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.
The scriptures say that anyone seeking purity and enlightenment of the mind should practice mantras.
The best-known mantras are Sanskrit, Vedic and Shiva mantras, Gurmukhi mantras and Tibetan mantras.
Mantras can also be found in the Holy Bible. Words and syllables taken from common prayers of various religions can make up powerful mantras. One example is the word “amen”, which is a term first found in the Hebrew Bible, passing through several languages until it reaches ours, and is translated as “so be it”. In addition, 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 speaks of the power of the spoken word, that the spoken word is God in action. And in the Vedas, the same is said in a different way in the following quote: “NĀDA RŪPA PARA BRAHMA”, which means: “The form of the Supreme is sound”. For this reason, the practice of mantras is highly regarded in yoga philosophy, 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 of 108 beads, to repeatedly chant mantras 108 times. This is a practice focused on concentration and meditation, and its aim 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 broader 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.
