Mantra Calligraphy
Mantra Yoga

Mantra Yoga: Repetition of devotional phrases, orally or mentally, forms the basis of an entire spiritual approach. Mantras are used for a variety of intents: an expression of one's aspiration, spiritual transformation, emotional purification, supplication, affirmation of faith, and more base purposes such as realizing one's will on the physical plane, etc. etc.

Regarding focus, teachers variously emphasize concentrating on the sound, meditating upon the meaning, or adding visualizations to the above.

The Hindu Vedas (the oldest being approx. 3700 years old) contain mantras that are practiced and greatly esteemed to this very day. The short Hindu mantra "Tat Tvam Asi" (literally "thou art That") bears a marked resemblance in meaning to "Om Mani Padme Hum." The single syllable "Om" is undoubtedly the shortest mantra, whereas the Shurangama Mantra, the longest in the Buddhist canon, contains 554 Sanskrit lines.