Chanting is a spiritual discipline believed to improve listening skills, heightened energy and more sensitivity toward others. The practice gained popularity when an album of Gregorian chants by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Damingo in Spain became a best seller. Chants can express devotion, gratitude, peace, compassion and call in light into someone’s life. Here are chants that can help improve your life.

Compassionate Buddha

The most famous chant in the world is the Compassionate Buddha “Om Mani Padme Hum” which translates to “Hail to the jewel in the lotus.” It is the mantra of the Buddha of Compassion, known by the Chinese as Goddess Kuan Yin. The mantra calms fears, soothes concerns and heals broken hearts.

Amazing Grace of Sanskrit

Given the name “Amazing Grace of Sanskrit by the author of “Eat, Pray, Love,” Elizabeth Gilbert, the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” translates to “I bow to Shiva, the supreme deity of transformation who represents, the truest, highest self.” Gilbert translates the meaning to “I honor the divinity within myself” as a reminder that there is a divine energy in everyone and that each person should be treated as if they are divine.

Happiness and Freedom

“Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” is commonly associated with the Jivamukti Yoga School. It translates to “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.” It is a powerful chant that focuses on living a life as a servant to the greater good. It encourages cooperation, compassion and living in harmony, not only among other humans but with nature as well.

Medicine Buddha Mantra

“Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha” is a chant that is recited for success, helping to eliminate problems and suffering. It is also recited for healing and to benefit people or animals at all times, even when they are healthy.

Mantra of Ganesh

The Mantra of Ganesh is dedicated to the Hindu god of wisdom and success who destroys all obstacles. “Om Gum Ganapatayei Namah,” which translates to “I bow to the elephant-faced deity (Ganesh) who is capable of removing all obstacles. I pray for blessings and protection.” The mantra is especially beneficial when facing big challenges and when traveling.

Lakshmi Chant

A mantra that translates as a greeting to the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, “Om Shrim Maha Lakshmlyei Swaha.” The chant asks for Lakshmi’s assistance with material wealth and abundance.

Buddhist Money Mantra

The Buddhist money mantra, “Om Vasudhare Svaha,” is a prayer to the earth goddess, Vasudhara. The chant should be repeated 108 times in order to be blessed by deities who will shower them with abundance.

Interview Chant

This chant is perfect when going for a job interview or making a proposal. The words “Pravisi Nagar Kijal Sab Kaaja Hrudaya Rakhi Kosalpur Raja” translate to “Having the impression of Lord Ram, I am entering in the city for doing my work. May all my works and wishes get complete.” It can also be used when you enter an office building or the office of the person you are planning to meet.

Mantra for Success

When you are not sure what option is right for your success, chanting “Jehi Vidhi Hoi Naath Hit Moraa Karahu So Vegi Daas Main Toraa,” which means “O lord, I am your devotee. I don’t know what to do. So do at once whatever is good for me.” This mantra is said to show the door of success as long as they are practiced with faith and reverence.

Manjushri Mantra

For those who want to enhance wisdom and improve skills, chanting “Om a ra pa ca na dhih” will increase skills in all types of learning. The more emphasis and times the chant is recited, the more likely it is to succeed.

Vajrapani

Vajrapani represents the energy of an enlightened mind, which is why it is said that chanting”Om vajrapani hum” will cut through delusion and make the chanter free from hatred. He is often pictured dancing wildly within flames as a representation of transformation. The chant helps gain access to excessive energy and even the chant sounds energetic.

Peaceful Life

If it is a peaceful life you seek, the mantra “Sarveshaam Svaastir Bhavatu, Sarveshaam Svaastir Bhavatu, Saveshaam Poornam Bhavatu, Sarveshaam Mangalam Bhavatu, Om Shanti, Shanti Shanteeh” is said to bring peace and tranquility. The phrase translates to:

“May health abound forever
May peace abound forever
May complete abundance abound forever
May auspiciousness abound forever
Om Peace, Peace Peace.”

Health, Strength and Peace

There are several mantras that can be used to bring health, strength and peace. For health, chanting “Aham Aarogyam” which translates to I am healthy, is said to bring health, while adding “Om Trayamabakam” brings health for a longer period. For strength, the chant suggested is “Aham Brahmaasmi” which means “I am God,” while peace can be obtained by chanting “Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.”

Difficult Times

It is said that the chant

“Mookam karoti vaachaalam
Pangum langhayatey girim
Yatkripaa tamaham vandey
Paramaananda Maadhavam”

Can make the cripple climb mountains and the mute speak eloquently. The mantra asks for grace in order to ease someone out of difficult situations. It means:

“I salute that Madhava
The source of Supreme Bliss,
Whose grace makes the dumb man eloquent
And the cripple cross mountains.”

Bhagvad Geeta Verse

The 15th verse in the 15th chapter of the Bhagvad Geeta is chanted when a difficult situation becomes worse.

“Sarvasya chaaham kridi sannivishto
Mattas smritir inaanama pochanamcha
Vedaishcha sarvaair ahameva vedyo
Vedaanta krid veda videva chaaham”

In the translation, Krishna says that He is seated in the hearts of all men and women so someone who is causing you difficulty is aware of what you are experiencing as well. By placing your trust in a higher power, whatever is right is what will happen.

Seeking Success

For those seeking success, chanting

“Krishna Krishna Mahaayogin
Bhaktaanaam Bhayankara
Govinda Permaananda
Sarvey Mey Vash Maanay”

Is said to bring that success. The translation asks Krishna to give Supreme Bliss and to bring everything to your favor.

Chant for Prosperity

This chant contains the eight facets of God and uses for repetitions in each verse to give the power necessary to break down barriers from the past and give power to the person chanting.

“Har Har Har Har Gobinday
Har Har Har Har Mukhunday
Har Har Har Har Udharay
Har Har Har Har Aparay
Har Har Har Har Hariong
Har Har Har Har Kariang
Har Har Har Har Nimamay
Har Har Har Har Akamay”

Ancient Mantras

A simple chant is designed to be an homage to Buddha, “Namo AmitaBha” gives honor to the Buddha of Boundless Light, while “Ham-Sah” is a Hindu variant of “I am that I am” meaning “I am that.”

Amithaba

The chant that is the sacred mantra of Buddha, Amithabha enhances compassion while bringing blessings each time it is spoken. By chanting “om ami dewa hrih” you will be protected from dangers and obstacles.

Green Tara Mantra

This is often chanted to overcome physical, mental or emotional blockages, although it can also be used for blockages in relationships. “Om tare tuttare ture soha” helps you release hope for a particular outcome and bring the energy back to yourself, generating inner peace and clarity.