The Yama Niyama Dhyana Mantra is a meditative invocation of the ten ethical precepts that form the foundational limb of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga. These precepts are enumerated in the Yoga Sutras (II.30-45), where Yama comprises Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy or right use of energy), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness); Niyama includes Shaucha (purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to the Divine). Each precept is traditionally meditated upon with a corresponding bija mantra, such as 'Om Ahimsa' or 'Om Satya', to internalize the virtue.
The Mantra Mahodadhi (7.45-50) describes similar dhyana mantras for ethical qualities, linking them to purification of the subtle body. In the Shaktisangama Tantra (Kali Khanda 3.12-15), these ten principles are revered as the 'Dasha Shila' and are chanted to invoke the grace of the Mahavidyas for spiritual progress. The phonetics of the mantras emphasize the bija 'Om' followed by the name of the virtue, which aligns the mind with the cosmic principle of that virtue.
The traditional purpose is to cultivate sattvic qualities and remove obstacles to higher sadhana. Recommended chanting context includes early morning, after asana practice, with a count of 108 repetitions per precept using a rudraksha mala. Cautions: these mantras are not to be chanted mechanically; they require conscious reflection on the meaning and application in daily life.
According to the Yoga Sutras (II.33), when disturbed by negative thoughts, one should cultivate the opposite (pratipaksha bhavana), and these dhyana mantras serve as a direct tool for that practice. The mantras are considered safe for all practitioners, but should be approached with sincerity and a commitment to ethical living.
Salutations to non-violence.
The mantra begins with the seed-syllable 'Oṁ', which represents the ultimate reality and is used to align the mind with the cosmic principle of the virtue.