The Samadhi Dhyana Mantra is a meditative formula used to invoke and stabilize the state of samadhi, the eighth and final limb of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga as described in the Yoga Sutras (Yoga Sutra 2.29). Samadhi is defined as a superconscious state where the mind becomes completely absorbed in the object of meditation, transcending the duality of subject and object. The mantra is typically chanted silently or mentally, serving as a support for deep concentration. While the exact textual origin of this specific mantra is not found in a single classical source, it is derived from the broader tradition of dhyana (meditation) mantras in the Upanishads and Tantric texts.
The beej-akshara (seed syllable) 'Om' is often prefixed, as in 'Om Samadhi', to align the practitioner with the primordial vibration. According to the Yoga Sutra 1.2, 'Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah' (yoga is the cessation of mental fluctuations), and the Samadhi Dhyana Mantra aids in achieving that cessation. The mantra is associated with the Atman (individual self) and Brahman (universal consciousness), as the ultimate goal is the realization of their non-duality, a teaching emphasized in the Uddhava Gita (Bhagavata Purana 11.7-29). Traditional purposes include attaining nirbija (seedless) samadhi, merging subject and object, and realizing the ultimate state of yoga.
Recommended chanting context is during advanced meditation retreats, ideally in a quiet, secluded space, at dawn or dusk. The count is not fixed but often practiced in cycles of 108 repetitions using a japa mala. Ritual setting may include asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), and visualization of the inner light. Cautions: This mantra is intended for advanced practitioners who have mastered preliminary stages of yoga; attempting it without proper grounding may lead to mental imbalance.
It should be practiced under the guidance of a qualified guru, as per the tradition of the Yoga Sutras (Yoga Sutra 1.26).
The meditative formula for the state of absorption.
The mantra includes the seed syllable 'Oṁ', which represents the primordial vibration and is often used to align the practitioner with universal consciousness.