Mantras

OM or AUM ૐ

‘Aum’ is a sacred sound, symbol and word of great power and meaning. Regarded as the sound of the universe, it is all encompassing, the essence of ultimate reality, and unifies everything in the universe.

The three sounds in A-U-M are said to represent birth, life, and death. Aum also represents creation, consciousness, and connectedness. The sound is intended to be cleansing and to help all become one with the self.

There is also a fourth sound: silence. The residue or energy we are left with once the breath and the sound fades away. Arising from stillness, maintained by steadiness and fading back into silence… Om represents the fact that everything constantly changes – from movement into stillness, from sound into silence; the endless cycle of life…

Gayatri Mantra

om bhur bhuvah svaha
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

The Gayatri mantra is one of the oldest Vedic mantras. It is a hymn to Savitr, the sun deity, who represents the source, inspiration and life-giving force of the universe. Just as the sun illuminates the earth, this mantra is said to fill the chanter with all the potential energy in the cosmos, calling upon the light of consciousness to guide our actions and beliefs.

“The eternal, earth, air, heaven. That glory, that resplendence of the sun. May we contemplate the brilliance of that light.”

*translation by Douglas Brooks

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

om tryambakam yajamahe
sugandhim pushtivardhanam
urvarukamiva bandhanan mrityor mukshiya mamritat

“I meditate on and surrender myself to the Divine Being who embodies the power of will, knowledge and action. I pray to the Divine Being, who manifests in the from of fragrance in the flower of life and is the eternal nourisher of the plant of life. Like a skilful gardener, may the Lord of Life disentangle me from the binding forces of my physical, psychological and spiritual foes. May the Lord of immortality residing within free me from death, decay and sickness and unite me with immortality.”

*translation by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait

Pavamana Mantra

om asatoma sad-gamaya
tamaso maa jyotir-gamaya
mrytyo-maa amritam gamaya om shanti shanti shanti om

Lead me from that which is harmful, ignorant, fearful and deluded. Toward that which is promising, full of hope, faith and light so that we can recognise our inherent desire to change, evolve and transform away from our patterns and towards our potential.

Guru Mantra

guru brahma guru vishnu guru devo maheshwara
guru sakshat param brahma
tasmai shri guravay namah om namah shivaya

This mantra honours the Hindu trinity - Brahma (force of creation), Vishnu (force of preservation) and Maheshwara (Shiva the force of transformation). The guru mantra recognises the value of the gurus’ teachings in finding a connection with divinity. It is ultimately an expression of gratitude for all spiritual teachers, including the guru within.

Maha Mantra

hare krishna hare krishna
krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Hare, Krishna and Rama are the seeds of the maha mantra. Hare refers to the energy of the One Infinite Source of all of us, the energy present in all of us. Krishna and Rama refer to incarnations of Lord Vishnu. When chanting this mantra, we are calling for that universal energy. This mantra has the power to dissolve our bad habits and negative emotions.

*translation by Meditative Mind

Lokah Samastah Mantra

lokah samatah sukhino bhavantu
lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

This a prayer each one of us can practice every day. It reminds us of our relationships with all beings and things. No true or lasting happiness can come from causing unhappiness to others. No true or lasting freedom can come from depriving others of their freedom.

“May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions from my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”

*translation by Sharon Gannon

Shivoham Mantra

sacharananda para-purna shivoham shivoham
nityananda svarupa shivoham shivoham anandoham anandoham anandoham anandoham

This mantra reflects the yoga philosophy of connecting the inner Self with Ultimate Reality - the universal source of all creation.

“I am Shiva, I am that - the deity of eternal bliss. I am that which prevails everywhere complete in itself. I am joy itself, i am bliss itself.”

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mantra

om name bhagavate vasudevaya
om name bhagavate vasudevaya
ram sita ram ram ram sita ram sita ram sita ram ram ram sita ram

This is a spiritual mantra to attain freedom. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya mantra is considered to be the supreme mantra of Lord Vishnu - the preserver of the universe.

“I bow down to the Lord who resides in the hearts of all beings.”

Tridevi Mantra

saraswati maha lakshmi durga devi namaha
sarawati maha lakshmi durga devi namaha

Tridevi, or three goddesses, is a term used in Hinduism to describe the three main female deities. These are Saraswati (who is linked to Brahma), Lakshmi (who is linked to Vishnu) and Durga (who is linked to Shiva).

Saraswati - goddess of wisdom, knowledge, art, beauty, and eloquence

Mahalakshmi - the supreme mother goddess, she is the root of all creation. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity

Durga - epitomised as the shakti (energy) who wards off all evils. She represents multifaceted skill in action and the capabilities to surmount all obstacles.

Saraswati Maa Mantra

saraswati maa saraswati maa
saraswati maa saraswati maa maa jaya maa jaya maa jaya maa

Maa Saraswati is the mother goddess of music, arts & craft, knowledge, wisdom, consciousness, and all Vedas. The name Saraswati comes from “saras” meaning “flow” and “wati” meaning “ a woman.” So Maa Saraswati is a symbol of knowledge: its flow is like a river. Therefore, she represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. It is said if that one tries to appease the Goddess with the purest of emotions and true heart, she will bestow them with the power to overcome any obstacles in their path, especially obstacles one faces in their educational life and career.

Namah Kali Mantra

namah kali om namah kali
namah kali om namah kali
shivaya namah om om namah shivaya

Kali, the divine Protector of Earth, also known as Kalika is a Hindu goddess . Kali is the quintessential embodiment of shakti, female power. But due to her destructive powers Kali is also known as the Dark Mother. She is a scary, bloodthirsty the embodiment of destruction and the ultimate protector against evil. The name Kali is derived from the Sanskrit word “Kala” or time. She, therefore, represents time, change, power, creation, preservation and destruction.

Ma Durga Mantra

jaya jagatambe jaya jagatambe
hey ma durga jai ma durga

This chant is used to invoke the Mother Goddess Durga. The mantra honours the divine feminine in all of its manifestations and can help remove obstacles, protect the chanter and awaken power and creative energy.

“Jagatambe means mother of the world. Jagat is world, ambe is mother. Durga means she who takes you across Durgati, the ocean of difficulties, the ocean of trouble.”

*translation by Krisha Das

Om Gam Gananapataye Namaha Mantra

om gam ganapataye namaha
om gam ganapataye namaha
om gam ganapataye namaha ganesha sharanam gansesha sharanam

Ganapati or Ganesha is the Hindu god mostly recognised as the remover of obstacles and the grantor of success. This mantra is used to invoke and avail ourselves of his peace, knowledge and prosperity.

“Salutations to the remover of obstacles”