# What Is a Mantra? Meaning and Examples

> A clear definition of mantra, where the word comes from, and three real chants to read and listen to.

- **Published:** 2024-01-31
- **Author:** Mahakatha
- **Category:** mantra-guides
- **Canonical URL:** https://mahakatha.com/blog/meaning-of-mantra/

A mantra is a sacred sound, word or short verse that is repeated in prayer, worship or meditation. Mantras come from Hindu and Buddhist traditions, among others, and are usually in Sanskrit. What a mantra means, and how it is used, depends on the tradition and on the mantra itself.

## Where the word comes from

"Mantra" is a Sanskrit word. It is usually explained as the root man, "to think", plus the ending -tra, which marks an instrument or means. The standard Monier-Williams Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899) glosses it as "instrument of thought", then "speech, sacred text or speech, a prayer or song of praise" ([entry "mantra", page 785](https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/2020/web/webtc/getword.php?key=mantra&filter=roman&noLit=off&transLit=hk&accent=no)). So a mantra is something the mind uses, rather than something you simply say.

## A sacred mantra and an everyday "mantra"

In everyday English, people say "my mantra is…" to mean a motto they live by, such as "one day at a time". That's a borrowed use of the word.

A sacred mantra is different in three ways:

- **Its words are fixed.** You learn and repeat the same sounds that others have repeated before you, rather than making up your own.
- **It belongs to a tradition.** It's addressed to the Divine, or comes from a scripture or a line of teachers.
- **It is practised.** People chant it, often many times, and often with a recording, a teacher or a mala.
A motto is something you remind yourself of. A mantra is something you return to, again and again.

## Three mantras to read and listen to

Each of these has its own page on Mahakatha with the words, meaning and a recording. Open one, read the meaning, then play the recording and follow the words.

### 1. Om Namah Shivaya

> ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya

Meaning: "Om, I bow to Shiva." It's one of the best-known mantras in the Shiva tradition. Without the opening Om, it has five syllables (Na-mah-Shi-va-ya), which is why it's also called the Panchakshari, the "five-syllable" mantra. It's short enough to learn in one sitting.

[Read the words and listen to Om Namah Shivaya](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/om-namah-shivaya/)

### 2. Gayatri Mantra

> ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्।

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah
Tatsaviturvarenyam
Bhargo Devasyadheemahi
Dhiyoyonnah Prachodayat

Meaning: "Om. Earth, sky and heaven. We meditate on the glorious light of the divine Savitr; may it inspire our minds." The main verse comes from the Rigveda (3.62.10) and is addressed to Savitr, the sun as a divine power. In later tradition the verse is also honoured as the goddess Gayatri, which is why some translations, including the one on our chant page, speak of the Divine Mother. It is traditionally recited at sunrise and sunset.

[Read the words and listen to the Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/gayatri-savitri/)

### 3. Om Gan Ganpataye Namo Namaha

> ॐ गं गणपतये नमो नमः
Om Gan(m) Ganapataye Namo Namaha

Meaning: "Om. Gam (Ganesha's seed sound). I bow, again and again, to Ganapati." Gam is the bija (seed) syllable linked with Ganesha, and Ganapati, "lord of the ganas", is one of Ganesha's names. Because Ganesha is honoured at the start of new things, many people chant this before beginning work, study or a journey. Mahakatha's recording sings "Namo Namaha", the doubled bow; you will also see "Om Gan Ganpataye Namah" with a single bow.

[Read the words and listen to Om Gan Ganpataye Namo Namaha](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/om-gan-ganpataye/)

These three show the range: a five-syllable salutation, a Vedic verse, and a mantra built around a seed sound.

## What you'll see on a mantra page

A chant page may show several kinds of text. They do different jobs:

- **The original words**, usually in Devanagari, are what is actually recited.
- **The transliteration** writes the same sounds in English letters (or another script) so you can pronounce them. It isn't a translation.
- **The meaning or translation** explains what the words say. You don't recite it in place of the original.
- **The commentary** discusses background, interpretation and how the mantra is used.
If you're learning to chant, follow the original words or the transliteration together with the recording. Read the meaning separately, so you know what you're saying.

## Do I need to understand a mantra for it to matter?

Many people begin chanting before they understand the words, and traditions differ on how much the meaning matters. Knowing what you're saying usually makes a practice feel more personal. Reading the meaning takes a minute, so it's worth doing before you start.

## Three things traditions emphasise

**Pronunciation.** Mantras are sound-based, so traditions take care over how they are said. As a beginner, follow a recording closely and don't worry about getting it perfect on day one; it improves with listening.

**Repetition.** Mantras are usually repeated: 3, 11, 21 or 108 times are common counts. Repetition is how the words become familiar enough to stop thinking about them. This practice of repetition is called japa.

**Intention.** People usually chant for a reason: devotion, a calmer mind, or marking the start of something. Knowing your reason helps you choose a mantra and keep going.

If you have a teacher, or your family follows a particular tradition, their way of chanting comes first. The pages on Mahakatha are a place to read the words and hear them, not a replacement for that guidance.

## Where to go next

- **Ready to try?** Follow the [first-session guide on how to chant mantras](https://mahakatha.com/blog/how-to-chant-mantras/).
- **Want more examples?** See [examples of mantras and mantra types](https://mahakatha.com/blog/example-of-mantras/).
- **Browse by deity or purpose:** the full [mantra collection](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/).

## Related mantras

- [Om Namah Shivaya Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/om-namah-shivaya/)
- [Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/gayatri-savitri/)
- [Om Gan Ganpataye Namo Namaha](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/om-gan-ganpataye/)

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Source: https://mahakatha.com/blog/meaning-of-mantra/ — Mahakatha, https://mahakatha.com