Before there were fully formed words, there were seed sounds — primordial vibrations from which the complexity of language and meaning grew. In the yogic tradition, these seed sounds are called bija mantras (bija = seed), and each of the seven primary chakras has its own bija: the concentrated vibrational essence of that energy centre.
The Seven Bija Mantras
Lam — Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Located at the base of the spine. The Lam sound resonates with the earth element and the experience of groundedness, safety, and belonging. Chanting Lam brings awareness to the body and the physical world, and helps dissolve the anxiety that arises from feeling unsafe.
Vam — Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Located just below the navel. Vam resonates with water and the qualities of flow, creativity, sensuality, and emotional fluidity. Chanting Vam supports the healthy expression of feeling and creative energy.
Ram — Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Located at the solar plexus. Ram resonates with fire and the qualities of will, self-esteem, digestion, and personal power. This is a strong, assertive sound — chanting it builds courage and vitality.
Yam — Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Located at the heart centre. Yam resonates with air and the qualities of love, compassion, connection, and the capacity to give and receive. Chanting Yam opens the chest and softens the heart.
Ham — Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Located at the throat. Ham resonates with space (akasha) and the qualities of authentic expression, truth-speaking, and listening. Chanting Ham opens and clears the channel of communication.
Om — Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Located between the eyebrows. Om — the primordial sound — resonates with intuition, inner vision, clarity, and the integration of opposites. Chanting Om here deepens concentration and inner perception.
Silence — Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Located at the crown of the head. The crown chakra transcends sound — its "mantra" is the silence from which all sound arises. Rest quietly after completing the sequence, holding attention at the crown, and allow awareness to expand beyond the boundaries of the body.
How to Practise
Sit in a comfortable meditation posture with a long spine. Begin at the root chakra, place your awareness there, and chant Lam seven times with a long, resonant vowel. Move upward through each chakra in sequence. The entire sequence takes approximately 20 minutes.
Benefits
Working with the bija mantras regularly creates a kind of internal survey — you begin to notice which centres feel open and flowing, and which feel stuck or muted. Over time, the practice systematically opens and balances the entire energetic body, with corresponding benefits at the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
