Chakra
Grief & Loss
Not a cure, but a steady place to return to. A mantra that makes room, rather than fixing anything.
A mantra I use regularly is Om Ram Ramaya Swaha. It is an invocation directed at Lord Rama, in the Hindu tradition a beloved embodiment of righteousness and living by your values. Rama is seen as an archetype of the hero: someone who stays steady, even when things are hard.
Chanting this mantra has traditionally been associated with a feeling of deep calm and connection. I used this mantra myself in the period after my father passed away, as a steady place to give my grief somewhere to go. It didn’t replace anything, but it gave me a moment of ground to stand on.
The Manipura chakra
In the tradition, this mantra is connected to your third chakra, the Manipura chakra, also known as the solar plexus chakra. You’ll find this energy point about two fingers above your navel. In the traditional framework, this chakra is associated with personal power: willpower, energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to make decisions and take action. The color associated with this chakra is yellow.
One way to work with this while chanting: picture yourself breathing in a warm, yellow light, like sunlight.
The mantra itself
Om Ram Ramaya Swaha, by Deva Premal. Interesting detail: in some traditions, “Swaha” is replaced with “Namaha” when the practitioner is under the age of 29.
Important to be clear about: this mantra is a spiritual and cultural practice, not a medical treatment. It is not a substitute for medical care for illness, pain, or other health concerns. In grief and loss, it can be a place of steadiness alongside, never instead of, professional support when you need it.
Frequently asked questions
What does Om Ram Ramaya Swaha mean?
The mantra is an invocation directed at Lord Rama, in the Hindu tradition a symbol of righteousness and steadiness. It has traditionally been chanted for inner calm and connection.
Which chakra is this mantra associated with?
The Manipura chakra, also known as the solar plexus chakra, located about two fingers above the navel. In the tradition, this chakra is associated with willpower, energy, and decisiveness.
Is this mantra a medical treatment?
No. It is a spiritual and cultural practice. For illness, pain, or serious health concerns, medical care is needed; this mantra is not a substitute for that.
When does the ending of the mantra change from Swaha to Namaha?
In some traditions, Swaha is replaced with Namaha when the practitioner is under the age of 29.
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Ilse-Marie Sobering is the founder of House of InnerPower and the creator of the InnerPower Method: LAND • ADEM • VOEL (Land, Breathe, Feel), a cyclical practice of returning to yourself again and again. She has studied yoga philosophy and Eastern philosophy for more than 25 years, and has worked professionally since 2015 as an E-RYT 500 yoga and Yoga Nidra teacher, mindfulness and breathwork coach, Ayurveda practitioner and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner. In Spain, where she lived for seven years, she taught trainings, teacher trainings and retreats at various locations in the Málaga region, including near Periana, Nerja and Frigiliana. She now works from the Netherlands, teaching trainings and speaking in the Netherlands, in Spain and online. Within the method she works with Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, breathwork, meditation, Qigong and somatic work, complemented with elements from her hypnotherapy training. She teaches teacher trainings, continuing education and company training, for people living with long-term stress and for professionals who want to deepen the way they guide others.
