Mantra sits at the heart of Gheranda Samhita’s sevenfold path as the sixth limb, arriving only after shatkarmas (purifications), asana, mudra, pratyahara and pranayama. It’s not just spiritual background music—repeating seed syllables like Om, Aim or Hrim actually stills mental chatter and forges crystal-clear concentration.

The text describes a “fire of mantra” that burns away latent impurities and anchors prana in the subtle channels. This ancient insight lines up neatly with today’s neuroscience showing how rhythmic sounds calm the nervous system—pretty much the same principle behind wellness apps such as Calm or Headspace, which have boomed in the post-pandemic stress era.

Gheranda Samhita gets down to brass tacks: sit erect, hold a japa mala of 108 beads, engage mula bandha (root lock) and recite your chosen mantra aloud, in a whisper or silently. Each repetition sends vibrations through the nadis, gently awakening kundalini energy at the spine’s base and guiding it upward toward the crown. It’s like tuning a radio dial until the static clears and the signal comes in loud and clear.

Mantra japa also functions as active pratyahara, drawing the senses inward—as though slipping on noise-cancelling headphones amid a crowded café. In today’s hyperconnected world, where every ping demands attention, mantra offers proof that turning inward can calm the mental storm and restore focus.

Beyond mental purification, mantra ignites devotional energy (bhakti). Invoking the name of a deity or cosmic principle strikes an emotional chord, fusing heart and spirit. This isn’t mere sentimentality—it’s a potent catalyst for transformation, helping the practitioner cross the final threshold into samadhi.

In Gheranda Samhita, mantra becomes the secret handshake between mind, breath and spirit, a timeless tool for navigating life’s noise and arriving at one’s own stillpoint.