What is a mantra? And how to choose your mantra?

What is a mantra? A mantra is a word, sound, or phrase repeated to help you focus while meditating.

What is a mantra?

When using a mantra, it is believed that only positive intentions and actions will fill your mind and eliminate negativity.

A mantra can be as simple as the word "love", something that you are grateful, or a phrase like “om shanti, shanti, shanti, shanti” which represents overall peace. You can also meditate on an affirmation, such as 'I accept myself'.

Many people are lucky enough to be gifted with a mantra from a teacher or guru.

However, you can choose a mantra for yourself based on what you need in life. When choosing a mantra, you should consider your inner motivations for practicing meditation.

Whether you're looking for positivity, health, happiness, self-love, or just want to find balance.

Here are some of our favorite modern mantras

• Endurance/Strength: “This too will pass.”
• Love: “I am love.”
• A calmer mind: “Smile, breathe and take it easy.”
• Be present: “Be there, now.”
• Allow the universe to guide you: “I am open to receiving universal gifts.”
• Happiness: “Today, I choose joy.”
• Release: “Close your eyes, release your heart, let it go.”
• Empowerment: “I am capable of wonderful things”

Some of our favorite ancient mantras:

• Om Namah Shivaya: “I honor the divinity within me” to help me with self-confidence.
• Om Hreem Shreem Shreem Hara Hara Hara Swaaha: This mantra will help you attract abundance into your life.
• The Gayatri mantra: The Gayatri mantra (below) is the oldest prayer which encourages one to let oneself be guided by the universe, because it is divine.
• Om bhur buvah svah svah
• Tat savitur varemyam
• Bhargo devasya dhimahi dhimahi
• Dhiyo yonah prachodyat

Or you can just choose a word (words below are in Sanskrit):

• Shradda - Faith
• Bhakti - Devotion
• Shanti - Peace
• Prajna - Wisdom
• Santosa - Contentment
• Veda - Knowledge
• Ananda - Bliss
• Moksha - Liberation
• Dharma - The Right Path
• Prasada - Grace/clarity