Frequently Used Mantras in Kundalini Yoga

An aspect of Kundalini Yoga that is not particularly well known in the West is the use of Mantras. Mantra means “Mental projection” and they are made up of two types of sounds; those that have a sacred meaning and those that are purely sound frequencies that produces a specific effect at the physical, psychic or energetic level of a person.

Both affect our consciousness. The first type focus our mind on a particular idea, for example, SAT NAM means "I identify with the truth." The second focus on their vibratory effect.

Mantras tend to raise us to a very high level of "vibration" so that we can enter into and become what we sing. The easiest way to understand this is to think of a time when you have walked into a room where people have been having an argument, you can feel it in the air, like a heaviness. Alternatively think about when you have walked into a room after people have been meditating or singing or laughing and having a good time. The air feels light and really nice to be in.

The mantras help make our mind clearer, calmer and more joyful by replacing our more dense thoughts and in this way bit by bit we clear our subconscious mind.

We usually use mantras by co-ordinating the sounds with movements &/or breathing. These mantras are in an ancient language called "Gur Muhk"

Most used mantras:

Adi Mantra: ONG NAMO GURU DEV NAMO

Meaning: “I bow before the infinite and creative consciousness that is in me and beyond me"

Sit comfortable with your legs crossed and your spine straight. Press your hands together to the centre of your chest as if you are about to pray, with your fingers pointing upwards. Concentrate on the area between your eyebrows (often called the third eye point) and sing a long ONG, a short NAMO, a long GURU DEV and a short NAMO. Everything is in monotono, except DEV which is sung slightly higher. Repeat three times.

When we sing this Mantra, we open a sacred space in which we can work on ourselves, we connect with our inner teacher and recognise our higher consciousness.The Adi mantra is the first technology of Kundalini Yoga.

Bij Mantra: SAT NAM

Meaning: “I identify with the truth”, or "truth is my true identity". It is useful for practicing long and deep breathing, concentrating mentally on SAT when you breath in and on NAM when you breath out.

It is also used to maintain the rythmn, co-ordination and consciousness of the here and now in exercises such as spinal flexes, leg lifts and neck rolls etc.

It is very profound and potent to meditate on the mantra Sat Nam which represents the truth that in reality we are.
Guru Mantra: WAHE GURU

Meaning: “To enter into the ecstasis of consciousness. To go from darkness into light is an indescribable ecstasis".

Laya Yoga Kundalini Mantra: EK ONG KAR SAT NAM SIRI WAHE GURU

Each sound corresponds with special points in the body, called Chakras, which are centres of high energetic activity which are located at the same places as the principle nerve plexuses of the body. The first is found at the base of the spine, the next at the level of the sex organs, the third at the navel point, the fourth in the centre of the chest, the next at the throat, followed by between the eye brows, the seventh at the crown of the head and the last the magnetic field or aura that surrounds our body.

...And to end our Kundalini Yoga practice and help us take the inspiration that we have received into our everyday life, we sing:

“MAY THE LONG TIME SUN SHINE UPON YOU,

ALL LOVE SURROUND YOU,

AND THE PURE LIGHT WITHIN YOU,

GUIDE YOUR WAY ON”