THE POWER OF MANTRAS
Mantras are sound vibrations, like sacred affirmations, that alter the patterns of the mind and the chemistry of the brain. They are used as a therapeutic and meditative tool, and can be chanted, whispered, sung, mentalized or even recited in the form of prayers or poems. The word mantra comes from Sanskrit, where "man" means mind and "tra" means instrument or vehicle, being translated as "Instrument to guide and elevate the mind".
Chanting mantras is an ancestral technique, being practiced by different cultures and religions. The oldest written references to Mantras were found in the Vedas, compiled approx. in 3000 BC.
In the scriptures it is said that if you seek purity and enlightenment of mind, you must practice mantras. The best known Mantras are Sanskrit, Vedic and Shivaist, Gurmukhi mantras and Tibetan Mantras.
Mantras can also be found in the Bible. Words and syllables taken from prayers can compose powerful mantras. An example is the word “amen”, which is a term found for the first time in the Hebrew Bible, passing through several languages until reaching ours, and is translated as “so be it”. Furthermore, there are famous quotes found in the Bible such as “In the beginning was the word and the word was God” (John 1:1), which talks about the power of the spoken word, that the spoken word is God. And in the Vedas, the same is said differently in the following quote: "NĀDA RŪPA PARA BRAHMA", which means: "The form of the Supreme is sound."
Therefore, the practice of mantras is highly regarded in the philosophy of Yoga, and there are even two modalities known as Japa Yoga and Mantra Yoga. In the practice of Japa Yoga, the practitioner uses a Japamala, which is a string with 108 beads, to repeatedly chant mantras 108 times. This is a practice focused on focus and meditation, and its objective is to elevate the soul and maintain awareness of the sound. The practice of Mantra Yoga aims to understand and consciously apply mantras in a more comprehensive spiritual practice, seeking to transform consciousness and achieve union with the divine.
However, each mantra brings valuable teachings and its meanings are infinite. They are sound vibrations beyond the cognition of the mind and work at the level of consciousness. When we chant a mantra, we are choosing to invoke the positive power contained in the words, whether it be for prosperity, for peace of mind, to increase intuition or any other possible benefit that by simply reciting we are emanating vibrations that will have an effect on our lives.
