Meditation is a practice that has gained popularity in recent years.
There are many different types of meditation, but the most common type involves focusing the mind on one thing for a period of time.
During this time, it is common for people to chant mantras. But, what is the purpose of chanting mantras during meditation?
Let’s take a look and find out. But first,
What is a mantra?
Mantras are sounds or words, repeated over and over. They are syllables or vowel sounds that are said on purpose.
There are many different types of mantras or different words that can be used as a mantra. But all mantras have the same intention, which is to bring the mind to one place.
In fact, the practice of meditation is designed to help bring the mind and soul into alignment with our higher selves so we can accomplish anything we want in life.
If that sounds good to you, read on and I’ll tell you more about the various purposes of chanting mantras during meditation.
12 reasons for chanting mantras during meditation
1) To increase self-awareness
One of the most important reasons for chanting mantras during meditation is to increase your levels of self-awareness.
During meditation, it is common to chant mantras so that you don’t get distracted by your thoughts. This can help you stay focused on the present moment and be more self-aware.
When you practice self-awareness, you are better equipped to make better decisions in your life. This can include everything from choosing healthier habits, to improving your relationships, and even finding a career path that is best for you.
2) To reduce your stress levels
Another common purpose for chanting mantras during meditation is to reduce your stress levels.
While chanting mantras can help you calm your mind, it can also help you refocus on positive thoughts.
Positive thoughts can actually help you lower your stress levels. Stress can impact your health in many ways, including increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
When you reduce your stress levels, you are able to improve your overall health and feel better.
3) To create a greater sense of calm
Chanting mantras is often used to create a greater sense of calm.
When you are feeling anxious, it can be difficult to meditate. Anxiety is a type of mental noise that can make it challenging to calm the mind.
That’s why the purpose of chanting mantras is to redirect your attention away from your anxious thoughts and calm your mind.
When your mind is calmer, it is easier to focus on your meditation and the present moment.
4) To improve your concentration
Another popular purpose of chanting mantras during meditation is to improve your concentration and get better at staying focused for longer periods of time.
Chanting mantras during meditation can help you stay focused on the present moment without getting distracted by your thoughts.
This can be a great way to stay focused while you are meditating so that you can accomplish whatever goal you are working towards.
What’s more, if you can stay focused in your meditation, you are likely to be able to stay focused during other parts of your day as well.
5) To increase your self-compassion
Want to learn why chanting mantras during meditation is recommended?
Well, it seems that by doing so, you can also improve your self-compassion.
It can be challenging to be more self-compassionate when you are dealing with difficult situations. When times are hard, the last thing you may want to do is be compassionate with yourself.
However, being more self-compassionate can actually help you deal with difficult situations better. It can also help you to feel more positive when you are facing challenges in your life.
How can chanting mantras make you more self-compassionate?
Chanting mantras during meditation is designed to help you focus on positive thoughts and feelings. By doing this, you can learn to be more compassionate with yourself when you make mistakes.
This can not only help improve your overall happiness, but it can also keep you motivated to continue on your path towards a better future.
6) To have a more positive outlook
Here’s another purpose of chanting mantras during meditation: to have a more positive outlook.
The way you view the world, and your place in it can greatly impact your overall happiness. During times of stress, it can be even more challenging to be positive and determined.
But, chanting mantras can help you focus on positive thoughts that, in turn, can help you have a more positive outlook. This can help you to feel calmer and happier and more determined.
7) To reinforce your meditation goals
When you are actively working on something, it can be helpful to have a specific goal in mind, right?
The same goes for chanting mantras – it can be a helpful way to keep your meditation goals in mind. By repeating positive mantras during your meditation, you can actively focus on your goals and work towards them.
This can be a great way to keep your motivation in check and be more determined to reach all of the goals you are trying to accomplish.
8) To strengthen your willpower and self-discipline
Chanting mantras during meditation is also helpful because of its self-discipline-building qualities.
Let me explain:
When you meditate, you are using your willpower to stay focused on the present moment and not get distracted by your thoughts. You are also using self-discipline to push through any discomfort that you might feel in order to stick with the meditation process.
So, by focusing on positive thoughts that help you stay focused, and using self-discipline to keep yourself focused, you can train your willpower and increase your self-discipline.
9) To gain better control over your breath
When you chant a mantra during meditation, you have to control your breathing, too. You have to be aware of the breath, and make sure you breathe slowly and deeply.
If you have trouble controlling your breathing or if it is difficult for you to breathe slowly, chanting, a mantra can help you control your breathing and stay focused on the present moment.
In this situation, the purpose of chanting a mantra is to control your breathing, which is the same way meditation helps you control your thoughts.
10) To improve brain functions
The purpose of chanting mantras during meditation?
According to several studies, after practicing a type of meditation based on chanting mantras for two weeks, numerous adults showed impressive results. Their cognitive functions and memory got better.
In fact, the more you chant, the better your brain functions. You’ll also improve your mood and well-being, reduce your anxiety levels, and feel less fatigued.
How does this happen?
Certain mantras can stimulate both the right and the left parts of your brain at the same time. This promotes alpha brain waves, which are important for relaxation.
11) To improve health and lower blood pressure
Chanting mantras during meditation can improve your health for several reasons:
- By chanting a mantra, you can lower your levels of stress, anxiety, and depression which can help you feel better.
- By controlling your breath and using a type of meditation that is linked with chanting, you can have better control over the blood flow in your body. This can help reduce stress and anxiety levels and increase relaxation.
- By leading a more positive life, you’ll have better control over your blood pressure, which can help lower your blood pressure level.
- You can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases by doing a type of meditation that includes mantras.
12) To realign your body into a state of vibrational balance
Vibrational balance, what’s that?
Well, when your body is vibrating at a certain frequency, it means that it is balanced in terms of chi, or energy.
By chanting mantras during meditation, you can change the vibration in your body. This will help you achieve vibrational balance, which means that your body will vibrate at a certain frequency and stay healthy.
Vibration and sound may affect your body in a positive or a negative way. For example, if you listen to the sound of heavy machinery, it can vibrate your body in a very negative way, which can lead to pain.
On the other hand, sounds like those of a flute can vibrate your body in a positive way and make you feel better.
The same goes for chanting mantras during meditation – certain sounds can affect your body in a positive way and make you feel better.
What do you chant when meditating?
Now that you know the various purposes of chanting mantras during meditation, you might wonder, “What do you chant when you meditate?”
If you are interested in chanting mantras, you can start by chanting a word or phrase that is known as a mantra. Some people chant Om, which is the first sound of creation.
Other people choose a sacred word that has meaning for them – i.e., love, peace, good fortune, happiness – to name a few.
Other common meditation mantras are:
1) Om Namah Shivaya
This mantra is known to represent the five elements of the world, namely fire, water, earth, air, and ether.
It is the one that most people use when they chant while meditating due to its properties.
2) Hare Krishna
This mantra represents the repetition of the many names of Krishna. Krishna’s movement promotes the unity of faith.
In other words, you chant for a universal god, not a Christian god, or a Hindu god.
3) Ham-Sah
Taken from the Hebrew Torah, Ham-Sah means “I am that I am.” This mantra represents the all-encompassing nature of the universe.
It refers to a god that is omnipresent.
4) Aham-Prema
What does this mantra mean?
It means “I am divine love” and it must be repeated 108 times in a chant.
By doing so, you can align yourself with divine love. In other words, you can attract more positive energy into your life, as well as appreciation, affection, forgiveness, and harmony.
Pro-tip: chant this mantra during meditation if you want to let go of the past.
5) Ho’oponopono
Here’s a Hawaiian mantra: “I love you; I’m sorry; please forgive me; thank you.”
This can be used if you feel overwhelmed and you can’t express your feelings to your close ones.
If you are interested in chanting mantras during meditation, you can start with a simple mantra. Once you get used to doing it, you can start chanting more complex mantras.
How long should you chant mantras during meditation?
If you are a beginner, and you are interested in learning more about chanting mantras during meditation, you can start with short sessions of 3 minutes.
With time, you can increase the length of your sessions. You may want to experiment and see what will work for you.
However, the average time for chanting mantras during meditation is about 15 minutes. Even so, it depends on the individual.
The maximum time you can spend doing it is about 30 minutes. You have to be careful because if you spend too much time chanting mantras, you won’t stay focused on the present moment and on your breathing.
Pro-tip: You can chant for as long as you want, but it’s important to remain attentive. If you lose focus, stop and catch your breath. In time, you’ll know exactly how long you can chant without losing focus.
Conclusion
The purpose of chanting mantras during meditation is to focus your thoughts and your mind.
When you do so, you can improve your health, have more control over the body, improve the flow of energy in your body and promote vibrational balance.
You can also use chanting mantras during meditation to lift your mood and keep it positive.
Hopefully, you can now see the benefits of chanting mantras during meditation. If you are interested, you can start today and reap the benefits in no time.
