A mantra can help you to focus your mind during meditation, and stop it from drifting away. The word or short phrase can be whatever, anything that speaks to you and that helps you reconnect with the source.

A mantra is a tool that you can use when you meditate to bring stillness in your mind. You silently repeat the mantra in your mind (japa meditation) and the repetition helps you disconnect from your thoughts. A rythmic repetition of a word or o sound is called chanting, and if you sing it is called kirtan. This is a beautiful (and fun) way to connect to spirit and also help balance the throat chakra. You can choose any language for your mantra, but if you say it in Sanskrit it becomes a powerful sound and a vibration that you can use to enter a deeper state of meditation. And maybe the most important reason – Sanskrit is an ancient language which means that it is not the language of your pain or your drama. It’s not a language where you can hate or bash yourself or others. The words are not associated with any of your old stories, so therefor you are elevated above all of that instantly. And know that if you don’t know the meaning of the mantra, it really doesn’t matter. The sound is more important than the meaning. Mantras can be viewed as ancient power words with subtle intentions that help us connect to spirit, the source of everything in the universe. As you experience deeper meditative states, all thoughts and worries drop away and you experience the quiet that always exists beneath the noisy internal dialogue of the mind. In this stillness you may feel oneness with all life and profound peace.

Om (A-om)
The most elemental sound, representing the infinite universal consciousness. It’s the first, original vibration, representing the birth, death and re-birth process.
Listen Peaceful Om’s with Desert Dwelllers here.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Om Shan-tee Shan-tee Shan-tee)
Translation: Peace
Mantra for Peace in body, speech, and mind.
Listen to Om Shanti Om with Deva Premal here.

Om Namah Shivaya (Om Nahm-ah-ha Shi-wha)
Translation: I bow to Shiva.
I bow to my truest, highest self and I honor the divinity within myself.
Listen to Om Namah Shivaya with Krishna Das here.

Sat Nam (Saaat Naaam)
Translation: Truth is my name, I see your true nature and I recognize the divinity within you.
The most commen of all mantras in the Kundalini yoga tradition. It can be used as a greeting, as a part of many kriyas and meditations, and as a closing to class.
Listen to Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam with Snatam Kaur here.

Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah (Om Shree Gane-sha Nahm-ah-ha)
Translation: I bow to the lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
A mantra for success, prosperity and knowledge.
Listen to Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha with Suresh Wadkar here.

Om Sri Hanumate Namah (Om Shree Hah-noo-mag-teh Nahm-ah-ha)
Translation:Salutations to the conscoius prana (life force).
A mantra to give you spiritual healing and the strength, courage to face anything over time.
Listen to Aum Hanumate Namah with Ajit Kadkade here.

Om Mani Padme Hum (Om Mani Padme Hung)
Translation: Praise to the jewel in the lotus.
A mantra for blessing and compassion.
Listen to Om Mani Padme Hum with DJ Drez and Marti Kikko here.

Om Gum Ganapatayei Namah (Om Gam Gah-nah-paht-ah-yeh Nah-mah-hah)
Translation: I bow to Ganesh
A mantra to removing all obstacles and to pray for blessings and protection.
Listen to Om Gum Ganapatayei Namah with Deva Premal here.

Ad Guray Nameh, Jogad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guru Devay Nameh
Translation: I bow to the True Wisdom.
A mantra chanted for protection.
Listen to Aad Guray Namey Jai-Jagadeesh here.

Ek Ong Kar Sat Gur Prasad (Ek Onnng Kaaar, Sat G’roo Prrasad)
Translation: There is one Creator, Truth revealed through Guru’s grace. of all Creation.
A powerful mantra to attract positivity. It is usually chanted in reverse (Ek Ong Kar, Sat Gur Prasad, Sat Gur Prasad, Ek Ong Kar).
Listen to Ek Ong Kar Sat Gur Prasad with Jai-Jagdeesh here.

So Puruk (So Purr-ok)
Translation: The marriage mantra and soulmate mantra.
Mantra for women to this to bring a man into their life or to help the men they have to become all that he can be. Listen to So Puruk with Nirinjan Kaur Khalsa here.