Let’s break down the term mantra using its etymology. In Sanskrit, ‘Man’ means mind, and ‘tra’ means tool or vehicle. For this reason, mantras can be seen as a sacred, numinous set of phrases that can transport you to a meditative state.

The Earliest Use of Mantras Was Recorded 3,000 Years Ago

Mantras originate from the ancient sound “Om,”1 which is believed to be the sound of creation. In the book, Rituals, and Mantras: Rules Without Meaning,2 they recorded the earliest use of mantras in Vedic Sanskrit in India at least 3,000 years ago. Some believe these spiritual words are coded with a vibrational frequency that can energetically influence the subconscious mind and the surrounding environment.

“Over time, mantras have become popularized and can be found in a wide range of places including religious practices, yoga studios, self-help books, therapy, and even children’s classrooms to set the tone for the day,” social worker and yoga teacher Jillian Amodio tells Verywell Mind.

Why Mantras Are So Powerful

What makes mantras so powerful in various situations is how they can calm the mind. When incorporated into regular practice, it can bring awareness to the current moment and settle negative thoughts to calmer levels.

Research shows the sound of a mantra being used within meditation has been “suggested to act as an effective vehicle to override [automatic] mental speech, which is the predominant form of conscious[ness] for most people.

Mantras vs. Affirmations vs. Intentions

A subtle yet important difference exists between mantras and repetitive phrases like intentions or affirmations. They all share many similarities in how they help nourish the mind and use phrases with focused intent.

• Mantras: The biggest difference is that mantras promote acceptance and spiritual presence. They are often connected to ancient languages. “It is believed that mantras create positive vibrations that will create a spiritual connection and affect change,” licensed marriage and family therapist, Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT, shares.
• Affirmations: Affirmations are directive statements meant to overcome or challenge a particular set of internal or external beliefs.
• Intentions: Vinall explains that an intention similarly sets up a positive mental framework to guide people to live consciously, mindfully, and congruently with values.

Benefits of Using Mantras for Mindfulness

Repeating mantras can help you align with your goals and aspirations. Amodio says, “Reciting mantras can be personalized to suit the needs, wants, desires, and circumstances of each person.”

Vinall points out that the benefits of mantras will vary depending on the choice of mantra as each word and phrase will help you focus your practice and pursue your intention. “For example, the mantra ‘Om’ can lead to a deeper sense of connection with humanity and the universe. A mantra of ‘love and kindness’ may help you to set your intention during meditation and live out these values throughout the day,” she says.

Vinall elaborates that adding mantras into your mental well-being practice allows deeper truths to move past the usual defenses and doubts and settle deep into the psyche. By repeating words that harmonize with your mind-body-spirit, you can decrease input from the logical pre-frontal cortex of the brain and allow greater access into the limbic, instinctual regions.