Monthly Mantra // April 2024 // Jai Ma

Used in Hindu culture as a greeting, as a goodbye, and to everything in between — “Jai Ma” is a powerful phrase made up of two tiny even more powerful words. “Jai”, meaning “victory” and “Ma” meaning Mother, this phrase is commonly used not only in prayer but also in daily life to signify well wishes and salutations.

Jai Ma is a lovely and simple phrase that calls to mind the creative forces in the universe – and more specifically, our acknowledgement and gratitude to them. Even more interesting, it calls to mind the feminine forces, which not only give birth to new things, but can also effect change in the old ones.

The Divine Mother represents Shakti, or cosmic energy. We could use this phrase to say, in effect: ‘May the Divine rule in the form of the energy and love of the Mother, and may that energy bring us all good things.

Shakti is the counterpart of Shiva, who represents the masculine, “destructive” force in the universe, and who ultimately makes room for the creation of new things. Shakti, on the other hand, is that creative (feminine) power that fills the void with new energy and matter, and is a key agent of change. So, says Lasater, the phrase “Jai ma is another way of saluting the Divine Feminine in our world.

For me personally this chant goes way beyond what we call gender and qualities associated to them. For me, these Hindu deities are embodying different aspects that are all represented in us. When I chant these words JAI MA, I connect to my creativity, I feel like i can expand and invite nourishment.