RAJA YOGA  HATHA YOGA  JNANA YOGA  BHAKTHI YOGA  KARMA YOGA  MANTRA YOGA MANTRA YOGA The Yoga of mantra is known as mantra yoga. Mananāt trāyate iti mantrah ׀ That which protects us by repeated practice is called mantra. Therefore ‘mantra yoga’ can be considered as the attainment of Samadhi through mantra. Śhivayogadipika considers mantra as one among the four types of yoga, the others being layayoga, hathayoga and rājayoga. Ekāksharam dvyaksharam vā shadaksharamathāpi vā ׀ Asthāksharam vā mokshāya mantrayogi sadā japet ׀׀ Mantra yoga can be achieved by repeated practice of following mantras like Ekāksara - omkāra, which has only one letter. Dvyaksara - soham with two letters. Śhadaksara - Om namah shivāya. Ashtāksara - Om namo nārāyanāya. Gāyatri mantra - 24 letters. The important aspects to be remembered while practicing this system are as follows. The mantra should be pronounced correctly depending on the mantra either in vadāta, anudāta, svarita or dirghasvarita. Aksara laksa: That is, depending on the number of letters present in the mantra, repeat it in lakhs. Person should be in empty stomach and repeat it either in morning or in the evening. Cleanliness; both external and internal cleanliness is a must before the practice of mantra. One should sit properly in a comfortable posture. Repeating mantra for a long time is also called mantrajapa. This can be practiced in three levels namely Vācika (loud pronunciation with clarity), Upāmśu (murmuring with lip movement) and Mānasika (uttering mentally which is the superior most). The different means to achieve mantra yoga are listed below. 1.Bhakti - devotion. 2.Śuddhi - purity, both outward and internal. 3.Āsana - posture. Padmāsana is best and one should practice in the same asana regularly. 4.Āchāra - conduct, good behaviour and right attitude. 5.Pancanga sevana - maintenance of days and months according to Hindu calendar. 6.Divya deha sevana - worshipping god, going to temple. 7.Prānakriya - prānāyāma, controlling the vital breath. 8.Mudrā - gestures. There are 10 types of mudrās. Mantras along with mudrā have a special effect. 9.Tarpana - offering water to hands. It may be devatarpana, pitru tarpana or rishitarpana. 10.Havana - offering havis to god and goddess. 11.Bali - ritual sacrifice. 12.Yajna - yāga, ritual worship. It may be external or internal. 13.Japa - repetition of mantras, contemplating on favourite gods continuously. 14.Dhyāna - contemplation which is possible after japa. 15.Samadhi - the last stage which comes after dhyāna. The mantra yoga when followed properly bestows various benefits. It protects both the body and mind and when practiced with full concentration it bestows energy and lightness to the body and mind. It also helps to attain the final state of liberation; Samadhi. Thus by practicing mantra yoga with right attitude, right manner and good concentration one can attain the ultimate superior state of realisation and thus get liberated.