What is the Power of a Mantra

Every Mantra contains in its vibrations a certain power. The very etymology of the word Mantra reveals that it serves as an instrument to elevate the Mind, an instrument which helps the mind to contemplate and plunge into the oceanic depth of silence. The word Mantra is derived from the root sound ‘man’ which means to think, to contemplate or meditate on, to perceive, to understand or comprehend. The sound tra at the end of the word Mantra is a suffix added in the sense of instrumentality. So, Mantra, as per its etymology, is an instrument of or a means for contemplation, meditation, comprehension, perception and of thought. Mantra, in fact, unites the mind with the pure sound. And this union of the mind with the pure sound is considered by the Vedic and Tantric tradition as the highest kind of Yoga. It is in this state that mind becomes free from all its activities and gets absorbed in the silence (the unmanifest speech) which is the source of all sounds. This sense of a Mantra is also inherent in the word Mantra itself. For this the root-sense of the two components (man and tra) of the word Mantra has to be taken into consideration. The sound man refers to all the activities of the mind and ultimately the Mind itself. The second syllable is drawn from the root-sound trai meaning to ‘protect’ or to ‘free from’. Therefore, the word Mantra can also mean that which makes one free from the vagaries of the mind.

The journey from Mantra to freedom is an incredible experience. By the use of the Mantra mind expands, deepens and widens and eventually plunges into the essence of the truths of cosmic existence. On its journey, the mind comes to understand much about the essence of the vibration of things. This results in the realization of the truths of existence.

Writing on the power of Mantra Sri Aurobindo says: “The mantra can not only create new subjective states in ourselves, alter our psychical being, reveal knowledge and faculties we did not before possess, can not only produce similar results in other minds than that of the user, but can produce vibrations in the mental and vital atmosphere which result in effects, in actions and even in the production of material forms on the physical plane.” (Sri Aurobindo, SABCL., Vol.12, pp.169-70)

We have numerous examples from the ancient scriptures like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and others about how Mantras could produce material forms on the physical plane. Take for example the type of weapons used by the hero warriors of those times. Those weapons were of two types: yantrikastras or mantrikastras. Swords, spears etc. are described as yantrikastras. But the mantrikastras were created at the time of need only by the invoking those through Mantras. Mantrikastras were different shaktis or forces and they get materialized only when they are called for by the person possessing them. Those shaktis can take any shape or form as desired by the invoker. The one who was in possession greater shaktis was considered to the greatest hero. When we utter a word in our day to day life it creates an image before us. For example if someone says tree, it creates the image of a tree in the mind of the listeners. It shows that even the common language has the capacity to raise before our eyes the image of a thing. The mantras, on the other hand are much more powerful than the common speech. A mantra, for instance, can not only raise the image of a tree but actually manifest the tree itself. There are many deeper aspects of the power of Mantra but my purpose here is not to deal with that but to create this awareness that there is a language which has attained such level of perfection that it works like Mantra whenever used consciously or with awareness. This awareness leads to freedom. Coming in contact with Sanskrit in any form is meditation. A simple recitation of Sanskrit text tunes the body, mind and senses to a finer frequency. Like music it brings the mind into a beautiful flow. As I have mentioned earlier it combines its perfection of sound with inspired truth to create a living experience of spiritual awakening, a sense of being eternal. This is the true significance of a divine language. One comes in contact with this and there is a shift or rise in the consciousness. It is in this sense that Sanskrit like a Mantra has the power to illumine and enlighten and widen the consciousness.
To conclude, I have no better choice but to quote Dr. Vyas Houston, Director, American Sanskrit Institute, USA, who has very beautifully described Sanskrit as a language that is designed for bringing true happiness and freedom.

“The discovery, development and refinement of Sanskrit must have taken place over millennia. Although Sanskrit along with its great power to elevate human consciousness to sublime heights, is often attributed to a divine source, we can also hypothesize that its properties were discoveries that took place as a result of human beings actively and intensively engaging in the discovery of their own divine nature. The most significant question that must have arisen to the ancients was how to continue optimizing the human instrument, the body and mind, as a vehicle for the expansion of awareness and happiness. Knowing that the operation of the instrument depends entirely on the language with which it is programmed, they worked on the refinement of language software. They scrutinized and experimented with the vocal instrument and the structure of the mouth and then selected only those sounds which had the greatest clarity, purity and power of resonance. They then organized these sounds in such a way that they could mutually enhance and brighten one another, and build upon each other's resonance. They explored the factor of breath in creating sound, and discovered that by minimizing the breath with certain sounds and maximizing it with others, the language would induce in the instrument a state of relaxed alertness that could keep it operating efficiently and tirelessly for long periods of time, while expanding and building prana-energy. And as they did this, they became happier.

“Furthermore, by coordinating the factors of purity of sound, enhanced resonance and breath, there also developed an awareness of the entire body as a resonating chamber through which sound could be transmitted. With increased vibratory power, the concept of the body as solid matter gradually became replaced by one of the body as the center of an energy field. In the process of transmitting sound energy, they observed subtle changes in the field and found they could expand it by following the sound waves. They had discovered that language has the capacity to convert the body and mind into pure energy. They began to feel joy.

“It was further discovered that certain combinations of sounds would enhance the expansion of the field more than others, and this was experimented with, until sound combinations which could bring about this effect universally were revealed. Their joy expanded. These particular combinations became useful words for describing as well as feeling the state of consciousness they induced. In this way the breadth and depth of all that exists was explored. They looked and listened and experienced changes in the energy field, to see how the language could be further refined, what new distinctions could be made. Eventually, they fathomed creation and found their own identity at the very source of it all. Their bliss was boundless. When they spoke with one another in this language they established love and harmony.” (Sanskrit, A Sacred Model of Language, Devavani, p.42, published by American Sanskrit Institute, New York)

We come to the amazing conclusion that Sanskrit has immense potentiality not only to establish unity, love and harmony but also to make us realize the sacredness of life. The very structure of the language is perfect and each and every sound of it is sacred. The most fascinating thing that one experiences in Sanskrit is that here all three, the sound, the word and the meaning, become one. They arise out of the deeper truths of life and the Reality and not only reveal but lead us in turn to realise these truths. The language then becomes universal. It has its own inherent strength and existence and it is no more just a convention or a convenience. It becomes a fit vehicle not only for communication but for transformation as well. It is not just a language. It is a self-existent truth and power, a Mantra.