Mindful Mantras
A mantra can be as simple as the word 'love,' something you are thankful for, or a phrase such as 'om shanti, shanti, shanti' which represents all encompassing peace. You can also meditate on an affirmation, such as 'I accept myself.'
Many people are fortunate enough to be gifted a mantra from a teacher or guru.
However, you can choose a mantra for yourself depending on what you are needing in life. While choosing a mantra, you should consider your inner motivations for practising meditation. Whether you're looking for positivity, health, happiness, self love, or if you simply want to find balance.
Endurance/Strength
"This too shall pass."
Love
"I am love."
Calmer mind
"Smile, breathe, and go slowly."
Being present
"Be here, now."
Allowing the universe to guide you
"I am open to receiving universal gifts."
Happiness
"Today I choose joy."
Release
"Close your eyes, clear your heart, let it go."
Empowerment
"I are capable of wonderful things"
Some of my favorite ancient mantras
The Gayatri Mantra
While long, the Gayatri Mantra (below) is the most ancient of prayers which encourages one to be lead by the universe, as it is divine.
Om bhur buvah svah
Tat savitur varemyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yonah prachodyat
click the above to chant along
Or you can simply choose a word (the words below are in Sanskrit):
Shradda - Faith
Bhakti - Devotion
Shanti - Peace
Prajna - Wisdom
Santosa - Contentment
Veda - Knowledge
Ananda - Bliss
Moksha - Liberation
Dharma - Righteous path
Prasada - Grace/clarity
It is said that just chanting OM, 3 times, can lower the heart rate, make you 20% more calm within just a few seconds. Chanting the sound OM brings us into harmonic resonance with the universe – this is a scientific fact! OM is said to vibrate at 432 Hertz, which is the natural musical pitch of the Universe.
Decreasing your frequency to coincide with that of the Universe stills the fluctuations of the mind, allowing you to practice yoga through sound. OM is an idyllic way to begin and end a yoga or meditation practice.
Shanti Mantra
Om Saha Naavavatu
Saha Nau Bhunaktu
Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai
Tejasvi Aavadheetamastu Maa Vidvishaavahai Omॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Translation: May the Lord protect and bless us. May he nourish us, giving us strength to work together for the good of humanity! May our learning be brilliant and purposeful! May we never turn against one another!
Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय)
Translation: Meaning: It means “I bow to Shiva,” which is your true inner Self, the divine consciousness that resides within each one of us.
Om Namah Shivaya is a very powerful mantra and one of the most popular Hindu mantras. This mantra is believed to aid in the destruction of the shadow self and the rebirth of the soul.
The Kundalini Mantra for Protection
Aad Guray Nameh
Jugaad Guray Nameh
Sat Guray Nameh
Siri Guroo Dayvay Nameh
I bow to the Primal Wisdom
I bow to the Wisdom of all the ages
I bow to the True Wisdom
I bow to the Great Invisible Wisdom
Om Namah Shivaya
“I honour the divinity within myself” to help with self confidence.
Ganesh Mantra
Om Gum Ganapatayei Namah
ॐ गम गणपतये नमः
Translation: I bow to Ganesh, the elephant-faced deity, who is capable of removing all obstacles. I pray for blessings and protection.
Ganesh or Ganapatayei is known to be the remover of obstacles and the lord of beginnings. Whenever you chant this mantra, you are calling upon the energy of Ganesha to assist you to face the challenges that life has to offer, moving towards your goals with conviction and aligning yourself with your desired outcome.
Mantras for Love:
Choose one mantra out of these three and recite it 108 times using a prayer bead mala. These are affirmations for attracting love.
- I am accepting and grateful for the affection of others
- My world is a world of love
- I welcome and embrace love into my life.
The Hoʻoponopono Mantra For Forgiveness
We can use meditation for forgiveness and we can also use mantras for forgiveness. The best mantra for forgiveness is the “Ho’oponopono” mantra.
The Hoʻoponopono Mantra for Forgiveness is an ancient Hawaiian Huna practice that promotes forgiveness. It is traditionally used by priests for ill individuals. Many of the cultures of Polynesia believe illness is cased by errors that anger gods. By practicing the Ho’oponopono mantra it is believed the individual will be forgiven and therefore find health and well-being once again.
The Ho’oponopono mantra for forgiveness is a cleansing mantra that asks for forgiveness. It is simple to use the Ho’oponopono mantra. Simply meditate on the breath and recite: I’m sorry. I love you. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you.”
Purification mantra, Vajrasattva's Mantra to clear karma and obscurities to the path of enlightenment.