7 Hindu mantras that will change your philosophy of life
We currently live in a globalized society with an increasingly frenetic, demanding, competitive and, consequently, more stressful pace. Many are the expert anthropologists and psychologists who warn of a worrying trend of anxiety that 7 out of 10 individuals suffer from. An evil that can no longer be remedied with drugs or other anxiolytic medications.
Thus, Hindu mantras have become exponentially popular in first world or western societies, whatever we want to call them. The mantra is nothing more than a method of meditation imported from the Hindu culture, and that the ancestors of this religion used for all kinds of situations, as well as to cure a wide variety of ills.
- You may be interested in: "How to learn to meditate, in 7 easy steps"
What is a mantra?
The mantra is a spiritual and religious prayer from Buddhism. Etymologically, the word mantra derives from Sanskrit, a classical Indian language that is thousands of years old, as well as being one of the 22 officially recognized languages of India.
The terminology of the word corresponds to words that are reproduced in sounds in the following way: phonemes, words, groups of words or syllables. Depending a little on each belief, the mantras will have one or another meaning, but usually have a spiritual meaning that share all their currents, although they can be used as a form of suggestion to relax.
Thus, man from Hindi means "mind", and tra translates as "instrument". This leads him to describe specialists as a psychological resource to regulate emotions and enter a state of calm. According to Hinduism it is the "instrument of thought", and Buddhism defines it as "an act of enlightenment".
- Related article: "Types of religion (and their differences in beliefs and ideas)"
What function does the mantra have?
The mantra is commonly used in meditation, relaxation or yoga sessions. Their purpose is to enter a state of full attention, which is the main element to regulate our happiness and personal well-being. To do this, the mantras (words with a certain musicality) are recited repeatedly to achieve the final objective. Traditionally, they have been used to enter a trance.
This ritual has various functions, although all of them pursue the same goal: inner peace. Mantras are used for all kinds of situations, such as relaxation, concentration, preparation for an important challenge, to remove worries from the head, etc.
- You may be interested in: "How to do yoga at home, in 8 keys"
The 7 Hindu mantras to regulate emotions
In the following lines we will present the mantras that most can influence the change we are hoping to obtain.
1. shanti mantra
Perhaps it is the most practiced today. The word "shanti" means peace, and is recited up to 3 times to start the ritual. It can be said that it is one of the most appreciated because it seeks peace in mind, body and speech, and it turns out to be the perfect mantra to overcome the complexities at the labor level, since it pursues the motto of "non-competitiveness".
2. Om gum ganapataye namah mantra
The literal translation would be: "I pray to the deity of the face of Ganesh". For Hindus, Ganesh is the god of success and wisdom. Therefore, it is often used to reflect. It is very common to resort to this mantra to leave behind the bad experiences of the past.
3. Om Mantra
It is the main mantra, the one that represents life, death and resurrection (remember that Buddhists believe in reincarnation). The sound Om is the mother of all mantras, and traditionally the belief has been transmitted that the first vibration that connects us with the universe, and from it all other sounds emerge. It is used to start a yoga session, to end it or simply when we just need to relax.
4. Namah Shivaya Mantra
For Hinduism Shivá is the Supreme God and represents the supreme deity of transformation. The Shivaya mantra reminds us that we are all made of the same, and the prayer means "reverence to Shiva." This mantra is used to regain confidence in ourselves in moments of weakness.
5. Mantra Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
This mantra is especially used to regulate emotions in order to improve relationships with the environment that surrounds us, both with human beings and animals, nature and the environment. The earth must be respected as ourselves. The translation would be: "that all beings everywhere live happy and free, and that we all contribute to that happiness and freedom of all".
6. Om Namo Narayana Mantra
Narayana is the omnipresent god in Hinduism., and the terminology translates as “Nara”, which represents the divine, and “Yana”, which represents the creator of all things. There are multiple interpretations for reciting the mantra, such as seeking refuge for all beings, or a resting place for all living beings. This mantra is recommended to find calm in moments of confusion.
7. Mantra Sri Ramaya namah
This mantra reveres the god Rama, who descended from heaven to fight the demon Ravana, which makes Rama the most important deity for this religion. It is used to avoid the evil eye, to remove the ills that others have inflicted on it and to cure envy.