One of the lesser-known mantras used in the Kundalini Yoga lineage is the Isht Sodhana Mantra, a powerful vibrational tool for purification and balance. This mantra helps us experience ourselves as the living, breathing, loving connections between the Earth, or physical creation, and the Ethers or the non-physical potential source. The Isht Sodhana Mantra embodies a central challenge for those on a spiritual path and perhaps for all those who are incarnated as human beings: Can we be both grounded in our physical existence and anchored in the unseen, or world of spirit, at once?
We have probably all known someone who we considered “spacey” or so plugged into the Ethers and spirit, that they find it difficult to function in the material world, care for or provide for themselves. Conversely, many people are overly connected to Earth, operating as if material reality, their bodies and possessions, are the only “real” or important considerations. As with many polarities on the yogic path, the way isn’t one or the other. The yogi seeks a balance between these extremes and looks for a place in between where they can embody both. The Isht Sodhana Mantra can be instrumental in this work.
Let’s explore the Isht Sodhana Mantra in Kundalini Yoga practice, its meaning and effects, and how it can be integrated into a yogic routine for personal transformation.
What Are the Meaning and Effects of the Isht Sodhana Mantra?
This mantra is often called the “mantra of God purification” and the terms Isht Sodhana can be defined as follows:
- Isht: Personal deity, chosen ideal, or higher self
- Sodhana: Purification, refinement
Thus, the Isht Sodhana Mantra is a mantra for purifying one’s connection to their higher self or chosen divine ideal; it purifies you, so that you can have the realization that you are God, or Divine. In practice, this mantra helps clear psychic debris, emotional blocks, and any patterns that cloud or limit us. It can help us balance our Earth element with the Ether element or tattva, feel more complete, and transcend past, present, and future.
The words of the mantra, in transliteration and translation, are:
- PRITHVI HAI or DHARTI HAI – The Earth Is, representing the struck or audible sounds of Earth (These words are interchangeable, though it was taught that Prithvi Hai is used when the mantra is chanted mentally, and Dharti Hai is used when there is a hand position or movement involved. Source: https://www.libraryofteachings.com/lecture.xqy?q=date:1975-08-04&id=2624bc01-fcec-78b5-d2b2-3e1b873146a9&title=Summer-Workshop)
- AKASH HAI – The Ethers Are, representing the unstruck or unheard sounds of Ether
- GURU RAM DAS HAI – Guru Ram Das Is, crowned with the protection of the neutral mind and connecting both polarities at the heart
The book Mantra states that the Isht Sodhana Mantra also attracts prosperity and can help you to be more present. It is said to keep you humble and effective when beginning something new.
Working With the Isht Sodhana Mantra:
As with all mantras, the Isht Sodhana can be used and experienced in many different ways, for example:
Chanting: The Isht Sodhana Mantra can be chanted meditatively; visualize yourself in the cosmos and on the Earth at the same time as you chant. Project the mantra from your Heart Center (Anahata Chakra), and relate to your highest self. You can even chant while going about your daily tasks.
Meditation: Meditatively listen to a recording of the mantra. Listening, instead of actively chanting or visualizing, can offer an even deeper experience of the energies of Earth, Ether, and Guru Ram Das encoded in the mantra.
Background Listening: Play a recording of the mantra as you go about your day or even on low volume while you sleep. This is a simple yogic way to imprint the mantra on your mind and psyche, to get all its benefits while you take care of your tasks and even sleep!
Celestial Communication: Follow along with or design your own upper body movements to accompany the mantra and music. This way of working with the mantra gives you all its benefits as well as the effects of Celestial Communication: stress relief, lymphatic movement, strengthening of the nervous system and radiant body, and bringing your entire system into unisonness or cohesion. Here is one simple example of this practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODDdh5baWZM
And, this mantra was given as an integral part of several Kundalini Yoga kriyas that you can find in Arete’s Practice section. Let’s survey them next!
Our Favorite Versions:
Isht Sodhana Mantra by Gurucharan Khalsa from the album Isht Sodhana Mantra Kriya.
LINK: https://open.spotify.com/track/17plNYFGGwLFfnPDAx3PUj
Dharti Hai by Gurunam Singh from the album Silent Moonlight Meditaiton.
LINK: https://open.spotify.com/track/33L2fGS5fpGANMaTpuqBQO
Prithvi Hai Akash Hai by Livtar Singh from the album The Sound Current.
LINK: https://music.apple.com/us/song/prithvi-hai-akhash-hai/423402788
Dharti Hai – Connection Into the Heart by Hansu Jot from the album To The Stars and Back.
LINK: https://open.spotify.com/track/1zli6y2R9bOfgDxhlew6S6
Kundalini Yoga Practices that Include the Isht Sodhana Mantra:
Isht Sodhana Chakra Meditation: This meditation employs chakra-to-chakra communication and concentration, to coordinate and enhance energy flow through the entire chakra system. The Isht Sodhana Mantra or Dharti Hai Mantra, also known as the Mantra of God Purification, represents the union of the gross (physical) and the etheric (unseen) within your being.
Isht Sodhana Mantra Kriya, Root Yourself In Abundance: This meditation uses the Isht Sodhana Mantra to connect you with Earth’s energy and the vast etheric energy. Visualizations with the mantra call on your highest spirit and attract prosperity while keeping you humble, fully present, and grounded.
Isht Sodhana Mantra Kriya for Manifesting Miracles: This meditation is said to help your prayers to be effective. In practicing it, you can embody or become your prayer, so that the radiance of your compassion and heart-centered presence work for you and those you pray for. The visualizations and movements are also said to deeply activate your self-realization, that you are really divine, and help manifest your ultimate destiny.
While the Isht Sodhana Mantra is not very common, it offers a deep well of transformative connection for the dedicated practitioner. By incorporating this mantra into practice, you can access deeper dimensions of self-awareness, energetic balance, and spiritual refinement. As with all yogic tools, its true power unfolds through consistent, heart-centered practice.
May your practice with the Isht Sodhana Mantra bring you closer to the truth that you are both Earthly and of spirit.
