OM: The Universal Vibration of Spiritual Harmony

OM is a letter and a word. It is also a sound or resonance. There are three sounds in OM, known as “matra” (vowel diacritics): ‘a,’ ‘u,’ and ‘m.’ When ‘a’ and ‘u’ merge, they form ‘o,’ and when ‘m’ is placed alongside ‘o,’ it forms OM. Thus, all sounds of all...

The Science of Sound

In any Sanskrit mantra, one of the letters will be a sound that is considered a “seed” sound or a bija. The various bijas each have a different effect on our bodies and minds, and even on plant life. Mantra Shastra, is the science of sound. In Yoga, we have the...

How Mantras Work

In 1976, Swami Satchidananda was giving this talk (below) on Yoga in Denver, Colorado. Yoga was something that wasn’t widely practiced, or understood, in its broader and deepest sense at that time—and in large part, still isn’t today. And, the use of...

The Power of Mantra and the Science Behind It

We know that mantras can help us feel calm and focused, but why are they so effective? Recent research studies show that mantra chanting has a wealth of physical, mental and emotional benefits. Not only is it a beautiful spiritual practice helping us feel grounded and...

The Healing Power of Mantra: Hari Om

By chanting Hari Om, you elevate yourself to a higher level. It is chanted for its vibrations—not to disturb anyone’s religious beliefs. Hari Om is a universal chant and does not belong to any particular religion. Begin with the sound “ha” at the naval. By repeating...

The Divine Sound Within

Your practice of mantra repetition creates a sort of sound within. The sound is already in you. You are not doing anything new. That is the divine within you in the form of sound: namarupa, in Sanskrit. The Bible says that in the beginning there was the Word. That...