Mantras - Kundalini Yoga Mantras Part 1
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Mantras, love it/hate it
Here you can read more about Kundalini Yoga Mantras
If you have ever attended a kundalini yoga class, you have also become acquainted with the collective singing (called "chanting") of mantras. These ancient sounds of the universe are powerful and offer protection and support. You do not have to be able to sing well for them; mantras are sounds. Sometimes loud, sometimes soft. A mantra works best when you practice it often. The power of repetition is very strong . So throw your resistance overboard and chant along!
Mantras are usually written in Gurmukhi, a sacred Indian language, Sanskrit, and sometimes English. Mantras contain vibrations of peace, prosperity, connection, and other qualities. They have an impact even if you don’t know the meaning of every word. The correct pronunciation comes naturally through repetition and listening to examples. Understanding the meaning of the words adds an extra layer of effectiveness to the chanting.
Below you will find a number of frequently used mantras in kundalini yoga. These are the mantras that we have used in the class so far. After a few lessons I will write a part 2, to keep it a bit clear.
“Mantras are not small things, mantras have power. They are the mind vibration in relation to the Cosmos. The science of mantra is based on the knowledge that sound is a form of energy having structure, power, and a definite predictable effect on the chakras and the human psyche.” ~ Harbhajan Singh
The Adi Mantra
Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo
Ong = creative force of the universe
Namo = That's what I bow to/that's what I recognize as myself
Guru Dev = Divine teacher within myself
Namo = That's what I bow to/that's what I recognize as myself
“Ong” is the infinite creative energy that we experience when we are active and when we manifest.
“Namo” has the same root as the Sanskrit word “Namaste”, which means to greet respectfully. Namaste is a way of greeting in India where the palms are held together in front of the chest or forehead.
“Guru” is the embodiment of the wisdom you seek.
“Dev” means Divine, as in the English “Divine”
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This is the Adi mantra (Adi means first, primal) with which we start every kundalini yoga class, the "tuning in". And with which you can also start your own practice. With this mantra you tune in to your true self, you put aside your ego. You let a vibration rise from deep within you and share that with the world around you. Instead of an introduction round with your name and age, you introduce yourself in a subtle way, and that can be quite exciting at first. By bringing your attention inward and listening to the mantra and the vibration that this brings to the group, you also connect with this energy.
Tip: Listen to your own sound while singing a mantra. Sing so loudly or softly that you can still hear the sound of the people around you.
Listen to the Adi mantra online.
Sat Nam
Truth is my identity.
Truth is my identity, I resonate Truth. Sat Nam = 'That which Is'
Sat Nam is the most commonly used mantra in Kundalini Yoga.
“Sat” means truth – the reality of your existence.
“Nam” means identity.
This mantra can break through negative thoughts and vibrations. Chant the mantra out loud or silently to connect with the universal consciousness in all that is. During kundalini yoga exercises we often repeat SAT on the inhale and NAM on the exhale to focus your attention.
Tip:
Are your thoughts running away with you during an exercise or meditation? Are you thinking about all the things you still have to do and arrange? Then the sound "Sat Nam" can help you to bundle your thoughts. Think of SAT on the inhalation and NAM on the exhalation.
Wahee Yantee
Wah yantee kar yantee, jag dut patee,
aadak it waha, brahmaday trayshaa guroo, it wahay guroo
Translation (in English): Great Macroself, Creative Self. All that is creative through time, all that is the Great One. Three aspects of God: Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. That's Wahe Guru.
This is a Sanskrit mantra to help you live from your heart, instead of your head. It has a positive effect on your intuition. It is a very old mantra and was sung hundreds of years before Christ. This beautiful mantra is also called "Patanjali's song". Patanjali is the founder of the yoga sutras and the eightfold path. The Wahee Yantee mantra is one of the eight mantras that are sung during the aquarian sadhana. More about that later.
Snatam kaur has a beautiful version of the Wahee Yantee mantra, this is also the version we used in class. Via spotify or via Spirit Voyage .