Chanting has been an important part of most traditions for thousands of years.
The chants included in this section come mainly from the Vedic tradition of India. Most of the chants are centered around specific mantras or sounds which have a known effect. The chants are in the ancient Sanskrit language.
Everything in creation is, at its deepest level, sound or vibration so sound is a very powerful tool for restoring balance and harmony in our physiology and the environment. Certain sounds also help us manifest the circumstances and surroundings necessary to support our spiritual growth.
In the Vedic Tradition, most chants are directed towards a particular deity. These deities can be viewed as external gods and goddesses but more importantly they represent the archetypal energies that we each have, lying dormant within us. When we listen to or practice these chants, we re-enlivened these energies in our lives.
You may listen to the chants by sitting quietly with eyes open or closed, or while engaged in simple activities. Ideally, I recommend learning the chants so you can accompany the recordings or use them alone. Most chants are more powerful when practiced silently, with the attention drawn inwards however, it’s fine to chant aloud if you prefer. You may practice or listen to any of the chants immediately before or after your regular meditation practice or at any other convenient time of the day.
It is recommended to repeat any chant at least three times but you may continue for as many times as is comfortable for you. If you wish to enliven certain energies, you might make a commitment to listen to or practice a certain chant for a set number of repetitions, for a set number of days. Depending on how much time you have available, this could be 11, 16 or 27 for the longer chants and 108 for the shorter ones. Ideally, a mala or string of beads containing the required number of beads would be used to keep count of the repetitions.
The Article Section contains further information on the use of sound, the value and role of some specific chants and the use of malas.
Chants, Mantras and Prayers
Ganesh
Ganesh chants enliven the archetypal energy to help us remove any obstacles in our lives, awaken our inner wisdom, bringing success in all areas of our lives.
This chant is best done at the beginning of the day or before any new undertaking but can be done at any other convenient time.
OM GAM GLUM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA
Shiva
As “the first meditator”, Shiva brings us the archetypal energies of Pure Potentiality, Pure Silence and Infinite Possibilities. This mantra maybe chanted at any time or used silently for meditation.
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA
Gayatri
The Gayatri Mantra is for Enlightenment. It is an appeal to the Divine to dispel the darkness of ignorance and awaken us to higher states of consciousness. Chanting the Gayatri Mantra purifies the mind and brings devotion, detachment and wisdom.
Chant the Gayatri Mantra at dawn, mid-day and dusk, but can be chanted at any other time. Once learned, it is best repeated silently.
Normally the long version is chanted three times before beginning the traditional version. Please click here to see the article on Gayatri Mantra.
Long Version
OM BHUH OM BHUVAH OM SVAHA OM MAHA
OM JANAH OM TAPAH OM SATYAM
OM TATSAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACODAYAT
OM APO JYOTIH RASO’MRTAM
BRAHMA BHUR BHUVAH SVAR OM
Traditional Version
OM BHUR BHUVA SUVAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT
Maha Mrityunjaya
This is a powerful Shiva mantra for health, longevity and overcoming the fear of death. It is also a mantra for Enlightenment.
OM TRYAMBAKAM YAJAMAHE
SUGANDHIM PUSHTI VARDHANAM
URVARUKAMIVA BANDHANAT
MRTYOR MUKSHIYA MAMRTAT
Chanting a mantra 108 times is recommended to surround your system with the protection of Shiva’s energy, the most powerful energy.
Use this version to chant 108 times.
Aarti
Aarti is an offering of light (flame) to a deity, guru or any other sacred form. It is often performed at the beginning or end of the day or at the end of a ceremony. This short version of Aarti, followed here by a prayer of gratitude to the gurus and teachers who have gone before us.
ARARTIKAM
KARPURA GAURAM KARUNA VATARAM
SAMSARA SARAM BHUJA GENDRA HARAM
SADA VASANTAM HRIDAYARA VINDE
BHAVAM BHAVANI SAHITAM NAMAMI
ARARTIKAM SAMARPAYAMI SHRI GURU CHARAN KAMALEBHYO NAMAH
ACHAMANIYAM SAMARPAYAMI SHRI GURU CHARAN KAMALEBHYO NAMAH
GURUR BRAHMA GURUR VISHNUR
GURUR DEVO MAHESHVARAH
GURU SAKSHAT PARAM BRAHMA
TASMAI SRI GURAVE NAMAH
AKHANDA MANDALAKARAM
VYAPTAM YENA CHARACHARAM
TAT PADAM DARSHITAM YENA
TASMAI SRI GURUVE NAMAH
Saraswati
To invoke the archetypal energy of wisdom, peace, gentleness, truth and pure speech
OM AYIM SHRIM HRIM SARASWATI DEVYAI NAMAHA
Lakshmi Mantra
To invoke the archetypal energy of abundance, beauty, generosity, clearing family problems.
OM SHRIM HRIM SHRIM KAMALE KAMALAALAYE
PRASEEDHA PRASEEDHA
SHRIM HRIM SHRIM OM
SRI MAHALAKSHMI DEVYAI NAMAHA
Durga
To invoke the archetypal energy of protection, beauty and removal of ignorance.
OM HRIM DUM DURGA DEVYAI NAMAHA
Chant this mantra 108 times, as long as necessary and during crisis, to surround your system with protection and overcoming ignorance.
Use this version to chant 108 times.
Bodhisattva Prayer
A Buddhist prayer or vow to remain in the cycle of birth and death even after enlightenment, to help other beings on their journeys to enlightenment.
With a wish to free all beings, I shall always go for refuge
To the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, until I reach full enlightenment.
Filled with wisdom and compassion, today in the Buddha’s presence
I generate the mind for full awakening, for the benefit of all sentient beings.
As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain,
Until then, may I too remain, and dispel the miseries of the world.
Perfection of Wisdom
From the Buddhist teaching known as the Heart of the Great Wisdom Sutra. The mantra to destroy all suffering.
Gone from suffering to the liberation of suffering. Gone from forgetfulness to mindfulness. Gone from duality into non-duality. Gone beyond the beyond to Enlightenment
GATE, GATE, PARAGATE, PARA SAM GATE BODHI SVAHA
Green Tara
This is the mantra of the Buddha of compassion and action. It enlivens the archetypal energy of compassion helping to relieve us and others of physical, emotional and spiritual suffering, caused by pride, ignorance, delusion and wrong thinking, hatred, jealousy, greed, desires, attachments and doubts It is also used for enlightenment and abundance.
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
A Prayer for Peace
May the entire universe be filled with peace and prosperity. Can be used anytime but most often at the end of a spiritual practice.
LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIHI
Prayer for Enlightenment
This prayer from the Yajur Veda can be used at the end of a meditation or Satsang session.
From untruth lead us to truth. From darkness lead us to light. From death lead us to immortality. Peace, peace, eternal peace.
OM ASATO MA SADGAMAYA
TAMASO MA JYOTIRGAMAYA
MRTYOR MA AMRITAMGAMAYA
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIHI
Shanti Mantra
The Shanti Mantra isn’t a mantra in the traditional sense of what we call mantras. It is a chant used as the invocation at the beginning of the Aitareya Upanishad.
Most of the Upanishads are preceded by an invocation or chant. These invocations help the teacher and the students to step out of the ego and open to the highest wisdom, about to be imparted. On a subtle level, it develops humility, reminding us that we are merely temporary custodians of this knowledge.
It may be chanted before any auspicious occasion or teaching or whenever there is the desire to connect with higher wisdom.
Translation by Eknath Easwarn
Om. May my word be one with my thought, and my my thought be one with my word. O Lord of Love, let me realize you in my consciousness. May I realize the Truth of the scriptures and translate it into my daily life. May I proclaim the truth of the scriptures. May I speak the Truth.
May it protect me and may it protect my teacher.
Om Peace, peace, peace.
OM
VANGME MANASI PRATISTHITA
MANO ME VACI PRATISTHITAM
AVIR AVIR MA EDHI
VEDASYA MA ANIISTHAH
SRUTAM ME MA PRAHASIR
ANENADHITENAHORATRAN SAMDADHMI
RTAM VADISYAMI
SATYAM VADISYAMI
TANMAM AVATU
TADVAKTARAMAVATU
AVATU MAM
AVATU VAKTARAM
AVATU VAKTARAM
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI
Combinations of Mantras
The following combinations of mantras are suggested to be repeated silently or aloud, before or after meditation or at other times to enliven the desired effect. The number of repetitions can be adjusted to suit the time available. You may choose to make a commitment to repeat one of these combinations for a set number of days.
To support study, learning and expansion of spiritual knowledge
Ganesh Mantra – 5 times
Gayatri Mantra – 3 times
Mrtyunjaya Mantra – 3 times
Saraswati Mantra – 5 times
To increase abundance or harmony in different areas of one’s life
Ganesh Mantra – 5 times
Gayatri Mantra – 3 times
Mrtyunjaya Mantra – 3 times
Lakshmi Mantra – 5 times
For protection from negative influences or challenges and to bring clarity of mind
Ganesh Mantra – 5 times
Gayatri Mantra – 3 times
Mrtyunjaya Mantra – 3 times
Durga Mantra – 5 times