What is a Mantra or a Mantram?
The words mantra and mantrams are really identical in meaning – simply two different forms for the same thing.
A mantra (mantram) is a sound or a word, or collection of words that have a special significance when recited or chanted, and have the ability to produce powerful results in the person using the mantra.
What is the Effect of using a Mantra (Mantram)?
The powerful results of using mantras (mantrams) are frequently ascribed to the sound value of the mantra and the manner and rhythm with which it is recited or chanted. These mantric sounds set up a vibration that has a transformative effect on all who hear it. Undoubtedly, though, the meaning of the mantra itself has an effective potency as well as its sound value.
The effect in sounding the mantra or mantram is due to the vibration created by the intoning. This affects not only the person intoning the mantra but also all who hear it as well as the atmosphere around them. Vibration has a formative effect, which science has shown experimentally. These specific vibrations have a transformative effect on everything that resonates with it.
Use of Mantras or Mantrams
Sacred chants or mantrams intoned in rhythm have been used through the ages for beneficent effect when selflessly used as a service to humanity. Many of them are very old and have been chanted many millions of times by men and women over a long duration.
Alice Bailey (recording the words of D.K.) talks in her book “Letters on Occult Meditation” about the effect of mantric usage, as follows:
“Mantric forms are collections of phrases, words, and sounds which by virtue of rhythmic effect achieve results that would not be possible apart from them. These mantric forms are too numerous to study here; suffice it to indicate somewhat the types of mantrams there will be in use, or are now in use among those privileged to use them.
“There are mantric forms based entirely on the Sacred Word. These, sounded rhythmically and on certain keys, accomplish certain results, such as the invoking of protective angels; they lead to certain effects, either objective or subjective. These forms or mantrams are much more in use among Orientals and in the eastern faiths than at present among occidentals. As the power of sound is more completely understood and its effect studied, these mantrams will be adopted in the occident.
“Some of them are very old and when enunciated in the original Sanskrit have unbelievably powerful effects….” [Letters on Occult Meditation, p162]
The Sacred Word – OM
As indicated in the quote from Alice Bailey’s book above, one of the most potent mantras that have been identified is the intoning of the ‘sacred word’, OM. The OM when sounded in the correct rhythm and tone has powerful effects on the person chanting it as well as on those hearing it. For more detail on the OM, please see the article on ‘the Sacred Word, OM’.
In this context the word AUM is also found to be of great mantric value, and thought it is frequently confused with the OM, nonetheless they have distinct meaning and value. See the article about the ‘the Sacred Word, OM’, which identifies the difference and also the different ways of intoning them.
Other Potent Mantras
Apart from the Sacred Word OM, there are also a number of well known mantras (mantrams), which have been identified as being very potent when correctly used. Among them are the ‘Vajrasattva Purification’ Mantram, or the ‘100-Sylabled Vajrasattva’ which is widely used especially among the Tibetan Buddhist lamas, and the ‘Gayatri Mantra’ which is used by Hindus and Buddhist alike. These are ancient in origin and have been indicated as being among the most effective mantrams in use. For further details, see the article about the ‘Vajrasattva Purification’ and about the ‘Gayatri’ on this website. Listen to the chants on the InfiniteOM CD or the download from iTunes. A sample piece of each is also available on this website.