"Mantras tend to influence and awaken the psychic vibratory field.

Whether you understand them rationally, logically or not is irrelevant.

By chanting and repeating a mantra some form of change, some internal change

is brought about, which may not be experienced on other levels immediately."

 

Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

 

Introduction

Mantra

The main requirement for mantra japa is a mantra, which is a precise sound vibration or collection of sound vibrations. These vibrations have a profound yet subtle affect on every aspect of our being and help to awaken our subtle energy system or chakras. Mantras are not simply intellectually arranged words; they have been 'revealed' to Sages of the past, and passed down from teacher to disciple as a means of self-transformation. The literal translation of mantra is, 'to expand and liberate the mind'; a means to release us from our self-enslaved ways of thinking and acting. A mantra is best received directly from a Guru as part of an initiation, but for those who have not yet had that opportunity, the universally beneficial mantra 'Om' is recommended.

Mala

In most cases a mala is required to help keep the mind on the practice. A mala is a string of, usually, 108 beads, with special knots separating each bead known as Brahmagranti, the knot that unites us with the Creator. There is also a 109th bead offset from the others, known as the sumeru (summit), or Guru bead. Malas are available in a wide range of materials, each type having a subtle affect on the practitioner. Although the mala acts as a counting device, it is much more than that, acting as an anchor for the mind and a monitor of your practice.