. Invoke Saraswati by chanting this mantra before beginning any new creative endeavor and to enliven your studious side.

3. Ad Guray Namay, Jugad Guray Namay, Sad Guray Nameh, Siri Guru Devay Nameh

I bow to the Primal Wisdom,

I bow to the Wisdom through the ages,

I bow to the True Wisdom,

I bow to the Great Divine Wisdom.

Known as the Mangala Charan Mantra, this Gurmukhi mantra is chanted for protection in all aspects of life. It is also used with the intention to gain clarity and open to guidance from one’s highest self. In Kundalini yoga classes, students often chant this mantra after tuning in with the Adi Mantra. It can be translated in English as I bow to the Primal Wisdom, I bow to the Wisdom through the ages, I bow to the True Wisdom, I bow to the Great Divine Wisdom. This is a helpful mantra to chant for protection and harmony before driving a car, embarking on any new journey, or as you begin your yoga practice.

4. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

This is a beautiful Sanskrit mantra that offers a blessing of compassion and kindness to all beings. Its translation is simple: May all beings everywhere be happy and free. Sometimes called the Lokah Mantra, it is truly an offering of loving-kindness to all beings, animals and humans alike. You may chant or sing this mantra as a prayer for your loved ones, your community, and the entire world, including yourself. This is a commonly chanted mantra in hatha yoga classes and is a simple chant to teach to children.

5. Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam Siri Wha (He) Guru

There is one Creator whose name is Truth.

Great is the ecstasy of that Supreme Wisdom!

Known as the Adi Shakti Mantra, this mantra is considered to be powerful for awakening the kundalini and experiencing a state of bliss. According to Kundalini teacher Guru Rattana, “Ek means ‘One, the essence of all,’ ‘Ong’ is the primal vibration from which all creativity flows, ‘Kar’ is creation, ‘Sat’ truth, ‘Nam’ name, ‘Siri’ great, ‘Wha’ ecstasy, and ‘Guru’ is wisdom. Taken together it means, There is one Creator whose name is Truth. Great is the ecstasy of that Supreme Wisdom!” You can use this mantra to develop your intuition and experience higher states of consciousness.

6. Om Gam Ganapati Namaha

We call in Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.

This mantra invokes the Hindu deity Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed trickster known as the remover of obstacles and master of knowledge. The English translation of this mantra is We call in Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The sound Gam (sounds like gum) is the bija mantra for Ganesha; within that one sound is all that Ganesha represents. Invoke Ganesha to clear your path when you feel stuck or creatively blocked, when you need a change of perspective, or when life feels especially challenging and you’re not sure why.

7. Om Sahana Vavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai Tejasvi Nau Adhiitam Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Om, may the Divine protect both teacher and student.

Let us be nourished and protected.

May we work together with great energy.

May our studies be effective.

May we never hate or fight one another.

Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

This Sanskrit mantra was traditionally chanted as a prayer before studying sacred Vedic texts, with the intention of creating harmony among the students and teacher, as well as cultivating a sense of enthusiasm and joy in learning. Today it is often chanted before or after yoga asana classes. You can chant this mantra before meals, at the start of a spiritual gathering, or when you gather with others to study or practice yoga.

8. Om Mani Padme Hum

I Bow to the Jewel at the Lotus Flower of the Heart.

This is a Buddhist mantra in the ancient Sanskrit language. It beckons you to honor your deepest truth and accept yourself with compassion. There are multiple translations, including I Bow to the Jewel at the Lotus Flower of the Heart. The Dalai Lama has noted, “It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast.” This mantra is said to purify the mind, calm fears, and cultivate inner wisdom. Use the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra when you need clarity, calm, or a dose of intentional self-compassion.

9. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Om Peace Peace Peace

This Sanskrit mantra is an invocation of peace that can be chanted as its own or as an addition to any other mantra. It simply means Om Peace Peace Peace. Om is understood as the universal vibration or the sound of all energy. You can chant this mantra before or after a yoga session, at the beginning and end of the day, or as a wish for well-being as you take leave of friends. When you chant this mantra, once or repeatedly, you are sending out offerings of peace to the world and to yourself.

If you are interested in deepening your knowledge of the power of these classic mantras, it is valuable to read the original written texts and poems (such as the Vedas and the Upanishads) that contain these mantras. It is also helpful to read different translations of these sacred texts so that you can gain a depth and breadth of perspective on the ancient teachings.

Mantras for success: Meaning, Significance, and Benefits

Everyone once in their life has experienced a very special feeling or emotion after hearing a song or music. It could be a sad song that makes you tear up, sensational classical music that brought a tingling sensation behind the neck, or a joyful song, so fun that you could not help but dance. These feelings are just a hint of what mantras and chanting mantras can bring to life.

Mantras are sacred Sanskrit words that are arranged together in a way that brings a lot of positivity when chanted the right way. The powerful effects of the chanting mantras are not hidden from anyone. Although initially they are used for spiritual rituals, they were originally from the Tantrik lore and religious scriptures known as the Vedas. The source of all the mantras is “OM” which has the power of all the gods and goddesses together. “OM” was the sound that first came to existence when the universe was formed, and from it came the rest of the sounds or words that were later used to form the holy and powerful mantras. Mantras are very beneficial in every aspect of life, and when they are chanted with all the faith and devotion.

It is a fact that success and failure are a part of life and no one can move forward without once going through a failure or unsuccessful attempt. But it becomes extremely hard to deal with when one has to go through the same thing again and still cannot find success in anything. Some people find success and wealth very easily without much work, but there are people who, no matter how hard they try, just cannot make it and that becomes a reason for stress and mental health problems. But one has to note that only effort and hard work is not the only factor for success as many things are involved behind someone’s success such as mantra, yantra, education, management skills, confidence, relationship, communication skills, etc. All these factors play a direct or indirect role in the path to success and wealth.

Mantras can bring a lot of positive energy to the lives of the performer in every aspect of their lives. But the chanting should be done with a lot of faith and purity. Anyone who has decided to start the journey of chanting a mantra should first build trust around the words they are about to speak, the right way to utter the words, and the right time to chant them.

Mantra for Success: How do they help

Mantras are a very good source for gaining success and prosperity as chanting them increases the positive energy around the person, and with the help of this positive energy, one can gain success. The spiritual power and awareness also awaken after regular and religious chanting of the mantras which increases the chances of positive energy surrounding the person, which in turn brings fortune.

Chanting a mantra also increases the chances of making a connection between the self and God. Chanting a mantra specified to a particular god pleases the god easily and ensures the blessings from them. Each mantra has its sound and vibration, and a divine power within them, which helps in removing obstacles from life and paves an easier way to get success.

How to chant mantra for success

• The whole Sanskrit mantra was created by getting inspired by the sounds of nature. Therefore pronunciation of these mantras is just as important as the number of times they are chanted. Take knowledge from gurus or someone knowledgeable to learn the right way to chant and pronounce them.
• It is very important to start chanting a mantra with good intentions in heart, as it is more important to keep a pure and good intention in mind and heart than to chant the mantras properly.
• Sit in a comfortable position and try taking some deep regular breaths(pranayama) to prepare the body and soul.
• Try pronouncing the words of the mantras in a resonating voice so that the power of the mantra surrounds the body and an aura is created. Also, use Jaap mala or beads to keep count of the times the mantra is chanted.

Important Mantras for Success

1. Shiva mantra for success

Lord Shiva is the most powerful and benevolent god of the Hindu religion and is believed to be the symbol of mercy. There are many rituals that people perform to please Mahadev and among them is the chanting of Shiva mantras. Shiva’s mantras are specifically focused on defeating fear and gaining confidence. These mantras help to remove obstacles that are in the way of success and make the performer strong from within, helping them fight any battle in life.

The Shiva mantra is:

|| ॐ हिली हिली शुल पाणेय नमः ||

Om Hilii Hilii Shool Paney Namah

Benefits of chanting the shiva mantra for success

• Shiva’s mantras are mainly concentrated on expelling fear and doubt, especially the fear of changes. When one is not afraid of changes, one can easily tackle any situation with confidence.
• These mantras, if chanted with pure intentions, can increase and boost the performer’s inner potential and strength which help them to work toward their goal.
• Shiva Mantra helps to cleanse the body, mind, and soul of all the stress, rejection, failure, depression, and other negative forces that we face in our daily lives.

Best time to chant the Shiva mantra   Subh nakshatra or tithi, chandramavali, shiv vash

Number of times to chant this mantra 1,25,000 times, 108 times

Who can recite the Shiva mantra       Everyone

Chant this mantra facing North, east 2. Lakshmi mantra for success and wealth

Mata Lakshmi is considered one of the most popular and worshiped goddesses of the Hindu religion. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu and is the harbinger of wealth, fortune, luxury, and prosperity. Being the goddess of wealth, beauty, and prosperity, she represents abundance, wealth, and happiness, and those who worship her get relief from misery and sorrow that could be following the financial crisis. Lakshmi’s mantras are not only to bring wealth and prosperity, but it also provides the devotees with intelligence and enlightens the mind with understanding.

The Lakshmi mantra is:

|| ॐ श्री लक्ष्मी सहोदराय नमः ||

Om Shree Lakshmi Sahodaraya Namah

Benefits of chanting the Lakshmi mantra

• Maa Lakshmi is the epitome of beauty and prosperity. Chanting a mantra dedicated to her is especially beneficial as it brings immense wealth and success.
• As she is the consort of Lord Vishnu, she is considered to be the ideal image of a beautiful woman. Chanting her mantras with pure heart brings beauty to the performer, both inside and outside.
• The vibration created when chanting the Lakshmi mantra creates an aura around the performer because of which they become extremely confident in their task and are awarded success as a result.

Best time to chant the Lakshmi mantra       Shukla paksha, purnima tithi, chandravalli

Number of times to chant this mantra 108 times, 1,25,000 times within 72 days

Who can recite this Lakshmi mantra   Everyone

Chant this mantra facing    East or north 3. Krishna mantra for success

Shri Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is considered the most popular form of lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna spread his teachings among the population on earth, and his great teachings are recorded in the holy book, Bhagavad Gita, which contains the timeless messages to humanity. Lord Krishna is the savior of all humanity and the remover of pain and suffering. Every human being wants freedom from the cycle of life, but it is not so easy to get rid of it by indulging in illusion. Sadhaks who chant the Krishna mantra can easily free themselves from the bondage of all kinds of illusions and can attain God. This is their connection with God that leads them to salvation.

The Krishna mantra is:

कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगिन्भक्तनाम

अभयकर गोविन्द परमानंद सर्वम मे वाष्मण्य ||

Krishna Krishna Mahayogin Bhaktanam

Abhayakara Govinda Paramananda Sarvam me Vashamanaya

Benefits of chanting the Krishna mantra

Chanting the Krishna mantras regularly with devotion removes all forms of confusion and fear and fills the performer with confidence and courage in the chanter.

Lord Krishna’s blessings fall upon those who recite this mantra with pure heart, they will be free from diseases, and lord Krishna’s blessings bring them prosperity, well-being, and a sense of tranquility in the household.

This Shri Krishna mantra has very special powers, because of which chanting promotes knowledge and skills in students and people in business, leading the way to success and wealth.

Best time to chant the Krishna mantra        Brahma muhurat between 4 am to 6 am

Number of times to chant this mantra 108 times

Who can recite this Krishna mantra    Everyone

Chant this mantra facing    Idol or shree krishna, north or east

4. Hanuman mantra for removing obstacles

There are many gods and goddesses in the Hindu religion, but no other God has devoted followers like that of Lord Hanuman. He is the Sankat Mochan, remover of troubles, and a true devotee of Shri Ram. He is one of the incarnations of lord shiva and is the manifestation of real devotion in its full glory, unparalleled in any time or place. Worshiping him creates a direct connection with the almighty, and through his devotion towards him, he protects and serves the devotees on behalf of the Lord. By chanting Hanuman’s mantra, one gains lord Hanuman’s protection and many siddhis, including wealth, wisdom, valor, and success.

The Hanuman mantra is

|| ॐ हनुमंत वीर रखो हाड़ा धीर करो ये काम व्यापार बढ़े

तंत्र द्वार हूं तूना तूते ग्राहक बाशे कारज सिद्ध होये न होये तो अंजनी दुहाई ||

Om Hanumant Veer Rakho Hadh Dheer Karo Ye Kaam Vyapar Badhe

Tantra Door Hoon Toona Toote Grahak Bashe Karaj Sidh Hoye Na Hoye To Anjani Duhai

Benefits of chanting the Hanuman mantra

With the regular chanting of the mantra of Lord Hanuman, the performer’s resilience is increased, because they gain a victory from any challenging situation.

If someone is thinking of starting a new business venture and is having doubts or fear, they should begin their auspicious task with the chanting of this mantra as it will remove all the obstacles that may be standing between them and their desired wish.

Chanting the Hanuman mantra reduces the laziness and ideal thoughts of a person and blesses them with knowledge, courage, and confidence using which they get success and wealth easily.

Best time to chant Hanuman mantra  Shuklapaksha Tuesday or saturdays, brahma muhurta

Number of times to chant this mantra 108 times

Who can recite Hanuman mantra       Everyone

Chant this mantra facing    North or east

5. Ganesh mantra for success

Lord Ganesha or Ganapati is the lord of all beings and energies in the universe. He is the holder of the supreme law that’s keeping the universe in order. Without him, the universe and that belongs in it would have been in chaos, which would result in destruction. Lord Ganesha is the supreme consciousness that prevails upon everyone and keeps everything in check. He is considered to be the Mahat, the highest form of Prakriti in the process of creation. Worshiping him and chanting his mantra increases and promotes intelligence and wisdom, which is considered more valuable than only physical strength as it is extremely important for reasoning and discernment. Bhagavata tattva says, “Ganapati is the lord of universal intelligence (mahat-tattva)”.

The Ganesh mantra is:

ॐ एकदंताय विद्धमाहे, वक्रतुण्डय धीमहि, तन्नो दंति प्रचोदयात

औं महाकर्णाय विद्धमहे, वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि, तन्नो दंति प्रचोदयात

औं गजाननाय विद्धमहे, वक्रतुण्डय धीमहि, तन्नो दंति प्रचोदयात ||

Aum Ekadantaya Viddhamahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat

Aum Mahakarnaya Viddhamahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat

Aum Gajananaaya Viddhamahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat

Benefits of chanting the Ganesha mantra

According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Ganesha should be worshiped at the beginning of all the other pujas and rituals. Chanting the Ganesh mantra is extremely auspicious and brings a divine power to the performer.

Lord Ganesha is the god of wisdom and knowledge. Chanting Lord Ganesha’s mantra along with Mata Lakshmi’s mantra brings wealth and prosperity and chanting his mantras with Mata Saraswati’s mantras promotes education, wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge.

Chanting this mantra will make sure that all the obstacles or bad intentions of others toward the performer are removed and provides the performer with confidence and clarity. They can reach their goal and gain wealth and success faster than others.

Best time to chant the Ganesh mantra      

Early morning after bath, brahma muhurta

Number of times to chant this mantra 108 times for 48 days

Who can recite this Ganesh mantra   Everyone

Chant this mantra facing    North or east

6. Vishnu mantra for success

Lord Vishnu is one of the most powerful gods of the Hindu religion and has an equal hand in creating the universe. He is part of the Holy Trinity of Hinduism along with Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. To protect the world from evil, and to establish dharma, lord Vishnu took ten different forms throughout various periods, known as dashavatar. All ten of these forms are considered holy and powerful and each form is worshiped by people, in different ways. Vishnu Mantra is used to worship Lord Vishnu, the creator of the universe. Just as lord Brahma is considered the father of the universe and Lord Shiva is its destroyer. Similarly, Lord Vishnu is the maintainer of the universe. Maa Lakshmi is the consort of Vishnu. He sits on top of Sheshnag in Kshir Sagar. Chanting Lord Vishnu’s mantra makes the performer extremely inclined with their consciousness and awareness of their potential, which helps them to achieve prosperity and success.

The Vishnu mantra is:

शांताकरम् भुजगा सयानं पद्म नभं सुरेशम् विशवध्दधर्मम्

गगन सद्ऋषम् मेघा वर्णं शुबंगमलक्ष्मी कान्तम् कमला नयनम

योगी ह्रीद ध्यानं गम्यमवंदे विष्णुं भव भया हरा सर्व लोकैका ||

Shantakaram Bhujaga Sayanam Padma Nabham SureshamVishvadharam

Gagana Sadrisham Megha Varnam ShubangamLakshmi Kantam Kamala Nayanam

Yogi Hrid Dhyana GamyamVande Vishnum Bhava Bhaya Haram Sarva Lokaika Natham

Meaning – “I praise Lord Vishnu who is the Lord of all the worlds and the destroyer of the ills of this earthly life. Lord Vishnu has a calm appearance and is reclined on a snake bed. He is the Lord of all the gods and has a lotus stalk emanating from his naval. He is the very foundation of this universe and presents an expansive look like the skies. He wears a dark complexion like the clouds and appears in auspicious looks. He is the attractor of Goddess Lakshmi. The lotus-eyed Lord is constantly meditated upon by the sages and saints.

Benefits of chanting the Vishnu mantra

Chanting the Vishnu mantra with complete devotion increases the performer’s endurance and increases self-confidence. This helps them to reach their goal easily without much struggle.

Vishnu mantra helps to clear all kinds of negative thoughts, confusion, and weaknesses from the devotee’s mind and cleanses their soul from all the negative energy.

Lord Vishnu removes all forms of evil intentions and effects of evil spells that could have been the result of someone’s bad thoughts toward the performer. This mantra provides tranquility and calmness to the performer’s mind and household.

Best time to chant Vishnu mantra      

Brahma muhurta (4 am to 6 am)

Number of times to chant this mantra 108 times

Who can recite Vishnu mantra   Everyone

Chant this mantra facing    North or east, facing a picture/idol of Vishnu

Overall benefits of chanting mantras for success

Chanting these mantras enhances the inner quality and endurance of the performer.

With the regular recitation of this mantra, one becomes aware of their surroundings and has a clearer idea of what they want out of life.

For those who chant these mantras with good intentions, any kinds of obstacles are removed from their way and they get success easily.

These mantras have special powers as they remove all the negative energy that is surrounding the performer and fill them with positivity and knowledge.

Wisdom and intelligence increase when someone chants these mantras regularly, and they can work towards their goal without much problem.

Some of these mantras also have the power to remove laziness which could be dragging down the performer, and fills them with energy and excitement which they can use to gain success and wealth.

Vedic Mantras in astrology

Mantras have a well-entrenched significance in astrology, especially mantras for 9 planets in astrology or Navagraha mantras as they call them. Each planet in astrology maintains its own significance in a native’s life as it’s the positives or negatives of these planets that influence his or her life decisions in the long term. Hence, as any astrologer would tell you, to get the best results from life, pleasing different planets in astrology becomes crucial. In fact, not just pleasing the planets, but when the question is about getting the best from life, pleasing any astronomical body, including Nakshatras, Vastu energy, Yantras or even God can help. And one of the many ways to please these elements of astrology is through mantras.

What is Vedic Mantra in Astrology?

Before we sit down to learn about all the different types of mantras in astrology, it is crucial that we first understand what mantras are all about and how to use or say, recite them, and what benefits can different mantras bring to the native.

The ancient Vedic astrology, for 1000s of years, has been about making life easy for an individual. And to do so, Vedic astrology recognises three major remedies or upays. These three remedies are Mantras, Yantras and Gemstones.

When we talk about Mantra recitation as a remedy, it is considered the most sought way not only to decipher and solve your problems but also to please God and planets in astrology. In fact, reciting Mantras is also associated with personal satisfaction and can allow anyone peace of mind if they have been struggling to find some. Hence, mantras in astrology are not just about spiritual benefits but also psychological benefits.

To define, Mantras in Vedic astrology are a combination of syllabus or hymns, which, if pronounced correctly, helps the native to concentrate one’s mind on the universal energy and infinite spiritual energy within the self. Mantras have existed in the world for over 1000s of years and find mention in numerous religious books written in the past, including the Vedas. Over the years, as Rishis have come to realise the benefits of reciting Mantras in astrology, they have happened to add-on to the list of mantras.

The essence of the Mantra comes from its ‘Root word’ or Beej and the power generated by it is called Mantra Shakti. Each of the root words in a mantra is associated with a planet or God. Mantra Chanting or Mantra jaap physically prompts you to synchronise your sound, breathing and senses. The sound produced by the mantras has the ability to transform your emotions and the way you think altogether and take you to a higher spiritual level. In fact, recitation of mantras on a regular basis creates a sense of spiritual awareness in the person and leads him towards a life of peace and tranquillity.

Today, with the emergence of Yoga and its worldwide acceptability as a way of mental and physical healing has given a major recognition to mantra chanting. Even science today believes in the power of mantra and recommends people to combine it with their Yoga schedule to experience peace and well being of mind, body and soul.

Relationship between Mind and Mantras

Mantras can bring you many benefits, but if you think reciting mantras would do some magic and take away all your problems at once, then you are simply living in a bubble. If you ever ask an astrologer how Mantras work, they will tell you how a mantra alters the way you think, which eventually permits you to change your life or actions for good. However, to have these wonderful benefits of mantras on your mind, you need to practise – recite – them on a regular basis.

The word ‘mantra’ has its roots in the ancient Sanskrit language. Mantra as a word is made of two terms ‘man’ which means ‘mind’ and ‘tra’ which means ‘tool or instrument’. Thus a Manta is nothing but a tool for thinking. As only when you think of your full potential, only then can you make the required changes in your life. But the question must be asked, why do we end up plaguing our thinking process? Astrologers claim that humans are not just intellectual beings but also emotional beings who are habitual to making decisions based on their emotional acumen. This leads to unalignment of mind and feelings at times, which results in confusion for the native. Hence to align our minds with our feelings, mantras come into the picture.

Our mind is always in a state of activity, and recitation of a mantra acts as an instrument to bring it to a standstill for relaxation. As we are in our peace zone now, we are able to connect with our subconscious. This allows us a deeper state of awareness, thus helping us make better decisions in life. In fact, some of the mantras in astrology are simply melodic phrases that do not even have any particular meaning. Their sole purpose is to musically uplift the senses of an individual, as music is usually known to hit the right chords within us. This way, one is better able to align his mind and heart to take a fruitful life decision for himself.

Astrological importance of Mantras

As someone born in India, it is likely impossible that you haven’t heard a Mantra in your life. Be it a temple, a wedding ceremony or simply Bhoomi Pujan, Pandits tend to recite mantras at all these, and many more occasions. The mantras are recited to appease either the planets or Gods, and is one of the ways to ask them for their blessings. Having said that, there are numerous mantras in astrology, and each one of them is associated with a divine force.

Just like there is a mantra for all planets in astrology, similarly, there are mantras for each Chakra in astrology too. So in case any of the Chakra in your body gets blocked or is not able to transfer the required energy, chanting the associated mantra with it can help unblock it and can surge its life force energy.

Besides, Mantra chanting is an essential part of many religions. Reciting a mantra helps the native connect with the divinity in the universe who he thinks of as the ruling force. You must have seen in movies or even heard from your elders (or even in Yoga) how in order to connect with the supreme force we first need to focus our thoughts on one thing. Reciting mantras helps in doing just that. It calms our minds and helps us attain the state where we can feel our inner consciousness. Although doing so is tough, but we do have a plan for it. And what’s that?

The 40 days concept of Mantra

Just like it takes 21 days to tame any habit, similarly, it takes approx 40 days to shift your consciousness towards spirituality and mental peace. If practising mantra reciting, astrologers suggest that you must recite a mantra 108 times a day for a cycle of 40 days. 40 days is the minimum time required to make a shift in the consciousness of a person and let him brew the focus it requires to get the best out of reciting a mantra. Also, the number 108 refers to the number of nadis that need to get energised in order to feel the blissful aspects of a mantra.

History of Vedic Mantras Recitation

Most of the Mantras are written in Sanskrit because of the fact that Sanskrit words produce pure vibrations. Writing Mantras in Sanskrit helps produce pure vibrations of the chakras thus ensuring they don’t get blocked. Writing mantras is an age-old practice as these mantras can be found in texts dating back to 1000 BC. At its simplest, the word ‘OM’ is a mantra and is believed to be the first sound that originated on the earth. In more sophisticated forms, mantras are melodic phrases with spiritual interpretations such as a human longing for truth, reality, light, immortality, peace, love, knowledge, and action.

Today, the structure and type of mantra vary as per the religion – Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism or Sikhism. But most of these mantras are said to have originated from the vedic school of thoughts. The Rigveda Samhita contains about 10552 Mantras, classified into ten books called Mandalas. A Mantra can take distinct form including ṛc (verses from the Rigveda) and sāman (musical chants from the Sāmaveda).

Since the Vedic period, the hymns and verses have been narrated and recited by the Rishis. The rishis, however, are not the producer of these mantras and are only responsible for sharing their knowledge of mantras revealed to them. It’s the Vedic poets who we need to give the credit for coming up with mantras. The Vedic poets were fascinated by the inspirational power of poems and referred to them as root dhi-, which evolved into dhyana (meditation) of Hinduism.

In the mid-Vedic period, mantras were derived from all Vedic compositions. They included ṛc (verses from Rigveda), sāman (musical chants from the Sāmaveda), yajus (a muttered formula from the yajurveda), and nigada (a loudly spoken yajus).

Thereafter, during the Hindu epics period, there were add-ons to vedas as they multiplied to meet numerous needs of people. In fact, various schools of Mantras emerged, including Tantric schools. In the Linga Purana, Mantra is listed as one of the 1,008 names of Lord Shiva.

Types of Mantras in astrology

Over the centuries, Mantras have diversified and surely there have been add-ons to the list. In fact, Mantras have been categorised as per the needs and requirements of the people. Hence, with categorization has emerged different types of Mantras. These mantras are associated with planets in astrology, Gods, nakshatra, and various other aspects such as love, marriage, heath etc. All in all, there are as many as 70 million mantras in astrology today. And whether they will work for you or not depends upon the temperament of the person narrating it and not the superiority of the mantra over one another.

When considering the types of mantras, there are three – Beej Mantra, Saguna mantra and Nirguna Mantra.

1. Beej Mantra

One of the most sacred mantras is ‘OM’. It is a beej mantra, meaning a seed sound that forms the basis of all the mantras. Om is a universal beej mantra as it has found a place in various religions. There are many more beej mantras that form the basis of all other mantras in astrology. Each of these beej mantras is associated with some deity. When chanted with focus and devotion, beej mantras help in fulfilling the desire of any native.

Other beej mantras are:

Kreem – Kreem Beeja mantra is associated with Goddess Kali. Reciting this beej mantra gives the native confidence. Chanting the Kreem beej mantra also brings strength and wisdom.

Shreem – This beeja mantra is associated with Mahalakshmi. Chanting this mantra brings social status and wealth to the native.

Hroum – The beej mantra is associated with Shiva. Chanting the Hroum beej mantra helps natives in fighting death, despair, diseases, etc. The beej mantra helps in the attainment of liberation.

Doom – Doom beej mantra is associated with Goddess Durga. Chanting this beej mantra helps in the fulfilment of desires. This beej mantra also brings strength to the native.

Hreem – The Hreem beej mantra is associated with Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The mantra helps in eradicating sorrows from the life of the native while ensuring you the blessings of Shiva and Parvati.

Ayeim – This mantra is associated with Goddess Saraswati. The beej mantra helps the native garner courage, confidence and communication skills.

Gam – Gam is the beej mantra for lord Ganesha. Chanting this mantra brings wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the life of the native.

Fraum – The Fraum beej mantra is associated with Lord Hanuman. The beej mantra gives the native strength, and protection and helps him in eliminating his fears.

Dam – Dam is the beej mantra for Lord Vishnu. Chanting this mantra helps the native in attaining a happy married life, wealth and abundance of good health.

Bhram – The powerful beej mantra is associated with Lord Bhariav. The beej mantra helps in dealing with the native with any kind of court case and also brings fame to the native.

Dhoom – The Dhoom beej mantra is associated with Goddess Dhoomvati. Chanting the mantra saves the natives from enemies.

2. Saguna Mantra

Saguna is a Sanskrit word meaning “with attributes” or “having qualities.” Saguna mantras are sometimes called deity mantras because they often focus on some form of the divine.

3. Nirguna Mantra

Last but not least are the Nirguna mantras, which are said to have originated from the Vedic texts and are thus the oldest mantras. No deities are invoked with these words. The Nirguna mantras can be very difficult to interpret and are considered to not have a specific form or meaning. These mantras are said to have their identification with all of creation and contain the fundamental truths in yogic philosophy. It is said that one’s mind must be very strong to be able to concentrate on the abstract Nirguna mantras.

Benefits of reciting Mantras

From invoking deities to chanting them during numerous rituals, mantras in astrology have various benefits. Here are some benefits of reciting mantras as per astrology.

• Each of us has planets in our birth chart that are weak/debilitated or badly placed in our kundli, and hence can hinder our growth. Reciting mantras is one of the remedies to please weak planets. There are mantras for each and every planet in astrology.
• In fact, mantras can also be used to please the benefic planets and further strengthen them in your kundli.
• The best thing about mantras is that they give only positive effects.
• Mantras can help you in attracting health, wealth, happiness, pleasure, love and success.
• Reciting certain mantras can help in warding off laziness, diseases and troubles.
• Many psychiatrists believe that mantra chanting helps in reducing stress.
• Additionally, Mantra chanting clears off your head and calms down the nervous system.
• Chanting mantras and concentrating help in slowing down the heart rate and results in decreased levels of blood pressure.
• As chanting mantras lead to relaxing the mind, it leads to lower consumption of oxygen as well.
• Chanting of mantras helps in restoring the body via deep sleep.
• Meditation practitioners are of the view that vibrations of chanting certain syllables can lead to a deep meditative state, which helps in releasing any blocked energy or unblocking the chakras.
• Mantra meditation can help improve brain health. You are able to retain things in a better way and for longer.
• Repeating a mantra while meditating can also help you find a natural breathing rhythm.
• Mantra repetition on a daily basis can uplift your mood.

Mantras for planets in astrology

Navgrahas are nine planets that rule the horoscope of each and every person on earth as per astrology. It is the influence of these planets that help in deciding the fate of any native. The influence of the planet can either be positive or negative based upon how or with whom the planet is placed in your Kundli. For instance, a planet may be placed in a negative house or simply with a negative sign in the Kundli, and thus can bring bad results for you. In such situations, using a mantra as the force to counter the bad effects of a planet in your life can help. Hence, there are mantras for all nine planets in astrology.

Surya Mantra

“Om Hring Hraung Suryay Namah” Chant the Surya Beej mantra 7000 times within 40 days to see the best results for yourself.

Chandra Mantra

“Om Aing Kling Somay Namah” Chant the Chandra beeja mantra 11,000 times within a period of 40 days.

Mangal Mantra

“Om Hung Shring Bhaumay Namah” Chanting mangal mantra for 10,000 times within the period of 40 days can bring you the best results.

Budh Mantra

“Om Aing Shring Shring Budhay Namah” To get the best results from the Budh Beej mantra, chant it for 9000 times within a period of 40 days.

Brihaspati Mantra

“Om Hring Cling hung Brihsptye Namah” Chant the Guru Beej mantra 19,000 times within 40 days for the best results.

Shukra Mantra

“Om Hring Shring Shukray Namah” The mantra must be chanted 16,000 times within a period of 40 days.

Shani Mantra

“Om Aing Hring Shrind Shanaishchray Namah” The Shani Beej mantra must be chanted 23,000 times within 40 days to have its best.

Rahu Mantra

“Om Aing Hring Rahave Namah” Chant this mantra 18,000 times within a time frame of 40 days to please Rahu.

Ketu Mantra

“Om Hring Aing Ketave Namah” Chant the Keu beeja mantra for 17,000 times within 40 days.

PRAYER AND MANTRA

• Within the Hindu tradition there is no clear distinction between prayer, the chanting of mantras and the singing of songs and hymns.
• A mantra is a standard phrase consisting of a number of syllables. It is often chanted repetitively a fixed number of times.
• At the beginning of each mantra there is usually a seed (bija) mantra, such as ‘aim’, ‘hrim’ etc. The most common seed mantra is aum (om).
• The mantra and symbol aum is associated with the primeval sound of creation. Some relate it to the sound of Krishna’s flute or the ancient Gayatri mantra. It consists of three sounds – A, U, and M – which represent the three stages of awareness – wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep. The total sound represents the fourth state – the soul’s original spiritual awareness.
• Mantras are usually chanted to invoke the favour and blessings of a particular deity.
• Mantras can also be used for healing – or for ill intent, such as cursing.
• According to tradition, the ancient warrior class would charge their arrows with mantra, thus invoking celestial weapons normally used by the residents of the heavenly realms. In the Mahabharata, we hear of weapons associated with various deities. The Agni weapon would produce great heat, the Varuna weapon torrents of water and the Vayu weapon could invoke a hurricane to destroy the enemy.
• In many parts of rural India, physicians can still cure snakebites simply through using herbs and mantras.
• Mantras are employed in meditation, mainly in two ways:
  (a) through chanting quietly or silently on beads (this is called japa).
  (b) chanting loudly, very often congregationally, to musical accompaniment (this is often called kirtan, glorification.
• Prayers are of two main kinds:
  (1) The offering of one’s own heartfelt prayers in a spontaneous fashion.
  (2) The recitation of standard prayers. These are often from the ancient Vedic texts or more recent vernacular literature.
• There are standard ways of offering prayer. It should at least consist of:
  (1) Some form of glorification.
  (2) Asking for a benediction (though not always selfish or material).
• As with most forms of worship, prayer is usually preceded by the ritual washing of one’s hands and mouth.

What is a Mantra

Mantra is a Sanskrit word – “man” meaning “mind” and “tra” meaning “release.” In Vedism, the definition of mantra is literally ‘sacred utterance’ in Hinduism and Buddhism. A mantra is a tool that helps to relax the mind with intention.

Although mantra is usually a word or phrase, it can also refer to something more specific to meditation. Mantras benefit those with trouble concentrating, providing a focal point throughout the meditation.

The origins of mantras

Throughout the ages, spiritual traditions across the globe have used mantras to connect civilizations to their higher power.

Despite being commonly used in Asian meditative practices, in Western Religions, mantras took the form of prayers, such as the Jesus Prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It adds repetition and intention to worship, helping people access spiritual states of consciousness.

In the modern day, mantras are used outside of prayer and spirituality. “Mantra” now includes self-affirming statements that benefit the practitioner, which people repeat in silence, in writing, or aloud.

Mantras help manifest and drive change by creating an intention, such as compassion, self-love, and confidence. This new definition of mantra has opened the exercise up to the world, spiritual or not, as a way people can live happier lives.

How mantra meditation works in a spiritual practice

Mantras help to develop mindfulness. Focusing on a mantra’s meaning and sounds contributes to meditation, like paying attention to sensations or breaths would.

Bringing the mind back to the mantra makes it more unified, supporting one’s attention and presence.

The use of mantras can initiate the healing power of Prana or the life force energy for the chakra system.

Chakras Made Easy

How to practice mantra meditation

1. Begin by getting into a comfortable meditation position in a quiet space. This may be sitting on the floor, lying down, walking, or in a chair. Hand positions, also called Mudras, help people access a deeper state of consciousness but are not necessary to the practice.

2. Decide how long your meditation practice will be and set a timer. It may be anywhere from three to 30 minutes.

3. Take a few deep breaths and focus only on your breathing. Feel the sensations that come with the breaths as your stomach expands and contracts.

4. Transition so your breath comes solely from your nose and begin chanting the mantras silently or aloud. Optionally, use the rhythm of your breath to anchor the mantra repetition.

5. If the mind wanders, redirect the focus to the mantra. Rather than forcing these unwanted thoughts away, gently acknowledge them, and release them like leaves floating down a stream. Pick the mantra up from here, and continue.

6. When the timer goes off, begin to close the meditation. Take a few moments to check in, and feel gratitude for the meditative practice. What is the level of relaxation? Feeling more sound?

Types of mantras

Mantra variations are limitless. This could be just one syllable (e.g., “Aum”) or a more complex sentence either in a native language or in Sanskrit.

Some popular mantras for inspiration include:

• I am present in the moment.
• I am conquering my fears.
• I create my own path.
• I am calm.
• I am at peace.
• I am happy in my body.

How to choose a mantra

Although there is no wrong way to choose a mantra, it will be most helpful if it relates to one’s self, life, and aspirations.

Some people stick to common syllables or vowel sounds, such as “Aum,” the original sound of the universe. “So Hum,” the Sanskrit word for “I am,” is another popular mantra.

If there is a specific goal one wants to reach, mantras can help one get there.

Some examples of these goal-oriented mantras include:

1. Chakra mantras
2. Deity mantras
3. Healing mantras

For example, if one wishes to feel relaxed and live a more laid-back life, their mantra of choice may be:

• “I am calm.”
• “I exist with fluidity and ease.”

WHAT IS A MANTRA AND HOW DOES IT WORK ?

Mantras are powerful sounds. Mantras are the ones that have when chanted produce great effects. These are chanted repeatedly and that is called Japa. Japa is a key part of Hindu prayer. Mantras are very rich in their meaning. While doing japa one can meditate on the mantra and its meaning. As the mind dwell more and more into that, the mantra conditions the mind and takes up to the higher states and forms the path to the great liberation – eternal bliss !

What makes mantras so special as compared to the normal words ? Mantras are not human composed. One may wonder how can that be possible. Especially given that there are sages associated with the mantras ! The point to be noted is that these sages are not composers of these mantras, as we normally compose the sentences; they are not the inventors, but they are the discoverers of the mantra. They get to know the mantras in a state in which these words do not emanate from their thoughts, but they are just passive audience to it. Those who go deep in meditation and realize God may be able to get a feel of this situation.

Mantra:

Devaki-sut Govinda Vasudeva Jagatpate
Dehi me tanayam Krishna Tvaamaham sharanam gataha

Meaning:

O Son of Devaki and Vasudeva, the Lord of the Universe
O Krishna! give me a son; I take refuge in you

Mantra:

Kaatyaayani Mahaamaayey Mahaa YoginyaDheeshwaree
NandaGopasuta Devi Pati Mey Kuru Tey Namaha

Meaning:

Katyaayani! MahaaMayey (Names of Ma the Mother Goddess) Supreme Lord of all great Yoginis, Make Shree Krishna, my husband Prostrations unto Thee.

Mantra:

Saraswati namastubhyam
Varde Kaamarupini
Vidyarambham karishyami
Siddhir bhavatu me sadaa

Meaning:

My humble prostrations unto Thee, O Goddess Saraswati,
You are the fulfiller of all my wishes, I start my studies, with the request that I achieve perfection in them.

Mantra: Mantra for Health

Om! Tryambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtee Vardhanam
Urva ruka meva Bandhanaat Mrityor Muksheeya Ma amrutaat

Meaning:

Om! We worship Lord Shiva (The 3-Eyed One) who is full of fragrance and who nourishes all beings; may He liberate me from death, bestow salvation and (lead me) towards Eternity (Make me immortal) just as the ripe cucumber is severed (from the creeper) of its bondage.

Mantra: Mantra For Prosperity

Aayur dehee Dhanam Dehee
Vidyaam dehee Maheshwari
Samastamakhilam dehee
dehee mey Parameshwari

Meaning:

Give me long life
Give me wealth,
Give me knowledge,
O Maheshwari (Mother Goddess)
O Parmeshwari,
Give me everything that I desire

This is a mantra of Maheshwari. Maheshwari is the consort of Maheshwara, another name for Siva. It is said that Siva always grants the boons of those that pray to him or his consort.

Mantra: Mantra for a Peaceful Life

Sarveshaam Svaastir Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Shaantir Bhavatu,
Sarveshaam Poornam Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Mangalam Bhavatu
Om Shanti, Shanti Shanteeh

Meaning:

May Health abound forever
May Peace abound forever
May complete abundance, abound forever
May auspiciousness abound forever
Om Peace Peace Peace!

MANTRA for the FULFILLMENT OF DESIRES and RELEASE FROM BONDAGE

Mantra:

Om kaaram bindu samyuktam nityam dhyaayanti yoginah
Kaamadam mokshadam chaiva Omkaaraaya namo namaha

Meaning:

The sages constantly meditate upon the sound of Om and its ‘Bindu´ (dot) We offer our obeisance to the Divine sound of Om repeatedly,
Which has the power to fulfill our desires and release us from bondage.

Mantra:

Krishnaaya Vaasudevaaya Haraye Paramaatmane
Pranatah Klesha naashaaya Govindaaya namo namaha

Meaning:

O Krishna! Son of Vaasudeva, You are the Supreme Lord, remover of miseries.
You destroy all evil, O Govinda!
I repeatedly bow to You!

Mantra: THE EPITOME OF DUTY.

Raamaaya Raamabhadraaya Raamachandraaya vedhase
Raghunaathaaya naathaaya Seetaaya pataye namah.

Meaning:
I bow to the Brilliant Rama, doer of good, Lord of the Raghus, the Beloved husband of Seeta.

Guru Mantra:

Gurur Bramha Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Devo Maheswaraha
Guru Shakshath Para Bramha
Thasmaisri Gurave Namaha
Gurave Sarvalokanam
Bhishaje Bhavaroginam
Nithye Sarvadhiyanaam
Dhakshina Moorthaye Namahah!

Meaning: Guru is Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheswara. Guru is nothing but the Supreme Brahman devoid of attributes. That is the reason why we bow to the Guru.

Meditation On Lord Shiva:
Shaantam padmaasanastham
shashadharamakutam panchavaktram trinetram,
Shoolam vajram cha khadgam
parashumabhayadam dakshinaange vahantam;
Naagam paasham cha ghantaam
damaruka sahitam chaankusham vaamabhaage,
Naanaalankaara deeptam
sphatika maninibham paarvateesham namaami.

Meaning: I prostrate myself before the five-faced Lord of Parvati, who is adorned with various ornaments, who shines like the crystal jewel, who is seated peacefully in the lotus pose, with moon-crested crown, with three eyes, wearing trident, thunderbolt, sword and axe on the right side, who holds the serpent, noose, bell, damaru and spear on the left side, and who gives protection from all fear to His devotees.

Meditation On Sri Shankaracharya
Padmaaseenam prashantam
yamaniratamaanan gaari tulya prabhaavam,
Phaale bhasmaankitaam
bhasmita rujira mukhaam bhojanindeevaraaksham;
Kambugreevam karaabhyaam
avidtamurulasat pustakam jnaanamudraam,
Vandyam geervaana mukhyair
natajana varadam bhaavaye shankaraaryam.

Meaning: I meditate on Sri Shankaracharya who is seated in the lotus posture with Jnanamudra, who is calm, endowed with virtues like Yama, Niyama, etc., whose glory is as great as that of Lord Shiva, who wears the sacred ashes on the forehead, whose face resembles the blossomed lotus, with lotus-like eyes, possessing sacred books in hand, who is ever adored by people of high learning and wisdom, and who fulfils the desires of his devotees (who prostrate themselves before him).

Meditation On Lord Dattatreya
Maalaakamandalu dharah karapadmayugme
Madhyastha paaniyugale damarutrishoolam;
Adhyastha urdhva karayoh shubha shankhachakre
Vande tamatrivaradam bhujashatkayuktam.

Meaning: I meditate on Lord Dattatreya, the son of Atri, who has six hands, who holds the rosary and water-vessel in two hands, with damaru and spear in the other two hands, and with conch and discus in the upper two hands.

Meditation On Lord Ganesha
Gajaananam bhootaganaadisevitam
Kapittha jamboophala saara bhakshitam;
Umaasutam shoka vinaasha kaaranam
Namaami vighneshwara paada pankajam.

Meaning: I worship the lotus feet of Ganesha, the son of Uma, the destroyer of all sorrows, who is served by the host of gods and elementals, and who takes the essence of the kapittha-jarnbu fruit (fruit resembling the bilwa fruit).

Meditation On Lord Subramanya
Shadaananam kumkumaraktavarnam
Mahaa matim divya mayoora vaahanam;
Rudrasya soonum sura sainyanaatham
Guham sadaaham sharanam prapadye.

Meaning: I always take refuge in Lord Guha (Lord Subramanya) of six faces, who is of deep red colour and infinite knowledge, who has the divine peacock to ride on, the son of Lord Shiva and the leader of the army of the Devas.

Meditation On Sri Krishna
Vamshee vibhooshita karaan navaneeradaabhaat
Peetaambaraadaruna bimbaphalaa dharoshthaat;
Poornendusundara mukhaad aravinda netraat
Krishnaat param kimapi tattwam aham na jaane.

Meaning: I know not any other Reality than the lotus-eyed Krishna with hands adorned with flute, looking like a heavy-laden cloud in lustre, wearing a yellow silk garment, with His lower lip like a ruddy bimba fruit, and with face shining like the full moon.

Meditation On Sri Rama
Dhyaayedaajaanubaaham dhritasharadhanusham
baddhapadmaasanastham,
Peetam vaaso vasaanam navakamala dala spardhinetram
prasannam;
Vaamaankaaroodhaseetaa mukhakamala milal lochanam
neeradaabham,
Naanaalankaara deeptam dadhatamuru jataa mandalam
raamachandram.

Meaning: One should meditate on Sri Ramachandra, with hands reaching the knees, holding the bow and arrows, seated in the locked-up lotus posture, wearing a yellow garb, with eyes vying with the newly-blossomed lotus petals, with a pleasant gait, who has Sita seated on His left thigh, who is blue like the clouds, who is adorned with all kinds of ornaments and having a big circle of Jata on the head.

Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantra

Om Thryambakam Yajaamahe’ Suganthim Pushtivardhanam |
Urvarukamiva Bandana-mr.uthyormuksheeya Ma-amr.uthathu ||

Meaning: We worship the three-eyed One, Lord Siva, Who is fragrant and Who nourishes all beings; May He liberate me from the death, for the sake of Immortality, just as the ripe cucumber gets severed from the bondage of the vines.

The Transformational Power of Mantra

We’ve all experienced the sensation of being moved by powerful music. Maybe a certain sad song always makes your eyes fill with tears, a piece of classical music makes your spine tingle, or a bright, happy song forces you to dance. These experiences give you just a taste of the powerful effect mantra and mantra chanting can have on your life.

Whereas a song can transform your mood, mantra chanting can transform your very existence.

What is mantra?

Mantra, simply defined, is a sacred Sanskrit syllable or phrase which is repeated to powerful effect. While mantras are used in many spiritual traditions, they originated in the Tantric lore and ancient scriptures known as Vedas. They are used up to this day in India.
The source of all mantras (known as the pranava mantra) is Aum (or Om). This root syllable represents the fundamental unity of existence and symbolizes four states of consciousness: the waking state, the dream state, the deep sleep state and the transcendental state. Many mantra chants begin and end with Aum.

Indian tradition of mantra

Many yoga practitioners who are new to mantra chanting find themselves initially uncomfortable with the idea. Understanding the roots of mantra chanting and the benefits it can have on your health and life can create a willingness to try the practice.

In ancient India, spoken language was considered more important, more powerful, than written language. In mantra, sound is more important even than meaning, though a siddha or perfected mantra must have an lofty meaning not just a sound.

The belief is that the world is composed of sound vibrations; sound is energy. Repeating sacred syllables produce a physical vibration in your body and gives ideas form. Coupling the vocalization of sacred sounds with a specific intention adds to the power of mantra and can lead to profound spiritual insights. Especially silent repetition of mantra can have a profound effect, just as a musician imagining playing her instrument creates the same brain activity as the actual playing, so silent mantra chanting has the power to transform.

Each mantra (there are thousands) was discovered by a spiritual master during a state of deep meditation. It’s believed that early mantras were recited to call for practical help from the universe — relief from a drought, for example — and the use of mantra evolved over time to call for redemption of the chanter. Traditionally, a student was given a mantra by his or her guru and used it for a lifetime.

Benefits of mantra chanting

When you chant a mantra with intention, the idea and power behind the mantra permeates your subconscious and brings you closer to understanding the unified whole of existence.

Mantra can also have a profound effect on our day to day lives.For example, a  How to mantra chant

The Sanskrit language was designed to be sacred and mimic the sounds and forms of nature. Therefore, pronunciation of mantra is important. If you cannot learn mantra pronunciation from a personal spiritual teacher, thanks to the internet, you can hear mantra recitations online that will help you say them properly.

Ideally however you would want to receive a personal mantra through a process of initiation or diiksha, as only then can you receive a siddha mantra which can help achieve the highest goal of human life and the is Self-realization.

Even more important than perfect pronunciation, you must approach mantra chanting with an intention and awareness of the mantra you are working with, not merely repeat sounds as if they have no meaning. This is called ideation or bhava in Sanskrit. Ideation plays a very important role as it is based on the idea that “as you think so you become” and once the meaning of the mantra is realized through intense ideation, the practitioners attains the state of realization.

To prepare yourself for mantra chanting, sit in comfortable position. Do some cleansing breathwork (pranayama) and bring your hands to prayer position at your chest before you begin.

Begin chanting your mantra using as resonant a voice as possible. If you wish, you can use mala (prayer) beads during your chanting. With each recitation of the mantra, you finger a bead until you have touched all 108 beads of the mala. Once completed start again from the first bead. You can practice as many rounds as you wish.

For an even deeper experience, try mantra chanting in a group setting. The addition of many voices creates an exponential impact. Look for a kirtan (group chanting) class in your area. The mantra we use in our kirtans in Rajadhiraja yoga is “BABA NAM KEVALAM” and the ideation is “LOVE IS ALL THERE IS.”
The benefits of mantra are something you can experience from your first session. If you’re ready to expand your consciousness and cultivate a deeper connection to the divine, start your  exploration of mantra chanting today.

Additional mantras to try

Lokah Samastha

Lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu.

Translation: May this world be established with a sense of

well-being and happiness.

Gayatri mantra

Om bhur bhuvas svaha

Thath savithur varaynyam

Bhargo dheyvasya dhimahih

Dhyoyonah pratchodhay-yath

Translation: We worship the word that is present in the

earth, the heavens, and that which is beyond. By

meditating on this glorious power that gives us life,

we ask that our minds and hearts be illuminated.

Om Namah Shivaaya

Om Namah Shivaaya, Namah Shivaaya, Nama Shiva

Translation: I bow to Lord Shiva, the peaceful one who is the

embodiment of all that is cause by the universe.

Shanti Mantra

sarvesham svastir bhavatu

sarvesham shantir bhavatu

sarvesham purnam bhavatu

sarvesham mangalam bhavatu

Translation: May there be well-being for all,

May there be peace for all.

May there be wholeness for all,

May there be happiness for all.

Translations courtesy of Russill Paul’s The Yoga of Sound.

 study done in India found that mantra can help influence behaviour in positive ways. In the study, young male hockey players who practiced mantra chanting stayed better hydrated and performed better than their non-chanting peers. All participants had been trained on the benefits of hydration, but the chanters were better able to put that knowledge into practice.

Chanters in the study also reported what mantra chanters have known for thousands of years, mantra has the power to sooth anxiety and create joyous feelings. It’s believed that the sound vibrations produced during mantra chanting stimulate and balance the chakras (energy centres of the body).

Some mantra, such as the seed mantras or bija mantras even target specific chakras. Many practitioners believe mantra chanting has the power to heal the body. Consistent practice of mantra chanting activates what traditional yogis called the nadi system, the channels in our bodies through which prana, or vital energy, flows. In western medical terms, mantra chanting has been shown to soothe the central nervous system and there is even some evidence that it can boost the immune system and help overcome addiction.

Mantras – Unleashing Their Healing Effect

Have you ever wondered about the power of words? How do certain phrases or chants have the ability to calm the mind, uplift the spirit, or even manifest positive changes in our lives? Well, today, we’re diving into the fascinating, powerful Sanskrit mantras! Vedic Mantra, derived from the Sanskrit word “mantram,” is a sacred word or a group of words that hold deep spiritual significance. It is believed to have originated in ancient India, where it was used as a tool for meditation, prayer, and spiritual transformation.

The history of mantras can be traced back thousands of years, deeply rooted in the Vedic tradition. In the beginning, vedic mantras in Sanskrit were primarily passed down orally from generation to generation, carried by respected sages and spiritual teachers. They were considered to be profound vibrations of sound that could connect individuals with the divine realm. Mantras were often chanted or recited repetitively, allowing the practitioner to enter a state of deep focus and resonance.

As the centuries passed, the most powerful mantra evolved and diversified, finding its way into different religious and spiritual practices across various cultures. In Hinduism, mantras play a central role in rituals, invoking deities and seeking their blessings. Buddhist traditions also incorporated mantras astrology as part of their meditation techniques, with “Om Mani Padme Hum” being one of the most well-known examples.

The power of mantras lies in their ability to shift our consciousness and create a profound inner transformation. It is believed that the vibrations produced by chanting mantras can harmonise our energy, balance our emotions, and bring about a sense of peace and clarity. Moreover, mantras are thought to have the power to manifest intentions and desires, attracting positive energies and removing obstacles along the path.

So, whether you’re seeking a sense of serenity, exploring your spirituality, or simply curious about the mystical world of mantras, visit the InstaAstro website to discover what are good mantras, the list of mantras in Sanskrit and a profound list of powerful hindu mantras.

Importance of Mantras

Mantras hold great significance in various spiritual and religious traditions, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. These sacred chants are believed to have profound effects on the mind, body, and spirit. They serve as powerful tools for meditation, aiding in the development of mindfulness and self-awareness. Here we’ll mention some of the astrological and spiritual significance of Mantras:

·         Astrological Importance of Mantras

In astrology, mantras hold significant importance as they are believed to have a profound impact on our lives. Mantras are sacred sounds, words, or phrases that are chanted or repeated in a rhythmic manner. These mantras are closely related to astrology because they are believed to harness the energy of specific celestial bodies and influence their corresponding astrological aspects.

Each celestial body, such as the Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations, is associated with certain qualities and influences in astrology. These influences can affect different aspects of our lives, such as health, relationships, career, and overall well-being. Mantras associated with specific celestial bodies are considered a means to connect with their energy and seek their blessings or remove any negative influences.

For instance, if someone is facing challenges in their career and would think how to attract money mantra. They can chant a vedic mantra for success in career related to the planet Saturn. Saturn is associated with discipline, hard work, and overcoming obstacles. By chanting the Saturn mantra and success mantra astrology can invoke the positive qualities of Saturn and reduce the malefic effects of its placement in their birth chart.

Similarly, mantra according to kundli, can be chanted to seek their beneficial influences. The chanting of mantras is often performed during specific astrological timings. Astrologers analyse an individual’s birth chart and recommend appropriate mantras based on the planetary positions and their influences at that time.

·         Spiritual Importance of Mantras

Mantras hold significant spiritual importance and are closely related to spirituality. The spiritual significance of mantras lies in their ability to transcend ordinary thinking and tap into the deeper layers of our being. When we chant or recite mantras most powerful vedic mantra, the vibrational energy they create resonates within us and affects our spiritual well-being. By continuously repeating a mantra, we can cultivate positive qualities like peace, love, compassion, and gratitude.

The rhythm and resonance of the guru mantra astrology create a harmonious vibration that can uplift our consciousness and bring us closer to our spiritual nature. However, the impact of beauty mantra astrology on people’s lives spiritually can be profound. Regular practice of mantras can help us develop mindfulness, inner strength, and self-awareness.

Bhuvaneshwari mantra and astrology can bring about a sense of inner peace, reducing stress, anxiety, and negative thought patterns. They can also enhance our spiritual growth by awakening dormant energies and expanding our spiritual awareness.

Jyotirlinga mantra astrology act as a powerful tool for transformation, helping us to let go of limiting beliefs, overcome obstacles, and experience spiritual breakthroughs. Furthermore, the height increase mantra in astrology has a universal quality that transcends religious and cultural boundaries. They can be used by people of different faiths and spiritual paths to deepen their connection with the divine and cultivate a sense of unity and oneness. Mantras have the potential to connect us with our inner wisdom and collective consciousness, enabling us to tap into the infinite source of divine love, guidance, and inspiration.

·         Importance of Numbers with Mantras

Numbers play a significant role in mantras, serving as a crucial aspect of their practice and effectiveness. The repetition of specific numbers, such as chanting a mantra 108, 21, or 10,000 times, holds symbolic and metaphysical significance that enhances the spiritual experience and facilitates a deeper connection with the mantra’s purpose. These numbers are believed to possess inherent vibrations and energetic qualities that align with the frequencies of the universe.

The number 108 holds immense importance in various spiritual traditions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. It is considered a sacred number, representing the unity of the individual soul with the cosmic consciousness. The number 108 is derived from the multiplication of three sacred numbers: 1 (representing unity), 0 (symbolising completeness or wholeness), and 8 (representing infinity or eternity).

Similarly, chanting a mantra 21 times holds significance in certain practices. The number 21 is considered powerful and resonates with the energies of manifestation and transformation. Chanting a mantra 21 times is often performed as a form of focused meditation, allowing the practitioner to concentrate on the vibrations and intentions of the mantra while invoking its transformative powers.

The number 10,000 is often associated with completeness and abundance. Chanting a mantra 10,000 times requires dedication, discipline, and a prolonged commitment to the practice. It is believed that such extensive repetition helps to purify the mind, deepen concentration, and strengthen the connection with the divine.

Types of Mantras

Mantras are sacred sounds, syllables, or phrases that are chanted or recited for various purposes in Hinduism. Vedic mantras list refers to the mantras found in the ancient texts of the Vedas, which are considered the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Here are some important best mantra for everything, along with their meanings and benefits:

·         Gayatri Mantra:

The Gayatri Mantra astrology is a highly revered Vedic mantra from the Rigveda. It consists of 24 syllables and is addressed to the sun deity, mantra sun astrology and Savitr. It is considered a universal prayer that invokes divine light and wisdom. Mentioned below are the meanings and gayatri mantra benefits in astrology.

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

Meaning: “We meditate upon the spiritual effulgence of that adorable Supreme Divine Reality who is the source of the physical, mental, and spiritual planes. May that Supreme Consciousness enlighten our intellect and inspire us to righteous thoughts and actions.”

Benefits: The Gayatri Mantra is considered one of the most powerful and widely recited Vedic mantras. It is believed to enhance spiritual wisdom, intellectual clarity, and inner illumination. Chanting this mantra benefits can help purify the mind and guide one towards self-realisation.

·         Om Mantra:

The Om mantra, often written as “ॐ,” is a sacred and most powerful mantra in Hinduism and the most powerful mantra in universe, Buddhism, and other spiritual traditions. It is considered the primordial sound of creation and represents the ultimate reality or Brahman.

“ॐ”

“Aum”

Meaning: The sacred sound “Om” represents the primordial sound of creation and the ultimate reality. It is considered the sound of the universe and encompasses all sounds, syllables, and words.

Benefits: Chanting the Om mantra helps to calm the mind, reduce stress, and promote a sense of peace and harmony. It is believed to connect the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.

·         Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:

The maha mrityunjaya mantra astrology is a sacred mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva and is found in Rigveda. It is considered a potent mantra for protection, healing, and liberation.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥

“Om Tryambakam Yajamahe, Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan, Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat.”

Meaning: “We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva, who is fragrant and nourishes all beings. May He liberate us from death, just as a ripe cucumber is effortlessly severed from its vine, and grant us immortality.”

Benefits: The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a powerful mantra associated with Lord Shiva. It is believed to protect from untimely death, promote physical and mental well-being, and bring about spiritual transformation. It is often chanted for healing and overcoming obstacles.

·         Rudra Mantra:

The Rudra Mantra is a powerful Vedic mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is often associated with the Rudra aspect of Shiva, representing his fierce and transformative energy.

ॐ नमः शिवाय॥

Om Namah Shivaya

Meaning: “Om and salutations to Lord Shiva.”

Benefits: The Rudra Mantra is a simple yet profound chant dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, bring inner peace, and remove negative energies. You can chant this mantra for happy married life astrology, and it is said to purify the mind and heart.

·         Beej Mantra:

Beej mantras are single-syllable seed sounds that are associated with specific deities or divine energies. They are considered powerful and condensed forms of spiritual energy. Here are some examples of Beej mantras, along with their meanings and benefits:

Om (ॐ)

Meaning: Om represents the ultimate reality or Brahman. It encompasses all sounds, syllables, and words. It is the primordial sound of creation.

Benefits: Chanting Om helps to calm the mind, increase self-awareness, and connect with the universal consciousness. It promotes inner peace, spiritual growth, and overall well-being.

Shreem (श्रीं)

Meaning: Shreem is the Beej mantra associated with the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, prosperity, and abundance.

Benefits: Chanting Shreem is believed to attract wealth, abundance, and material blessings. It helps to remove financial obstacles and promotes prosperity in all areas of life.

Kleem (क्लीं)

Meaning: Kleem is the Beej mantra associated with attraction and desire.

Benefits: Chanting Kleem is believed to enhance charisma, attract positive relationships, and manifest desired outcomes. It promotes love, harmony, and positive connections.

Hreem (ह्रीं)

Meaning: Hreem is a powerful Beej mantra associated with the divine feminine energy, particularly the goddess Durga and goddess Kali.

Benefits: Chanting Hreem is believed to invoke the qualities of courage, strength, and protection. It helps to overcome obstacles, dispel negative energies, and promote inner transformation.

Gam (गं)

Meaning: Gam is the Beej mantra associated with Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the deity of wisdom and intellect.

Benefits: Chanting Gam is believed to remove obstacles, improve concentration, and enhance intellect. It brings wisdom, clarity, and success in endeavours.

How to Chant Mantras

Chanting the most powerful mantra in the world is a practice commonly found in various spiritual and religious traditions. It involves repeating specific sounds, words, or phrases with the intention of focusing the mind, invoking a particular energy, or connecting with the divine. We have a general guide on how to chant mantras and what is chanting mantras all about. So read carefully to avail the full benefits.

What is Mantra Chanting?

Mantra chanting is a practice that involves the repetition of sacred words, phrases, or sounds. It is an integral part of various spiritual and religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Mantra siddhi in astrology are believed to be powerful tools for focusing the mind, invoking divine energies, and attaining spiritual or worldly goals.

Mantra chanting serves multiple purposes. It can be used as a form of meditation to calm the mind, cultivate mindfulness, and promote inner peace. Chanting mantras can also be seen as a devotional practice, expressing reverence to a particular deity or spiritual principle. Additionally, mantras are believed to have transformative and healing effects, purifying the mind, body, and spirit.

How to Chant Mantra properly?

Chanting mantras can be a powerful and transformative practice. It’s important to approach it with reverence and intention. Let’s explore how you can chant mantras properly and get the most out of this sacred practice.

First and foremost, find a quiet and peaceful space where you can practice without distractions. Create an atmosphere that supports your practice, perhaps by lighting candles, burning incense, or playing soft instrumental music. Sit comfortably in a relaxed yet alert posture. You can cross your legs or sit on a chair, whatever feels most comfortable for you.

Now, choose a mantra that resonates with you. It could be a traditional Sanskrit mantra, a phrase from a religious text, or even a personal affirmation. Whatever mantra you choose, make sure it aligns with your intentions and values.

Before you begin chanting, take a moment to connect with the meaning and essence of the mantra. Reflect on its significance and how it relates to your life. This understanding will deepen your connection to the mantra and infuse your chanting with more intention and power.

After you finish chanting, take a few moments to sit in silence and observe any sensations, thoughts, or emotions that arise. This is an opportunity to integrate the energy and insights from your practice. Express gratitude for the experience and its transformative potential. Be patient with yourself and embrace the journey of self-discovery and inner growth that chanting can offer.

Chanting mantra gives powerful energy of success, and thus you may notice its positive effects rippling into different aspects of your life. Stay open and receptive to the transformative power of mantras, and let them guide you on your path of self-realisation and spiritual awakening.

Benefits of Chanting Mantras

Chanting mantras is a practice that has been utilised for centuries in various cultures and spiritual traditions. The benefits of chanting mantras can be experienced on multiple levels, including physical, spiritual, and astrological aspects. Here are five key benefits of chanting mantras:

·         Physical Benefits:

• Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Chanting the most powerful mantra cure for all problems can help induce a state of deep relaxation, reducing stress and promoting overall well-being.
• Improved Focus and Concentration: The rhythmic repetition of mantras can enhance mental clarity, sharpening focus and improving concentration abilities.
• Enhanced Energy and Vitality: Chanting a mantra for happiness can stimulate the body’s energy centres, promoting a sense of vitality and rejuvenation.
• Regulated Breathing: Chanting often involves controlled breathing patterns, which can help regulate the breath, improve lung capacity, and promote better oxygenation of the body.

·         Spiritual Benefits:

• Deepened Meditation: Mantras serve as powerful tools to anchor and quiet the mind during meditation, facilitating a deeper spiritual experience and connection.
• Increased Awareness: Vedic mantra chanting mantra remedies can heighten self-awareness and mindfulness, fostering a sense of inner presence and spiritual growth.
• Alignment with Higher Consciousness: Mantras are considered sacred sounds that resonate with higher realms, enabling practitioners to align with and access elevated states of consciousness.
• Emotional Healing: Chanting mantra for good health and long life can release emotional blockages, allowing for the healing of past traumas and fostering emotional well-being.

·         Astrological Benefits:

• Harmonizing Planetary Energies: Certain mantras are associated with specific planets in Vedic astrology. Chanting these mantras can help balance and align the energies of the corresponding planets, mitigating any negative astrological influences.
• Enhancing Positive Planetary Effects: Chanting the most powerful mantra for luck associated with beneficial planetary energies can amplify their positive effects in an individual’s life, such as promoting success, abundance, and harmonious relationships.
• Mitigating Planetary Doshas: The most powerful mantra for health can be employed as remedies to counteract planetary doshas or imbalances, helping to alleviate any associated challenges or obstacles.

What is Mantra? – 10 Benefits of chanting Vedic Mantras

What is Mantra?

The meaning of the word mantra comes from the Sanskrit language, where Man means mind and Tra, which in general context addresses protection, control, or wisdom. Thus, we obtain instruments to guide or protect the mind. So, we can define a mantra as a hymn, prayer, sacred song, programmed syllables, and even a religious poem.

Some religions use the mantra to greet, offer good vibes and praise the gods or festivals. Others use it for the purpose of spiritual practice, healing, meditation, prosperity, self-knowledge, etc.

Many find it difficult to comprehend what a mantra is because they do not know its origin. They are in the Vedas, which are the highest authority in Hindu dharma, and all texts and mantras are in Sanskrit. In these scriptures, you can find more than 4 thousand sutras intended to praise the gods. And it was the sutras that are also considered hymns from which mantras were born.

The sutras were the basis to serve as inspiration in the emergence of thousands of mantras, each with its purpose: love, kindness, inner peace, connection with the Divine, calm, and self-knowledge. Although the practice stands out when dealing with Hindu culture, it is not linked to a religion, so it is not necessary to be part of one to practice it.

Benefits of chanting Vedic Mantras

Its main function is to aid meditation because when a mantra is pronounced, it can calm thoughts and our actions, facilitating concentration. Mantras have the ability to serve as a focus for the mind to concentrate. After all, our mind doesn’t stop for a minute, enumerating the things out there that we need to think about. Each of us has a personal universe, with its relationships, concerns, and issues; it is not easy to just put it all aside.

So, let’s talk about the benefits of Mantra chanting:

1. You connect to the roots of yoga

Human beings did not write the Vedic Mantras; they were received from the divine source in deep states of meditation. There is no authorship in Vedic mantras. The form and ritual in which the mantras were recited in the past are linked to the rishi that first received the mantra, with the Bija mantra within the mantras, and with what we call shakti: its inherent power.

In the Yoga’s contemplative tradition, when you recite mantras, you connect directly with the yogic tradition and the particular divine energy revealed through the mantra’s vibration. So, you are connecting with the roots of yoga, and you connect with something that is incredibly old, pure, and powerful.

2. Create a new positive vibration pattern within you

Sound is known as the most fundamental part of matter and, therefore, the most fundamental part of itself. In the philosophy of Yoga and Samkhya, this fundamental part of the matter is called Abdatantra. According to these two Vedic philosophies, all elements, as well as our senses, are composed of this most subtle part of the matter.

From a modern perspective, if we look at human beings in their atomic structure, we understand that we are nothing but vibrant atoms. Depending on the speed of the atoms, objects appear before our eyes as solid, liquid, or gaseous. Vedic chanting introduces pure, high-frequency sounds into our system that can change our overall vibration. Changes can be modified, and negative thought patterns (which reflect nothing but a vibration) can be modified.

3. You will feel healthier

The Vedic tradition offers many different mantras that also include healing mantras. Some treat illnesses in the body; others treat illnesses in emotions or the mind. Mantras also help us to feel calmer and more at peace, more focused, and less stressed. There are many mantras in the world, but Vedic mantras have been recited and learned for centuries by male Brahmins, as they are considered sacred and divine.

4. You will feel revitalized

According to ancient scriptures, Mantras are the only tool capable of generating vital force, prana, and can make matter exist. In our modern times, when many people suffer from chronic exhaustion and fatigue, mantras create new forms of energy distribution and can help to create vitality.

5. You will connect with yourself and others

One of the most notable experiences in any mantra is that we connect with people around the world who also like to immerse themselves in the teachings of yoga. But Vedic mantras offer even more than that. In Sanskrit, a Vedic chant is known as Adhyayanam, which literally means a journey back to Being.

What mantra chanters reveal is a journey back to his soul, the inner and eternal part of himself. It is a journey into the essence of your own sound, the symphony of your soul. It is the journey that all yogis work on in their lives, and chanting will accompany and guide you smoothly on that journey back to your own heart.

6. Increase immunity

Mantras have the health benefit of strengthening your immune system. This happens due to the transformation that this practice has on the hypothalamus, one of the most important connections between the mind and the body. When the nervous system is overloaded, mantras (combined with breathing) can repair the damage.

The positive effects on the parasympathetic nervous system (that part that tells us that everything is fine) are multiplied, releasing endorphins, which regulate blood pressure and heart rate, in addition to blocking hormones associated with stress.

7. Development of Compassion

While the early stages of meditation relax the mind, the benefits of mantras seek to integrate that calm with the awakening of a spiritual experience. This is because they promote a kind of energy cleaning. Just as unhealthy eating can clog veins and arteries, heavy emotions (such as anger, envy, fear, or a grudge) also block energy channels in the body. The ultrasounds present in the mantras can unblock these fields, opening space for more positive feelings, such as compassion, love, and brotherhood.

8. Relief from stress, anxiety, and depression

By combining sound, rhythm, and breathing, mantras channel energy flows. What you don’t know is that this alignment adjusts the chemical composition of our mind and body, balancing the cerebral hemispheres. This contributes to the natural reduction of psychological disorders, such as stress, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. By regulating the endocrine system, chanting mantras normalize hormonal production, which improves mood and the overall feeling of a sense of calm.

9. Honor oneself

Chanting mantras affects the heart, removes burdens, expands perceptual possibilities, and instills courage. The work on the voice goes hand in hand with that on the breath and all the control techniques (pranayama).

Vedic chanting increases the power to remember in the short, medium, and long term which has calming effects on the mind. This leads us to a new relationship with silence, predisposes us to any other type of meditation, including active meditation, and allows us to dissolve emotional blocks. One experiences a real connection with one’s divine self and the healing power of the body.

10. Mantras are for everyone

The study of mantras is open to everyone, and no particular requirements are required. Vedic Chant uses only 3 tones and can be learned even by those with no other musical knowledge. It is not necessary to know Sanskrit or to know the meaning of each word spoken to enjoy the benefits of mantras.

What is most important during the proclamation is the sound of the murmured words. It may seem incredible, but the vibration produced by the mantras can create neurolinguistic reactions that induce the mind to find a feeling of calm and serenity.

Mantras have the ability to change the mind, strengthen the body and suppress subconscious afflictions. However, they must be practiced regularly, for several months, for the desired effects to be realized.

The Significance of Mantra Chanting

Several ancient scriptures have mentions of the importance of chanting mantras. In Indian culture, you will find several references to the practice of chanting mantra. Ancient Vedas have mention of thousands of mantras. It is believed that by chanting the mantras, one can achieve purification of the soul and body. By emitting positivity, mantras provide a person with inner strength and relief from the sufferings and troubles of his / her life.

Since the ancient times, Indians have believed in the power of chanting mantras. Today, there are several scientific evidences of the therapeutic, psychological and spiritual benefits of it.

The Origin of Mantras

Mantras have their origins in the Vedas. While the exact historical date of the origin of Mantra chanting is difficult to know, several teachings of the Vedas consist of references to Mantric chants by different Rishis.

What are Mantras?

Mantras are sound vibrations that infuse the cells of our being and allow the mind to find peacefulness. Mantras are called as the rhythms of the consciousness which create vibrations in the spirit.

“Manana trayate iti mantra” -Mantras help us in freeing up our mind and body from the repetitive thoughts of worries. Every mantra is a sound vibration which is beyond the reasoning of the mind and since the mind is unable to cognize, it simply goes into a meditative space.

Benefits of Chanting Mantras

There are several well-known and significant benefits of chanting mantras.

• By chanting the mantras with concentration, one can reduce the adrenaline levels. The reduced adrenaline levels help in reducing the stress levels. Through chanting of the mantras, one can find peace without distractions.
• While chanting the mantras, one detaches himself/ herself from the world and the worries. With the continuous chanting of the mantras, the mind gets focused on the words of the mantras, thereby improving the levels of concentration.
• Those who practice mantra chanting regularly experience feeling relaxed and refreshed. It helps in rejuvenating the body and mind and also helps in balancing the hormonal secretions, which in turn helps in maintaining a good mood.
• Regular chanting of mantras regularises the blood circulation in the body. Through the constant deep breathing during the chanting and the mantra vibrations, the body gets rid of toxins. It also helps in restoring the external as well as internal youthfulness.
• Those who have trouble in getting a sound sleep have experienced positive results through mantra chanting just before sleeping. It helps in regularising the sleep patterns and enhancing the quality of sleep.
• Since mantra chanting makes you concentrate on yourself and your thoughts, you start distinguishing between positive and negative things and work towards attracting only the positive things. It helps in getting rid of negativity.

Method of Mantra Chanting

While there are many schools of thoughts about the methods of mantra chanting, it is seen that mantras chanted in any way – knowing or unknowingly – give you the positive results for mental well-being. To experience the true benefits of mantra chanting, one has to chant the mantras with full faith, patience, and constant repetition.

Mantra Chanting During Shree Yantra Worship

Shree Yantra, as we know, is one of the most powerful and sacred yantras. According to Shastras, there is a specific method for Shree Yantra worship. You can know more about the right method.

To get the most benefits from the worship, see the Shree Yantra with love and affection from top to bottom and chant any of the following mantras 9 times

• Om Shrim Hrim Shrim kamale Kamalalaye Prasid Prasid Shrim Hrim Shrim Mahalaxmaye Namah.
• Om Shrim Hrim Shrim Namah.
• Om Shrim Om Namo Devye Ujjaval Hastikaye.
• Or By chanting phrases of Shri-Sukta with Samput, Shree Yantra gets Mantra Chaitanya.

Om Mantra: Meaning, Significance and Benefits

OM is not just a sound but the wave of the Universe. Om is said to be the first sound to be produced in the Universe, and thus chanting OM is supposed to bring many benefits to the native. The sound OM doesn’t have a meaning attached to it. What we mean is that just like every other word, say a flower or mountain, etc. has a meaning, one can’t associate a certain definition to the word OM. The meaning of “OM” (ॐ) is different for each and every one of us. Chanting the Om mantra in astrology is a sacred practice that helps the body and mind to feel energised and positive. The sound of Om is not only considered sacred in Hinduism but also holds a prominent place in other religions such as Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. As per these religions, the OM mantra connects all the individuals on the planet with the Universe or the supreme power that guides it.

Om Mantra Origin

The sound of OM is associated with the Big Bang. As per astrologers, OM had stemmed from the time when the Universe was coming into reality. Astrologers quote OM as the sound of the creator, which is made of three syllables ‘A,’ ‘U’ and ‘M’. The sound is special because, unlike other sounds that are produced after two objects strike together, OM, on the other hand, can produce vibration on its own. It is believed that when a person chants the OM mantra deeply, the vibration emanating from his or her body gets tuned with the soul, and unifies with the One who is beyond this Universe.

OM (ॐ) – Essence of ‘A’ ‘U’ ‘M’ Vibrations

In the Vedic texts and sculptors, OM is considered both as a sound and a symbol, with powers of its own. It is said to bring wisdom to the native, and when pronounced correctly, it leads to the spreading of hum throughout the body and soul of the native in the form of ‘AUM’ which are the elements of Om mantra in astrology.

A U M as per astrology represents the 3 basic fundamentals of life that are Creation, Preservation and Destruction. When one chants the Om mantra, each of these syllables brings out something or the other in the native.

• ‘A’ corresponds to waking up in the conscious state of mind called Jagrata.
• ‘U’ corresponds to the dream or unconscious state of mind called Svapna.
• ‘M’ meanwhile, corresponds to the deep or profound sleep called Sushupti.

The recitation of the Om Mantra with utmost devotion and pure heart can take the native on a spiritual voyage. The recitation of the OM mantra doesn’t only come with numerous physical benefits but also aids a native’s mental capability to relieve himself of stress and worries by aligning his consciousness with the universe. This is the only reason why OM forms the foundation of numerous mantras in astrology.

Astrological significance of chanting OM

As we said, the OM mantra is the essence of all other mantras, Vedas and rituals in astrology. In fact, if you go to look for it, you will find that mostly all the mantras begin with Om. Om mantra, sometimes also known as the Lord Shiv Mantra, is chanted across ceremonies such as marriage, mundan, while worshipping the deities, and more. The Om Mantra is also recited while meditating to align your thoughts with the heavenly energies.

As per astrologers, the Aum mantra has spiritual powers that ignite the sense of enlightenment in the native. The Aum mantra can be recited by anyone in order to rejuvenate or recharge. The mantra can be recited by anyone to understand the deeper meaning of life and attain peace and unburden oneself.

How to chant the OM mantra

Astrologers say that OM is also known as Pranava or Omkara in Vedic texts. Here, the word Pranava means the Sustainer of life, and Omkara stands for the beginning. Om as a word or mantra has a wide expectation as it is acknowledged by many religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. It is also adopted as a significant part of Meditation or Yoga.

Millions of people perform OM Mantra chanting to have various benefits. However, only the ones that perform the chanting correctly can have the best of the Om mantra. Having said that, here is the correct way to recite or chant the OM mantra as per the astrologer.

The correct way of chanting the OM mantra

• To start with, close your eyes and sit cross-legged in a straight posture.
• Then slowly take a long breath, hold it for a second or two and exhale.
• With the next breath, start making an “Ooo” sound and stretch it halfway.
• Now while exhaling the air, bring your lips together to make the sound of “Mmmmm”. Stretch the sound as long as you can.

It has already been mentioned that OM mantra recitation produces different vibrations in your body that reaches from head to toe.

• The narration of ‘A’ produces an “AAA” vibration that is felt in the stomach, chest and spinal cord region.
• Meanwhile, chanting the syllable ‘U’ produces “OOO” vibrations. This vibration resonates in your chest. It also creates vibration in the throat and middle part of the body.
• Lastly, chanting the syllable ‘M’, produces the humming sound of “MMM” in the nasal and brain region. The vibration helps in healing the upper part of the body too.

This way, the cosmic energy of Om Mantra resonates through a person’s whole body hence refreshing it from within to bring positivity to your life.

Om Chanting benefits

As they say, Om is not just any sound but the sound of God. Om is the symbol of the supreme being, and thus reciting the same can give the narrator numerous benefits, right from health to mental benefits. According to Vedic texts and numerous astrologers, here are some of the most noted benefits of Chanting OM as per astrology.

• The best benefit of Chanting the OM mantra is environmental purification. The mantra tends to purify the environment around you so as to help you create a positive atmosphere for yourself.
• Your bond with the universe – and thus its energies – tend to increase if you chant the OM mantra with devotion.
• Chanting the OM Mantra helps you concentrate better.
• As OM Mantra is said to have self-healing powers, the mantra not only energies you but also improves your immunity.
• The chanting of the OM Mantra produces a vibration in the vocal cord of the native. The vibrations open up the sinuses to clear the airways.
• The chanting of the OM mantra brings the native into the meditational state, which helps bring relaxation to the mind, body and soul.
• The chanting of the OM mantra not only benefits the native who chants it but also those around him as the vibration flows in all the directions.
• When you chant the OM mantra, you enter into a state of relaxation. The coating thus aids better heart activity and slows down your blood pressure. These are some of the cardiovascular benefits of chanting the OM mantra.
• Om chanting is a good exercise if you want to strengthen your vocal cords. It gives strength to the muscles around your vocal chord, which is very helpful during old age.
• Astrologers suggest that the native must rub his or her hands while chanting the OM mantra and keep on different parts of the body as doing so heals or activates those body parts.
• Through chanting the OM mantra, you form a firm control over your emotions. This helps the native have better control over his emotions. This is for someone who has anger issues or gets irritated easily.
• Regular chanting of the OM Mantra aids your spiritual journey to greater happiness and positivity. However, this shall only happen to those who chant the mantra regularly for a longer period of time with the correct techniques involved.
• One of the best ways to chant the OM mantra is in a group. When the mantra is chanted in a group, the effects of it are amplified, and this will produce immense positive vibrations.
• Believe it or not, it is a major belief among astrologers that chanting the OM mantra is healthy for the skin as it helps it cleanse it. The internal positive energy that the Mantra chanting creates in the native ends up reflecting externally with a sunny glow on your face and body.
• Another health benefit of chanting the OM Mantra is that it helps strengthen the spinal cord by creating the vibration sound of Aaaa.
• The sound uuu is created by vocal cords, which benefit the thyroid glands.

How to Chant Mantras

Guided Meditation – Learn how to chant mantras correctly ?

What is  Mantra Chanting

Each and every person has a different reason for meditating i.e. from health benefits to attaining spiritual connection. Mantra is a sacred utterance of word, sound or short phrase which has psychological and spiritual powers, which penetrates the depths of the unconscious mind and helps in attaining spiritual connection and desired health benefits. OM (AUM) is the most basic mantra or Bija Mantra. As per Big Bang theory, OM was the cosmic sound which initiated the creation of Universe. The single word OM produces the sound and vibration which allows you to feel one with the nature. The vibrations of the mantra chanting repeatedly awaken the spiritual life force and stimulate the chakras. In short we can say that Mantra is the living force of God.

The earliest mantras were composed in Sanskrit and are 3000 years old. Mantras now exist in various schools of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Similar hymns, chants, compositions and concepts are found in Zoroastrianism, Taoism , Christianity and elsewhere.

How to Chant Mantras correctly

1.  Each mantra has different vibrations. Choose a mantra according to your need, wish and requirement.
2. Repetition of mantra helps you to disconnect from any wasteful thoughts that arise during meditation.
3. Best time is early morning or late evening. You can choose any time as per your convenience.
4. Select a quiet and comfortable place for practice of mantra meditation.
5. Start the Mantra in the background.
6. Sit comfortably on a floor with cross-legged position or on the chair with your back straight and eyes closed.
7. Place your hands adjacent to Navel.
8. Relax your body and muscles and smile.
9. Slowly take a few deep breaths. Concentrate on your breath in the way in which you feel most comfortable and observe each inhalation and exhalation but avoid to control or analyse your breath; just experience each breath. Feel your belly rise and fall. Repeat it 4-5 times.
10. Enjoy the relaxing experience.
11. It is time to chant your chosen mantra, take a deep breath in. Slowly chant the Mantra … when you exhale, keep the pace slow, and you don’t have to be loud or forceful. Go alongwith the track to set your pace right. Try to pronounce correctly but not over-conscious.
12. During chant feel mantra’s vibrations starting from your lower belly and traveling all the way upto your brain as you chant. Chant mantra slowly (not very loud) or silently but with feelings. Slowly feel all your unwanted thoughts, pain, stress leaving your body with every chant.
13. Every mantra produces a unique sound and vibration during chanting and stimulates various areas of the brain, bringing about positive results that include relaxation and natural healing.
14. A mantra can be chanted while focusing upon a specific part of the body that needs to be healed. Similarly, spiritual mantras help to create positive attitude and empower the person.
15. Feel a sense of calm and bliss. All wasteful thoughts, activities will start decreasing and eventually come to a stand still. Feel the flow of energy and vibrations.
16. Repeat the mantra for as long as you want, but for powerful results, chant at least for 15-20 minutes.

It is necessary to have full faith in the recitation of Mantras to achieve the desired goals. When during the course of Mantra chanting , the physical forces harmonize with the emotional and intellectual forces, you begin to feel like a complete being.
Meditation takes consistent practice; but is simple and can effect many positive changes in your life. Do it on daily basis for complete healing and total awareness. Chanting mantra meditation in a group brings more peace and harmony to all the group members.

DEEP & POWERFUL OM CHANTING

Try This Mantra to Honor the Sun

Chanting Gayatri Mantra regularly may assist in promoting better memory and concentration, while bringing peace.

There are thousands of mantras in Sanskrit. While each mantra is uniquely different in how it affects you, ultimately, all mantra is beneficial, even if you’re only listening to them.

If you’re starting out in mantra, I always think it’s a good idea to begin with chanting AUM. It is the primordial sound in everything we do, and it’s a part of all mantras. If you’re ready to chant an entire mantra, I recommend chanting one of the most powerful mantras: the ancient Gayatri Mantra.

A Powerful Vedic Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is also often called the Savitur Gayatri Mantra.

Savituh refers to the luminous source, and the mantra was written more than 2,500 years ago. It acts on all of your energy centers and pathways, drawing upon the power of the luminous source, the one who birthed life as we know it. Some people say Savituh references the sun, but regardless, it aims to harness the brilliant and divine luminous energy source that creates life on earth.

There are several Gayatri Mantras found in the Vedas, India’s most ancient sacred texts, and they are all composed of a poetic meter (Chandas in Sanskrit) called the Gayatri meter (hence the name). This ancient mantra is the poem of the divine, and even in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “Among all the mantras, I am the Gayatri.”

Raise Your Vibration

While every mantra is considered a transcendental vibration, the Gayatri Mantra is primarily known for raising your vibrations. Each syllable in the mantra corresponds to and acts on different parts of the body, stimulating all seven of our chakras.

Chanting Gayatri Mantra regularly may assist in promoting better memory and concentration, all while bringing peace to your mind, body, and soul. This powerful mantra can also improve your breathing patterns and soothe the heart and nerves, helping to manage stress and anxiety.

Chant Intentionally

You can chant the Gayatri Mantra anytime you’d like, but since it honors the sun, the luminous source, you might find it most powerful in the morning or when the sun is setting. Chant it every day, or just listen to someone else chanting it. I love listening to mantra when I get out of the shower as I’m getting ready for my day.

This mantra is beneficial for releasing stress, cultivating gratitude, and calming the nerves. If life has suddenly become chaotic, try chanting this mantra for five to 10 minutes, and see how you feel afterward. Notice if you feel an increased sense of gratitude and peace.

Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is rhythmic and pleasant to chant, especially once you get the hang of it. Find an audio version to chant along with if you are nervous to start, or take my Roundglass course on the power of mantra meditation. We go through all of my favorite mantras, including the Gayatri Mantra, and I show you how to chant each one.

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि

धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ।। – ऋग्वेद

Earth, atmosphere, heaven

We meditate upon that luminous source

So that it may guide our minds to move higher

Om bhur bhuvah svaha

Tat Savitur varainyam

Bhargo devasya dheemahi

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayaat

Mantra Chanting 101: Benefits, How It Works, And How To Get Started With Mantras

Mantras have been around since the Vedic period and the earliest use of mantras is known to be in Hinduism. But it is only in recent years that this practice has started to gain popularity in the Western world.

In this article, we will tell you about these powerful sounds that are said to work wonders for the human brain.

What Are Mantras?

Mantra is a Sanskrit word where the root man means ‘to think’. Mantras are words or phrases repeated during various cultural and religious celebrations. They are generally rhythmic and constructed like poetry. Each mantra has an intention, meaning, and vibration.

Mantras are widely used for meditation purposes. Some people believe that mantra meditation was the first type of meditation that ever existed.

Mantras are chanted aloud. But you can also whisper them or repeat them in your mind.

Practicing mantras out loud helps you attune yourself to the correct pronunciation of the mantra, feel the vibrations, and improve your energy levels and focus. If you are a beginner in mantra chanting, we do recommend you start practicing mantras aloud.

Whispering mantras are efficient if you are practicing them with the goal of achieving harmony. This method of practicing mantras requires a lot of concentration.

Saying mantras in mind is also possible. And while this method of mantra chanting is highly efficient, it requires great focus. You should keep your attention to your mantra and not get distracted by anything.

 

When chanting mantras, keep these things in mind!

How to chant a mantra

Mantras are sacred words that have the power to change your life completely – a mantra chanted in the right vibration and in the right atmosphere can not only purify your mind, but also calm your senses. Nothing can bring you more solace than chanting a powerful mantra. However, do you know the right way to chant a mantra? We will tell you

The purpose behind of Chanting Mantra

People chant mantras for various purposes. While some do it to attain spiritual significance, some do it to attain God. Some use it for meditation, while others do it to improve their concentration. No matter what is your reason for chanting a mantra, what is important is that you do it the correct way. The below pointers can help you chant a mantra in the correct way.

Correct pronounciation during chanting Mantra

Whenever you chant a mantra, make sure that you chant the mantra using coherent and correct words. The wrong pronunciation can do you more harm than good. If you are confused with difficult words, then ask an elder person in the family for help or look up for the right pronunciation online. You can also start off with easy mantras to get a hold of the language first.

Be constant

A lot of mantras have to be chanted for a number of times in order to become powerful and potent. This process is called sidh karna and it does not happen overnight. Not only this, you must keep on chanting the mantra for those fixed number of weeks/months till you begin to see its positive effect on your body. Do not change your mantra mid way thinking that it is not working for you.

Learn it from an expert

If you can, attain some knowledge on mantra chanting from a known guru and only then start chanting the mantra. From the position of your palms to the correct way of holding a bead to even which mantra should you chant, a right guru can truly guide you towards the right way of chanting. Choose one that you personally know and trust.

Use of a bead

While it is not compulsory to use a bead or mala while you chant, its a good idea to keep one. This will not only help you concentrate better, but will also help you remember how many rounds you have completed in mantra chanting. The ideal bead should be a rudraksha one, that is beneficial for both your soul and body.

Closed eyes during Chanting the Mantra

Even though you can chant the mantra with open eyes too, it has more impact when you do it with your eyes closed. Doing so not only helps you concentrate better, but will also helps you feel the vibrations of that particular mantra throughout your entire body. It will also helps you relax and make your body go in a trance state.

Visualize

When chanting a mantra, visualize the deity you are chanting it for. for example if you are chanting the Maha Mritunjay mantra, then make sure that you visualise the face of Lord Shiva while doing this. This will help you connect with the deity and feel his/her presence around you. This way, a mantra can be chanted anywhere and not necessarily in a temple space.

Don’t be too loud

A lot of people chant the mantra aloud, but this is not the ideal way to do it. The ideal way to chant a mantra is to slowly chant it, but it should be loud enough so that you yourself can hear it. One should not chant the mantra mechanically and concentrate only on getting it done and over with, but should feel it’s words and understand their meanings.

Create a space

Although you can chant the mantra anywhere, you must assign a separate space for it in your home or anywhere else that you chant it. Ideally this place should be partially open and facing the sun, if possible. Do not change your designated space frequently and use only that to chant your mantra everyday. This builds up powerful forces in that space.

Be regular

The good thing about chanting a mantra is that unlike going to the temple everyday or giving away charity, you do not have to physically go out anywhere to do this. Hence, do not skip chanting your mantras. You can do it even if you are sick, while sitting in bed. It will help you feel better and you do not have to make any effort for this too.

Calm mind

There is no point of sitting down to chant a mantra if your mind is pre occupied with work or other chores of the house. For those fixed number of minutes, make sure that you concentrate your energies only on mantra chanting and nothing else. This will be your “me time” and make sure that you make the best out of it. Avoid any sort of interference during this time.

The Power of Mantra Chanting

Why and How to Chant

“Mananaat traayate iti mantrah”(That which uplifts by constant repetition is a Mantra.)

The sound of Mantra can lift the believer towards the higher self. These sound elements of Sanskrit language are permanent entities and are of everlasting significance. In the recitation of Sanskrit Mantras the sound is very important, for it can bring transformation in you while leading you to power and strength.

Different sounds have different effects on human psyche. If a soft sound of wind rustling through leaves soothes our nerves, the musical note of running stream enchants our heart, thunders may cause awe and fear.

The sacred utterances or chanting of Sanskrit Mantras provide us with the power to attain our goals and lift ourselves from the ordinary to the higher level of consciousness. They give us the power to cure diseases; ward off evils; gain wealth; acquire supernatural powers; worship a deity for exalted communion and for attaining blissful state and attain liberation.

Origin of Mantras

Mantras are Vedic in origin. The teachings of the Vedas consist of various Mantric chants or hymns cognized by different seers or Rishis from the Cosmic Mind. Since the Vedas are impersonal and eternal, the exact historical date of the origin of Mantra chanting is hard to arrive at. For example, every Mantra in the Vedas, Upanishads and various religious traditions (sampradayas) within Hindu religion begin with Om or Aum—the primordial sound, the sound that is said to have its origins at the time of the creation of the cosmos—also referred to as the “Big Bang.”

Om: The Beginning and the End

The Bible (John 1:1) says: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Modern Vedic philosophers have interpreted this teaching of the Bible, and equated Om with God. Om is the most important of all mantras. All mantras generally begin and often also end with Om.

Healing by Mantropathy

The chanting of Om in Transcendental Meditation has now received widespread recognition. Mantras can be used to treat tension and many other difficult diseases that are yet to come. The Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan, a research center for integration of science and spirituality in Shantikunj, Haridwar, India, is the only place which carries out extensive experiments on “mantra shakti.” The result of these experiments is used to testify that Mantropathy can be used scientifically for healing and environment cleansing.

How to Chant

There are many schools of thought on the methods of chanting. A Mantra chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, is sure to bear the desired result for the physical and mental well being. It is also believed by many that the glory of Mantra chanting cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can be experienced or realized only through devotion, faith, and constant repetition of the Mantra.

According to some scholars, Mantra chanting is Mantra Yoga. The simple yet powerful Mantra, Om or Aum harmonizes the physical forces with the emotional forces with the intellectual forces. When this happens, you begin to feel like a complete being—mentally and physically. But this process is very slow and requires a lot of patience and unfailing faith.

The Guru-Mantra

The healing through chanting can be expedited if the mantra is received from a guru. A guru adds a divine potency to the mantra. It becomes more effective and thus helps the chanter in his/her healing faster.

Personal Experience

“Om Gam Ganapatayae Namah,” the Mantra given by our Guru, has warded off all evil and blessed us with abundance, prudence, and success in every walk of life. Moreover, when we chanted this Manta before beginning a journey, a new job, or before entering into any new contract or business, all impediments were removed and our endeavors were crowned with success. The credit of all our worldly and spiritual successes goes to Guru-Mantra “Sadhana”—the complete faith and adherence in the mantra given by our Guru.

Keep the Faith!

It is important to have complete faith in the recitation of Mantras. It is primarily through faith—aided by strong will—that one achieves one’s goals. A sound body and calm mind are essential for the chanter of Mantras. Once you are free from all worries and have achieved stability in mind and body, you will derive maximum benefit through the recitation of Mantras. You must have a definite object in view and a strong will power to obtain the desired objective, and then direct that will to achieve the goal.

 

What is Mantra?

The concept of Mantra originated in India during the Vedic period. Mantra is a sacred utterance,

which can be a phoneme, syllable, or a group of words. The word, Mantra, comes from the Sanskrit

word man,’ which means “to think’ During the Vedic age, people started chanting Mantra as a part

of their meditations. Later on, in the middle of the Vedic Period (between 1000 BC -500 BC),

Mantras evolved from the three Vedic texts. They are the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Yajur

Veda. Even today, people continue to recite hymns and verses from these Vedic texts. Mantras have

a sacred formula and can enhance us emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically

As per the Sanskrit text, Amarakosa, there are two types of Mantras. They are Dhatu or seed Mantra

and Krit Pratyaya or Ghan. The Seed Mantra can protect us and act as secret speeches. Ghan has a

close connection with Karma or Bhava. Mantras are instruments of mind. They can be melodious

and have mathematical precision. Sometimes Mantras may not have any literal meaning associated

with them. However, they continue to affect us positively. Most of the Mantras that we chant are in

sanskrit and might be hard for us to comprehend. It is essential to understand that Mantras focus

on sound and their vibrations rather than on their meanings.

Though chanting of Mantras in Pujas, rituals, and meditation, originated during the Vedic Period, it

gradually grew. Different schools of Hinduism started in India, and they included Mantra recitation

as their part. Each of these schools has different views and ways of chanting Mantras. For instance,

the Tantric School believes the universe is sound, and they give a central position to Mantra

recitation. The Tantric School believes that each deity has a Bjja or seed Mantra corresponding to them. Another concept associated with

Mantra is in Linga Purana. As per the text, Mantra is one of the 1008 names of Lord Shiva.

significance of Mantra: Chanting of Mantra has several significances. It can help in our physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual

well-being. They can calm and soothe our minds. It is essential to recite or chant them in devotion and faith to the deities. The constant

repetition of Mantras can help us embrace positive energies and vibrations. Mantras play a crucial role in yoga practices and meditations

as well. Here, we will look into the significances or importances of Mantra recitation in the Hindu belief system

1. Mantra chanting can help in balancing the imbalances of our Chakras. Each Mantra can activate different parts of our bodies. The

seven Chakras in our bodies help in the flow of energy through our bodies. Each of them has frequencies corresponding to them. Chanting

Mantras belonging to that frequency can help in curing the imbalances or blockages of our Chakras.

2. Nada yoga is a discipline of yoga that focuses on sound. As per Nada yoga, whenever we utter a sound, it can create powerful forms.

So when we recite or chant Mantras in Sanskrit, they can produce representations that help us in imbibing positive energies.

3. The sound formed from wind, trees, and footsteps is also Mantras. As per the belief system, God, in the beginning, manifested on Earth

as sound. Everything came into existence from the sound, Om or Aum. It was from the sound, Om, that everything in the world originated.

Thus, Mantra is the key to existence

4. Another significance of Mantra is that it forms an armor or Mantra Kavach. The Mantra Kavach shields and protects our bodies. They

can help in changing negative energies to positive vitalities

5. Chanting the Mantras while you are in a temple or a serene place can help us to improve our concentration. It is a way of transcending

from the material aspects of life to the non-material realm. By regular recitation of Mantra, we can come in contact with the Ultimate

consciousness of the world or the Brahman.

6. Recitation of Mantras while meditating can solve many_problems in our lives. It can also help us move away from depression,

hypertension, anxiety, and stress

These are some of the significances of chanting Mantras. They can play a crucial role in improving our mind-body well-being. They help us

in attaining peace, calmness, and solace. You can relieve yourself from frustrations, anger, and stress as well.

How to chant Mantras?: Chanting Mantras is also known as Japa. You can chant Mantras as a part of your meditation, personal prayer, or

during Pujas. However, it is essential to chant Mantras correctly. When we recite Mantra in the wrong way, it can have a negative impact

You can chant Mantras in the morning or evening or at any time that suits you. But it is crucial to have a clear mind while you engage in

Mantra recitations. You can chant Mantras internally, loudly, or softly. When you chant a Mantra softly, it aids in soothing your nerves

When you recite it as a musical note, it can enchant your heart. It is also essential to learn the correct pronunciation of Mantras for

embracing its positive effect

You can chant each Mantra 108 times. It is auspicious. You can also recite it 5, 10, 28, 1008 times based on the time and length of the

Mantra. Most of the devotees have a Japa Mala with 108 beads. They count on them to keep track of their repetitions. After completing

an entire cycle, the devotees turn the Mala around to start the second recitation. You can also practice Japa Yagna, where you would be

silently repeating the Mantras.

Gayatri Mantra, Shanti Mantra, Ganesh mantra, Durga mantra, Shiva Sutra Mantra, Purusasukta Mantra, and Pavamana Mantra are some of

the Mantras chanted by devotees. You can also chant hymns and verses from the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Yoga Sutra, and

Mahabharata. Thus, chanting of Mantras can invite positivity and improve our connection with the divine entities. Regular chanting of “om”

can also help you in moving forward in the spiritual path