Mantra, Mudra, and Yantra
by Ariel Spilsbury
Mantra raises body consciousness into seed crystal mind.
The meaning of the word mantra: man: reflective consciousness and tram: the wings of love or liberation. Mantra in Sanskrit is knowledge of the power of sound. Mantras are energy based sounds deriving their power from the energy effect the sounds produce. According to acoustic research and alchemy, our bodies are raised in frequency by resonating with seed mantras such as those listed here. Singing and chanting are thus a creative act of raising vibration. Many different spiritual traditions believe that mantras are a kind of wireless communication with the Divine powers of creation. NADA is the soundless sound, the no-thing and all things out of which sound arises.
The Mantra OM (aum) is one of the most powerful of all mantras. It is the unmanifest nature and power of the Universe. “Ah” is waking consciousness “u” is dream consciousness and “m” is the consciousness that embraces and transcends all worlds and states of being. “Hrim” is the sound of the immanence of the Goddess, the formless made manifest. Mantras provide a natural means of returning ones system to alignment, coherence and balance. They can be used to dislodge old patterns, literally vibrating them free. (See the Sound article for more on this.)
Some Activating Sound Patterns and Mantras:
I EE OH U (YOU) EE AH OH UM..This is a powerful vibrational access to the vibration of the Divine Mind. This is a mantra for eighth chakra activation and consciousness transmutation.
RAM is for activation and opening of the heart chakra (any sound with AH is).
Ayer Asher Ayer is a Cabalistic mantra of “I am that I am”.
Lay Ooh Esh (A cabalistic mantra: Pillar of light of the holy presence)
Phowa ( A Tibetian mantra representing the consciousness of light.) ZE (Light polarization which mediates between the body and its divine double (or Ka) in the Egyptian.)
Atul: Egyptian mantra for the “ancient ones”, honoring our ancient souls.
Eloha Umma (A cabalistic mantra: Divinity and its community of Light.)
Om Mani Padme Hume: (Tibetian mantra meaning, “I salute the jewel in the eye of the lotus.”) “Om” represents the prime cause, “Mani Padme” represents the combination of divine wisdom and supreme compassion and “Hume” is the infinite bound within the finite.
Om Tat Sat (Hindu mantra meaning: “Thou are the inexpressible absolute reality”.)
Oh Hu Ye Ya: A Cabalistic mantra for one of the secret sacred names of the Divine.
Yom Or (Cabalistic mantra for the vibration of the New World emerging.)
Lol Lil Lol... Mayan chant for “lol” pure vibration and “lil” the flower of awakened consciousness.
Oh Yam Hu Nab Ku Evam Maya Eva Ho... (Mayan chant meaning “Hail to the alignment and harmony of heart and mind!”)
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti ( Hindu chant meaning “Peace to all beings”.)
Min Ha Ada Ma: (Cabalistic mantra meaning “Creating the garment of light, frequency shifting.”)
On Namah Sivaya: (Hindu chant for creating balance between knowledge and desire and to transform negative tendencies.)
Aloha : Hawaiian mantra for the Breath of the Divine
Gate Gate Paragate Bodhi Swaha... (Hindi chant for “going to the other shore, transcendence”)
Yub Yam: Hindi mantra of the creational pulse.
Om Tara Tu Tare Ture Swaha ( a prayer for compassion from Hindu Goddess Tara )
Om Krim Kaliyei Swaha (Hindu mantra evoking clearing of negative ego by Kali)
Kundalini Mata Shakti Namo Namo (Hindu temple mantra honoring the Shakti force)
Narayana: (mantra evoking balance between male and female aspects within)
Ah Kin (mayan mantra for honoring the sun)
Kenosis: (preparing for union with the Divine through emptying the mind)
Ain Soph Aur: Cabalistic mantra meaning “limitless light.”
Chit Sat Anada: Bliss, Thought, Being
Alu-Lua_Kolu-Ha: Hawaiian chant of making En Kai Pan: Convergence of the one in the many
Mudra
Mudra is the Sanskrit word for “sealing the energy.”
Through mudra, as we seal the energy in something, we are focusing the energy like a laser, bringing it into maximal coherence and thus to its most potent use in directing energy through intention. Mudra is transformative because of the effect that various mudras have on the body, mind and consciousness. Mudras consisting of hand gestures, finger postures and body postures, initiate people into a non-verbal level of communication. Mudras can help breakthrough barriers in communications because they are a distilled form of wisdom that our Essential selves recognize. They are symbolic sign based patterns that can retain the efficacy of the spoken word while reaching areas beyond the range of words. Hand mudras have been used as a form of communication since the beginning of time. Our hands express our innermost self. That is why it is said that hand mudras are a way in which we communicate with divine cosmic energies. “Mudra is the art of symbolic gestures through which the invisible forces may operate on the earthly sphere.” Nitan Kumar.
Mudras aid concentration, channel energy through meridians, give significance to an image, dance posture, or meditative pose, intensifying its potency. Hand mudras are encoded with the five elements. Starting with the thumb as sky or ether then wind or air, fire, water, earth. The fingers contact with each other symbolizes the synthesis of these elements, significant because every form in this Universe is said to be composed of a unique combination of these elements. From the singular stillpoint of one mudra, into the movement and dance of flow, the story of creation unfolds, bringing all elements into conscious connection. Dance becomes sacred when the awareness of its power to transform, informs movement the honors oneself as the living flame at the center of our temples. It is our inhabiting our bodies as a temple, that sanctifies it. Our spines are an open conduit to attune to the energies of Kundalini.. the Divine current and fire of Shakti. Sacred dance lends itself to expressing esoteric concepts that cannot be described by words or static pictures. Thus it often embodies and expresses the subtle teachings of Tantra.
Yantra Sacred Geometry
As body is to soul... so Mudra, Mantra and Yantra are to Diety.
Yantra is a Sanskrit word derived from the root “yam” meaning to sustain, hold or support energy inherent to a particular element, object or concept. When referred to in spiritual contexts, yantras are geometrical designs intended as a tool for increased awareness and meditation. Yantras are based upon the underlying geometries of space and form, thus they interpret the primal patterning of truth held in Nature and the Universe. They are instructional charts of the spiritual aspect of human existence. Yantras are considered to be sacred enclosures which house Deities. Yantras express the sense and spirit of Diety. For example, you may be familiar with the iconic image of Kali. We have given her human attributes so we can recognize her in ourselves. She represents the cosmic activities of creation, destruction and preservation. Her yantra seems to bear no resemblance to her iconic form, but is her receptacle and a symbolic projection of the metaphysical truths which she represents.
Yantra’s embody timeless universal principles in archetypal language. These archetypal forms appear in various cultures around the world. Mandala like forms appear in Celtic motifs, Navajo sand painting, the circular dance of the Sufi and Islamic art patternings. These expressions of form represent the geometric nature of consciousness, creating power fields in which the Divine is invoked. Yantras are symbols that are fluid, non fixed images which bring light and energy into matter. Yantras can open one to the energy found behind their simple outward interpretation. They are designed to reach through themselves to the natural law or organizing principle held within.
