In the tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga, the Guru mantra refers to the mantra personally given by the Guru during initiation (diksha), which is kept secret. However, the universal mantra honored by the Bihar School of Yoga is the Guru Stotram.

Guru Stotram

Om Guru Brahma
Gurur Vishnu devo Mahesvarah
Guru saksat parami Brahma
Tasmai Sri-Guruve Namah

Guru is Brahma (the Creator), Guru is Vishnu (the Preserver), Guru is Maheshwara (Shiva the Destroyer). Guru Saksat param Brahma is Guru is truly the Supreme Brahman (Absolute Consciousness). Tasmai Sri Guruve Namah is salutations to that revered Guru who removes the darkness of ignorance. Prostrations to the revered Guru.

The key aspects of mantra in Satyananda Yoga

The Guru’s role: The Guru Stotram emphasizes that the Guru is the representative of the Divine embodying knowledge and enlightenment.

Significance: It is chanted to surrender the ego, gain wisdom and receive the grace of the Guru.

Personalized mantra: While the above is the universal invocation, the specific mantra for meditation (diksha mantra) is given individually by the Guru to awaken the power of the mantra within the disciple.

The other chant, which Swami Satyananda emphasized is the Mahamritunjaya Mantra for health, healing and peace.

The Mahamritunjaya Mantra is sung every morning for the ashram cows as if it is not chanted, they will not give milk.

Aim Hrim Klim