Bonus. Introduction to Mantra Meditation

Meaning & Importance of Mantra Chanting

In all spiritual traditions, Mantra Yoga or Meditation is regarded as one of the safest, easiest, and most effective means of systematically overhauling the patterns of consciousness to awaken higher experience and sustain a higher voltage of energy. Mantras have been seen and developed by the Rishis (Sages), the inner alchemists—a science based on the realisation of the omnipotent power of eternal sound.

Therefore, the sages are known as mantra “Drashta” – the visionaries of mantras. The regular practice of a mantra helps in psychic and spiritual purification.

Whenever a mantra is intoned or chanted in a specific rhythmic manner, its associated sonic waves expand in a particular pattern and, after traversing the layers of energy particles in the surrounding space, reach and penetrate the corresponding cosmic nuclei of divine powers.

Mantras are impulses or rhythms of consciousness. A mantra is a sound vibration used to free the mind from its obsessive nature. The definition of mantra is:

“Manana Trayate iti Mantrah” 

Liberating the mind from its obsessive involvement in tensions, worries, and anxieties.

Sound belongs to the “Space” element. The work of yoga is to develop the ever-expanding space within us and enhance consciousness.

Yoga teaches that sound is the basic ingredient of energy. Hence, sound is one of the most powerful and accessible tools to experience higher energy and consciousness.

Mantras permeate every cell of your being, allowing the mind to dissolve and repose. Every vibration has a frequency, and sound can influence the behaviour of any living being.

For example, playing rock music evokes different responses compared to classical music. One form of sound vibration (classical) relaxes, while another (rock) stimulates. Similarly, some music brings peace, while other music makes listeners move and dance.

Mantra is more subtle, as its vibrations operate at the pranic and conscious levels of a living being. For example, consider the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”:

From a religious perspective, it means: “I salute Shiva.”

From a yogic perspective:

• Om – seed mantra (Bija mantra) of Ajna Chakra (6th centre)
• Na & Ma – sounds of Vishuddhi Chakra (5th centre)
• Shi & Va – sounds of Swadhisthana Chakra (2nd centre)
• Ya – sound of the Heart Chakra (Anahata)
  

These sounds correspond to the chakras in the body. When you chant “Om Namah Shivaya,” you are actually affecting and harmonising the Shakti in these subtle energy centres.

In mantra chanting, the main focus is on listening to the sound of the mantra and feeling its vibration in the body, mind, and heart. It realigns and rebalances the body, mind, and heart, helping you enter a state of higher consciousness. Mantra helps release repressed emotions and conditioning from the unconscious and subconscious mind. It is also an effective means of developing witness awareness, allowing the practitioner to observe thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without attachment.

1. Vaikhari
   The initial stage of mantra chanting is known as Vaikhari. In this stage, the mantra is chanted aloud. This is especially useful for stabilising patterns of consciousness when the mind is disturbed or highly distracted.
   
2. Upanshu
   The next stage is Upanshu, or whispered repetition. Here, the mantra is chanted using the lips but without producing any audible sound.
   
3. Manasik
   The third stage is Manasik (Mental), where the practitioner chants or intones the mantra mentally, without using the lips. This is the most subtle and powerful form of mantra chanting. Today, this mental practice is widely investigated for its physiological and psychological effects in laboratories around the world.
   
4. Shravana
   The next stage is Shravana, where one simply listens to the inner sound with full awareness and alertness. In this stage, all chanting stops, and the practitioner becomes a witness to all sounds within, listening carefully without judgment.
   

Other Forms of Mantra Yoga

Mantra Yoga can be practised in many ways. One of the simplest and most effective methods is the repetition of the mantra using a mala. A fixed number of rounds is completed each day as instructed by the guru.

This practice is called Japa Anushthana, where the aspirant resolves to complete the required rounds each day. Another form of mantra repetition involves synchronising the mantra with the inflow and outflow of the breath, creating a continuous rhythm between sound and respiration.