In the world Mantra the Root man=”to think” (in Greek “menos”, Latin “mens”) combines with the element tra, forming tool-world. Hence mantra is “tool for thinking”, creating a mental picture. The sound brings forth its content into reality immediately. Speech can be contradicted or evaded, but Mantra is a power, it does not talk but acts. The forms of divine life break forth from the seer as vision, from the singer as song, manifesting the priestly power. The Mantra is a symbol which is never degraded into a mere object of temporary utility. It could effect cure, mental tensions, insanity, insomnia. It could attract, repel, strike, kill, enliven, enslave, teach, liberate.
The theory of mantra is very deep and is not meant for the laymen. Modern sciences have been working on the effects of various types of sound physics, chemistry, biology and psychoanalysis. There have been investigations into the idea of creative sound , the theory of vibration cast into the Vaikhari, Madhya, Pasyanti and Para forms of languages leading to concrete and the subtlest spiritual forms.
The theorist has to go deep into the phonetic waves, phonetic symbols and the phonetic regions well engraved in the Mantra for learning the power of Varna Matrka. On the basis of pronunciation, comom unification and reception the phonetics may be classified into the articulatory, the acoustic and the auditory. For effecting a Mantrika effect the sound is effected through the complicated passage of the vocal organs: pharynx, gullet, larynx, glottis, vocal, epiglottis, nasal cavity, mouth cavity, uvula, gutter, soft palate, cerebrum, hard palate, alveola, and teeth. It can thus be imagined why the correct pronunciation is needed for power-effect of a mantra. The progenitors of the Sabda Brahma theory considered sphota as a form of sound which is eternal, creative and indivisible. In Jainism the theory of sound is worthy of attention. Vide J. C. Sikdar, Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy, Varanasi,1987).As the mantra has had power, it was kept a secret lest it might be misused . At present, one does not bother about what the mantra is and accepts it in blind faith of the priest. It had taken a religious shape. But, as the legend goes, the jaina had a specific study of the mantras etc, through their texts on the Vidyanuvada Purva, which were based on the scientific studies of the effects of light and sound. Today we hear of rays or color therapy. Various types of rays could be produced through scientific instruments, X-ray machine ,chrome disk, chrome lense, thermo lume, heaters, vapor lamps and so on . The ford founders have been given colors. Similarly in the Kundalini Chakras various types of colors have been given. Colors are also associated with the planetary influences. Similarly certain letters in form of sounds have harmony or disharmony with certain colors. The Kundalini Chakras also contain letters placed in the various Chakras. The effects of the colors have been found to be as follows: