51 Meditation Mantras List
There are different forms of physical and mental activities or exercises that can help shape the body and soul. Often, people who take their health important are very active in mental and physical activities to help them maintain their desired quality of health. Silent meditation is a simple yet effective form of meditation that is shown by research to help people manage stress, minimize stress, lower blood pressure, and other benefits. Hence, silent meditation mantras are quite helpful for those who want to feel inner peace.
What are the Silent Meditation Mantras?
Silent meditation is a form of meditation in which people silently meditate thinking of a sound or mantra. It is a technique for promoting a state of relaxed awareness and avoiding distracting thoughts. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an Indian guru in the 1950s developed this type of silent meditation technique. It was popularized in the 1960s when it came to the west. The silent Meditation technique is effortless, natural, and simple ways of letting the mind settle down into a very wise and calm state of rest.
Unlike meditations based on mindfulness that focuses on clearing the mind of thoughts and bringing the attention back to the present moment gently when the mind has wandered; silent mediation is based on focusing on a single mantra, silently repeated. This mantra differs for every person, and those who complete the training programs are assigned mantras based on the individual’s personal characteristics. This mantra is passed during a personal instruction or session through a fully trained and professional instructor following carefully laid down guidelines.
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Where Did Silent Meditation Come From?
This meditation dates back thousands of years, it predates all the ‘isms,’ it’s not a philosophy or a religion; it’s a universal ‘human being’ practice. And from that tradition of silent meditation, called the Vedic tradition of teachers, it has been passed on from teacher to student, always in an oral tradition, over thousands of years. The most recent great meditation teacher was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. And Maharishi proceeded to teach and oversee the teaching of thousands of teachers of silent meditation, who know how to select the proper mantra, the proper sound for an individual, and how to teach them to use it properly. Without both you basically are stuck. With both then you know how to effortlessly settle down and experience quieter levels of thought, completely rejuvenate mind and body for a much healthier, more satisfying life.
How Does Silent Meditation Mantras Work?
These meditation mantras don’t act as a focus for the mind like in other meditation, but as a medium upon which the attention innocently and gently rests. This allows our mind to settle into high subtle levels of thinking, and the mantra is finally transcended and we settle into silence. The mind is sometimes cluttered with random stuff. By having a phrase or word that we can center our attention on, we can free ourselves from the constant chatter that goes on in our minds.
Also, silent meditation mantras have different vibrational qualities. That is why a unique mantra is chosen for each student. We can create the same vibrational quality in the body by intoning a specific sound. For instance, the vibrational quality produced by the words “hate” and “love” is quite different. If you speak these words to yourself, you will feel the different internal sensations they create. We produce the desired positive energy by using specific mantras.
How to Choose the Right Meditation Mantras
There are two basics to keep in mind when choosing a mantra.
The Sound
The sound of the meditation mantra must be meaningless because its purpose is to settle the mind into complete relaxation and silence. If the sound is meaningful, it will provide information to the mind to work on while also diverting the mind’s focus. So, whatever the sound you decide to go with, ensure it makes little sense for your mind. It should be meaningless.
The Vibration
The vibration of the sound must resonate with the actual source. This vibrational sound is known as primordial hum or Om. The vibration must slowly fade in a similar direction as the primordial hum. This helps the mind to settle with the mantra as the mind gradually moves towards total silence.
What Makes Meditation Mantras Unique?
Choosing the Mantras
Even though mantras are typically used in virtually all meditation types as well as some yoga types, it is unique and mandatory in this type of meditation. Other forms of meditation allow you to choose the mantra that best helps you to relax. On the other hand, only a certified teacher can teach you a meditation mantra. It won’t work if you try to choose a mantra on your own. Additionally, mantras in other forms of meditation often have some meaning attached to them, but mantas used in this type of meditation doesn't have any meaning.
Number of Words
Similarly, mantras for other yoga and meditation types are sometimes more than two words, but silent meditation mantras are usually not more than two words. Meditation mantras are different from other forms of meditation. While other types of meditation allows you to customize meditation mantras and methods according to your comfort and unique needs, silent meditation follows a more rigid set of guidelines to follow.
Learning Process
You can’t learn silent meditation on your own, as you have to hire a certified teacher or go to one of the specialized transcendental meditation universities or schools. Often, the course is expensive, which is why you can’t choose a meditation mantra on your own. Only a certified teacher from one of the universities or schools can teach you this type of meditation mantras and they often charge money.
Since this type of meditation is a complex form of meditation in which you need to settle your body and mind slowly to a state of nothing, no stress, no thoughts, just emptiness using the mantras, it needs a lot of practice. That is why you need a teacher who tells you which mantra to use and how to practice.
Meditation Mantras List
Mantras Used by Teachers Trained in 1961
- Mantra for male students –Ram
- Mantra for female students – Shiram
Mantras Used by Teachers Trained in 1969
- Mantra for male students aged 0 to 15 – Ing
- Mantra for male students aged 15 to 30 – Aing
- Mantra for male students aged 30 to 45 – Shiring
- Mantra for male students aged 46+ – Shiam
- Mantra for female students aged 0 to 15 – Im
- Mantra for female students aged 15 to 30 – Aim
- Mantra for female students aged 30 to 45 – Shirim
- Mantra for female students aged 46+ – Shiama
Mantra Used by Teachers Trained in 1972
- Mantra for students aged 10 to 11 – Ing
- Mantra for students aged 12 to 13 – Im
- Mantra for students aged 14 to 15 – Inga
- Mantra for students aged 16 to 17 – Ima
- Mantra for students aged 18 to 19 – Aying
- Mantra for students aged 20 to 21 – Ayim
- Mantra for students aged 22 to 23 – Ayinga
- Mantra for students aged 24 to 25 – Ayima
- Mantra for students aged 25+ – Shiring
Mantras Used by Teachers Trained in 1976
- Mantra for students aged 3 to 10 – Eng
- Mantra for students aged 10 to 12 – Em
- Mantra for students aged 12 to 14 – Enga
- Mantra for students aged 14 to 16 – Ema
- Mantra for students aged 16 to 18 – Aeng
- Mantra for students aged 18 to 20 – Aem
- Mantra for students aged 20 to 22 – Aenga
- Mantra for students aged 22 to 24 – Aema
- Mantra for students aged 24 to 30 – Shiring
- Mantra for students aged 30 to 35 – Shirim
- Mantra for students aged 35 to 40 – Hiring
- Mantra for students aged 40 to 45 – Hirim
- Mantra for students aged 45 to 50 – Kiring
- Mantra for students aged 50 to 55 - Kirim
- Mantra for students aged 55 to 60 – Shiam
- Mantra for students aged 60+ – Shiama
Mantras Used by Teachers Trained in 1987 to Present Day
- Mantra for students aged 0 to 11 – Eng
- Mantra for students aged 12 to 13 – Em
- Mantra for students aged 14 to 15 – Enga
- Mantra for students aged 16 to 17 – Ema
- Mantra for students aged 18 to 19 – Aing
- Mantra for students aged 20 to 21 – Aim
- Mantra for students aged 22 to 23 – Ainga
- Mantra for students aged 24 to 25 – Aima
- Mantra for students aged 26 to 29 – Shiring
- Mantra for students aged 30 to 34 – Shirim
- Mantra for students aged 35 to 39 – Hiring
- Mantra for students aged 40 to 44 – Hirim
- Mantra for students aged 45 to 49 – Kiring
- Mantra for students aged 50 to 54 – Kirim
- Mantra for students aged 55 to 59 – Sham
- Mantra for students aged 60+ – Shama
Meditation Mantras for Beginners
There are different mantras available for beginners, you can choose the basic one so you can make yourself comfortable. In actual fact, mantras for beginners are considered as your meditation journey foundation.
Aham Prema
This mantra will help beginners to make a deeper reflection and connection to the holiness of love. Besides, this can also provide calmness in the heart, spirit, and mind.
Om Namah Shivaya
This mantra reminds us that every person has their unique holiness within. This can help the person open his self. The vibration that is made with this mantra is usually passed through the heart.
Aum or Om
Not only does this mantra have an easy chant to perform, but it is also considered the most universal and most sacred in the Hindu faith. You can technically focus on your vibrations’ conduct through the lower abdomen by chanting the ‘aum’. If you practice yoga, then you have probably heard of this mantra. Om is satisfying, guttural, and powerful to utter.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
This mantra invokes the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Ganesha. This deity is known as the remover of obstacles. This mantra is believed to awaken the cosmic energy or shakti and evicts the barriers that may stand in your way. Chanting this mantra eliminates unnecessary negativity and frees your energy.
Sat Nam
This mantra is popularly used in Kundalini yoga. This type of yoga helps to release the buildup of latent energy lying coiled at the spine’s base. “Sat” means truth while “Nam” means identity, so using this mantra calls on an individual’s true self during transcendental meditation.
The mantras listed above are a few of the mantras suited for beginners. Moreover, they are very powerful because of their natural power that can help change your thoughts, words, and actions. So, beginner’s mantra is quite helpful to let you experience the efficiency of t meditation mantras.
How Do I Sit?
Many people ask if you have to sit in a particular posture when you practice this type of Meditation. Do you have to sit up straight with you back erect with no back support or do you have to sit with your legs crossed? The beautiful thing about meditation is we just sit comfortably with the eyes closed. No particular posture is needed, so when you practice, you just sit comfortably.
What are the Benefits of Meditation?
Meditation is associated with many great benefits for physical and mental well-being. This psychological exercise helps the body and mind to relax in and move to a silent state. Some of the top benefits are related to heart health, brain functioning and of course relief of anxiety and stress management.
Additionally, it has been found to be helpful for autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction treatment, insomnia, depression, and even Alzheimer’s. It helps people to get more focused, refreshed, and energetic when they come out of this state.
According to modern research, it helps lower blood pressure, improves cognitive functions, slows cardiovascular disease progression, and asthma. In terms of psychological benefits, it helps to refresh our mind, develops problem-solving skills, helps improve creativity, keeps us calm, and helps us focus more on our goals. A 2017 study reviewed 8 meta-analysis studies, meaning the study reviewed several studies in all; this was an analysis of thousands of participants and dozens of studies. Although the findings were a bit conflicting, the overall trend shows that meditation is quite effective in lowering blood pressure.
Another 2014 meta-analysis studied 14 research papers that examined 1295 participants and 16 studies. When compared with control groups that received their regular anxiety treatment, this study found that meditation helps to minimize trait anxiety. Trait anxiety does not come as a passing mood but more as a regular experience. Also, the results showed that the test subjects showed significant reductions in anxiety over the first 2 weeks of practice. Interestingly, those experiencing the greatest levels of trait anxiety at the start of the study like prison inmates and veterans with PTSD experienced the highest decrease in anxiety.
Another study examined the effects of meditation on high school students and found that it worked great for academic work as well as stress levels. Specifically, a group of 9th graders who took part in a meditation program called “Quiet Time”, where they practiced for 15 minutes twice daily. After some months in the program, the students scored lower on anxiety and higher on resilience. Overall, this group of teens said they experienced more self-confidence, greater happiness, and better sleep.
How does Meditation Mantras Differ From Other Forms of Meditation?
For this, we look back to scientific research, research shows that every experience changes the brain, and basically we know from science that there are three major types of meditation.
The first type of meditation is called ‘Focused Attention,’ and Focused Attention is something like Vipassana meditation or Zazen meditation. It’s any meditation that involves some concentration or control of the mind – trying to clear your mind of thought, trying to concentrate on your breath – it’s like trying to stop the waves from moving.
The second type of meditation is called ‘Open Monitoring,’ and that’s a mindfulness form of meditation, and that’s really how to emotionally disengage, and just observe and be present and mindful of your environment, mindful of your thoughts, and that would just be observing the rise and fall of the waves on the surface of your mind.
Meditation Mantras does not involve any concentration, and it’s not just an observational tool. It’s an actual technique known as ‘automatic self-transcending,’ which allows the active mind to experience a quieter level of thought and experience our own unbounded nature.
This for of meditation is a simple, natural, effortless technique to give access to that calm, silent level of the mind that is always there. So, there is no change in lifestyle, there is nothing to believe in, there is no philosophy – it’s just a technique that once learned, you carry with you for the rest of your life.
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