Sanskrit Mantras, Sound & Subtle Activism with Anand Mehrotra
Founder of Sattva Yoga, Anand Mehrotra, offers a profound exploration of the quantum unified field, the ancient power of Sanskrit sound, and how mantra becomes a potent form of subtle activism. As he reminds us,
“There is immense power in human beings coming together with a shared intention, whether in the same dimensional space-time or stretched out in space.”
Born and raised in the sacred city of Rishikesh, Anand’s spiritual journey began in childhood under the guidance of his Guru, leading him to deep states of insight and self-realization. His early years were shaped by the vibrant sounds of mantras, temple bells, and the living yogic culture surrounding him. As a young seeker, he traveled across India, immersing himself in the Vedic and Tantric wisdom traditions.
Through this lifelong study, Anand created Sattva Yoga—a holistic and evolutionary approach that invites people of all backgrounds to discover their true nature. His teachings integrate ancient technologies of consciousness with practical tools for modern life, offering a clear and transformational path toward inner freedom. Today, Anand shares this wisdom with students around the world—from the USA and Australia to Europe and Russia—guiding them toward their own experience of self-realization and inspired action in service of peace.
Anandra had the great privilege to have talked with Anand Mehrotra. The interview video below was for our Mantras for Peace: A Wisdom Gathering project.*
A Conversation with Anand Mehrotra The Living Sound of Rishikesh
Anandra: We're here today with Anand from Sattva Yoga, and in your hometown of Rishikesh.
Such a beautiful place.
And we're talking about Mantras for Peace today, and one of the things that always touches me about Rishikesh, as one of the features of its most beautiful placeness, is that the sound of mantras is alive to my ear here.
Have you felt that?Anand Mehrotra: Yes.
I think the nada of this place is… as far as I can remember, some of my earliest memories are listening to the bells ringing in the morning and the mantras starting.
It's a nice thing to wake up to.
And then as the sun would set, always, these mantras would start coming.
It’s always a great reminder to center yourself.
With all the noises that fill our atmosphere, the sound of mantra is a reminder. It immediately has a different tone, different quality to it, different texture.
What it does to the nervous system, what it does to your heart—it's very distinct.
So it’s been a great blessing to be able to be a perceiver of that on a sensory level.Anandra: Yeah.
From a young age, before the conscious mind began to develop.
From Self-Oriented Yoga to Service-Oriented Yoga
Anandra: So, you know, our project with Mantras for Peace is really intending to help people make a transformation from the self-oriented path of yoga to a service-oriented path of yoga.
So I'd like to know what your point of view is on that?Anand Mehrotra: Yeah.
I would make the distinction: ego-centered path of yoga, which is not yoga at all.
Let me say small “self,” small aspect.
You know, ego can use anything to create just a more fashionable mask.
So when we are talking about yoga, in the sense of yoga, Self includes everybody.
It’s the Self—there is no “other.”
At that level of yoga, if we are really going into a deeper level of yoga, then service to others is a natural expression.
It’s a natural thing that starts to happen because you begin to realize that the “other” is not other.
The illusion of boundaries, of your sense of self only contained within this bag of skin, drops.
As long as your yoga is only concerned with this hallucination of a self based in isolation, that is not yoga.So if you are really going into the path of yoga, it is bound to happen that you start to come out of this hallucination of isolated self.
And then all love… yes.
And then all love is directed toward Self only.
And our practice starts to become a dedication to all humanity, all sentient beings, to the plants, to the trees, to the birds.Anandra: So what you're saying is that as soon as we start to connect with yoga… that service orientation is a natural outflow.
Anand Mehrotra: Natural.
So if we find that we have been practicing and we don’t find ourselves naturally generous, naturally serviceful, naturally filled with kindness and compassion, then we have some correction to make in our path.
The natural progression of the path will lead you in this direction.
It’s an essential requirement for the experience of yoga.
Mantra as a Transformative Tool
Anandra: And do you personally have some mantra which is dear to your heart?
Anand Mehrotra: Yeah.
I mean, we work a lot with mantras, and I don't have a favorite.
All mantras are effective at different levels.
They have a specific intention, a specific charge to them.
And in our tradition, mantras are phenomenally effective.
First of all, Sanskrit is an onomatopoeic language.
And in my understanding and research, unity consciousness is embedded in Sanskrit.
It is not a language that was used for empty conversations.
There is no other language in the world with such extensive literature about consciousness coming from ancient times.As we study the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Mahavakyas, the Agamas, and the Chandas, we find—even when you’re just reading the sutra—you start to have the experience of the sutra.
So for us, the Sanskrit language itself has unified consciousness embedded in it.Mantras in Sanskrit range from bija sounds to Mahavakyas to longer intention-based mantras.
They are all profoundly effective.
Mantra as Subtle Activism & Working with the Unified Field
Anand Mehrotra: I really admire this project, Mantras for Peace, because subtle activism—if we are really interested in change—we have to let go of only fighting on the grosser level.
The subtler the dimension of reality, the more powerful it is.Even nuclear weapons are subtle weapons—small, yet capable of massive impact because the technology accesses subtler levels of reality.
Yogic technology is even subtler than that.
We are working with the unified field.As you go into deep states of meditation, and from that place of silence you hold a profound intention and use the mantra, you are reverberating that unified field.
Anandra: More powerful than an atomic bomb.
Anand Mehrotra: Absolutely.
We are working with the fundamental level of reality—pure consciousness.What physicists call the Higgs field… yogis have pointed to for millennia.
Our mantras come from that.When we use a mantra from that deep state, we radiate intention into the field and it starts to catch.
Our minds are morphogenic fields.
We catch each other’s frequencies.When more human beings sincerely hold an intention of peace, we make peace much more collapsible into material reality.
Sanskrit Sound as Meaning
Anandra: You said that Sanskrit is an onomatopoeic language. Can you speak more about that?
Anand Mehrotra: Even saying the word shanti—peace—you feel it in your heart.
The meaning is dynamic.
Experiential meaning changes as your perception refines.
Eventually the mantra becomes almost synonymous with silence.
The Power of Chanting Together
Anandra: What happens when we chant with others?
Anand Mehrotra: When human beings come together with shared intention based in love and compassion, space dissolves as a barrier.
What looks far apart is actually one place.
Shared intention is immensely powerful.
Precision, Bhava, and Tuning the Sound
Anandra: What would you say about pronunciation or sound-tuning?
Anand Mehrotra: From our teachings, there are four aspects of sound:
Bhava – the attitude or state
Nada – the sound
Meaning – dynamic & static
Ucharana – the meter
For tantric or shorter mantras, the essentials are bhava, nada, meaning, and pronunciation.
Sanskrit has almost double the alphabet of English—great for the brain.
When the brain functions optimally, humans become more peaceful.
Learn more about Anand Mehrotra awesome work at: https://www.sadhviji.org
Sanskrit Mantra Yoga for Beginners and lovers of sacred sound.
Learn more with this introductory series from the Heart of Sound.
Experience the profound difference when you properly chant using Sanskrit letters and understand "the least you need to know" about Sanskrit to get the most out of your mantra meditation practice.
When you chant in Sanskrit, specific mouth and tongue placements result in certain neural pathways being stimulated. Because of this, you don’t need to understand the “meaning” to feel the power of a mantra. The vibration of the word IS the meaning. The name IS the form (or vibrational pattern).
I have invited thousands of students across the globe to explore this, and I’m delighted that they all report the same sensations when they explore the different mantric syllables, which perfectly match the esoteric meaning.
Mantras for PEACE resources available now:
Get FREE access to A DOZEN mini sound training resources from Heart of Sound. Designed to help you orient your practice to the heart of sound:
- For you (if you're anxious)
- For your loved ones (if they're scared)
- For your community (if they want to feel safe together)
- For the world (if you want to DO something that furthers de-escalation, sanity, connection, and hope for peace)
Discover the best sound yoga therapy, mantra meditation, and nada yoga here:
- Dive deep with the world's first and only online sound and mantra 200HR & 500HR Teacher Training
- More free sound baths and chant experiences of all different types are available at HeartofSound on YouTube / Sound Bath Playlist
- Get to know Anandra through her IG reels and media appearances.
- Interested? ☎️ Book a FREE 30 minute Discovery call! Let's explore together and find the perfect option
Mantras for Peace: A Wisdom Gathering Online
Many of the world’s indigenous wisdom cultures acknowledge that the unseen sound of prayers keep the delicate fabric of life in harmony.
Learn about ancient and innovative subtle activism practices from thought leaders, teachers, and artists from 6 continents in Mantras for Peace: A Wisdom Gathering Online
👂🏽 From labels to listening
🤝 From divisiveness to deescalation
🤗 From extremism to empathy
💞 From disassociation to deep connection
Featuring radically inspiring and thought-provoking conversations with global thought leaders dedicated to a vibrant future through ancient and innovative subtle activism practices, Mantras for Peace: Wisdom Gathering is an all-volunteer project dedicated to empowering people with peacemaking skills. (Originally aired 2019 & 2021)
Hosted by Anandra George, a pioneer in the transformational personal practice of sound and mantra and founder of the Heart of Sound.
45 profound, provocative, inspiring conversations with a diverse panel of global thought leaders.
Together, let's explore ancient and innovative subtle activism practices for a vibrant future!
Featuring radically inspiring and thought-provoking conversations with
- Neuroscience Educator Dr. Sarah Peyton
- Trauma Informed NVC Facilitator Meenadchi
- Biologist Bruce Lipton, Arhuaco
- Medicine Keeper Biskungwi Marquez
- Futurist Christine Mason
- Sanskrit Scholar Dr. Katy Jane
- Tantra Expert Devi Ward Erickson
- Marketing Queen Mari Smith
- Devotional Musician Punnu Singh Wasu
- Voice Expert Chloe Goodchild
- Yoga Philosophy Teacher Bhavani Maki
- Artist Activist Zena El Khalil
- Sound Medicine Expert Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary
- Peace Activist Michelle Button
- Mantra Researcher Gemma Perry
- Musician Gina Salā
- Wellness Entrepreneur Ayana Dake
- Devotional Singer Radhamadhav Das
- Non-Violent Communication Trainer Jori Manske
- Yoga Misfit Dana Trixie Flynn
- Musician Sheela Bringi and More...
