Greetings. Sat Nam.
The words that we tune in with in Kundalini Yoga classes are “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.” and the English translation is “Salutations or Greetings to the Divine within and without.” Since we used a lot of mantras in Kundalini Yoga, I also wanted to give you a little explanation about mantra.
Mantras are formulas that use the energy of sound to balance the brain, mind, chakras (energy centers that correlate with various parts of the body), and psyche (or soul mind). Mantra uses the creative projection of the mind to create balance of body, mind, and spirit.
Some questions I’ve been asked about mantras are:
- How do they work? Kundalini Yoga mantras elevate us through their sound vibration, meaning, and rhythmical repetition. Sometimes this is multiplied by linking the mantra to breath.
- Why aren’t they in English? Some mantras are in English. Two mantras that are in English are “I AM” and “GOD AND I, ME AND GOD ARE ONE.” (I know it isn’t grammatically correct but that’s the way it is written.) Yogi Bhajan said that he used mantras based on their technology of sound. Adi Shakti is a mantra that comes from Sanskrit:
Adi Shakti, namo, namo
Sarab shati, namo, namo
Pritam bhagvati, namo, namo
Kundalini, mata shakti, namo, namo.
It means:
I bow to the Primal Power.
I bow to the all Encompassing Power and Energy.
I bow to that through which God creates.
I bow to the creative power of the Kundalini, the Divine Mother Power.
Some Kundalini mantras come from the Sikh tradition such as “Guru Guru Wahe Guru.” It’s a mantra of ecstasy. “Wow, bliss!”
Other mantras come from the Kundalini Yoga tradition:
Sat Nam. It means truth is my identity or God is truth.
and Sa-ta-na-ma. It means Infinity, Life, Death (or transformation), Rebirth.
- Can’t I just use any word or affirmation? No, mantras are not affirmations and just any word will not have the effects of mantra on body, mind and spirit.
- My mind keeps thinking—”What am I going to wear tomorrow?” “What I’m going to have for dinner?” “Does my boyfriend like me?” Does this mean the mantra isn’t working? Aren’t I supposed to have an empty mind? No, Yogi Bhajan compared meditating to emptying the trash…all thoughts, desires, etc. need to pass through on their way to be dumped. He also compared it to taking a bath. We wouldn’t take one bath and say, “I’m clean. I don’t ever need to bathe again.” Meditation is cleansing the mind like a bath cleanses the body.
Mantra is a powerful technique to heal body, mind and spirit. Give it a try!
Yogi Bhajan Birthday Sadhana 8/26/2011