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Writer's pictureClaudia Walzak

What Is A Mantra And Why Is It Used in Yoga?



The goal of all Yoga is to raise our awareness and reach a higher state of consciousness.

Sound is one way to achieve this and certain Yoga styles focus only sound. Sounds can have a healing effect, awaken perception and intuition.


In Kundalini Yoga the use of mantras plays an integral part. They are used mentally, aloud or chanted. Meditations in Kundalini Yoga often use mantras as well.


The science of mantra is based on the knowledge that sound is a form of energy. Mantras are formulas that alter the patterns of the mind and the chemistry of the brain, according to physical and meta-physical laws. The power of the mantra is in its sound vibration. With mantras used in Kundalini Yoga we elevate or modify consciousness through their meaning and rhythmical repetition. It is beneficial to link a mantra to the breath. Sound, breath and their rhythms are the crucial link in the mind-brain-behavior chain.

Every element in the universe is in a constant state of vibration. Every atom and molecule moves. Every vibration has a sound. Some are audible to our ears others are not, but this doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Just think of a dog whistle. Thoughts also carry a frequency and they are silent sounds, not audible to our ears.

We live in an ocean of vibrations/sounds and the collective sound of all is “Om”.

Every sound carries a frequency, higher frequencies increase our awareness. The universe works with frequencies and whatever frequency we put out into the universe in the form of thoughts, spoken words or actions, we attract back into our lives. This is also known as “The Law Of Attraction”.

Chanting is a conscious method of controlling and directing the mind.

All emotions, attitudes or beliefs are vibratory frequencies. They determine the kind of program our mind plays. We can learn to exercise to choose our vibration at any time, in any scenario.

When we chant a mantra, we set the positive power contained in it into motion.

Shabd Guru is the quantum technology of sound which directly alters our consciousness. It is “quantum” because it effects the smallest particles of sound and energy into effective combinations and patterns. Sound vibrations affect the body, mind and spirit through the movement of the tongue, the mouth and changes in the chemicals in the brain. This is known as Naad. The Shabd Guru is the sound current as Teacher because it removes the constrictions and distortions of the ego. “Shabd” means sound and “Guru” means teacher. “Sha” is the expression of the ego and “bd” means to cut off the ego. The “Gu” in “Guru” means darkness, “Ru” is light and knowledge. Therefore “Guru” is a technique that transforms darkness into light. The Shabd Guru transforms the practitioner by removing barriers created by the ego. The key practice for Shabd Guru is the meditation and repetition of specific primal sounds.

This may seem simple, but it comes with the challenge of the subconscious. The mind is not trained to base itself in its relationship with to the Infinite. It is based in ego. The Shabd provokes a release of the subconscious thinking patterns. If you stick with repeating the pattern of the sounds, the new pattern will be established, the mind is cleared and you awaken dormant inner capacities. The patterns are a perfect weave of rhythm, sound, tone, focus, and meaning. There is nothing as effective and universal as those patterns to program the consciousness to be in alignment with the soul.

The tongue stimulates the 84 reflex points in the upper palate of your mouth and impacts the neuro-endocrine system. The pituitary gland is activated which commands all other glands. With repetition this tool elevates moods, enhances your range of feelings and command the cellular basis of your consciousness and state of mind.

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