“Om apadamapa hataram dataram sarva sampadam lokah bhi ramam shri ramam bhuyo bhuyo namam yaham”

This is one of my favorite mantras.  It is a little bit of a mouthful, but once committed to memory, it is fun to chant.   Repeating this mantra always makes me smile, which is part of its healing properties; joy and happiness are healing emotions.

This is considered a Rama mantra: “bhi ramam shri ramam”.  Rama has a threefold meaning here.  First, Ram is the seed sound of the manipura, the third or solar plexus, chakra.  Here lies the power of your internal sun and life force.  The third chakra is associated with energy, will and mastery.  The body parts governed by the third chakra are the mid-torso, the side bodies, ribs, adrenal glands, belly and digestive organs.  When your third chakra is strong and balanced you radiate warmth, dexterity, skill and mastery.  When your third chakra is deficient you may feel controlling, dominating and be constantly active.  You may feel weak, passive and tired.  Chanting this mantra with the intention of healing can balance your third chakra.

The second meaning comes from dividing Rama into its syllables: Ra and Ma.  Ra is associated with the solar current that runs down the right side of our body and Ma is associated with the lunar current that runs down the left side of our body.  These currents crisscross in our bodies.  Scholars say that it is this criss crossing action that spins our chakras.  Chanting this mantra can balance these energies and our chakras.

The third reference is to the god Rama himself.  Rama is a kind, benevolent healing energy.  You can read about Rama in a text called the Ramayana, which means Ram’s way.  It is a wonderful story filled with many lessons taught through intriguing twists and turns.

A typical mantra practice involves chanting a mantra 108 times, at least once a day for 30 or 40 days.    Once you learn this mantra, it will take you about 30 minutes (give or take) to chant it 108 times.  You can use a mala to help you chant it.  But you also do a practice of 108 times without a mala.  Time yourself chanting the mantra. Once you know how long it takes, you can simply use your timer.  There is also a way to make a mala using your hands.  You count the “segments” of each finger.  There are three segments on each finger, twelve on one hand.  Every time you go through all twelve segments on one hand, you count one segment on your other hand.  When you get to nine segments on the second hand you have reached 108 (9 x 12 = 108).  While there is something soothing about clicking through the beads of a mala, there are times when I want to chant and I don’t have my mala with me. It is very helpful to have different ways to maintain your practice.

Let me know if this mantra has helped you.