According to the ancient Indian metaphysics of sound, Truths (richas) reverberate subtly and eternally throughout the cosmos. In the current epoch, before recorded history, they were first heard by unusually gifted seers called rishis. These truths were passed orally from generation to generation by means of strict methods of recitation designed to preserve their purity.

The Tantric and Vedic traditions express their awareness of sacred sounds through the oldest written language of the world, Samskrta. It consists of 52 phonemes, 50 of which aid the functioning of subtle vortices of energy called chakras. There are seven major chakras distributed along the spinal column and located in the subtle body (sukshma sharira). Smooth rotation of the chakras is an essential step in maintaining harmony of the physical body with the subtle and causal bodies.

In the Tantric tradition, chakras are symbolized as lotus flowers with differing numbers of petals. These petals are able to receive sound energy from specific phonemes called matrikas. Matrikas are potent energizers of the petals which aid in the chakras’ rotation. Mantras are combinations of matrikas. To be effective, mantras must be given precise pronunciation and intonation as well as great devotion. They are invocations of latent potential energies. Mantra literally means “that which liberates the mind” from false identities. After this expansion, a contraction takes place which brings the three bodies into close alignment.

It is at this point that a special type of mantra (bija mantra) may be employed to extinguish the fire of desire which lies in the central channel of each chakra. When this extinguishing has occurred in all seven chakras, Kundalini may leave her home in the first chakra and rise through the central channel to the seventh chakra. This leads to transcendence and ultimate return to the source.