Mantra.... Sacred Sound Vibration

Mantra meditation is often called " Mantra Yoga", considered to be a part of "Nada Yoga", which means the "yoga of sound". The word "yoga" means to "link with God" and this is the ultimate goal of all yoga.

The word "mantra" is composed, in sanskrit, of two root words. " Man" means "mind", or "thinking", and "tra" to "release or free". Therefore the meaning is to free the mind and thinking from the material sphere of consciousness and to be able to transcend the wheel of "samsara" or "birth and death within this physical world".

Mantras are always sung to a melody (raga), although it is generally monophonic, or individual, sounds, which may ' seem' to be without harmony. In " Poetica" Aristotle stated that poetry was comprised of language, rhythm and sound. He also pointed towards the potency of sound vibrations to influence human thoughts and emotions.

Chanting mantra promotes harmony and healing on all levels and if often prescribed by Ayurvedic practitioners and Vedic astrologers. Mantra can awaken our spiritual self, connecting us to the source of all power, not only for personal benefit but also for the good of all others. All mantras have six aspects, a seer or rishi a raga, a presiding deity (Devata), a seed sound (Bija), power (Shakti) and pillar (Kilaka).

OM is probably the best-known mantra, as most mantras begin and end with Om. It is said that Om is the primordial sound vibration, the first sound that Brahma heard. Brahma is the creator of the universe.

* Rishis Mantras have always come down from master to disciple, beginning with the ancient seers, or rishis. It is said that unless a mantra is received from an authorized source it will be ineffectual. Therefore this process has been kept intact since time immemorial. Just as different tones cause specific vibrations, which have an effect on the physical and emotional self, practicing mantra meditation correctly will allow the sound vibration to be connected with specific images and to understand that the sound vibration is contained within these images.

* Devata Sound vibrations represent very definitive forms and repeated chanting of a mantra will gradually reveal the form of the deity, or devata, central to the mantra. This worship of the form then becomes the centre of the aspirant's consciousness. This allows the aspirant to develop a personal relationship with the presiding deity of the mantra. There are many mantras for different results but the ultimate are the mantras for realizing our relationship with the Supreme Lord. There are many levels of consciousness, as well as desire, among human beings and many mantras for achieving various goals. The most important mantras are those, which invoke the practitioner to bring about a desire for spiritual service, culminating in absolute love, Bhakti. At this point the aspirant may achieve the perfection of desire.... to desire only that which is transcendental to this world of birth, death, old age and disease.

* Bija within each mantra is its seed (bija), which is its source of potency. Just as it is impossible to see the tree within the seed, yet it is there waiting for fructification, it is also not possible to see the spiritual self within until it is time. However, through regular discipline of chanting mantra the true "self" will eventually be realized. How quickly depends on the sincerity and desires of the aspirant. There are some mantras utilized simply for temporary gain within this material world, this is not the goal of chanting mantra. Only spiritual self-realization is the ultimate goal. All other desires are stumbling blocks on the path to self-realization.

* Pillar (kilaka) is the will power that an aspirant must gain to regularly practice the mantra until it becomes automatic.

* Shakti is the power held within the mantra. Ultimately a taste develops most especially in chanting mantras glorifying and extolling the qualities of God. We all have an "original" consciousness. The goal of life is to understand who we are, where we have come from and what is our purpose. Chanting mantras for any other purpose will not bear permanent fruit. Those utilized for any other purposes of a temporary nature must be chanted with perfect rhythm, tone and harmony and neither the raga, nor key, may be changed to any variation whatsoever. In today's world how many can develop such concentration and expertise? Fortunately, God is merciful and to indulge in the chanting of any ONE of the unlimited names of the Supreme Godhead as a devout mantra, even If imperfect, will have an effect The only prerequisite is that the mantra is received from one who can properly impart it and train the aspirant in the basis of developing spiritual life and the resultant spiritual consciousness.