The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Mantra
The Power of Sound

ORIGINS

A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated mentally or aloud as part of a spiritual or other practice. It is believed that the use of a mantra can have a powerful or even life-changing effect. In Hinduism, mantras are considered sacred. The word mantra comes from the Sanskrit mantrah, meaning “counsel,” “prayer,” or “hymn.”

HISTORY/LORE

Mantras are a major component of the Vedas, a body of ancient Indian texts composed in Sanskrit. Dating back to roughly 1500 B.C.E., the Vedas are the oldest Hindu texts and among the oldest sacred texts in the world. In Hinduism, mantras accompany ritual acts. In Buddhism, mantras are chanted in meditation and to achieve enlightenment. Perhaps the simplest and best-known mantra is “Om,” which is known as the “pranava mantra,” or the supreme mantra. (In Sanskrit, prana means “life force.”) Many yoga classes open and close with the chanting of this mantra.

USES

A mantra can serve various purposes in your spiritual practice. Starting off a meditation or yoga session with the chanting of a mantra can help you state your intention for the session and keep your mind focused throughout. You might also choose to use a motivational mantra for times during your practice where you feel stuck or uninspired. Even something as simple as “I can do this” can help get you through tough times in a spiritual practice or in daily life. A mantra can also be a sort of prayer—to a deity, nature, the universe, or yourself. You can use an established Hindu, Buddhist, or other mantra, or you can make up your own.