Mantras are sacred words. Man means 'by repetition' (mananaat). Tra means 'saves' (traayate). It means that which saves one by being repeated mentally. Mantras, repeated mentally, saves one. Mantras are from the Vedas, the most ancient sacred works of India. They may be just one or two words, or they may be running into several words, in a string form. They are in praise of God or Goddess. They are the most powerful words or syllables. Full of potency, they can have either good or bad effects on the person who recites them. The use of Mantras or the sacred syllables is an important and potent means for achieving Siddhis, or attainments of various powers. Such a power is of the highest order. The second chapter of 'Siva Sutra', a sacred Yoga book, explains the significance of Mantras. It says that the divine power works through the agency of Nada or primoridal sound or vibration.

The very first sutra or aphorism of this chapter says, Cittam mantrah, meaning 'mind is based on Mantra'. Mantra is a particular combination of letters. Its power resides not in the letters themselves, but in the specific vibrations which they produce by their chaning or repetition. Each alphabet, therefore, represents a sound, a vibration. They are 'Aksharas', imperishables. There are several Mantras. There are Mantras for the common man and the seeker. The most powerful of them all is 'Om', the promordial sound. It is called the Pranava Mantra. The most popular and practised is the Gayathri hymn. Pranava and Gayathri bring about unfoldment of the consciousness. Meditated upon them, there is no limit to such an unfoldment. There is also the powerful Panchakshari, the five-syllabled Mantra addressed to God Siva, prefixed by Om. Similarly there is also the eight-syllable Ashtakshari, addressed to Narayana or Vishnu. Different Mantras are used for worship of different deities. There are sacred hymns for specific purposes, for attainment of particular objectives. They should be used as per directions of a Guru or teacher, with total faith in them. They should be recited correctly so that correct vibrations are produced for attaining the desired objective.Indestructible sound caused the emergence of the universe. It emerged in the rhythmic form during the process of the evolution of universe. This rhythmic sound controls the universe, setting a pattern to it. There is a set pattern to everything, in every branch of creation.

The first sound that emerged during the evolution is the most sacred 'Om'. It is the first sound with three letters, A U M. Om is the most potential of all the Mantras or hymns. It is the most powerful Beejakshara.The Vedas also describe how the universe came into existence. The evolution of the universe is described in the most beautiful and interesting manner in these sacred works. The universe emerged with the coming together of the two powerful units, Purusha and Prakruthi. During this creation, vibrations that arose became the most powerful resonance. Even music and art is attributed to this basic principle of vibration. It is this nada which produced the alphabets. It is this rhythmic sound which keeps life going in the set pattern. The correct chanting of these Mantras can lead the utterer to derive his objective. Correct chanting is a must for setting a correct rhythmic pattern, nada. Like Om, there are other Beejaksharas, which are very potent and powerful, the silent recitation and meditation on which can result in different powers. The seven such Beejaksharas represent the seven Matrkas or Saptha Matrkas (seven young maidens). They represent goddesses like Lalitha, Mahalakshmi, and Saraswathi. They also represent the seven colours. Similarly, there are 24 letters in the Gayathri Mantra. The Panchadakshari has 15 letters.These are similar to other Beejaksharas or group of words, which are potent with powers and hence sacred. They represent various tatwas. The seven swaras in the classical Indian music are known as Saptha Swaras. The seven letters, Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni form the core of Indian music. They create the Nada Brahma. They are the creators of Nada. The 24 houses in the classical and ancient Indian musical instrument Veena, represent the powers of the Saptha Matrkas or the seven goddesses. The recitation of such Beejaksharas leads to Mokasha, liberation from the cycle of life and death. Nada has the power to liberate man from the worldly attachments and enable him to obtain enlightenment, evolve himself into an elevated human being.

Mantras can lead to both spiritual realization or material benefits. It can help in the process of achieving enlightenment. Regular recitation, constant repetition will help soothen the troublesome mind. One should understand the meaning and significance of the sacred words, before venturing into their recitation, before using them for contemplation or meditation. He should choose the appropriate Mantra for achieving his desired objective. But there are common set of Mantras which can be generally used by the ordinary. By their usage, the disturbed mind can be brought under control. It can ease tensions, help relax body and mind, and thus improve the health of the reciter. Mantras are word powers. Either they could be used spiritual realisation or material desires. They could be used for one's own welfare or destruction. It is like atomic energy. The energy from the atom can be either used for production of more energy (power), for good or destruction. Its creative or destructive power depends upon the devotion of the man who uses it. One can find Mantras not only in Hinduism, but in various other religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity and Islam though they have different names. They are corresponding words to Mantras.Find a Guru, have Mantropadesha from him and discover the potency in you by constant practice.