Mantras – Sound vibrations that permeate every cell of your being and allow your mind to dissolve and repose. But what are they? What do they mean? Where did they come from? There are so many questions surrounding these ancient syllables.
Speaking about Mantras is the revelation of ancient secrets that have been kept sacred from several ages, secrets that continue to benefit humanity irrespective of its circumstances.
What are Mantras?
Mantras are impulses or rhythms of the consciousness. They create vibrations in the spirit. Their effects, influence, method and mode of working are all a mystery.
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In Sanskrit, it is said, Manana trayate iti mantra.Mantra is that which saves you from repetitiveness. A repetitive thought is a worry. Mantras help to free you from your worries. Often we wonder why we chant some sounds without understanding their meanings? Can something beyond our understanding help us?
The meaning of every mantra is infinity. It is a sound vibration beyond the cognition of the mind. When the mind is unable to cognize, it simply dissolves and moves into a meditative space.
How Mantras Affect the Mind?
The mantra is like a seed. Every seed has the potential to become a tree. Similarly, these sound vibrations contain all the possibilities of creation. Some mantras are in the seed form, called the bija mantras. Others are fully expressed, i.e, the fruit of the mantra is also expressed, such as the Gayatri mantra.
Mantras are a secret. That which is kept a secret alerts the sub-conscious mind. The mantras work at the level of the consciousness. When we want a seed to sprout, it needs to be sown into the soil, hidden, a secret. If it is simply thrown around, birds may eat them up. We can read and learn about mantras and their uses from books and the internet but that will only satisfy the intellect and not translate into experience.
Mantra and Meditation
When we chant the mantras, or listen to them, we get purity of mind and word. This prepares us for meditation. As a result of the sound vibrations, different patterns of the mind re-arrange themselves to become tranquil. Agitation is reduced, helping us to turn inward. For instance, when we laugh, our happiness increases.
When we cry, the heaviness of our sorrow is released. Just the sounds of laughter and crying have helped. Mantras act in a similar manner. Repetition of the Mantras creates a psychological or mental response that is very deep and beyond the realm of words or expression. It can only be experienced. Speech falls short as it cannot go beyond the expression level into the experiential level.
When the mind is calm and centered, it can turn inward. Only a mind turned inward can experience the vastness and beauty of the Divine consciousness. When our focus is outward on the objects of the senses, our mind is scattered and racing behind one craving or another. Physical senses seek to know all about the external universe. Meditation is the tool for inner exploration.
Antarmukhi Sada Sukhi – one whose mind is turned inward is ever in bliss. Mantras are the tools which allow the mind to dissolve and repose in the Self.
Why should we repose in the Self? How is this going to help in our day-to-day life?
When the river is calm, the reflection is clearer. When the mind is calm, there is greater clarity in the field of expression. Our sense of observation, perception and expression improve. As a result we are able to communicate effectively and clearly.
Most of our problems or misunderstandings arise because of a lack of proper communication. When our mind is free from agitation, the way we interact and communicate is so much more pleasant and effective. Our efforts are not hindered by rifts caused due to communication gaps. This leads to a lot of positivity in our outlook and progress in life.
Mantras are as subtle as the air which creates ripples in the water as it gently moves over it. Air is all-pervading and at the same time affects specific regions. The field of the mantras is also such. It is all –pervading and also creates an impact on the one who is practicing.
Very good as introduction n motive towards spiritually how much when at what age which mantra in which quantity what time in whose direction details need for guiding sadhana good article
very useful essay , it promotes new emotion and enthusiasm for
beginners so that they can practice the mantras with a new belief
Mantra is secret. Secret means some thing happens inside. Outsiders need not know and they may not understand. They may misuse. The way in which the human cells vibrate in a very systematic way and energize themselves is a secret only the person knows since he looks inside. This may be first step. How tsunami gains that much of energy and movement may be happening inside the person. Repeating a mantra and watching it very very carefully is science and the persons thousands of years back sitting in forest repeat the mantra and gain the power , without any type of disturbance is a matter to be analysed to the core.
Splendid explanation. Thanks many
nice article
I was just on this subject studying how modern scientific society of eminent physicists have made a threadbare analysis in the last three decades and arrived at astonishing conclusions well in congruence with our ancient postulations some of which you have outlined above. Thank you.
Insightful article…mantra meditation can help an agitated mind to attain peace…
Is listening mantra will be benefit
Therefore we have to chant in a humble state of mind for total upliftment.
What is the greatest and only on manthra which gives answer for our life to know and reach divine
Excellent introduction. Very useful in giving one a desire to practice mantra meditation.
Thanks.
Very good and interesting article
OM namah si va ya ……
om si va ya namah is mantra …..
Before creation as per all religious scriptures, there was only one sound permeating in the universe, AUM. From it everything got created. So that was the primordial sound energy from which every thing evolved.
Manthra is nothing but packed energy and on reciting it the creative energy gets manifested. It is an energy quantum.
Hindu scriptures uphold this verified theory.
Whether listening to recorded mantras,but closing our eyes benefit ?
Oh my Lord ! This information is profoundly magnificent . Thank you 100 times over, I can not express myself how I feel blessed .
Dear earthlings Gayatri Mantra is exactly what it explains. TRUE.
Mantras improve concentration–thereby keeping your mind away from wavering thoughts–eventually bringing relaxation to the mind– A very nice thesis on understanding mantras
When all is said and done the effects should be vindicated by an objective (double-blind) clinical trial. The physiological effectts of Meditation alone has been well verified by the Maharishi University at Fairfax. But why not conduct a study to prove the effectiveness of Mantras?
Nice article
Thank you so much for this article, very knowledgeable, never was told this by any PANDIT I know. Where can I buy mantra books from in Canada, Ontario.
Once again thank you, Guru Ji
Excellent teaching
To, Prof.Sankaranarayanan Raman
Dear sir. Your point is quite prudent. I would like to humbly inform your goodself that in recent times various tests have been done on mantra meditation, especially on the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. As per my study/research Dr.David Wolf has already presented a PhD thesis at Pennsylvania State University, 1997. Hope this info will help you in exploring the physiological, mental and medical health benefits of Mantra meditation…Yours sincerely, Ranjit Sinha email ranjit.innova@gmail.com
Pranam very grateful and useful article for seekers sadks but without guruji there is nothing mantra Siddiqui punnhachharana also very important for seekers Hari ohm
Very impressive and true info.pls share with all.
When a baby is is in mothers` womb , the baby draws Prana Sakti from mother`s womb through Naabhi. After birth we draw Prana Sakti from the Sun. Plants make food with the Pancha Bhutamulu as inputs in the presence of the Sun rays. This process is called Photo synthesis. Thus we derive Prana Sakti through the foods as they contain the solar energy. Mata Gayatri as Eswara/Atma Sakti is within us Icchha Sakti, Jnana Sakti and Kriya Sakti Swarupini. We utter Gayatri Mantram before taking food. As a result of Gayatri Mantra Sakti , the energy derived as an output of the food taken is divided in to the five parts and provide Prana Sakti and charge Pancha Pranamulu which make the body active and functional. Apart from the above five parts, one more subtle part of the energy feeds mind and thus mind transforms in to a worldly desire and experiences sensual pleasures /pains through the five sense organs which have been already energized and act as the interfaces while connecting the mind to the world.
Vakku as Agni Swarupam is Sakti Swarupam and Jnana Swarupam. Also Vakku is the representative of the five Karma Indriyamulu(body). Vakku also acts as Havya Vaahana. Every Mantram refers to one Mantra Devata. Thus By chanting Mantram ,Vakku as representative, power and as status upgrading agency unites the mind with the Devata. under reference.