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Beginner’s Guide to Yoga Chants
If you’ve ever pondered what exactly you’re saying when you chant during yoga class, this brief guide will help shed some light on common chants used during yoga practice.
Aum is the Primal Shabada. Sometimes written as “Om”, the correct pronunciation of this standard yoga mantra is “Aum”, with the “ow” portion stretching out until a brief “m” sound just at the end.
Similar to the Hebrew “Amen”, Aum is an affirmation of the Divine Presence (the Universe).
Gayatri
Gayatri means “Being illuminated by Sacred Sound” and is often spoken as part of the following mantra:
” Om bhur bhuvas svaha
Thath savithur varaynyam
Bhargo dheyvasya dhimahih
Dhyoyonah pratchodhay-yath”
which means, “We worship the word (shabda) that is present in the earth, the heavens, and that which is beyond. By meditating on this glorious power that gives us life, we ask that our minds and hearts be illuminated.”
Om Namah Shivaaya
Commonly, this mantra is repeated this way:
“Om Namah Shivaaya, Namah Shivaaya, Nama Siva”
which means:
“I bow to Lord Shiva, the peaceful one who is the embodiment of all that is cause by the universe.”
Lokah Samastha
This is a chant for manifesting wholeness.
“Lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu” means “May this world be established with a sense of wellbeing and happiness.”
Bija Mantras
“Bija” translates to “seed mantras”, where each seed is conceived of as a sound form of a Hindu deity. Each deity is, likewise, a certain aspect of the Absolute. Also expressed in Buddhism as The Jewel Net, and a basic principle of holographic theory, it is believed that just as a mature tree lives within each seed, so does a goddess or god live within each bija.
Refer to the chart below for information on each syllable:
| Sound | Pronunciation | Seat of Awareness |
| Lam | Curve the tip of your tongue up and back, placing it on the back section of the upper palate. Pronounce a sound like the word alum without the a. | Base of Spine / Muladhara Chakra |
| Vam | Place the upper set of teeth on the inside of your lower lip and start with a breathy consonant to imitate the sound of a zooming car. Pronounce the mantra like “fvam.” | Genitals / Svadhisthana Chakra |
| Ram | Placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of the front section of the upper palate, roll the r as in Spanish, and pronounce the mantra like the first part of the word rumble. | Solar Plexus and Abdomen / Manipura Chakra |
| Yam | Inhale audibly through your mouth, and pronounce the word hum. Allow the breath to extend past the end of the word. | Heart / Anahata Chakra |
| Ham | Inhale silently through your mouth, and pronounce the sound like the word yum. Allow the sound along with your breath to fill your mouth and throat cavities. | Throat / Vishuddha Chakra |
| Om | Inhale audibly through your nostrils, directing the stream of air to the spot between your eyebrows. Along with exhaling, pronounce the sound as a subtly audible whisper. Allow the sound and breath to resonate throughout your head. | Third Eye / Ajna Chakra |
(http://daily-yoga.org)
I fancy myself a student of the mystical schools. As such, nothing is off-limits as far as self- and multiverse- exploration goes. I prefer to use the term 'yoga' to mean the development of self, and not as one particular discipline. I seek viable, proactive information on subjects ranging from meta physics and philosophy, social evolution and ethics, to sustainable living practices and natural health solutions as alternatives to mainstream medicine, and in daily life. I share the ponderings and info you find here, as well as pass along articles by others whose interests fit into the topics on this site...so be sure to check out the links to other authors' sites in the bio section at the end of each article... and enjoy!