What is seed mantra?
Seed Mantra (or bija mantra) consists of a single syllable or word. A seed mantra is said to contain the entire essence of the teaching.
For example, GAM is the seed mantra for Ganesha. The distilled message of Ganesha is overcoming and removing obstacles. Rather than being limited only to the removal of a particular obstacle, the larger essence of the teaching includes a transformation of our perception. We no longer see obstacles as obstacles, and like water, we flow around them as if there were no obstacles present at all. We access all of that energy and intention with the simple chant GAM.
Seed mantra can be part of a longer chant, or may be chanted by themselves.
A few commonly used Seed Mantra:
- OM the most common seed mantra, celebrates the infinite and our part in it
- Shrim associated with beauty, love, physical and emotional health, balance
- Hrim empowers us to see beyond the veil of illusion and discover the truth
- Klim forceful and energizing, moving us beyond our ignorance
- Glaum the element of earth, that from which the seed grows
- Gam the seed mantra for Ganesha
- Krim the seed mantra for Kali
- Aim/Ayeim the seed mantra for Saraswati
Seed Mantra for The Seven Primary Chakras:
- Lam Root or Muladhara Chakra
- Vam Sacral or Svadhisthana Chakra
- Ram Solar Plexus or Manipura Chakra
- Yam Heart or Anahata Chakra
- Ham Throat or Vishudha Chakra
- Om Third Eye or Ajna Chakra
- Ong (or Om or Silence) Crown or Sahasrara Chakra
