Mantras

Mantras are a way of focusing the mind and concentrating various energies by means of chanted sound. Different seed syllables have different resonances in the body, corresponding to specific energy centers or Chakras. Through repetition, these sounds activate their corresponding Chakras. To understand through example, one may notice the differences in chanting "Om" and "Aum."

 

When one chants "Om" the "Oh" portion activates the power center in the upper abdomen, and the "Mmm" portion activates the eyebrow center as well as resonating the entire body.

 

When one chants "Aum" the "Ah" portion activates the heart center, the "Ooh" portion activates the sex center, and the "Mmm" portion activates the eyebrow center as well as resonating the entire body.

 

The effect of "Om" is power and clarity, tending to concentrate solitary energies. The effect of "Aum" is to open channels of relatedness, the heart and sex centers, as well as to bring about clarity.

 

The power of Mantra goes beyond the power of the sounds themselves. Chants may be constructed to invoke energies of specific deities. A popular song expresses the sentiment  "Love can move mountains." This is echoed in a mantra to Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity who removes obstacles. Note the abundance of heart-activating "Ah" sounds present in the chant.

OM Gam Ganapataye Namaha

OM Gam Ganapataye Namaha

Gauri Nandana Gajavadana

OM Gam Ganapataye Namaha

For Christians, the same principle might apply when "Ave Maria" is sung:

Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tuae, Jesus
Ave Maria

The principle of Mantra is applicable to a variety of lineages and traditions.