I’ve always had an intriguing curiosity for Mantras. I love listening to them, the beautiful rhythm they offer and the sense of peace they invoke within me when I hear them being chanted.
Not having an understanding of Mantra has always left me hesitant about practicing a mantra myself. I always felt like I would be a bit of a phony as I don’t have a religious belief in the Hindu tradition, I don’t follow sanskrit writings and I don’t pay homage to any of the deities. Mantra however has called to me. I struggled with this for a little while and resisted the urge to attend Kirtan circles as I felt like I would have that feeling of an outsider pretending to be “in the know”. Oh how our ego can prevent us from such magical experiences sometimes! When I owned my health and wellbeing centre we had a weekly meditation group which came together and sang a gorgeous mantras, different ones each week. I would listen from the reception area and always feel a pull to participate, but never did. Perhaps it simply wasn’t the right time for me.
A while ago now my beautiful friend Kati introduced me quite out of the blue to a Mantra she was working with. Om Gam Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha I felt an instant attraction to it and the following day I found it moving around my head. Clumsily at first, faltering on the rhythm and the correct placement of the words. Om Gam Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha I found it drifting into my mind as I was going about my day and finally about a week later I went on to Youtube to find the ‘correct’ way of reciting the mantra. (I have since learnt there is no real correct way, the mantra will simply form of its own accord and rhythm if you let it). From that day I have been sitting in meditation morning and evening reciting this gorgeous mantra 108 times. Admittedly I have missed quite a few evenings due to… well, life, but I have not missed a morning. I love it, I crave it, I look forward to the morning where I can sit in this space of peace.
Om Gam Shreem Maha Lakshiyei Namaha.
Depending on what I have been doing prior to sitting with the mantra, I will begin feeling a little wired, a little (ok, sometimes a lot) scattered or sleepy but a few rounds in and I am feeling a sense of peace and grace wash over and through me. I find my rhythm and I find the heart of the message I am chanting. This particular mantra is known as a Lakshmi Mantra for removing obstacles to abundance, all forms of abundance. To break it down, the meaning behind the words are as follows:
Om: Said to be the root of all letters and words. Representing the Supreme Being and containing the past, present and future in this one sound.
Gum or Gam: This is the seed syllable for Ganesh (remover of obstacles)
Shrim or Shreem: This is the seed syllable for Lakshmi (goddess of abundance, prosperity and good fortune)
Maha: Great, centering the heart in compassion and grace
Lakshmiyei: Invokation of Lakshmi, ‘yei’ is the endearing form of Lakshmi
Namaha: A bowing down in reverence and respect Since working with this mantra I have noticed a new found grace enter my life.
There is a calmness and contentment that was a little absent before. I hadn’t noticed it was absent… until I found it. I have removed a debt that I had no idea how on earth I was going to pay off. A debt I have been carrying for over 5 years and thought I would be carrying for many more to come. This occurred quite out of the blue (20 days in I might add). It wasn’t so much that the money landed on me or that the heavens opened and showers of cash rained down upon me! No, it was a shifting of a belief, a perspective. There was an openness and acceptance where previously there was stubbornness and embarrassment. There have been so many amazing gifts of abundance that I have experienced, too many to name. Were they there before? Perhaps. Regardless of whether they are occurring because of the Mantra, or whether they were always going to occur and I am now paying closer attention, I don’t mind in the slightest.
The fact is that this mantra has allowed my focus to be heightened and expanded and I am so very grateful for that. When I feel myself getting frustrated or impatient about something, or delving into a consciousness of lack or ‘not enough’, I am instantly reminded of my mantra and the meaning. I know that each syllable carries it’s own powerful vibration, an energy that when struck is resonating throughout the universe, invoking this ancient, reverent and sacred sound. A calling, an acknowledgement, and I respond with deep gratitude for this divine space I find myself in.
To deepen my experience I created a journal to record my 40 days. It sent me off on a bit of a tangent so it has become a workbook and journal now for you too. I also rang my dear friend, Ganga Karen Ashworth to request her assistance in recording this mantra so you too can be guided along with this beautiful chant. Ganga was so delightfully generous with her time and voice, offering us a 17 minute recording of the Om Gam Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha mantra.
Ganga recorded this in meditation herself and the power within her words is palpable. As our gift to you, please download and enjoy your 40 day journey through the Lakshmi Abundance Mantra. It’s completely free, your first receiving of abundance 🙂 I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
