Mantras are sacred sounds or words that are used in yoga and meditation to help practitioners focus their minds, calm their thoughts, and connect with their inner selves. Mantras are typically repeated over and over again, and they can be in any language, but they are most commonly in Sanskrit.
There are many different benefits to using mantras in yoga practice. Mantras can help to:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve concentration and focus
- Promote relaxation and calmness
- Increase self-awareness and inner peace
- Connect with the divine
Mantras can be used in any type of yoga practice, but they are particularly beneficial in seated meditation and restorative yoga poses (Padmasana, Siddhasana, Sukhaasana). When used in conjunction with yoga, mantras can help to create a more holistic and balanced practice that can lead to greater physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Here are some of the mantras which you can use during your yoga practice.
1 : Aum Namah Shivaya
Mantra :
Aum Namah Shivaya
Meaning:
The “Na” represents the earth, the syllable “Ma” represents water, “Śi” the fire, the “Vā” sound represents Pranic(relating to life force or energy) air and the “Ya” sound represents the sky or ether. In their totality, the five syllables mean that the “Universal Consciousness is One”. The
syllable “Om” or “A-U-M” that precedes the mantra “Namah Shivaya” is a devotional sound
that encompasses the three psychological states of the human mind; conscious, subconscious, and unconscious. Also, it represents the three universal courses of action; birth,
existence, and death.
2: Aum Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu
Mantra:
Aum Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Shaantir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Purnnam-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Manggalam-Bhavatu |
Aum Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
1: May there be Well-Being in All,
2: May there be Peace in All,
3: May there be Fulfilment in All,
4: May there be Auspiciousness in All,
5: Aum Peace, Peace, Peace.
3: Aum Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Mantra:
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
1: Aum, May All become Happy,
2: May All be Free from Illness.
3: May All See what is Auspicious,
4: May no one Suffer.
5: Aum Peace, Peace, Peace.
4: Gayatri Mantra
Mantra:
Aum Bhuur-Bhuvah Svah
Tat-Savitur-Varennyam |
Bhargo Devasya Dhiimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Pracodayaat ||
Meaning:
1: Aum, (that Divine Illumination which Pervades the) Bhu Loka (Physical Plane,
Consciousness of the Physical Plane), Bhuvar Loka (Antariksha or Intermediate Space,
Consciousness of the Prana) and Swar Loka (Swarga, Heaven, Consciousness of the Divine
Mind),
2: On that Savitur (Divine Illumination) which is the Most Adorable (Varenyam), …
3: … and which is of the nature of Divine Effulgence (Bhargo Devasya), I meditate,
4: May that Divine Intelligence (Dhiyah) Awaken (Pracodyat) our (Spiritual Consciousness).
5: Aum Brahmārpaṇaṃ
Mantra:
Aum brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma haviḥ brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam । brahmaiva tena
gantavyaṃ brahmakarmasamādhinā ॥
Meaning:
Any means of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the fire in which the offering is made is Brahman, and the one who offers is Brahman. Such a person who abides in Brahman indeed gains Brahman.
6: Aum Saha Navavatu
Mantra:
Aum Saha Naav[au]-Avatu |
Saha Nau Bhunaktu |
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai |
Tejasvi Naav[au]-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai |
Aum Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
1: Aum, May God Protect us Both (the Teacher and the Student) (during the journey of
awakening our Knowledge),
2: May God Nourish us Both (with that spring of Knowledge that nourishes life when
awakened),
3: May we Work Together with Energy and Vigour (cleansing ourselves with that flow of
energy for the Knowledge to manifest),
4: May our Study be Enlightening (taking us towards the true Essence underlying
everything), and not giving rise to Hostility (by constricting the understanding of the Essence
in a particular manifestation only),
5: Aum, Peace, Peace, Peace (be there in the three levels – Adhidaivika, Adhibhautika and
Adhyatmika).
7: Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
English:
Aum Try-Ambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pusstti-Vardhanam Urvaarukam-Iva Bandhanaan
Mrtyor-Mukssiiya Maa-[A]mrtaat ||
Meaning:
We worship Lord Shiva the three-eyed one, the one who is the master of all senses and qualities, and the one who is the sustainer of all growth. May he release us from the bondage of death, just as a ripened cucumber is released from its stalk, and may he (not deprive us of immortality) grant us immortality.