mantra Definition

mantra
noun mantras

1a. Hinduism.Buddhism.
A sacred phrase, word or sound chanted repeatedly as part of meditation and prayer, as an aid to concentration and the development of spiritual power;
1b. A word, sound or group of sounds repeated, often inwardly, as an aid to concentration when meditating.
2. Hinduism.
Any of the hymns of praise in the Vedas (see veda), the ancient sacred scriptures.

Etymology: 19c: Sanskrit, meaning ‘instrument of thought'.