his is the art of healing by chanting of Mantras or prayers. There are a number of Sanskrit Mantras which are used to cure various types of ailments. A mantra is a combination of sacred syllables which form a nucleus of spiritual energy. This serves as a magnet to attract spiritual vibrations. In Sanskrit, in the word mantra, man means "to think", and tra comes from trai meaning "to protect or free from the bondage of the phenomenal world". Thus mantra means, "the thought that liberates and protects". The chanting or recitation of mantras activates and accelerates the creative spiritual force, promoting harmony in all parts of the human being.

The repetition of these over a period makes a person aware of sounds actually creating images, and of certain images having an inherent sound. The main power or the consciousness within the mantra is shakti, the female aspect of dynamic energy; and the male aspect is energy in a state of equilibrium. Mantra is a precise combination of words and sounds - the embodiment of particular form of consciousness of shakti. The potency of the mantra is released through repetition many times. When you begin to recite and practise mantra, you need to understand yourself what you want to achieve and what are your ideals? You might pin your hopes on the mantra to help bring these ideals into manifestation in your life in the form possible. What extent and how soon this will manifest depends on you. Obviously the more one puts into it, the more one will achieve.

A mantra, therefore, is a sacred formula, a mystical verse, a nucleus of energy, a concentrated thought form, a word of power and compelling force. It is a capsule of energy made up of powerful vibrations. This energy mass, when repeated in healing through meditation has the power to heal , to energise or to bestow higher state of consciousness on the aspirant. A mantra is a sound vibration charged with energy, and can never be destroyed or created. Its cosmic and divine energy can be unlocked through japa in meditation. It ultimately leads to the fusion of sound and thought vibrations and meditation. Behind this cumulative stream of energy of mantras, lies the immortal Shakti, without shakti any sound is useless.

A mantra may be masculine (solar mantra) or feminine (lunar mantra) or neutral. Masculine mantras end with 'hum' or 'phat', the feminine mantras terminate with 'thum' or 'svaha'. The neutral mantras end with 'namah'. Mantras can also be categorized into Saguna, Nirguna, and Bija mantra. Saguna mantras invoke specific deities or aspects of Absolute. Nirguna mantras are abstract and are used for an aspirant's identification with the Absolute. Bija mantras are derived from the primeval sounds. A Bija or seed mantra is to sadhana what a seed is to a tree, the foundation to bloom into experiencing the Unknown and also it is a seed to the fruit of siddhi. The cumulative energy generated by a Bija mantra can be stored in the brain and used at will. Bija mantras are monosyllabic and unetymological vocables.

Chanting a mantra with devotion and concentration attunes the individual through divine melody and has a harmonious influence over the whole body and the mind. "A mantra has the power of releasing the Cosmic and Supra-cosmic Consciousness". A mantra for self can be obtained from a Guru through initiation, which is better, because then it would be invested with the pranic energy of the initiator. But when a Guru is not available, start with a mantra which you feel easy. Sometimes a mantra may be received from a book, or at times it may be revealed in trance, dream or a vision. The efficacy of a mantra requires correct pronunciation, recitation, perseverance and patience.

'Om', a mystic monosyllabic mantra is considered the most powerful of all mantras. It is made of three sounds A, U and M, which represent the union of three gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It is called pranava. Like Om, Soham (I am that) is also a very powerful mantra. Similarly, Gayatri mantra is the most sacred of Vedic mantras.