Benefits of Chanting Mantras

Chanting mantras is an ancient practice that calms your mind and soul. It can be highly beneficial for your brain. The primary effect of chanting mantras is on our mind and nervous system, not on the brain. It has a positive vibration which helps to remove all the negativity from your mind.

Vedic chanting is said to help develop one's mental power and strength, ease stress, and take one to a high level of conciousness. 

Regular  chanting of mantras help to get free from wipe out fear, anger and depression, and help relieve disorders of respiratory, digestive, reproductive, circulatory, speech, intellectual and cognitive systems.

Chanting also helps one's to improve memory and power of concentration.

1. What is Mantra?

Mantra (vehicle for the mind) is the ancient practice of repeating a word or a phrase multiple times. 

Mantra comes from a Sanskrit word meaning a "sacred message or text, charm, spell, counsell".

It is traditionally a short sound, word or even phrase spoken in Sanskrit and used for meditation purposes. It's uttered in repetition to help keep our mind and body focused on the movement. 

Mantras occupies a prominent place in vedic religion and Indian Culture. Since from past Saints, sages, and Yogis have been Practicing Mantra Yoga for spiritual enlightenment. Mantras are used in various ritual and spiritual practices and sacrificial ceremonies. 

In India, our every festival is celebrated by chanting different mantras. We can't imagine of the celebration of any festival's and ceremonies without chanting of mantras in Vedic religion. 

2. Importance of Mantras 

A mantra is a revealed word, a divine sound that has been received or experienced by Vedic seers in the state of deep meditation and trance. 

Mantra refers to a "mystical formula" regarding some deity. 

Mantra is a Sanskrit word Man means 'mind' and tra means 'to deliver'. Thus, a mantra is a transcendental sound vibration with potency to liberate the mind from this materialistic world.

Mantra therefore, are not a creation of the human mind. They're prescribed from high sources. 

3. What are the scientific reason behind chanting?

According to high research on chanting, science has proved that chanting can decrease stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as increases the positivity of mind, feelings of relaxation and focus attention. 

Science has now prove that when we chant we improve our health in amazing ways without taking medication. 

Science has prove that chantings help to stimulate the body chakras, also known as the energy center of the body. 

"Vocal group chanting provides more opportunity then silent chanting for deep connection with other people, and this might help to explain the enhance impact on altruism".

4. Which mantras we should chant everyday?

• Maha-mantra

Maha-mantra is considered as chief of all the mantras and especially recommended for this age of Kalyuga.

Maha means 'great' and mantra means 'sacred chant of deliverance'. Of all mantras in the Vedic, one is called the maha mantra, or great mantra:

 

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna 

Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama

Rama Rama, Hare Hare

The word 'Hare' is an address to God's energy, known as Radha, and 'Krishna' is name of God meaning "He who is attractive to everyone". 'Rama' means "one who gives pleasure and enjoys life". 

When chanted the Maha-mantra is a petition to God : 

" O Krishna, O energy of Krishna,  please engage me in your service".

Lord Brahma replies to Narad Muni, that these sixteen names are destructive of the evil effects of Kali Yuga. No better means that this is to be seen in all the Vedas.

The Maha-mantra was popularized by Chaitanya Maha-prabhu roughly around 1500 C.E when he began to start the mission to spread this mantra publicly to every 'town and village' in the world. 

• OM

The king of mantras. The OM is the sound of the universe resonating at 432 Hz, the entire world in one just intensely pleasurable sound.

Om chanting is a disciple and flexible process to remove tension, anxiety, fear, depression and negativity from life. It can bring positivity to your life life courage, focus, concentration, happiness and joy effortlessly.

Dedication your OM to your well-being, to your family, to your community, or to the world. Like a pebble dropped into a still pond, allow your OM to ripple out.

Om Namoh Lakshmi

Om Namoh Lakshmi 

Om Namoh Lakshmi 

Prema Devi Mataji

This mantra calls on the Hindu Goddess Lakshimi for abundance, beauty, health, luminosity, and love. There are many chants for Lakshimi. This mantra translates to 'Oh Mother Lakshmi! Goddess of good fortune, prosperity, and beauty. Goddess of love, I  bow to you'. Call on Lakshmi when you're feel, do it and preparing for a big change.

• Om Gam Ganapataya Namaha

This mantra summons the Hindu Deity Ganesha, the beloved elephant headed trickster known as the remover of obstacles and master of knowledge. This mantra translates to 'Salutation to Ganesha', the remover/breaker of obstacles, we call your name! Call on Ganesha to clear your path when you feel stuck or creatively blocked, when you need a change of perspective, on when life feels especially challenging and you're not sure why.

• Ehi Vidhi Hoi Naath Hit Moraa

This is the mantra for success and to know the path to achieving success, chant this mantra daily repeatedly. Chant the powerful mantra with faith and respect for the opportunity that will come your way.

" Jehi Vidhi Hoi Naath Hit Moraa Karahu So Vegi Daas Main Toraa", means ' O Lord, I am your devotee. I don't know what to do. So do at once whatever is good for me". 

• Om Namah Shivaya 

Om namah shivaya mantra is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the most powerful mantra in Hinduism. Repeating this mantra over and over again leads to transcendental mode or a state of pure concentration. 

Om - The vibration that represents the creation of the universe.

Namah - It means a bow to show adoration. 

Shivaya - It means the inner self. 

• Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 

Om - Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim

Pushti Vardhanam I Urvarukamiva

Bandhanath Mrityomukshiya Mamritat।।

 This extremely powerful mantra helps us escape the fear of death. Lord Shiva is known as the Lord of Death and Destruction, hence only he can save us from death. Family members of people dangling between life and death often recite this particular mantra for the affected to get well soon.

5. Why do we recite mantras 108 times?

According to Indian devotional, we recite any mantras for 108 times because this number is considered as sacred by Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. 

In 108, 1 stands for the God, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice and 8 stands for infinity.

By coincidence, the distance between the Sun and the Earth is 108 times the Sun's diameter. Also, the distance between the Moon and the Earth is 108 times the Moon's diameter. Again, the radius of the Moon 108 miles. 

Thus, we have this, 

▪︎ 108 ways or methods of Yoga based upon chakras. 

▪︎ 108 Mantra for chanting. 

▪︎ 108 Beads, no. of beads in any Mala or rosary.

6. What is the Best time to chant mantra?

It depends on the mantra. 

If you are chanting mantra worshiping the Sun, if is a little foolish to do so in the night.

Similarly, some mantras are meant for specific occasions, and not according to the time of the day.

However, there are Maha-mantra, that are composed of Divine Names only and that can be chanted anytime.

But on my point of view, 

There are certain mantras which are chanted in morning, in evening and as well as in night. Like Maha-mantra, 

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna 

Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama

Rama Rama, Hare Hare

But like Gayatri Mantra is chanted thrice that is why it is called Sandhya.

Morning, Afternoon and Evening during sunset.

But most important, this is strictly for Brahmins who were janoi (sacred thread) around their shoulder.

Om Namah Shivaya you can chant anytime.

7. What are the benefits of Chanting Mantra?

• Relax mind and body

Mantras directly affect your mind and Science has proved it. Chanting of mantras being peace in your mind. When you recite mantras your mind releases the stress and your body will automatically start to relax.

• Increases the concentration power 

Mantras are very useful to focus on the task. Chanting mantras will help to increase your ability of concentration and focus your attention on your goal. Sit and practice mantras daily for 10-15 minutes and you will see the result on the next couple of days.

• Decrease stress from mind

Mantras are positive words or phrases. When you chant mantras your mind release the positive energy that decrease the negative thoughts or stress from your mind. Our Ancient scholars says, that chanting mantras help to calms your mind and soul.

Scientific studies have found the chanting mantras for 10 minutes can decrease anxiety and depressive symptoms in the human body.

• Better control over breath 

Repeating a mantra while meditating can also help you find a natural breathing rhythm. 

It get some time to get familiar to meditative breathing exercises. Matching your breath to your mantra can make this process easier and help you more relaxed at the same time.

• Promotes a feeling of connection to yourself and others 

Chanting is a practice that deepens connection with source and with those around us. It has the ability to purify and open the heart, which explains why its increasing popularity throughout the world. 

The Friendship and connection that form with in a chanting community are beautiful to express and witness. 

Conclusion

The present study provides the further evidence for the beneficial effects of chanting mantras. It is the union of the individual soul with the supreme soul by the chanting mantras of the mantra. There are some evidence that mantras meditation can improve mental health and negative thoughts from our mind, however poor study quality may hind the accuracy of the finding.