The Para Brahman Mantra is a sacred invocation directed toward the Supreme Ultimate Reality, known as Para Brahman, which transcends all names, forms, and dualities. This mantra is not associated with any particular deity in a personal sense but rather with the formless, attributeless absolute that is the substratum of all existence. The term 'Para Brahman' appears in the Upanishads, such as the Mundaka Upanishad (2.2.2) where it is described as 'that which is beyond the knowable and the unknown.' The Bhagavad Gita (8.3) also refers to Brahman as the imperishable, supreme reality. The mantra often incorporates the sacred syllable 'Om' (प्रणव), which according to the Mandukya Upanishad is the sound-symbol of Brahman itself.
The beej-akshara 'Om' encompasses the three states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—and the fourth, turiya, which is pure consciousness. Chanting this mantra is traditionally undertaken for the direct realization of the absolute, leading to liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death. The Mantra-Yoga-Samhita recommends its recitation during the brahma muhurta (pre-dawn hours) in a quiet, meditative setting, with a count of 108 repetitions using a rudraksha mala. The purpose is to quiet the mind and dissolve the ego, allowing the practitioner to experience non-dual awareness.
According to the Shaktisangama Tantra, such mantras are to be chanted with utmost reverence and without any expectation of worldly benefits, as they are purely for spiritual emancipation. There are no specific cautions beyond the general advice to maintain purity of body and mind, and to receive initiation (diksha) from a qualified guru, as the mantra's power is immense and can be destabilizing without proper guidance. The associated mahavakyas—'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman) from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and 'Tat Tvam Asi' (That Thou Art) from the Chandogya Upanishad—serve as contemplative aids. This mantra is chanted in Vedantic study circles and spiritual retreats, and its worship transcends regional boundaries, being revered globally by seekers of non-dual truth.
Salutations to the Supreme Brahman.
The mantra contains the seed-syllable 'Oṁ', which according to the Mandukya Upanishad encompasses all states of consciousness and is the sound-symbol of Brahman itself.