WHAT IS MANTHRA YOGA ?

Dear Balarishi,

In our tradition,many types of yoga are being mentioned and practiced. To name a  few Raja yoga, Kriya yoga  are all widely known. Among this, how would you define Mantra yoga?

Essentially any yoga practice is to enhance and improve the spiritual inclination of the seeker. Raja yoga is a defined pattern, in which eight steps are precisely mentioned and they are known as Ashtaanga Yoga. Kriya yoga is a combination of breathing and sound to bring inner clarity.When one person is well versed in Aasana and Praanayaama, can easily be initiated into Kriya yoga. There are very many branches in kriya yoga which also includes tantric practises. The word "kriya" indicates action and there are many aspects of concious action involved in kriya yoga.

In Manthra yoga, the manthras are being initiated and used in a speed which creates a vibration.The manthras can be chanted either internally or externally. This vibration brings in cleansing. In manthra yoga, manthra is being used as an instrument through which immense clarity and cleansing descends in a seeker`s inner journey.

Broadly speaking, manthras are used to accomplish one`s responsibilities. It is used to do certain rituals for one`s ancestors and regular spiritual practises.When yagnas are done vedha manthras are used as the instruments to communicate certain sankalpas to the

deity invoked through yagnas. As Agni is used to invoke higher forces manthras are also used as instruments to invoke and communicate with higher forces.

When a manthra is got from a Guru as a deeksha it is unique and powerful in its own way.This is because it is given as a seed from the Guru and it gets into the Seeker with utmost vibrancy. It is capable of bringing awareness not only in the conscious mind but also can cleanse the unknown barriers which are there in the sub conscious mind of the seeker.

According to the tradition of the Guru, certain practises are given in adapting a manthra and using it. So,in manthra yoga the manthra which is chanted and used activates the energy centres. When energy centres are activated cleansing and clarity happens. As this becomes consistent mind is able to raise beyond the barrier of five senses  and enter into meditative states. By this way a seeker is clearly led into a stage of meditation and able to be in meditativeness.