According to Indian traditions, in the beginning of creation, the sound `om’ (or ‘aum’) arose as the primal vibration. It is from this `om’ arose fifty `matrikas’ (called ‘mother sounds’), each associated with particular ‘chakras’ (or the psychic energy centres) located in the various regions of the human body.
Each of these chakras is associated with a “root-vibration,” which in turn is equated with certain specific letters.
Thus, taken as a whole, the whole system of chakras constitutes the primal alphabet. It was thus believed that it is from this alphabet that the whole universe emerged. Each such letter in the Sanskrit alphabet can individually be referred to as a `matrika’ , for each one exhibits a power in its own right.
Thus we have a single root sound, the primal vowel, which gave rise to the remaining vowels. Then from the vibrations of these vowels formed the consonants.
Each sound would thus represent a particular cosmic power. With each chakra it is inscribed on the petals. The number of petals of each chakra thus corresponds to the number of sounds, or root powers, that are active at that level:
| Name of the Chakra | Sound | Sound heard during the raise of Kundalini |
| Crown (Sahasrara) | Om (The Primal Sound) | – |
| Eye-brow (Ajna) | Ha (The aspiration sound) and Ksa | – |
| Throat (Vishuddha) | 16 Pure Sounds | at vishuddha and beyond one hears the sound Om |
| Heart (Anahata) | 12 Impure Sounds | at anahata one hears the music of a flute |
| Navel (Manipura) | 10 Impure Sounds | at manipura one hears the sound of a bell |
| Svadhisthana | 6 Impure Sounds | at svadhisthana one hears the tinkling of an anklet |
| Root (Muladhara) | 4 Impure Sounds | at muladhara one hears the chirping of a cricket |
The following four kinds of sounds have been identified in the traditional scriptures and texts with reference to one’s consciousness state:
| Para (=supreme): | The state of unmanifested sound. It is considered as a sound at the level of its origin. This state corresponds with navel (Manipura) chakra. |
| Pashyanti (seeing): Visual | Sound in its undifferentiated state. It is only heard by the spiritually awakened person. It is sound emerging ‘towards the visible. Through its medium enlightened people can behold all objective existence within themselves. This state corresponds with heart (Anahata) chakra. |
| Madhyama (luminous): | The state of sound (or word) that has been conceived but not expressed yet from the throat. This luminous sound is an internal reflection of manifestation of awareness taking the form of ideas. This state corresponds with throat (Vishuddha) chakra |
| Vaikhari (Audible) | Sound manifested as form, that is, sound uttered by man, audible forming a language |
The ancient traditions in India employed sounds (called `mantras’) for invoking special vibrations within the practitioner. It helped him to reach a particular level of consciousness or to activate certain energies. A spiritual mantra is thus an inwardly directed Matrika Mantra aids in saturating and transforming one’s consciousness when repeated mindlessly.
In our normal thought processes the mantra moves down from one awareness to the other: from the para stage down to the vaikhari stage. In the practice of mantra, however, this order is reversed. When repeated at the vaikhari level, the gross body is infused with energy. When repeated on the madhyama level, the mantra is said to have one hundred times the power as when repeated on the gross level. In the next higher pashyanti level, the mantra no longer exists in such a concrete form, having transformed into a mere pulsation of energy. It is this awareness of this pulsation, which releases ecstasy in the realised souls.
A person who reaches this can create a reality through his words, for whatever he says has to come true. On the para level, however, only bliss exists.
This article was published in Bhavan’s Journal, July 31, 2008 pages 86 to 88
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, July 16, 2021