Mantra practice is a central aspect of traditional Yoga. There are different mantras that help in japa meditation. Some of them can be mentioned as follows.

OM Sri Mahan Ganapataye Namah

Prostrations to the great Lord Gnash
OM is the original, most powerful Mantra sound. It is a part of almost every other Mantra, and serves to invoke pure supreme vibrations. Sri is a title of reverent respect. Mahan means great. Ganapati is another name for Ganesh who is symbolized as the elephant-headed god, representing strength and fortitude. He is the remover of obstacles and bestowed of success.

OM Namah Siva

Prostrations to Lord Siva
Siva is the lord of ascetics and recluses. He is part of the Hindu Trinity. Brahma and Vishnu, who are the other two parts, are associated with creation and preservation, respectively. Siva, the Cosmic Dancer, presides over the destructive energies, which break up the universe at the end of each age. This is the process of the old making way for the new. In a more personal sense, it is Siva`s energy by which one`s lower nature is destroyed, making way for positive growth as well.

OM Namah Narayanaya

Prostrations to Lord Vishnu
Narayana is a name of Vishnu. He is the preserver of the world. After the Creation, it is the energy of Vishnu, which maintains order to the universe. It is Vishnu who regularly takes on a human form and incarnates on earth to benefit mankind. People who are closely involved in the running of the world and maintaining the harmony of life are drawn to this aspect of God.

OM Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Prostrations to the Lord God, Vasudevaya
Bhagavate means Lord, referring to Vishnu. Vasudevaya, meaning `He Who abides in all things and in whom all things abide,` is a name of Krishna. Krishna is one of the most loved of all deities. He is considered to be a world teacher for he is the source of the Bhagavad-Gita Gait, one of the most popular of all Eastern religious texts. People are drawn to Krishna because of his playfulness and joyful nature.

Hari OM

OM Vishnu
Hari is another name for Vishnu. It is that aspect which forgives the past actions of those who take refuge in Him and destroys their negative deeds. Thus Hari is a redeemer and a guide to personal salvation as well as the World Preserver.

OM Sri Ramada Namah

Prostrations to Lord Rama
Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He took life on earth for the purpose of upholding righteousness and rewarding virtue. His life is the subject of the Ramayana. Rama lived the life of perfection and responsibility. Rama and Sita epitomized the devotional relationship between husband and wife. They are the models for all householders and people with family duties.

OM Sri Durgaya Namah

Prostrations to Mother Durga
Supreme Divinity is without qualities or attributes, and as such it contains all qualities and attributes. The masculine principles are important yet, they must be balanced with the feminine principles. Masculine and feminine are but obverse and reverse of the same coin. Durga represents the motherhood aspect of God. She is the force, or slate, through which Divinity manifests. Durga is power. She is the protector and benefactor. According to Hindu mythology, the claytonia, or pure consciousnesses, of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva were united to form the being of Mother Durga. She is commonly pictured riding a tiger and having eight arms with which she carries flowers and weapons of protection and gives the gesture of blessing.

OM Sri Maha Lakshmyai Namah

Prostrations to the great Mother Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the bountiful provider. As Vishnu`s consort, she aids in the preservation of the three worlds by bestowing wealth and abundance of a material and spiritual nature. She is pictured as a beautiful woman standing on a lotus blossom with her arms open and giving.

OM Saraswatyai Namah

Prostrations to Mother Saraswati
Aim is the Baja of Saraswati. The goddess is the source of all learning and knowledge of the arts and music. She is Brahma`s consort and is involved with the creation of new ideas and things. She is responsible for bestowing wisdom and knowledge. She is often worshipped by people in the creative arts.

OM Sri Mahan Kalikaya Namah

Prostrations to Mother Kali
Kali is that divine aspect which is responsible for the destruction and eradication of negative qualities in this world. She is the transformative power of Divinity which dissolves the individual into cosmic union. Mother Kali is one of the most fearsome of all the expressions of Divinity. Because of the intensity of her purgative nature, very few people are initiated into this Mantra.

OM Sri Hanuman Namah

Prostrations to Blessed Hanuman
Hanuman is the perfection of devotion. He is the greatest and the most selfless devotee of Lord Rama. In the Hindu tradition, he is considered to be a semi-deity, for he is the son of the wind-god. He possesses great strength and courage.

Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare;
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

My Lord, Rama! My Lord, Krishna!

Hare is a glorified form of address for calling upon God. Rama and Krishna were two of the best-known and most beloved incarnations of Vishnu. They took human birth on this earth to lead mankind to eternal salvation. This is the Maha Mantra, the easiest and surest way for attaining God-Realization in this present age.

OM Sri Rama Jay Rama Jay Rama

Victory to Rama
Jay means `victory` or `hail.`
OM Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanam Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat

We worship the three-eyed Lord i.e. Siva who is full of sieved fragrance and nourishes human beings. May he liberate me from bondage, even as the cucumber is severed from the vine.

This is the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. It removes diseases, Prevents accidents and bestows liberation. It should be repeated daily.

OM Namo `stute Mahayogin Prapannamanusadhi Mam Yatha Twachcharanam Bhoje Ratih Syadanapayini

Salutation to thee, O great Yogi! Pray direct me that have fallen at Thy feet, so that may find unfailing delight at Thy lotus feet.

This is the Mantra for self-surrender. It should be repeated with a pure heart free of personal desires.