# Types of Mantras in Hinduism: Beej, Stotra, Japa & More

> A gentle guide to the kinds of mantras and sacred chants in Hinduism, from one-syllable beej mantras to stotras, kavach and aarti, with examples to listen to.

- **Published:** 2026-10-09
- **Author:** Mahakatha
- **Category:** mantra-guides
- **Canonical URL:** https://mahakatha.com/blog/types-of-mantras-in-hinduism/

Walk into a temple at dawn and you might hear a single syllable hummed again and again. In the evening you might hear a whole crowd singing an aarti, lamps circling. On a Sunday a grandmother might read a long stotram from a worn little book. All of these are mantra. They just come in different shapes.

If you're new to all this, the words can blur together: beej, stotra, japa, kavach, gayatri. This guide sorts them out gently. We'll look at the main kinds of mantras and sacred chants in the Hindu tradition by their form: how long they are, how they're built, and how people use them. Each section links to examples on our site, with lyrics, meanings and recordings, so you can hear the difference for yourself.

There are many ways to group mantras. We've also written about [mantras sorted by their meaning](https://mahakatha.com/blog/mantra-meanings/) and [popular mantra types across traditions](https://mahakatha.com/blog/example-of-mantras/). This post looks at their shape.

## 1. Beej (bija) mantras: the seed sounds

A beej mantra is a single syllable, often called a seed sound. Like a seed, it's tiny, and the tradition sees it as holding the essence of a deity. Om is the best known. Others are linked with particular deities: Gam with Ganesha, Shreem with Lakshmi, Aim with Saraswati, Kleem with Krishna.

Beej syllables are often chanted alone, or placed inside longer mantras. On our site you can listen to:

- [Universal Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/universal-beeja-mantra/): Aum
- [Ganesha Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/ganesha-beeja-mantra/): Gam
- [Lakshmi Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/lakshmi/lakshmi-beeja-mantra/): Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah
- [Saraswati Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/saraswati-beeja-mantra/): Om Hreeng Aing Hreeng Saraswatyai Namah
- [Krishna Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/krishna/krishna-beeja-mantra/): Om Kleem Krishnaaya Namah
- [Shiva Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/shiva-beeja-mantra/) and [Vishnu Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/vishnu/vishnu-beeja-mantra/)

## 2. Nama mantras: calling a name

The simplest kind of mantra to understand is a name with a salutation: "Om, I bow to…". Namah means "I bow" or "salutations".

- [Om Namah Shivaya](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/om-namah-shivaya/): I bow to Shiva
- [Om Namo Narayanaya](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/vishnu/om-namo-narayanaya-mantra/): I bow to Narayana (Vishnu)
- [Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/om-shree-ganeshaya/): I bow to Ganesha
A longer cousin is the namavali, a string of a deity's names, often 108 of them, each ending in "namah". Listen to the [108 Names of Shiva](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/108-names-of-shiva/) as an example.

These are the mantras most people begin with. If you're choosing your first one, our guide [Sanskrit mantras for beginners](https://mahakatha.com/blog/sanskrit-mantras-for-beginners/) can help.

## 3. Gayatri mantras: a prayer for understanding

The original [Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/gayatri-savitri/) comes from the Rig Veda and is one of the most revered verses in Hinduism. "Gayatri" is also the name of its poetic metre, and over time many deities were given a gayatri of their own in the same pattern. They usually follow three steps: "may we know…", "may we meditate on…", "may that one inspire us".

For example, the [Ganesha Gayatri](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/ganesha-gayatri-mantra/) begins "Aum Ekadantaaya Vidmahe", and the [Rudra Gayatri](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/rudra-gayatri-mantra/) begins "Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe". You'll find gayatris for many deities across our [mantra library](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/).

## 4. Suktas: hymns from the Vedas

A sukta (literally "well said") is a hymn from the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of India. Suktas are recited with careful rhythm and pitch, often in temples and at important ceremonies.

- [Purusha Suktam](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/purusha-suktam/): the hymn of the cosmic being
- [Sri Suktam](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/sri-suktam/): a hymn to Lakshmi
- [Durga Suktam](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/durga-suktam/): a short hymn to Durga

## 5. Shanti mantras: prayers for peace

Shanti mantras are peace invocations, traditionally chanted at the start or end of study, especially of the Upanishads. Most end with "Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi", peace said three times.

- [Om Saha Naav Avatu](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/yoga/om-saha-naav/): a prayer that teacher and student learn well together
- [Om Purnamadah](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/om-purnamadah/): on wholeness
- [Asato Ma Sadgamaya](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/asatoma-sadgamaya/): lead me from darkness to light
Read more about where these come from in our guide to [the Upanishads](https://mahakatha.com/blog/upanishads-meaning-and-teachings/).

## 6. Stotras: songs of praise

A stotra (or stotram) is a hymn in praise of a deity, written in verse. Many were composed long after the Vedas, by poet-saints and teachers such as Adi Shankaracharya. They're often more musical and emotional than Vedic hymns. Some are named for their length: an ashtakam has eight verses, and a chalisa has forty.

- [Shiv Mahimna Stotra](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/shiv-mahimna-stotra/)
- [Kanakadhara Stotram](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/kanakadhara-stotram/)
- [Bhaja Govindam](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/bhaja-govindam/)
- [Hanuman Chalisa](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/hanuman/hanuman-chalisa/), forty verses in Awadhi by Tulsidas
Browse them all on our [stotram](https://mahakatha.com/stotram/) page.

## 7. Kavach: prayers of protection

Kavach means "armour". A kavach is a prayer that asks a deity to protect each part of the body and each part of life, often naming them one by one. People often recite one before a journey or in a difficult time.

- [Hanuman Kavach](https://mahakatha.com/kavach/hanuman-kavach/)
- [Durga Kavach](https://mahakatha.com/kavach/durga-kavach/)
- [Shiva Kavach](https://mahakatha.com/kavach/shiva-kavach/)
See all of them on our [kavach](https://mahakatha.com/kavach/) page.

## 8. Aarti: songs with the lamp

An aarti is sung while a lamp is waved in circles before the deity, usually at the end of a puja. Aartis are mostly in Hindi or regional languages, and they're made for singing together.

- [Om Jai Jagdish Hare](https://mahakatha.com/aarti/om-jai-jagdish-hare/)
- [Shri Lakshmi Aarti](https://mahakatha.com/aarti/shri-lakshmi-aarti/)
- [Om Jai Shiv Omkara](https://mahakatha.com/aarti/om-jai-shiv-omkara/)
See them all on our [aarti](https://mahakatha.com/aarti/) page.

## 9. Kirtan: singing the names together

Kirtan is devotional singing, usually call-and-response, with a leader and a group. The words are often just a few holy names, repeated with rising feeling.

- [Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram](https://mahakatha.com/kirtan/raghupati-raghava-raja-ram/)
- [Govinda Jaya Jaya](https://mahakatha.com/kirtan/govinda-jaya-jaya/)
- [Hare Krishna Hare Rama](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/krishna/hare-krishna-hare-rama/), often called the maha mantra
See more on our [kirtan](https://mahakatha.com/kirtan/) page.

## 10. Prarthana: everyday prayers

Prarthana simply means prayer. These are short verses for ordinary moments: before eating, before studying, before travel, or when entering a new home.

- [Brahmarpanam](https://mahakatha.com/prarthana/brahmarpanam/), said before meals
- [Yatra Prarthana](https://mahakatha.com/prarthana/yatra-prarthana/), a prayer for travel
- [Grha Pravesh Prarthana](https://mahakatha.com/prarthana/grha-pravesh-prarthana/), for a new home
Find more on our [prarthana](https://mahakatha.com/prarthana/) page.

## And japa: a way of chanting, not a type

You'll often see japa listed as a type of mantra, but it's really a way of practising one. Japa means repeating a mantra many times, often counting on a mala of 108 beads. Almost any short mantra can be used for japa, whether a beej, a nama mantra or a gayatri.

If you'd like to try it, our [japa meditation guide](https://mahakatha.com/blog/how-to-practise-japa-meditation/) walks you through it, and you can listen to [Ram Naam Japa](https://mahakatha.com/japa/ram-naam-japa/) or browse our [japa](https://mahakatha.com/japa/) page.

## Which kind should you start with?

There's no ladder to climb here. Each kind suits a different moment:

- **For daily quiet practice:** a beej or nama mantra, repeated as japa.
- **For puja at home:** a short stotra and an aarti.
- **For learning and study:** a shanti mantra at the start and end.
- **For singing with others:** kirtan.
Start with whatever draws you. Listen to it a few times, then let your own voice join in.

## Questions people often ask

### What is the difference between a mantra and a stotra?

A mantra is usually short and repeated, often many times. A stotra is a longer hymn of praise in verse, usually recited from beginning to end once or a few times.

### What does "beej" mean?

Beej (bija) means seed. A beej mantra is a single seed syllable, such as Om, Gam or Shreem.

### Are aartis mantras?

Aartis are devotional songs rather than mantras in the strict sense, but they're part of the same family of sacred sound, and they're sung in almost every Hindu home.

### Which type of mantra is the most powerful?

The tradition doesn't really rank them this way. Each kind has its place. What matters most, teachers say, is the attention and sincerity you bring to whichever one you chant.

## A last thought

A seed, a name, a hymn, a song with a lamp: they're different shapes for the same quiet impulse, to turn towards something larger than ourselves. Pick one shape that feels close to you today, and let it be your way in.

## Related mantras

- [Universal Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/universal-beeja-mantra/)
- [Ganesha Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/ganesha-beeja-mantra/)
- [Lakshmi Beeja Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/lakshmi/lakshmi-beeja-mantra/)
- [Om Namah Shivaya Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/om-namah-shivaya/)
- [Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/gayatri-savitri/)
- [108 Names of Shiva Chant](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/shiva/108-names-of-shiva/)
- [Om Saha Naav Yoga Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/yoga/om-saha-naav/)
- [Hare Krishna Hare Rama Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/krishna/hare-krishna-hare-rama/)

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Source: https://mahakatha.com/blog/types-of-mantras-in-hinduism/ — Mahakatha, https://mahakatha.com