 Feeling low, lacking inspiration, insecure, fearful or perhaps angry, frustrated, agitated or unsettled? Looking for something to feel balanced, happy and peaceful? Mantras are the most Powerful yet the Most Effective and Easy to Use Tools to tackle the mind and the emotions that Yoga can offer! This statement is based on my own personal experience of using mantras for over a decade and from the experience of those whom I have been blessed to pass on this knowledge to (participants at our workshops oryoga retreats). Mantras can be used in many different ways and for different purposes. For example one of the ways I myself use them is whenever I feel angry I try not to have an emotional explosion, instead I quickly try to find a moment to go down to the meditation room of our centre, play the harmonium and repeat, or as Swami Sivananda suggests, to ROAR OM or OM NAMAH SIVAYA for a few minutes, half an hour or an hour. The result: Magic! Deep transformation, all that anger now has been transformed into compassion towards myself or the particular situation that started it in the first place. Not only that, but now I also have the mental clarity and understanding to deal with that same situation from a place of love and understanding. With this blog series, starting with today's Part 1, we want you to have a deeper and better understanding about mantras and the science of Mantra repetition or (Japa Yoga) and to provide you with simple and necessary tools to use them and enjoy them in your daily life. Personally mantras have helped me to:
You can use them for anything, there are no limits! Their main purpose is to attain higher levels of consciousness or Inner Peace. Let's dive deeper: WHAT ARE MANTRAS? In definition mantras are spiritual energy encased in a sound structure (words or phrases). Sounds are vibration, the subtle vibration of mantras get activated through repetition creating new positive grooves (samskaras) in our minds. The word mantra is made up of two Sanskrit roots:
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? Mantras have always existed in nature as sound energies. They were revealed to the ancient masters in their deepest meditations when they tuned into higher levels of consciousness. Each mantra is made up of a combination of sounds derived from the 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet and is either a name of the Divine like Om Namah Sivaya or an abstract formula like Soham. Sanskrit is the most ancient language derived from the 50 original vibrations (Varnas) that form the universe. HOW DO THEY WORK? Mantras are powerful because of their deep effect on our whole being. They re-tune and balance from the physical layer through to the energetic psychic layer, emotional/mental to the spiritual layer. HOW TO USE A MANTRA?  Mantras work through repetition. The practice of mantra repetition is known as JAPA YOGA. Repetition with faith, feeling and with visualization of the deity is more powerful and effective. In part two of this series we will explain mantras in more detail and will have video and audio files for the different mantras. Some of the most common practices of mantra repetition:
HOW TO CHOOSE A MANTRA? You can choose a mantra by its meaning, sound or form. Try different ones then choose one as your main mantra and for your daily meditation practice. You can try other mantas for different purposes when required. TYPE OF MANTRAS:
OUR TOP 7 MANTRAS  OM SRI MAHAGANAPATAYE NAMAH: Translation: Salutations to Great Lord Ganesha. Type: Saguna or deity mantra. Essence: Strength and fortitude. Use: Removes the obstacles from our path and bestows success for meditation. Practical tip: You can also use this mantra to find misplaced objects :)  OM NAMAH SIVAYA Translation: Prostrations to Lord Siva. Type: Saguna or deity mantra. Essence: Transformative energy of the universe. Use: To let go of the past and make way for the new. To destroy the lower nature making way for positive growth. To transform negative emotions.  OM NAMO NARAYANAYA Translation: Prostrations to Lord Narayana (Vishnu). Type: Saguna or deity mantra. Essence: Goodness & Compassion. Use: Balance. For inner and outer peace.  OM SRI MAHA LAKSHMYAI NAMAH Translation: Prostrations to Great Mother Lakshmi. Type: Saguna or deity mantra. Essence: Wealth & Prosperity. Use: To attract positive things into our life on the material and spiritual levels.  OM The Universal Sound of Creation Type: Nirguna or abstract mantra. Essence: Symbolises absolute consciousness and is the greatest of all mantras. Use: It has a tremendous influence on the mind and body. Excellent mantra for identification with the whole universe and for meditation. It can be used when you feel depressed. SOHAM Translation: I am That. Type: Nirguna or abstract mantra. Essence: 'That' is the eternal Brahman or the unmanifested consciousness. The source of all life. Use: To feel united with nature and the whole universe. (MAHA MRTYUNJAYA MANTRA) OM TRAYAMBAKAM YAJAAMAHE SUGANDHIM PUSHTIVARDHANAM URVAARUKAMIVA BHANDHANAN MRITYOR MUKSHIYA MAMRITA Translation: Om. We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of Immortality even as a cucumber is severed from its bondage to the creeper. Type: Saguna or deity mantra. Essence: Protection & Enlightenment (Siva essence). Use: Prevents accidents, incurable diseases and calamities, and bestows longevity and immortality. As mentioned in the beginning of the post Mantras can and will transform your life. Learning about them, understanding their meaning, how they work , etc., and most important how to use them, as we will show you in part 2 of this series, they will help you to become happier, more compassionate and most important a more peaceful person and yogi :) Please feel free to share with us your favourite mantra or let us know if you have questions in the comment box. Stay tuned for the second part and start your journey with mantras now! Om Shanti 
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