The Rati Shastra Mantra tradition draws from the ancient Indian texts on the science of pleasure and intimacy, most notably the Kamasutra of Vatsyayana and the Rati Rahasya of Kokkoka. These scriptures present intimate union as a sacred act aligned with dharma, and the mantras associated with Rati, the goddess of pleasure and consort of Kamadeva, are chanted to invoke her blessings for deepening connection, enhancing mutual pleasure, and sanctifying the marital bond. The primary beej mantra, 'Om Ratyai Namah,' is a simple salutation to Rati, while the Rati Gayatri—'Om Rati Devyai Cha Vidmahe Kamaputrayai Dhimahi Tanno Rati Prachodayat'—invokes her as the daughter of Kama (desire) for spiritual and sensual awakening.
The phoneme 'Ra' in Rati is associated with Agni (fire) and passion, while 'Ti' relates to the goddess's creative energy. According to the Kamasutra, these mantras are traditionally chanted before union, often 108 times using a rosary, to align the couple's energies and remove obstacles to intimacy. The Rati Rahasya recommends chanting during the evening twilight (sandhya) or on auspicious days like Vasant Panchami, which celebrates Kamadeva and Rati.
The purpose includes not only physical pleasure but also emotional bonding, fertility, and the recognition of sexual energy as a path to the divine. Cautions include that these mantras should be chanted with respect and not for selfish gratification; they are intended for married couples or those in committed relationships, as per traditional dharma. The Koka Shastra also emphasizes that the mantras should be learned from a qualified guru and chanted with proper pronunciation to avoid misuse.
The Rati Shastra Mantras thus serve as a tool for transforming intimacy into a sacred ritual, honoring the divine feminine principle of pleasure and union.
Salutations to Rati, the goddess of pleasure.
The mantra contains no explicit seed syllables; 'Ra' is associated with Agni (fire) and passion, 'Ti' with creative energy, but these are not standard beejaksharas.