Mantras that help dispel daily stress and anxiety

In today's busy world, feeling stressed and anxious is very common. Not just for people who are working but also students going through exam pressures or job hunts. Plus, the issues at work, relationships, pressures outside, etc, make it all way too easy to feel overwhelmed.
But, there are some age-old practices that can help us feel better. And chanting and mantras have been used for a long time to help people relax and feel peaceful. They're like tools that can help us calm down when life gets too hectic and overwhelming to process.
Here we list 5 mantras that can help fight off the daily stress and fears.

The first one on the list has to be the simple chant of OM. One of the most fundamental and widely known mantras, OM is considered the sound of the universe, and the essence of ultimate reality. It is believed that chanting ‘Om’ helps to centre the mind, brings focus and clarity in a person who chants it with utmost devotion.
The rhythmic repetition of OM is believed to calm the nervous system, reduce stress levels, and induce a meditative state. Plus, people can let go of racing thoughts and connect with a sense of inner peace with the regular chanting.

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is one of the most powerful mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva himself is the destroyer of negativity, ignorance and the problems his devotees have been going through.
And so, chanting this mantra is believed to grant protection, healing, and liberation from fears, stress, and anxieties of everyday life. Chanting this mantra develops a sense of surrender and trust in the divine, which helps take away any anxiety or fear that might have been in the heart of the devotee.

Many schools in India used to have regular Gayatri mantra chanting in the morning and then it was followed in the Sanskrit language classes too. It is not wrong to say that this was a treasured practice.
The Gayatri Mantra, a hymn for Goddess Gayatri, who is the embodiment of divine energy, is a prayer for enlightenment, wisdom, and spiritual awakening. Starting with the primordial sound of ‘OM’, the Gayatri mantra asks the divine energy of the Goddess to light up the surroundings of the individual and help maintain good thought, emotion and intellect. Reciting the Gayatri Mantra can calm the mind, instil positivity, and help develop inner strength.

While not a simple mantra, the Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the epitome of devotion, courage, and strength.
Composed by the saint Tulsidas, Hanuman Chalisa recounts the heroic deeds of Hanuman ji and it is believed that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa with devotion and pure heart gives the devotees the blessings of Lord Hanuman. Plus, it is said that as Hanuman ji is a Chiranjeevi, he lives the closest to Earth and answers his devotees pleas very fast. Hanuman ji and chanting the Hanuman Chalisa offers protection and guidance in times of distress. It is also said that Hanuman Chalisa instils confidence and determination in people and Hanuman ji’s name fills the heart with courage, removing any stress and fears.

Another powerful mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva is ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. With the simple translation of ‘I bow down to Lord Shiva and his power’, the mantra speaks for itself when it comes to removing fears, stress and anxiety. It is believed that chanting this mantra with a pure mind, heart and for a prolonged period of time helps people have the blessings of Lord Shiva, the one who is the remover of fears and obstacles and helps devotees transform their life. It is also believed that when a person recites ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ in a deep meditative state, the mantra helps release pent-up emotions, purify the mind, and dissolve stress-induced tensions.