There are several definitions of Mantra on the internet written by scholars of various sects. The research is never ending. They also essential to channelize your several thought to one. Mantra in all its essence also means the vibration that protects the mind from the negative energy. Maybe we all have the ability to build an invisible shield around us, like the ozone layer to protect us from harmful cosmic rays and filter only the pure positive light. The Mantras also are known to assist in the ascension and realization of self and the higher realms. There are plenty of beliefs on what Mantra is right for us. For those like me who have not been given a Mantra from the physical living Guru would find it difficult to select one. “The core Universal Mantra is ‘OM’ [AUM]” This Mantra is the primal vibration of all the beginning and the end. Reciting “Om” makes you realize the “Maya” of this lower realm and pushes you towards the higher self. This can also give you a strong disconnect with our current realm “The Earth” and push you towards dark energy. If you don’t balance it well you can become lazy, less social and under confident. It just like an antibiotic medicine, an overdose can make you feel dizzy, but the right quantity will cure you without side effects. Therefore, you must carefully implement it in your life. For this reason may be few scholars naturally argue that married people should not recite this Mantra as it could bring misfortune and a broken marriage. Since Mantras are always auspicious, I believe that ‘misfortune’ only means failures that may happen in your life due the lack of willingness to work as you may get more and more disconnected and also distance yourself with worldly goals & objectives because of this Mantra. So it is important to maintain balance. Lord Shiva is a perfect example of this balance, where His family is part of his Oneness. For him there is nothing to disconnect from and yet He is not affected by lower realms and desires. From a partially enlightened view, I can suggest everything happens for good, failure, success or misfortune that you may receive will only give you a valuable lesson that you need the most, though it may not be the one that you think you need the most. Years later however you will cherish, most of you already do. A wise Monk/Nun has said “Suffering is not a punishment, and happiness is not a reward” They are like two sides of Karma Coin. When a Karma ripens, you will receive what you sowed in several past lives and this one. Part II If you can’t find a physical manifestation of a genuine Guru to give you a Mantra, let your inner Guru guide you. Let your instinct take over. Let the Mantra select you. (The eternal essence and experience from a Mantra will only lead you forward.) I discovered Mantras accidently while looking for something else on the web. Slowly I developed a keen interest. I also started to read a bit about astrology and what are the effects of different planets on me. I could not understand much of it, but got what I needed to know. I started to research how and why do Mantras affect us. The revelations brought me at the doorstep of a whole new lineage of ancient wisdom. The Mantras did not magically eliminated my worldly troubles from only the surface, but made me realize the source/root of all problems. They revealed to me the path to solve all my problems. It is also important to understand that a Mantra or its combinations may take a year or more to energies your inner spiritual expectations rather than your perceived worldly expectation. I picked up ‘Graha Mantras’ (Planetary Mantras) to start with. It is good to recite them for a certain number of times within 40 days. These mantras are a good help to develop your spiritual strength and concentration. You can then move to Mantras of Various Lords such as Brahama, Vishnu, Shiva, Ma Durga or Maa Ambey, Ma Sarasvati, Ma Laxmi and Ma Parvati. You can follow this by subtle Ram Mantra, Krishna mantra and Hanuman Mantra before you tp proceed to Singular or Beej Mantras. For example, if you are an employee vibratory particle, then the Planetary Mantras are like team leaders, Mantras of various Lords are like the Managers, the Beej Mantras like Directors and OM as the chairman. Therefore, I recommend a systematic approach from my experience but, let your instincts decide. Your internal Guru’s voice will not lie to you. Only your secondary voice which is ego would lie and may make you choose a higher Mantra that you may not be ready for. Part III Here are some quick suggestions to help you further: 1) It is good to know which planet’s vibration is affected you the most in negative way. The one that your vibrational level is disharmonized with. Starting from that could give better stability and immunity form afflictions. The Mantras may affect immediately or in combination with some others. Whatever the Mantra brings, trust that it will bring lessons to you until you can harmonize with it. It is not about getting rid of something, but accepting. Then move to the next. The process is slow, but I think only this brings results. All you have to do is to be aware of all of your fears and mistrust at all times, and eliminate these afflictions/weaknesses. 2) Here are some Mantras and there different usage in Hinduism. Mantras: Planet Wise: Set 1 a) Sun (Surya): Om hram hrim hraum sah suryaya namah (6,000 times in 40 days, chant Gayatri mantra [Set 4] ) b) Moon (Chandra): Om shram shrim shraum sah chandraya namah (10,000 times in 40 days, chant Annapurna Mantra[Set 4]) c) Mars (Mangal): Om kram krim kraum sah bhaumaya namah (7,000 times in 40 days, chant Shiva and Kartikeya Mantra[Set 4]) d) Mercury (Budh): Om bram brim braum sah budhaya namah (17,000 times in 40 days, chant Vishnu Sahasranama Mantra[Set 4]) e) Jupiter (Guru): Om gram grim graum sah gurave namah (16,000 times in 40 Days, Chant Sri Rudram: use internet audio or download it on your phone, it is long. You can easily find this mantra on the web or on Google market downloads) f) Venus (Shukra): Om dram drim draum sah shukraya namah(20,000 times in 40 days, chant Durga Chalisa: On web or download it on your phone) g) Saturn (Shani): Om pram prim praum sah shanaishchaaraya namah (19,000 times in 40 days, Chant hanuman Chalisa: On Web , or Hanuman Mantra [Set 4]) h) Rahu (North lunar Node): Om bhram bhrim bhraum sah rahave namah (18,000 times in 40 days, chant Kal bhairav Ashtakam [Set 5]) i) Ketu (South Lunar Node): Om sram srim sraum sah ketave namah (7000 times in 40 days, Chant Ganesh Dwadasama[Set 6], Shiva Panchakshara [Set 7] Above Mantras are helpful in your current Dasha. [A Dasha is a malefic or negative effects on a person because of the karmic influence of past lives. Veda science says that it also affects your behavior at a molecular level.] Birth Date Number: Set 1.2 a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) Born on the 1st, 10th, 28th of any month chant “Hrim.” (Bija sound for the Sun) Born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th of any month chant “Cham.” (Bija sound for the Moon) Born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th of any month chant “Brim” For Jupiter Born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st of any month chant.” Rang.” For Rahu Born on the 5th, 14th, 23rd of any month chant .”Shrim.” For Mercury Born on the 6th, 15th, 24th of any month chant .”Bhur.” or .”Hrim.” For Venus Born on the 7th, 16th, 25th of any month chant .”Nring.” For Ketu Born on the 8th, 17th, 26th of any month chant .”Shung.” For Saturn Born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of any month chant .”Hrim or Shrim.” . For Mars Lord Mantras(Set 2) (The following are my own customization that worked for me, you may want a more proper version form the internet) 1. 2. 3. 4. Om Brahama or Om Braham Devaya Namaha (32000 times worked for me within 40 days) Om Vishnu or Om Vishnu Devaya Namaha (32000 time worked for me within 40 days) Om Namah Shivai or Om Mahadevaya Namaha (32000 time worked for me within 40 days) Om Jagadambey (96000 times worked for me within 40 days). I recited 96000 times because I wanted to devote the Mantra 32000 times to the 3 Devi Shaktis namely Ma Sarasvati, Ma Laxmi and Ma Parvati who form Durga Shakti or Jagadambey. 5. Om Sarasvatye Namaha (32000 times within 40 days worked for me) 6. Om Laxmiyaye Namaha or Om Bhagwatey Narayni Vasudeva (32000 times within 40 days worked for me) 7. Om Parvatye Namaha (32000 times within 40 days) [I used a phone application called ‘easy count’ to keep the track of repetitions. It always better if you can use a ‘mala’/garland of particular stones for metaphysical purposes. You can check Web for various Malas that you can use with Mantras for each Lord] Beej Mantras (Prime: Set 3) a) “Om” / Aum: ‘A: Brahama, U: Vishnu, M Shiv’: denotes the absolute truth, the one that has no start or the end. It is said that reciting Aum 1, 25,000 times is spiritually most beneficial. b) HRIM: Power of the soul and causal body. It represents the mother Goddess. The Divine May that eliminates worldly Maya. It is the remover of obstacles and heals. (It is also the Mantra of the Sun, Focus: On Right Side of the boy) c) KRIM (KREEM) : It denotes the transformation. It carries the supreme Life Force and is winked with Dark Energy or Kali. This Mantra helps in spiritual growth and opening of the third eye. (Focus Area: It is also the mantra for Lord Indira: (Focus Area: It is associated to the Throat and the second chakra located along your spine below the belly button.) d) SHRIM: is a mantra of compassion, beauty and devotion. It is the Mantra of Ma LAXMI, for Prosperity, fertility, Health and rejuvenation. (Focus Area: The left side of the body.) e) KLIM: Is associated to Lord Krishna. The mantra encourages freedom continuous cycle of Birth and Death to liberate one towards eternal bliss. This Mantra is in a way also a softer aspect of the KRIM Mantra. It is also associate with ‘Kama’. (Focus Area: Kidney area below the rib cage) f) HL(r)IM: Adding the “L” sound to Hrim generates the ability to stop enemies/things. This Mantra s useful in stopping internal enemies and affliction such as Fear, Doubts, Worries, Ego that stop the spiritual growth and tend to block the spiritual path. It can also stop people from spreading a negative word about the orator of this Mantra. g) HUM/ HAM: Invokes the heat force within to destroy negativity, fear and other such afflictions. It can also be used for divine protection. It is a Lord Shiva Mantra and also more a Mantra of the fierce form of Kali (Chandi). HRIM, KRIM, HUM, and SHRIM are great Goddess mantras. Other Common Beej Mantras Include a) AIM: Mantra for invoking wisdom (Saraswati). It also the Mantra for Mercury. (Location Solar Plexus/Navel) b) STRIM (Streeeem): It is for the power of expanding, evolving. Its objective to overcome unhappiness. c) GAM: Beej Mantra for Prosperity and clearing obstacles. It is to Lord Ganesh. There are some other Beej Mantras also that you want to take a look at, for example SAUH, BRIM, RAM, MA etc. may benefit you as well. Set 4 a) Gayatri Mantra Aum Bhoorva Bhuva Svaha, Tatsa Virturr Varaniyem. Bhargo Devasyah Dheemahi, Dheeyo Yona-ha Pracho Dyaat [You can look it up on YouTube for pronunciation.] b) Annapurna Mantra Om Aim Hreem Shrem Krim Namo Bhagwati Maheshwari Annapurne c) Shiva Mantra (Can be Chanted 108 times. You can chant more if you like) 1. Om nama shivaya, or 2. Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat (Maha Mrityunjai) d) Kartika Mantra (Helps on victory over Ego, False Pride and vices) 1. Om saravaṇa bhavaya namaḥ' 2. Om saravaṇa bhava Or e) Vishnu Sahasranama Mantra (Literally Means 100 names of Lord Vishnu) Website Link: http://www.shivkumar.org/music/vishnu-sahasranamam-meanings.htm YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq2-EpO26Gk or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8tJCTgkwQQ f) Hanuman Mantra (Eliminates Ego, plants righteousness, fearlessness from doubts) Om Ham Hanumate rudratmakaya hum Phat svaha Set 5 Kal bhairav Ashktakam (For meaning check the link : http://hindubhakti.blogspot.in/2011/08/kalabhairava-ashtakam.html) Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam,l Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaram,ll Naradadhi yogi vrundha vandhitham digambaram,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 1 Bhanu koti bhaswaram, bhavabdhi tharakam param,l Neelakanda meepsidartha dayakam trilochanam ll Kalakala mambujaksha maksha soola maksharam,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 2 Soola tanga pasa danda pani madhi karanam,l Syama kaya madhi devamaksharam niramayam ll Bheema vikramam prabhum vichithra thandava priyam,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 3 Bhukthi mukthi dayakam prasashtha charu vigraham,l Bhaktha vatsalam sthitam,samastha loka vigraham ll Vinikwanan manogna hema kinkini lasath kateem,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 4 Dharma sethu palakam, thwa dharma marga nasakam,l Karma pasa mochakam,susharma dayakam vibhum ll Swarna varna sesha pasa shobithanga mandalam,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 5 Rathna padukha prabhabhirama padayugmakam,l Nithyamadwidheeyamishta daivatham niranjanam ll Mrutyu darpa nasanam karaladamshtra mokshanam,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 6 Attahasa binna padma janda kosa santhatheem,l Drushti pada nashta papa jala mugra sasanam ll Ashtasidhi dayakam kapala malikadaram,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 7 Bhootha sanga nayakam, vishala keerthi dayakam,l Kasi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam vibum l1 Neethi marga kovidham purathanam jagatpathim,l Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje ll 8 Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea manoharam,l Jnana mukthi sadhanam,vichithra punya vardhanam ll Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam,l Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri saniidhim druvam ll 9 Set 6 Ganesha Dwadasama [For meaning http://blog.practicalsanskrit.com/2011/08/shri-ganeshastotram.html Om! Pranamya Sirasa Devam Gauri Putram Vinayaakham Bhakta Vyasa Smaren nithya, May Kama Artha Sidha ye. Prathamam Vakra Thundam cha Ekadantham dwee thiya kam Trithyam Krishna Pingalaksham Gaja Vakthram Chathurthakaam Lambodharam Panchamam cha Ashtamam vikatameva Cha Saptamam vighnarajam Cha Dhoomra Vranam Thadashtamum Navamaam Phala chandram Cha Dasamam thu Vinayakam Ekadasam Ganpatihim Dwadasam thhei Gajananaaaam Vidhyarthi Labathe Vidhyam Dhanarthi Labathe Dhanam Putrarthi Labathey Puthran Moksahrthi Labathe Gataheeem Japeth Ganapati Strotram Shadhbir masai Phalam Laebth Smavatsareena Siddhi-heeem cha Labathey Nathra Samsaya Ashtanam Brahamnam Cha likhihitwa Samarpoya-yeth Thasya Vidhya Bhaveth Srava Ganesasya Prasadatha Itehee Sri Narada Purane Samkashta Naasaaanam, Ganapati hee stotram Sampooranam. Set 7 [For meaning: www.greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/sri_shiva-panchakshara_stotram.php) Shiva Panchakshara stotram Nagendra Haraya Trilochanaya Basmanga ragaya Maheshawarya Nithaya Shudhaya digambaraya Tasmai Nakaraya Namah Shivaya Mandakini Salila chanadana Charchithaya Nadeeswara Pramadha Nadha Maheshwaraya Mandra Pushspa bahu Pushpa supoojithaya Tasmai Makaraya Namah Shivaya Shivaya Gowri Vadanara Vinda Soorya Daksha Dwara Nasakaya Sir Neel Kanthaya vrisha Dwajaya Tasmai Sikaraya Namah Shivaya Vaisishta Kumbodhbhava Gowthamadhi Munendra devarachitha shekaraya Chandrarka vaishanara Lochanaya Tasmai Vakarya Namah Shivaya Yaksha Swaroopa Jada dharraya Pinaka Hasthathaya sanathanaya Divyaya Devaya Digambaraya Tasmai yakaraya Namah Shivaya Panchaksharmidham Punyam Ya Padeth Shiva Sannidhou Shivloka Mapnotihi Sheve Na saha Modhate [Om Namah Shivaya x 3] To know more about using them in a combination you can check out the following link. http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/article/what-is-a-bijamantra.html There several other categories of Mantras, however, I would be mostly listing the ones that have spiritual benefits and do not invoke greed or a reason to breed ego due to our inability to understand their essence. [The Next write up will be about several Healing Light Mantras that you should use before proceeding to Beej Mantras] ****