10 powerful mantras of yoga
Yoga is an ancient technique to enhance the body, mind, and soul of the individuals who practice it. Yoga has been long practiced achieving various desired results. However, yoga has never been as widespread as it is today. The widespread of Yoga is due to the modern society where people of various origins, ethnicities, and places live together.
Yoga was originated in ancient India and in time flourished to various parts of the world. Yoga now is not the property of one civilization or community, now it is the property of entire humanity. In a time not yoga with its multiple efficiency methods and techniques developed. People used various methods to enhance their yoga experience. One of these methods is the use of mantras in yoga. There are various powerful mantras of yoga that people use to perform various yogic activities.
Mantra
Mantra is a sound or a verse that is chanted continuously in a repeated manner to promote concentration and increase the spirituality of the individual. Mantra originally is a Sanskrit word that was used to denote the verse which had mystical abilities and was blessed by deities. In ancient times the sages used mantras of specific deities to get their blessing, get divine knowledge, amass their spirituality, and many more. It was believed that mantra consisted of the power to alter reality and change the world in ancient times.
However, as the Yug changed the power of mantra became increasingly subtle. We currently are at Kali Yug, the last of the yugas, here the power of the mantras has been reduced to a minimum. Some believe that mantras are powerless and do not possess such abilities. Yes, it is true mantras are not what ancient scriptures describe they were. However, it does not mean that they are a facade, they now work in more subtle, indirect, and mystical ways.
There are various powerful mantras of yoga also, which can be used to enhance yogic experiences. These powerful mantras of yoga also work in a very subtle way, but they work and provide many health benefits, physical, spiritual as well as psychological.
Some of the powerful mantras of yoga are as follows:
Om
Om or Aum is one of the most powerful mantras of yoga there is. It is also one of the most sacred symbols in the entire world that acts as the representative of the Hindu religion. Om is believed to be the vibration of the universe itself. The planets revolve in the vibration of Aum, the universe itself resonates in its vibration. Om is the essence of life and consciousness itself in sound form. It is also the most used sound for yoga and meditation. That is the very reason it is one of the most powerful mantras of yoga.
Hindu mythology says that Om is the Pranab Sabdha and is the entire meaning of the universe itself compressed into a single letter and sound. Om consists of all the essentials that make it the ideal yoga mantra. It is very terse and can be remembered immediately and practiced immediately. Aside from being short, it is one of the powerful mantras of yoga. There is nothing more to pronounce and nothing more to remember than OM, just this much and you already will have remembered it and can use it in yoga.
Gayatri mantra
Aum Bhoor Bhuwah Swaha,
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachoyadat
It translates to Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, may we receive that supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our mind in the right direction.
Gayatri mantra is also one of the most powerful mantras of yoga. To be precise it not only is the powerful mantra of yoga only but is the powerful mantra for everything. It is also called the savitri mantra as it is dedicated to the Hindu deity savitr and is taken from Rigveda. It is also the mantra that is given to the young male Hindu children in their Bartaband (Beginning of their karma in the society). They take the knowledge of the Gayatri mantra from their teacher as their Diksha. They chant it in the morning and evening, raising their spirituality.
This mantra can also be used in yogic activities to enhance efficiency. Gayatri mantra is a universal mantra not for the specific task, it increases energy, focuses the mind, and clams it, channels the inter energy to its maximum potential no matter the task. One may also use it during meditation and other activities.
Shanti mantra 1
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
It Translates to Om! May all become happy, may all be free from diseases, may all have good relations with each other, may all get liberated from suffering. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
Shanti means peace in Sanskrit. Sanskrit Santi mantra focuses on invoking internal peace within individuals that in time will bring out peace from within all the individuals. Some of us try yoga and meditation to find inner peace. Some people’s hearts are in turmoil by the events they must endure, and they want nothing more than internal peace. The Shanti mantra is one of the most powerful mantras of yoga to invoke inner peace. This Shanti Mantra is widely used by many people for yoga, for books, and covers but its original source from which it was taken is still unclear and is a topic of debate to many scholars.
Shanti mantra 2
Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya .
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya .
Mirtyor-Maa Amritam Gamaya .
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih
It translates to Om (O Lord) Lead me from ignorance to truth (eternal self), Darkness to divine light (spiritual knowledge), And from fear of death to immortality (Knowledge of the Immortal Self beyond Death), Om, peace peace peace.
It is another powerful mantra of yoga, that people use to invoke peace within them. Until and unless we are at peace with ourselves, we cannot be at peace with others and the material world we live in. The Shanti mantra asks the divine power of the universe to take the soul from darkness to light and provide peace to their soul.
The mantra is directed to God, but it is not necessarily the case always. This also can be directed to the one who has spiritually aided you in your life. Your guru, spiritual leader, anyone can be the one who has delivered you from darkness to light. This mantra invokes inner peace, this is also the reason it is an immensely powerful mantra of yoga.
Shanti Mantra 3
Om Saha Naavavatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu
Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai
Tejasvi Navadheetamastu Maa Vidvishaavahai
Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!!
It translates as, “May the Lord protect and bless us. May he nourish us, giving us the strength to work together for the good of humanity. May our learning be brilliant and purposeful. May we never turn against one another.”
It is a powerful mantra of yoga for Shanti or peace. It is also known as the teaching mantra. As it explores the divine connection between teacher and student. Yoga and yogic knowledge regard the relationship between teacher and student in the highest and purest form. This mantra expresses this relation in a divine language. Learning is a very divine process, in which the guru transfers this experience and findings to their students. That is the very reason guru is regarded as Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshor himself to their students.
The chanting of this mantra enhances the relationship between a student and a teacher. It also keeps the student’s heart pure and peaceful in their mind. This Shanti mantra also purifies the body of the one who chants this mantra. This mantra could increase the efficiency of learning, purifying the doshas in the body and invoke peace in the behavior. That is why it is one of the powerful mantras of yoga.
Universal mantra
Om Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Shaantir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Purnnam-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Manggalam-Bhavatu |
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
It translates as, may there be Well-Being in All,
May there be Peace in All,
May there be Fulfillment in All,
May there be good luck in All,
May all beings everywhere be happy and free. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
This is called the universal mantra and it asks for peace and fulfillment of all. This mantra is not only for the well-being of the one who chants it or those near or dear to him. This is for all the people and living beings of the world. It is a powerful mantra of yoga as it destroys the boundary of selfishness and goes beyond that. Here when one is chanting this mantra during yoga, they are asking for peace of all, fulfillment of all, and good luck in all.
Here, the chanter is not seeing other people as others. In this world some are his enemies, some have bad terms with him, some have done terrible things to him, some are his friends, some are his family. Here while chanting this mantra, he is thinking everyone is equal and dear to the chanter. This powerful mantra of yoga teaches the chanter to be more clammer and loving every time he chants this mantra.
Maha Mritunjaya Mantra
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam.
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat.
Om shanti shanti shanti!!!
It translates to, the lord Shiva who is fragrant (spiritual essence) and who nourishes all beings.
May he severe our bondage of Samsara (Worldly Life), and liberate us from the fear of death, by making us realize that we are never separated from our Immortal Nature
Maha Mritunjaya Mantra is also called the Rudra mantra or Tryyambakam mantra. It not only is the power mantra in yoga but among all various kinds of mantras. This mantra chants the worship of Mahadev himself who is also known as Mahakala. Mahadev is one of the holy trinities of Hindu mythology and one of the most powerful and important gods in that religion. The mantra appears for the first time in Rigveda.
This mantra says to lord Shiva who is the essence of life in all living beings and existence. He is the one with whom we are bound to become one when we shed this mortal form. Maha Mritunjaya Mantra is also called the mantra of life as it is the mantra that can even defeat death. It is continuously chanted by the people who have chances of bad accidents and chances of premature death in their chhina and kundali. Mahadev is called Mahakal as he is the one above death and is capable of even postponing premature death.
Stopping premature death is one aspect of the mantra. This mantra is also used in yoga and meditation and is a powerful mantra of yoga. This mantra is believed to be the key to good health, a prosperous life, good mental and emotional health. However, the greatest gift that the mantra can give the people who chant it and accept it by their hearts is Moksha. This mantra can give moksha.
Yoga is believed to have been gifted to humans by Mahadev himself in the Adi yogi form. He is the god of yoga and meditation also. So, chanting the mantra of Mahadev during yoga is sure to enhance the yoga and yogic experience.
Guru Mantra
Gururbrahma guruvishnuh gururdevo mahesvarah l
Gurursaksat parabrahma tasmai shriguruve namah ll
It translates to ‘Guru is the representative of Lord Brahma (the Creator), Lord Vishnu (the Protector), and Lord Shiva (the Destroyer). He is the eternal live god. I bow down to that great Guru.’
Hindu religion worships the guru in the highest form. There are three holy trinities in Hindu mythology, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadev. The place of guru is so sacred that guru is considered equal to all three of them. A guru is the one who guides the students from darkness to light by giving them knowledge. No guru is small and insignificant, no matter who they are they are the individual who deserves the utter respect from their students.
Gurumantra is the powerful mantra of yoga as it celebrates the guru who gives the knowledge of yoga to us.
Guru mantra 2
Dhyanamulam gurormurtih pujamulam gurohpadam l
Mantramulam gurorvakyam moksamulam guroh krpa ll
It translates to The Guru’s body is the root of meditation. The foot of the Guru is the root of worship. The teaching of the Guru is the root of all mantras. The Grace of the Guru is the root of Salvation.’
This mantra also celebrates the relation between teacher and student. Hindu religion says that everybody must have a guru in their life if they want to achieve something in their life. The role of the guru is so important that, when the gods incarnate in the human form, they need their guru to guide their lives. Even the gods like Mahadev, Ram, Krishna, Parshuram have gurus in their lives.
This mantra is also powerful in yoga as it tightens the bond between you and your yoga teacher.
Guru mantra 3
Akhandmandalakaram vyaptam yena characharam l
Tatpadam darsitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah ll
It translates to, ‘Prostrations to the guru, who shows the truth contained in the word ‘That’ (in the supreme statement ‘That Thou Art’), who pervades the whole universe of moving and unmoving creation in the form of the undivided infinite.’
It is another guru mantra that is considered a powerful mantra of yoga. Yoga and guru in Hindu mythology have the deepest connection. As we talked about earlier, Mahadev was the one who gifted the knowledge of yoga to humans. Mahadev taught the techniques of yoga to seven people who in time after completing the knowledge became the seven celestial sages. In the time where the universe and world itself were new. Mahadev became the first guru by giving the knowledge of yoga and the seven individuals became the first students by accepting this knowledge. Still celebrating the first guru and students, every year guru Purnima is celebrated.
Yoga, guru, and students share the ultimate bond from ancient times that one cannot be complete without the presence of another. Guru is a god there is no doubt, but the god is also incomplete without his students. A guru is only complete when he unites with his students. When Arjun is praised so is his guru Drona, also when Drona is talked about so is his greatest student Arjuna.
This powerful mantra of yoga celebrates the eternal, love, and compassion that a guru has towards his students whom he loves as his own children. It also celebrates the respect and divine position that the student has towards their guru who shows them the truth contained in the world. One can chant this mantra in their yoga to have and feel the divine connection towards their yogic teacher. Guru mantra is always considered one of the powerful mantras of yoga due to these reasons.