A mantra is a sacred syllable, word, or set of words on Sanskrit, that have spiritual potency. It is a tool to transport the mind from a state of activity to one of stillness. Sanskrit is an ancient language used to address the Divine for thousands of years.
In the Indian culture the language used for daily communication and prayers were separated, so that the mantras and prayers kept their purity. This way these ancient words have the potential to tune the human system to the sacral geometry of the universe. If repeated with deep devotion, the one using them can experience the oneness with all.

In Christianity we use AMEN, which is similarly aligned to the sacred sound of AUM in the Sanskrit language. In the Arami language spoken at Jesus’ time, they used to add an “en” to everything…so it became AUMEN…and with time the U also vanished. If we look at America nowadays they are even pronouncing AMEN without an A at the beginning.

These three sounds A, U, M, are the only sound which we are able to pronounce without the tongue. Every other sound is the modification of these three sounds. This “mantra “ AUM is the basic sound of the universe. Only repeating this mantra correctly, has the potential to tune the energy body.

As everything is a frequency in the universe, it is very important to be aware of the sounds we use, when we want to tune to the frequency of the source. One way of doing so is using the ancient Sanskrit mantras.

Mantras are universal sound codes. One doesn’t have to understand them to feel the effects, yet
with understanding they are even more potent.

Moola Mantra
Aum Satchitananda Parabramha
Purushotama Paramathma
Sri Bhagavati Sametha
Sri Bhagavate Namaha
“Oh Divine Force, Spirit of All Creation, Highest Personality, Divine Presence, manifest in
every living being. Supreme Soul manifested as the Divine Mother and as the Divine
Father. I bow in deepest reverence.”
SAT – truth
CHIT – pure consciousness of the universe that is infinite, omni-present manifesting power of the
universe
ANANDA – bliss, love and friendship nature of the universe.
PARABRAHMA – supreme being in his absolute aspect. It is the supreme creator.
PURUSHOTHAMA – the energy that incarnates as an Avatar to help and guide mankind and relate
closely to the beloved creation.
PARAMATMA – supreme inner energy that is immanent in every creature and in all beings, living
and non-living.
SRI BHAGAVATI – the female aspect, which is characterized as the supreme intelligence in action,
the power (the Shakti). It is referred to the Mother Earth (Divine Mother) aspect of the creation.
SAMETHA – together, in communion with
SRI BHAGAVATE – the male aspect of the creation, which is unchangeable and permanent.
NAMAHA – salutations, prostrations.
HARI OM TAT SAT – God is the truth.

Gayatri Mantra
Aum bhur bhuvah svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yonah prachodayat
O thou existence Absolute, Creator of the three dimensions, we contemplate upon thy divine light.
May He stimulate our intellect and bestow upon us true knowledge.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar about the Gayatri mantra:
Question:
“What is the significance of Gayatri Mantra? Why do we chant 108 times?”
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji:
“a-Ga-ya-tri – there are three types of misery. We have three bodies, the gross body, the
subtle and the causal body. And in all the three levels there is misery. The human life has
to cross-over all the three, and that is what Gayatri means. One who sings it, sails over the
ocean of misery to go to bliss.
The Gayatri mantra is one of the greatest prayers mankind has.
What does it say? Let me soak in the Divine, and let the Divine destroy all my sins.
The Divine light that burns all sin, let me adore and soak in that Divine light. And let the
Divinity inspire my intellect.
See, all our actions happen through our intellect, right? Thoughts come and then you act.
So you pray to the Divine to bring good thoughts into your mind. You pray to the Divine,
‘Take over my intellect.
Inspire my intellect’; dhiyo yonah prachodayat.
Dhi means intellect. May my intellect be guided by, kindled by, and inspired by you
(Divinity).
When right thoughts come, your action will always be right. When intuitive thoughts come, your actions will be fruitful. So praying for the best thought. Let my mind, my whole life energy be soaked in Divinity. That is the significance of Gayatri Mantra.

Why 108 times? Because there are nine planets and twelve constellations. When nine planets revolve around the twelve constellations, it brings 108 kinds of changes. If there is anything wrong in these changes, it can be rectified with the positive energy of the mantras.”

Asatoma
Asatoma Sadgamaya
Tamasoma jíotirgamaya
Mrityorma amritangamaya
Aum Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Lead me from the unreal to the real,
lead me from darkness to light,
lead me from death to immortality.
Aum peace peace peace

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Aum tryambakam yajāmahe
sugandhim puṣṭivardhanam
urvārukam iva bandhanānmṛtyor mukṣīya māmṛtāt
We worship the three-eyed One, who is fragrant and who nourishes all.
Like the fruit falls off from the bondage of the stem, may we be liberated from death, from
mortality.