Mantra. Sound in Yoga

MANTRA

Mantras are invocations, phrases or just words of significance. Through repetition they take on additional power moving through verbal or physical vibrations to mental, telepathic and spiritual dimensions. In yoga most mantras are either in Sanskrit or ancient Tamil.

Sounds chanted or heard, create vibrations within the body which affect particular parts and organs of the body.

Chant                                `As in                                     Affects

Ee                                     tree                                                 skull

Ea                                   weather                                     throat

R                                    bar                                           upper lungs

Aw                                 water                                        mid chest

O                                    om              lower lungs, heart, liver, stomach

Eu                                  sir                diaphragm, liver, stomach

U                                    huge                                         kidneys

Ooee                              cooey                                       rectum

Mom                              Tom                                         heart

Paee                               payee                                       heart

Hrah                                                                      chest, lower throat

Ham                                                                      ribs, alimentary canal

Heem                                                 throat, palate, nose, sinuses

Hime                                                                               kidneys

Haum                                                                              rectum

Hoom                                                                                       liver

AUM is the basis and framework of all mantras. Within Aum are all sounds and vibrations. The three elements of aa, uu and mmmm signify the waking state, dream state and deep sleep state.

NIRGUNA Mantras are said to be abstract or without form. These usually simple mantra assert the unity of all. Bija mantra are also included in this category.

Mantra                                               Meaning

SOHAM                                            I am That I am

TAT TWAM ASI                              That Thou art

BIJA mantras are known as the seed mantras. These are pure simple sounds that again resonate within the body at particular frequencies and points of the body. The chakras along the length of the spinal cord are each said to resonate to a particular bija mantra. In Indian tradition these seed mantra are also linked with particular deities, or elements.

Mantra                                      Deity

HAUM                                     Shiva and Sadashive

DUM                                        Durga

KREEM                                    Kali, Brahma, Mahamaya

HREEM                                   Mahamaya (Bhuvaneshwara)

SHREEM                                 Lakshmi

AIM                                         Saraswati

KLEEM                                    Kamadeva, Krishna, Indra

HOOM                                     Shiva, Bhairava

GAM                                       Ganesha

GLAUM                                   Ganesha

KSHRAUM                              Narasimha (Vishnu)

                                                Element

HAM                                        Ether

YAM                                        Air

RAM                                        Fire

VAM                                        Water

LAM                                        Earth

SAGUNA Mantras are also called the Deity Mantras as they are often involved in invocations and conceptions of a particular aspect of the deity. Although all mantras can be used by non-initiates, in tradition mantras are given to a sanyasin by the guru, giving the mantra additional power.

Mantra and meaning:

Aum Ganesha Namaha              I invoke and honour Ganesha the remover of obstacles. Traditionally the first mantra used in any ritual.

Aum Surya Namaha                  Honour to Surya – Sun deity and male force

Aum Ganga Namaha                 Honour to the female force, here Ganga

Aum Namah Shivaya                 Honour to Lord Shiva. For Saivite Hindus this is the most powerful mantra of all.

Hare Aum                                 Lord Shiva

Aum Namo Narayanana             Honour to Lord Vishnu

Hari Aum                                  Lord Vishnu, salutations

Aum Ramaya Namah                Rama

The title Sri can be used before the name of the deity to denote respect and honour.

Longer Mantra:

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

                                      My Lord Rama, My Lord Krishna

Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swah, Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi,

Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat.

Let us contemplate that most excellent light of the Divine Savitri, that He may inspire our vision.

Asatoma Satgamayam, Tamasoma Jyotirgamayam, Mrthiyorma Amrytamgamayam, Aum Shandhi Shandhi Shandhi

                                      Lead us from death to life

                                      From darkness to light

                                      From sorrow to joy/bliss



Aum Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat

We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who is full of sweet fragrance and nourishes human beings. May he liberate me from bondage, even as the cucumber is severed from the vine.

In addition there are many prayers and sayings in English and other languages which can be used.

Derek Osborn                                                                                    2004

SOUND IN YOGA

From silently watching the sound of the breath, to ecstatic chanting of sacred hymns, sound is used in yoga for many purposes. Soothing sound affects the mind beneficially.

Nada - the inner sound that is heard when the psycho-energetic currents are purified. This sound is said to originate in the centre of the spine. Yogis practice shanmukhi mudra, the 6-openings seal, to listen to the inner sound. This is not the sound of the breath or heart beat. In shanmukhi mudra:

            the thumbs cover the ears

            index fingers close the eyelids

            middle fingers close the nostrils

            fourth and little fingers close the lips

Ajapa japa: Pranayama involves the creation of sound as the air enters and leaves the body. These sounds create the mantra of Soh Ham (I am That). Even when we are asleep or mentally engaged in other tasks this `Ajapa` mantra is being created and repeated. Repetition of a mantra is called `japa`.

Some techniques positively use sound as an integral part of their practice:

            Sitkari, the Hissing breath, caused by exhaling through the mouth.

            Bramhari, the Humming Bee breath, on the exhalation a low humming      is created in      the back of the throat.

            Simhasana, the Lion pose, can use a roaring sound on the exhalation.

Bhakti yoga uses sound in the chanting or singing of hymns, Kirtan.. These are often led, with devotees repeating the line.

Meditation uses sound when japa mantra is repeated orally. However we are told that the sacred sound OM or AUM, is more powerful when only whispered, and even more powerful when repeated silently, mentally. Om is said to tbe the sound vibration from which the whole universe was created.

Mantra:

Mantras are invocations, phrases or just words of significance. Through repetition they take on additional power moving through verbal or physical vibrations to mental, telepathic and spiritual dimensions. In yoga most mantras are either in Sanskrit or ancient Tamil.

Sounds chanted or heard create vibrations within the body which affect particular parts and organs of the body: thus `ee` as in tree affects the skull, `ea` as in weather the throat. The sound of `o` as in Om affects the lower lungs, heart, liver and stomach etc..

Aum consists of four parts. The sound aaaaa should feel as though it begins in the solar plexus / manipura chakra. As the sound rises into the heart region, anahata, and throat, vishuddha chakra, it changes to uuuu. Entering the back of the mouth it changes to the quiet mmmm, becoming a nasal vibration as it passes over the upper palate, and out of the body. AUM is the basis of all mantras. Within Aum are all sounds and vibrations. The three elements of aa, uu and mmmm signify the waking, dream and deep dream states. Ultimately Aum takes us through the `veil of illusion` to the state of transformation.



Om namah Sivaya, honours Shiva, and is the most revered mantra of Shaivism

Hari Rama, Hari Rama, Rama, Rama, Hari Hari. Hari Krishna, Hari Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hari Hari, is known as the Maha mantra or Great Mantra and forms part of the Kali Santarana Upanishad. Swami Sivananda decreed it should be chanted ceaselessly in his ashram in Rishikesh. Hari, one of Vishnu`s or Krishna`s many names. Rama was an avatar of God Vishnu,

Gayatri mantra is used daily by Hindus all over the world every day and dates back to Vedic times:

            Om, Bhur Bhuvaha Swaha

            Tat Savitur Varenyam

            Bhargo Devasya Dhi Mahi

            Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat

Let us contemplate that most excellent light of the divine, Savitr (the Sun God or Creator),so that he may remove all sin and ignorance, and inspire our visions.

To help us in the practice of mantra japa techniques such as the use of finger counting or mala (beads) counting may be used. Usually mantras are repeated for multiples of 108 or fractions thereof – 27 or 54.

While it may be true that anyone can use mantras to affect their body/mind, in yoga it is felt that only when a mantra is given to a disciple as a part of initiation does it become fully charged. Traditionally at initiation the disciple is given their personal mantra by the guru, a mantra which remains secret.

Derek Osborn                                                                            01 11 14