The Chitta Vritti Nirodha Mantra is derived from the foundational aphorism of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (1.2): 'Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah' — Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind. This sutra, the second in the text, defines the entire purpose of the yoga system. The mantra is not a traditional beej mantra but a sutra used as a meditative affirmation. Its phonemes — 'yogash' (union), 'chitta' (consciousness), 'vritti' (fluctuations), 'nirodhah' (cessation) — encapsulate the process of stilling the mind. According to the Yoga Sutras, the mind's vrittis include five types: pramana (valid cognition), viparyaya (misconception), vikalpa (imagination), nidra (sleep), and smriti (memory).
The mantra aims to transcend these to reach the state of asamprajnata samadhi. The deity associated is Patanjali, the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, often depicted as half-serpent and half-human, symbolizing wisdom and yoga. The traditional purpose is to attain mental stillness, self-realization, and liberation (kaivalya). Chanting is recommended during morning or evening meditation, with a count of 108 repetitions using a rudraksha or crystal mala. The ritual setting should be a quiet, clean space with a focus on the breath and the meaning of the mantra.
Cautions include avoiding mechanical repetition without understanding; the mantra is most effective when chanted with contemplative awareness. The Yoga Sutras (1.12-1.16) further explain that practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya) are necessary for nirodha. The mantra is also referenced in the commentary of Vyasa on the Yoga Sutras, which elaborates on the nature of chitta and vrittis. While not a tantric mantra per se, it is revered in the Tantric Mahavidya tradition as a means to quiet the mind for higher sadhana. The mantra is chanted globally in yoga studios and ashrams, and is considered a universal tool for inner peace.
Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind.