Om mantra meditation music: live Om chanting, free
Om chanting for meditation, live and free on Mahakatha Radio. How to meditate with Om, Om mantras with meaning, and why 108 repetitions. No ads, no sign-up.
For Om meditation music you can play right now, open Mahakatha Radio: a free, 24-hour mantra station with Om chants, peace mantras and gentle Sanskrit chanting, no ads and no sign-up. Press play, close your eyes, and let the sound carry your breath. Listen live
What you will hear
Om chants are the second-largest part of the Mahakatha library, with 37 recordings: Om itself, Om Shanti, So Hum, the Upanishad peace mantras and chants for each chakra. Around them play mantras for Shiva, Ganesha, the Devi, Krishna, Buddha and more, about 310 recordings in all. The music changes with the time of day, and everyone listening hears the same moment.
Twice a day, at 7:00 am and 7:00 pm India time, the station pauses for Prayer Requests, when listeners' prayers for the people they love are read aloud and followed by a mantra. If you are meditating at those times, it is a gentle moment to include others in your practice.
Radio is not a 108-times loop of one track. If you want exactly that, a single recording on Mahakatha is better. If you want to sit with sacred sound that you do not have to manage, the radio is made for it.
Om mantras for meditation
Om
ॐ Om
Om is the primordial sound of the universe, and in Hindu thought it stands for the ultimate reality, Brahman. It is considered the first vibration of creation. Traditionally chanted for balance and a deep sense of connection. Listen on Mahakatha.
Om Shanti
ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
"Let there be peace, peace, peace." Often said at the close of prayer or practice, the three shantis are traditionally understood as peace within ourselves, peace with the world around us, and peace from forces beyond our control. Traditionally chanted for relaxation and inner peace. Listen on Mahakatha.
So Hum
सो हम् So Hum
"I am that." A breath mantra: so is heard with the in-breath and hum with the out-breath. Traditionally used for less stress and a balanced mind. Listen on Mahakatha.
Om Purnamadah
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Om Purnamadah Purnamidam, Purnat Purnamudachyate, Purnasya Purnamadaya, Purnamevaavashisyate, Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih
"That is whole, this is whole. From wholeness, wholeness comes. Take wholeness from wholeness, and wholeness remains." The opening of the Isha Upanishad, traditionally chanted for calm in emotional turmoil. Listen on Mahakatha.
How to meditate with Om
- Sit comfortably. On the floor or a chair, spine upright but not stiff, hands resting on your knees or in your lap.
- Play the radio softly, just loud enough to hear clearly.
- Breathe slowly for a minute. Let the out-breath be a little longer than the in-breath.
- Chant Om aloud on a long out-breath: a short A (aah) from the belly, a fuller U (ooh) in the chest, then a long humming M that you feel in the head. Then rest in the silence before the next breath.
- Continue for 11, 21 or 108 rounds. A mala of 108 beads keeps count for you, so you can stop counting in your head.
- Then sit and listen. Stop chanting and simply listen to the radio for a few minutes. Notice where the sound settles in you.
If chanting aloud is not possible, chant Om silently in the mind on each out-breath. Both are traditional.
Use the counter below to keep track of your rounds.
Om chanting supports calm and steadier breathing. It is not a replacement for a doctor or therapist when you need one.
For more on the number 108, read why mantras are chanted 108 times. For seed sounds like Om, Gam and Shreem, see bija mantras, and for a wider practice, the mantras for meditation guide.
Questions people ask
What is the best Om meditation music?
The best is the one that keeps you sitting. A single long Om recording suits counted japa. For open-ended meditation, a live station like Mahakatha Radio plays Om and peace chants without ads, so nothing breaks your attention.
How do I meditate with the Om mantra?
Sit upright, breathe slowly, and chant Om on a long out-breath, moving from A to U to a humming M, then rest in the silence. Repeat 11, 21 or 108 times, then sit and listen quietly.
What are the benefits of chanting Om 108 times?
108 is a sacred number in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain practice, and one full round of a mala. Chanting Om 108 times takes about 15 to 20 minutes, long enough for the breath to slow and the mind to settle.
Which mantra is best for meditation?
Om is the simplest and most universal. So Hum works well if you like to follow the breath, and Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय) is a favourite for steady, devotional practice.
Which mantra helps with all problems?
No mantra solves every problem, and none comes with a guarantee. Om is the root of most mantras, and many people find that chanting it daily gives them a calmer mind to meet whatever they are facing.
Can I chant Om in my mind?
Yes. Silent chanting, called manasika japa, is a traditional and respected practice. Many teachers consider it the deepest form, and it is useful anywhere you cannot chant aloud.