The Dharma Megha Samadhi Mantra is associated with the highest state of samadhi described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. According to Yoga Sutra 4.29, the dharma-megha-samadhi (cloud of dharma samadhi) arises when the yogi attains discriminative knowledge (viveka-khyati) and ceases to be affected by karmas. This state is called the 'cloud of dharma' because it showers the rain of virtue and liberation, washing away all residual impressions. The mantra is used to invoke this state of consciousness, which is characterized by the cessation of all karmas and the attainment of kaivalya (final liberation).
The beej-akshara 'Om' is central to this mantra, representing the primordial sound from which all creation emanates and into which it dissolves. The phoneme 'Om' (ॐ) is composed of A, U, and M, symbolizing the three states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, and the silence after it represents turiya, the fourth state of pure consciousness. Chanting this mantra is believed to align the practitioner with the supreme reality, facilitating the dissolution of karmic seeds. The traditional purpose of this mantra is to achieve the cessation of all mental modifications and the realization of the Purusha (pure consciousness) as distinct from Prakriti (nature).
It is recommended to be chanted during advanced meditation retreats, preferably in a secluded setting, at dawn or dusk, with a count of 108 repetitions using a rudraksha mala. The practitioner should be well-versed in the preliminary stages of yoga and have a stable practice of dhyana. Cautions include the need for proper guidance from a qualified guru, as this mantra is intended for advanced practitioners and may not be suitable for beginners. The mantra is also referenced in the commentary of Vyasa on the Yoga Sutras, where it is described as the culmination of the yogic path.
Additionally, the Shandilya Upanishad (1.11) mentions the dharma-megha-samadhi as the state where the yogi becomes free from all karmas and attains liberation while living (jivanmukti). The mantra is thus a tool for realizing the highest truth and transcending the cycle of birth and death.
The mantra for the cloud of dharma samadhi, the highest state of meditative absorption that showers virtue and liberation.
The mantra begins with the seed-syllable 'Oṁ' (ॐ), which is the primordial beej-akshara representing the three states of consciousness (A, U, M) and the fourth state (turiya). It is the seed of all mantras and signifies the ultimate reality.