A bija, or seed, mantra is a simple, typically one-syllable word or sound used to evoke a specific idea, need, or desire. In the Vedic tradition that Acharya Shunya comes from, each Goddess has a seed sound that reverberates with the energy of Shakti. If you are looking to call in the strength of the Divine Feminine, using a bija mantra can be a powerful way to begin. No matter which mantra you are using, always say it loudly and proudly, from the pit of your stomach and belly button. Let it come forward through your throat as a vibration that will bless this universe.
Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswati each have different strengths that they are associated with, and each may be prevalent to a different time or situation in your life. If you are looking to call in more courage and fierceness, for example, you would do well to call upon Goddess Durga. If you feel that your life is lacking beauty or you are seeking abundance, Goddess Lakshmi is the deity to reach to. If you are looking for a burst of creativity or spiritual alignment, Goddess Saraswati will be able to help.
The seed sound associated with Durga is DUM. The seed sound associated with Lakshmi is SHREEM. The seed sound associated with Saraswati is AIM (pronounced I’m).
To work with these bija mantras, you simply repeat the sound several times — preferably 108 or even 1,008 times. As you do so, you will feel the Shakti energy moving to your higher chakras, swelling from the base of your spine to the top of your crown. Using this simple tool can remind you that you are not separate from your knowingness — you always have the connectedness to the Divine to refind or reclaim what you feel is lacking in your life.
In doing so, you are also able to take stock of why you were feeling that lack in the first place, and use it as a jumping off point to more deeply explore your inner landscape. Each Goddess is also associated with a full mantra, which may deepen your association with this positive expansion.
Explore these practices and more with videos on Acharya Shunya’s YouTube channel!
