Watch hundreds of videos on our YouTube channel!
Healing Mantras
by Kathleen Karlsen, Author of Vocal Medicine
Healing mantras are keys to connecting with an aspect of God’s consciousness, often exemplified by a particular god, goddess or deity. The goal is to embody each of these characteristics and to bring these frequencies into your own world.
The process of mantra recitation can result in spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. This article covers several aspects of healing mantras, focusing on healing mantras from Ayurvedic medicine.
Healing Mantras from Ayurvedic Medicine
The holistic science of Ayurvedic healing was developed in India over 3,000 years ago. There are specific chants in the Ayurvedic system for all aspects of the subtle energy body that surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body.
Harmonizing the Energy Body
According to Ayurvedic teachings, the subtle energy body can be harmonized to the physical body to create a flow of energy that assists and supports physical health. This flow of energy is known as prana. Prana is sometimes interpreted as “breath” though it really refers to the energy carried by the breath.
Understanding Shiva and Shakti Energy
Shiva is the unformed, masculine energy that pervades the universe. This energy is also known as chi. This is the energy behind all manifestations. The masculine energy takes form when it is contained by the shakti energy or goddess energy. The individual determines the form that the energy will take. For example, you can pour that energy into creating artwork, a business, a relationship or a child.
Mantra Purusha: The Body of Sound
The energy body around the physical body is known as the Mantra Purusha or the body of sound. The Mantra Purusha correlates all of the vowels, consonants, semi-vowels, and sibilants in the Sanskrit language to regions of the body. There are sixteen vowels, twenty-five consonants and nine semi-vowels and sibilants.
Sound and the Marmas
Many of the vowels and corresponding syllables have both long and short vowel forms. The sounds and mantras correspond to zones known as the marmas. These zones are similar to but larger than acupuncture points.
Resource for Healing Mantras
A great introductory handbook for this topic is Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound by Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shasti). Dr. Frawley includes an appendix with mantras for each area of the body. Each mantra follows a pattern: the word “om” followed by the seed syllable for a specific part of the body, followed by the word “namah” and completed by the name of the bodily location.
Translating Healing Mantras
For example, a possible mantra for the head is “Om Am Namah Sirasi,” which translates something like: “O Universe, I give reverence to my head!” Likewise, the mantra “Om Im Namah Vama Netre” means “O Universe, I give reverence to my left eye!”
Powerful Healing Mantras for the Heart
Chanting healing mantras is one of the most effective ways to bring spiritual fire into the heart itself and into the heart chakra, the energy center associated with your physical heart. Spiritual fire purifies, heals, and creates new connections in the heart.
Seed Syllables for the Heart
There are healing mantras that utilize seed syllables specifically for the heart. Primary among these is the seed syllable YAM. Other seed syllables for the heart include HRIM and KRIM. Learn more and listen to these mantras in the article Heart Mantras.
Specific Healing Mantras
The following healing mantras can be used for specific purposes and conditions. These mantras help to clear blockages and transform the energetic body. Please note that this does not preclude standard medical care. Mantras will support all efforts that are made to adjust your lifestyle, diet, exercise and so forth to achieve optimal health.
Rama’s Healing Mantra
Rama (or Ram) lived thousands of years ago in India. He possessed great spiritual authority and was known for the healings and blessings he bestowed on others. The word “ram” is also the Sanskrit seed syllable for the solar plexus.
Using the Seed Syllable RAM
The powerful emotional energy of the solar plexus can be activated using the syllable RAM. That emotional energy can subsequently be directed towards physical healing. Listen to this mantra and learn more in the article called Rama’s Mantra.
Healing Mantras for the Lungs
Mantras for the lungs often focus on the breath, creating a smooth inhale and exhale to strengthen the lungs and calm the mind. This simple hamsa mantra helps to create a vibration that connects to your lungs, heart and spirit.
Meaning of the Word “Hamsa”
The “ham” is the sound of the in breath and the “sa” is the sound of the outbreath. “Hamsa” or “hansa” is also a term of honor, literally meaning “swan.” For example, the name “paramahansa” means the “highest swan.” This is the name given to Paramahansa Yoganada, author of the famous book Autobiography of a Yogi.
Learn more about the lungs and breath in the article Lung Healing Mantra.
Healing Mantras for Digestion
Mantras for digestion are specifically oriented towards helping to alleviate a huge problem in the modern world. In addition to physical issues, there is a connection between gut bacteria and mental health. The gut or digestive system carries quite a bit of emotional significance. Many metaphors reflect this phenomenon: spill your guts, gut feelings, bust a gut, hate your guts, and so forth. Learn more in our article on Digestion Mantras.
Healing Mantra for the Throat & Thyroid
Ham is the seed syllable for the throat chakra. This chant honors and strengthens the energy of positive personal power and finding your own voice. In particular, Shiva is associated with the breath which passes through the throat to connect us to life. Explore the sounds, mantras and symbol of the throat chakra in the article Throat Chakra Meaning.
Eye Healing Mantras
The usefulness of an eye healing mantra is clear in the modern world. For example, many of us experience the strain of long hours of computer use. Other stressors such as poor diet can contribute to challenges with vision.
Vision Problems in the Modern World
Whatever the cause, the fact is that nearly 63% of all Americans wear glasses or contacts. The numbers are likely similar in other industrialized countries. In addition, there are many other common conditions that interfere with comfortable, healthy vision. To learn more, see the Eye Healing Mantra article.
Mantras and Laughter Therapy
WATCH VIDEO: Mantras and Laughter Therapy
When the same sound (ha) is extended (ha ha ha ha ha ha), the effect is similar to laughter therapy, which has been proven to relieve stress and depression. Indeed, laughing with friends is a powerful healing experience. We are thirty times more likely to laugh in a group context than when alone.
HEALING MANTRAS ARTICLE SUMMARY
This article covers the origin and uses of sacred sound healing. Ancient mantras have been constructed with healing in mind. They are created to stimulate the various systems in the body to provide a strong and healthy foundation for mediation and other spiritual practices. Topics included in this article are the science, history and examples of healing mantras.
Kathleen Karlsen is an author, musician, artist, and composer. She has written three books (The Color-Music Connection, Flower Symbols, and Vocal Medicine) and over 200 articles. Her YouTube channel features over 600 videos. Kathleen and her family live in Bozeman, Montana, USA.
Please Visit Our Store!