I remember a time when I had no real connection to mantras. In fact, I thought they sounded strange. However, as my yoga practice deepened over the years, it was as if the mantras called to me. I found more interest in the tones and the words, but then (having a very human moment) found myself completely intimidated to learn. 'Don't you need to live in an Ashram for a few years to learn these?' I thought to myself. 

Pushing through the intimidation, I started to take one mantra at a time and allowed myself time to learn the words, the meaning and go deeper. I am still in the learning process and am honored to share some of my experience with you.

The Revealed Word

A mantra is more than a repetition of words. It is a revealed word, a divine sound that has been received or experienced in a state of spiritual absorption. It can also be thought of as a compact prayer. 

It is a condensed form of spiritual energy, the sound body of the Divine Being. When repeated up to 108 times, it clears the mind, removes the veils of fog and brings us to a purer state of consciousness.

"The yogic scriptures often compare mantra to a boat or a bridge that an aspirant can take to cross the mire of delusion created by the external world and reach the center of consciousness within." Pandit Rajmani Tigunait

The branch of metaphysics known as Spanda, the science of eternal vibration, holds that all creation evolves from the Word.

Here “Word” does not refer to speech uttered by a human voice or the audible sound produced when two objects strike each other. The Word is anahata (Heart Chaka) nada, the unstruck sound, which vibrates eternally in the realm of pure consciousness. It is the Word that existed before the beginning of creation. 

This is what we connect with when we come into the practice of Mantra.

Mantra of Peace
One of the first mantras I learned was Asato Sadgamaya.

Asatoma Sadgamaya is a Shanti Mantra (Mantra of peace), it is taken from Brihadaranyaka Upanishads (1.3.28). It is used as a prayer in Indian schools, during spiritual/ religious gatherings , social events and other times; it is believed that the recitation of these verses bring peace. 

असतोमा सद्गमय ।

तमसोमा ज्योतिर् गमय ।

मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ॥

ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः ।।

asato mā sadgamaya

tamasomā jyotir gamaya

mrityormāamritam gamaya

Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ

Translation

From ignorance, lead me to truth;

From darkness, lead me to light;

From death, lead me to immortality

Om peace, peace, peace

The words and their meanings

Asat - Unreal, non-existence, untruth, ignorance
Ma - Me
Sat (sad) - Reality, truth
Gamaya - gam means movement, gamaya means move or lead
Tam (tamas) - darkness, ignorance
Jyoti (iyotir) - Light, clarity, purity
Mrityu (mrityor) - Death
Amrita (amritam) - Deathlessness, ambrosia
Om - Holy ghost (as in Christian trinity), holy word, word of creation, holy vibration, god
Shanti - peace

I invite you to try this mantra right now! It is a catalyst for transformation. I pray that these mantras, these spiritual formulas, help you manifest a successful life beyond your expectations.