________________
Prana and Mantra
An intrinsic relationship between sound and prana under
lies all creation. At the beginning of creation, when the first movement arose within the field of dormant consciousness and mahaprana manifested, sound also came into being. With the first movement of cosmic energy the first sound manifested, which was Om. This transcendental sound is also called nada, the highest level of sound vibration. From nada emerged kalaa, the manifest universe of time, space and object. In scientific terms, this may be related to the event of the Big Bang.
In Tantroktam Devi Suktam (v. 6) one of the aspects of Shakti is described as 'Vishnumayeti shabdita', which refers to the manifestation of primordial energy in the form of shabda, word. In the Bible also it has been said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." In order to become manifest, the unmanifest and indivisible has to take on form. The first form was sound, and it came into existence through the medium of energy or prana. Due to the close relationship between prana and nada in the process of creation, sound is one of the best vehicles for the transmission of prana shakti at the microcosmic level also. Therefore mantras, sounds containing psychic force, are often used in the science of prana.
