Besides our gross, form-based physical body, we have another subtle energy body made up of sound. Our higher Self or inner being, the Purusha of yogic thought, is connected to the physical body through this body of sound. Mantra Yoga contains a very important teaching through which we can harmonize this body of sound to insure the right flow of energy into the physical body. Each of the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet corresponds to a certain portion of the physical body called the Mantra Purusha, the Cosmic Being or Person (Purusha) made of mantra.
This subtle body of sound vibration relates to the mental body1 and to the subtle or astral body in general, the site of the seven chakras. It creates and sustains the physical body, supporting health and well-being within it. Through changing the frequencies of the subtle body of sound, we can bring healing into the physical body and remove negativities from the mind. For this reason, the Mantra Purusha is an important method of Mantra Therapy as well as a means of opening our higher awareness. It is perhaps the best mantric tool for Ayurvedic medicine.
Structure of the Mantra Purusha
The Mantra Purusha relates the primary groups of sounds as vowels, consonants, semi-vowels and sibilants to particular regions of the body. First, we will present the most simple and direct set of correspondences. Then we will present the details in a second set of tables.
The sixteen vowels relate to the sixteen main regions and faculties in the head, including the senses.
The twenty five consonants relate to the main joints on the arms and legs (five per arm and leg) and the five regions of the abdomen.
The nine semivowels and sibilants relate to the tissues and primary constituents of the body, from the plasma to the mind.
Mantra Purusha – Basic Form Head Aṁ Top of head Àṁ Forehead Iṁ Right eye Ãṁ Left eye Uṁ Right ear Ïṁ Left ear Êṁ Right nostril Ëṁ Left nostril Äṁ Right cheek Åṁ Left cheek Eṁ Upper lip Aiṁ Lower lip Oṁ Upper teeth Auṁ Lower teeth Aṁ Upper palate Aḥ Lower palate Arms Kaṁ Right shoulder Caṁ Left shoulder Khaṁ Right elbow Chaṁ Left elbow Gaṁ Right wrist Jaṁ Left wrist Ghaṁ Right base of fingers Jhaṁ Left base of fingers Èaṁ Right finger tips Éaṁ Left finger tips Legs Îaṁ Right leg Taṁ Left leg Tḥaṁ Right knee Thaṁ Left knee Áaṁ Right ankle Daṁ Left ankle Dḥaṁ Right base of toes Dhaṁ Left base of toes Çaṁ Right tip of toes Naṁ Left tip of toes Abdomen Paṁ Right abdomen Phaṁ Left abdomen Baṁ Lower back Bhaṁ Navel Maṁ Lower abdomen Tissues Yaṁ Plasma Raṁ Blood Laṁ Muscle Vaṁ Fat Śaṁ Bone Ṣam Ner ve tissue Saṁ Reproductive tissue Haṁ Prana Kṣaṁ Mind
Mantra Regions and Marma Points
In the Mantra Purusha, each letter of the Sanskrit alphabet functions as a ‘locational indicator’ for a particular part of the body. These ‘mantra regions’ often reflect special marma or ‘energy regions’ used in Yoga and Ayurveda. Marmas are not simply points, like acupuncture points, but zones that can extend from half an inch to four inches (finger units) in size. Marmas are discussed in many Ayurvedic texts, so we ask the reader to consult these for more details on their names, locations and usage.2
Many Mantra Purusha regions correspond to classical marmas. In other instances, they relate to secondary or less commonly used marmas. In some instances, Mantra Purusha sounds cover a larger region than marmas and can be correlated with more than one set of marmas. This ‘mantra-marma’ connection is very important for healing purposes and one of the most significant applications of mantra, particularly at a physiological level.
Mantra Purusha regions also relate to certain nadis or subtle channels, which have their openings or apertures at their locations, like the right eye and the Pusha Nadi, which ends there. They reflect the psychological and spiritual faculties and energies associated with their bodily locations. Similarly, the Mantra Purusha sounds correlate with the qualities of their respective letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, as already described.
In the more elaborate version of the Mantra Purusha below, I have added specific marma regions for each sound, as well as psychological effects, nadi and organ correspondences. In the case of the sibilants and semivowels, I have added their energy flows along the body. The semi-vowels govern the regions around the heart, while the sibilants govern energy flows from the heart to the extremities of the body. Note the appendix for more detail on how the Mantra Purusha sounds connect with classical marmas.
Mantra Purusha, Detailed Form Mantras for the Mind, Senses and Organs in the Head
Prana Vayu, the motivating force among the five Pranas Top of head
Crown chakra, Adhipati marma at top of the head, pineal gland
Aperture of Sushumna nadi, which runs from base of the spine to top of the head
Inner and higher mind, consciousness, Self, Prana, transcendence Aṁ
e0 Forehead
Third eye, point in center of forehead, pituitary gland
Connecting point of the head nadis in the Sushumna, outer mind, mental perception, thought, feeling, expression Àṁ
P0 Right Eye
Right Apanga marma at lower corner of right eye
Aperture of Pusha nadi which flows from third eye to right eye
Direct perception, judgment, discrimination, motivation Iṁ
f0 Left Eye
Left Apanga marma at lower corner of left eye
Aperture of Gandhari nadi which flows from third eye to the left eye
Creative imagination, visualization, desire Ãṁ
Q0 Right Ear
Right Vidhura marma below corner of right ear
Aperture of Payasvini nadi which flows from third eye to the right ear
Direct hearing and listening, comprehension, grasp of the whole Uṁ
g0 Left Ear
Left Vidhura marma below corner of left ear
Aperture of Shankhini nadi which flows from third eye to the left eye
Creative hearing and sound based imagination Ïṁ
R0 Right Nostril
Right Phana marma at base of right nostril
Aperture of Pingala nadi which flows from third eye to the right nostril and governs the energy flow on the right side of the body generally
Power of exhalation and right pranic flow, reason, will power Êṁ
W0 Left Nostril
Left Phana marma at base of left nostril
Aperture of Ida nadi which flows from third eye to the left nostril and governs the energy flow on the left side of the body in general
Power of inhalation and left pranic flow, emotion, responsiveness Ëṁ
Ø0 Right Cheek
Right Shringataka marma at center of right cheek
Expressive power of touch and feeling Äṁ v¥0 Left Cheek
Left Shringataka marma at center of left cheek
Receptive power of touch and feeling Åṁ v¦0 Upper Lip
Point above center of upper lip, Urdhvoshta
Connected to Sarasvati nadi which ends at tip of tongue Tongue, speaking ability Eṁ
h0 Lower Lip
Point above center of lower lip, Adharoshta
Connected to Sarasvati nadi which ends at tip of tongue Tongue, taste ability Aiṁ
:0 Upper Teeth
Point above center of upper teeth, Urdhva Dantapankti Prana in the mouth and face
Speech, singing ability, expressive Oṁ
i0 Lower Teeth
Point above center of lower teeth, Adho Dantapankti
Prana in the mouth and face
Speech, singing ability, receptive Auṁ
;0 Upper Palate
Point at upper back of throat
Relates to the mind, the moon, emotions, resonance, responsiveness, stimulates flow of Soma Aṁ
e0 Lower Palate
Point at lower back of throat
Sense of Self and self esteem, self-projection, solar energy Aḥ
e7
Mantras for the Right Arm
Vyana Vayu, the expansive force among the five Pranas
Yashasvati nadi which flows from heart and navel chakras to the right hand and right foot
Power of action generally Right Shoulder
Right base of arm, Dakshina Bahumula
Right Kakshadhara marma
Power of will, initial motivation Kaṁ
jÈ0 Right Elbow
Right Kurpara marma
Power of will, stronger energy Khaṁ
<0 Right Wrist
Right Manibandha marma
Power of expression, initial motivation Gaṁ
k0 Right Base of Fingers
Right Hastanguli Mula
Power of expression, stronger energy Ghaṁ
=0 Right Fingertips
Right Hastanguli Agra
Point of connection to the cosmic Vyana Vayu
Manual dexterity and articulation Èaṁ
YÈ0
Mantras for the Left Arm
Vyana Vayu, the expansive force among the five Pranas
Hastijihva nadi which flows from heart and navel chakras to the left hand and left foot
Power of reaction generally Left Shoulder
Base of Left Shoulder, Vama Bahumula
Left Kakshadhara marma
Power of emotion, initial motivation Caṁ
l0 Left Elbow
Left Kurpara marma
Power of emotion, stronger energy Chaṁ
0 Left Wrist
Left Manibandha marma
Power of reaction, initial motivation Jaṁ
m0 Left Base of Fingers
Vama Hastanguli Mula
Power of reaction, stronger energy Jhaṁ
?0 Left Fingertips
Vama Hastanguli Agra
Point of connection to the cosmic Vyana Vayu
Manual artistry and grace Éaṁ
Z0
Mantras for the Right Leg
Vyana Vayu, the expansive force, and Apana Vayu, the downward force among the five pranas
Yashasvati nadi which flows from the heart and navel chakras to the right hand and right foot
Power of support and movement generally Right Hip
Dakshina Padamula
Power of support, primary focus Îaṁ
20 Right Knee
Right Januni marma
Power of support, adaptation Tḥaṁ
ṁ0 Right Ankle
Right Gulpha marma
Power of movement, primary focus Áaṁ
30 Right Root of Toes
Dakshina Padanguli Mula
Power of movement, adaptation Dḥaṁ
ç0 Right Tips of Toes
Dakshina Padanguli Agra
Power of movement, articulation
Point of connection to the cosmic Vyana Vayu and Apana Vayu Çaṁ
40
Mantras for the Left Leg
Vyana Vayu, the expansive air among the five pranas
Hastijihva nadi which flows from heart and navel chakras to the left hand and left foot
Power of support and movement generally Left Hip
Left Padamula
Power of support, primary focus Taṁ
n0 Left Knee
Left Januni marma
Power of support, adaptation Thaṁ
@0 Left Ankle
Left Gulpha marma
Power of movement, primary focus Daṁ
o0 Left Root of Toes
Left Padanguli Mula
Power of movement, adaptation Dhaṁ
A0 Left Tip of Toes
Left Padanguli Agra
Power of movement, articulation
Point of connection to the cosmic Vyana Vayu and Apana Vayu Naṁ
p0
Mantras for the Abdominal Region*
Samana Vayu, balancing force among the five Pranas and Apana Vayu or downward moving force among the five Pranas
Power of digestion and elimination generally Right Side of Abdomen
Dakshamsha
Prana and solar energy right side of abdomen
Liver, digestion of solid food Paṁ
q0 Left Side of Abdomen
Vamamsha
Prana and lunar energy left side of abdomen
Stomach, pancreas, absorption of water, liquid food and sugar Phaṁ
BÈ0 Lower Back
Nabhi marma on back of body
Prana of the back side of abdomen
Vishvodhara nadi, which radiates out from the navel to the organs of the digestive system Baṁ
r0 Navel
Nabhi marma on front of body
Prana of the front side of abdomen, central location of Samana
Vayu
Vishvodhara nadi, which radiates out from the navel to the organs of the digestive system
Small intestine, seat of digestive fire Bhaṁ
C0 Lower Abdomen
Basti marma (bladder)
Apana Vayu or downward moving air
Kuhu nadi that runs from the sex chakra to the urinogenital organs
Reproduction, support, emotion Maṁ
s0
* There are some variations on the attribution of these mantras in different texts, notably the Mantra Yoga Samhita.
Mantras for the Upper Body, Chest and Bodily Tissues Mainly govern various aspects of heart function and energy flows from the heart Heart, Center of Chest
Hridaya (Heart) marma
Varuna Nadi which arises from the heart chakra and permeates the body
Circulatory system, plasma (Rasa Dhatu)
Air energies, control of all pranas Yaṁ
t0 Right Side of Chest
Solar energy of right side of chest, heart lungs
Blood (Rakta Dhatu)
Fire energies of heart and lungs Raṁ
u0 Heart to Top of Palate or Lower Chest
Muscles (Mamsa Dhatu)
Earth energies, strength, Ojas Laṁ
v0 Left Side of Chest
Lunar energy of left side of chest, heart, lungs
Body fat (Meda Dhatu)
Water energies of heart and lungs Vaṁ
w0 Heart to Right Hand Energy Flow
Upper right side of heart
Right Talahridaya marma in center of right palm
Bone tissue (Asthi Dhatu)
Outward movement of Vyana Vayu Śaṁ
50 Heart to Left Hand Energy Flow
Upper left side of heart
Left Talahridaya marma in center of left palm
Nerve tissue and bone marrow (Majja Dhatu)
Outward movement of Vyana Vayu Ṣaṁ
60 Heart to Right Foot Energy Flow
Lower right side of heart
Right foot Talahridaya marma in center of sole of foot
Reproductive tissue (Shukra Dhatu)
Downward movement of Vyana and Apana Vayus Saṁ
x0 Heart to Left Foot Energy Flow
Lower left side of heart
Left foot Talahridaya marma in center of sole of left foot
Downward movements of Vyana and Apana Vayus
Atma or Soul Haṁ
y0 Heart to Belly Energy Flow
Bottom of heart
Connection of circulation and digestion and their respective fires, as well as the lower chakras
Paramatman or Higher Self Laṁ*
v0 Heart to Top of Head Energy Flow
Top of heart
Connection of heart to brain and mind, higher chakras
Sushumna nadi, upper portion
Pranatman or Self of Prana Kṣaṁ
ḥ0
* This second L-sound is the cerebral L, pronounced like the cerebral letters with the tongue at the roof of the mouth, as opposed to the dental-L, pronounced with the tongue behind the teeth.
1 Manomaya kosha in Sanskrit.
2 Like the author’s Ayurveda and Marma Therapy.