Mantra 101 & the Meaning of Om

We practice yoga asana to free our bodies from pain. As we move and stretch, we untangle the channels of energy (nadis) and release blocks that keep vitality (prana) from moving through us. These blocks can be from physical pain, injury or general misalignment. They can also be from emotional pain, which is often mirrored in our posture —think a depressed teenager with a sunken chest, bowed head and sullen face.

Facing the Condition

Free of pain, we have more space to face the discomfort and agitation of stored emotion and old memory. We may have better posture and more toned muscles but, more importantly, our old conditioning begins to unravel. Underneath it, we seek the truth of who we really are.

Usually, the old condition leaves a track or impression (samskara) on the mind and in the energy body (pranamaya kosha). It’s so easy to fall back into that rut -it’s such a familiar and comfortable pattern. Mantra is a great tool to use as a mental re-set. Through it, we replace the old conditioning with a connection to our deepeest wisdom and purpose (dharma) and alignment with God.

A Little Japa Jingle

The word mantra comes from manas or “mind” and -tra, “tools, instruments, traverse or cross.” Mantras are sounds we speak, chant or sing to give the mind something on which to focus. The repetition is much like a TV commercial; it’s a little jingle to play on repeat to keep our minds on track with where we want to be and who we are now, not who we used to be or some false version of ourselves.

Mantra is like playing a new album, one with music we really love. One that has subliminal messages about gratitude, peace, balance, and integrity. We can repeat the songs softly to ourselves which is called Japa, or we can chant them out loud, even call-and-response style, which is called Kirtan.

Maha Mantras

These are many, many chants that go back thousands of years. These great sounds are just a few of the more common mantras we still hear today in yoga class and in music. I’ve included only short chants, but there are many, like the Gayatri Mantra or the Shantipat that are longer. Or like the Hanuman Chalisa that make up an entire story. Do some research to find the one that resonates with you. Try out listening to it, chanting it or reciting it to yourself and see what happens.

Aum or Om

Before this, there was nothingness, One reality of perfection and wholeness. Out of sheer will, Consciousness chose to create. From the expanse of limitlessness, Shakti (the feminine half of God) contracted into form and the One became the many. This creation had a sound, the sound of the Big Bang. That sound was Aum.

The letters A, U & M represent balance between mind, body and spirit. When we’re balanced in all three we enter a state of blissful calm and inner freedom. That state, called turiya in Sanskrit, is represented by the dot at the top of the Aum symbol. Aum is the source of all mantras and is used universally across many cultures and religions.

Aum Namah Shivaya

Namah has the same root as namaste and implies bowing with respect and love. Shiva or Shivaya is the masculine half of God, who stands for unlimited potential, deep wisdom and the formless presence we can sense and know is there but cannot see or even accurately describe.

When chanted, Aum Namah Shivaya calls to our inner wisdom. It is a remembering and a bowing to the presence of the Divine within each of us. This mantra is associated with the Tantric lineage.

Sat Nam

From the Kundalini yoga tradition we get this mantra, which means “I see my True Nature,” or said to another, “I recognize God in you.” Sat means “truth” and nam means “name.” Through chanting this mantra, we call into awareness the state of truth and the most real, authentic parts of ourselves. Its power is in its simplicity; one can even repeat it with each breath.

Aum Mane Padme Hum

This mantra is of Buddhist origin. Literally translated, mane is “jewel” and padme means “lotus.” The lotus itself has much lore in eastern wisdom traditions, often representing purity, and the ability to rise above the mud and mess of life on Earth.

Another suggested translation is that each syllable represents a different aspect of old conditioning and a way to re-align to the new. Aum releases ego and replaces it with generosity. Ma helps heal jealousy with contentment. Ni calms the senses and stills them with patience. Pad replaces ignorance with right acts. Me moves greed to non-attachment. Hum makes peace instead of hatred and aggression.