The Soham Mantra, literally “So Hum”, has several different meanings.

The literal translation is ‘I am he’, signalling you’re becoming one with the universe. This is what the Soham mantra sounds like.

But what does Soham Mantra mean?

According to Swami Jnanaeshwara Bharti, the Soham Mantra:

….has been called the universal mantra because of the fact that its vibration is already a part of the breath, and everybody breathes.Sooooo… is the sound of inhalation, and Hummmm… is the sound of exhalation.

While the English translation may not be as important as the quality of the sound vibration, Soham translates as I am that. When remembered repeatedly, it declares I am that I am that I am that I am. Remembering the Soham mantra often during the day can be a very useful practice.

And according to Rudraksha Yoga, the Soham Mantra:

Soham is a Sanskrit word formed by two words: Sah (he) and Aham(I). By Sanskrit grammatical rules of sandhi(fusion of two words), these two words are combined to give Soham. What is the meaning then? Simple.

Soham means He I (am) or I am He.

It is the answer to the great philosophical question: Koham?( “Who am I?”). As discussed earlier, real myself is nothing but Individual Self. Now another question: “Who is He then?” That He is none other than the greatest force that controls everything, that is Brahman or Universal Self. With this understanding the meaning of Soham now becomes:

Soham means my Individual Self is Universal Self.

What Are The Benefits Of Soham Mantra?

Well-known meditation teacher Anmol Mehta writes:
Primary Benefits:

• Realization of your Divine Nature.
• Realization of the non-dual Nature of Reality.
• Stress Reduction, Relaxation, Peace and Tranquility.
• Spontaneous Joy and Happiness.

Secondary Benefits:

• Promotes Self-Healing.
• Builds mental focus and concentration.

So there you have it folks, try out the Soham Mantra for yourself and see how it goes!