mantra | मंत्र
Hymns of Vedas are called mantra (Devanagari: मंत्र ISO15919: maṁtra). These hymns are also referred to as Vedic richa (Devanagari: ऋचा ISO15919: r̥cā).
Each mantra has a devata, a rishi and verse called a chhand (Devanagari: छंद ISO15919: chaṁda). These rishi did not compose those verses. Rishi understood the meaning of the mantra and had an audience with the devata of the mantra.
The other context for using mantra is mantra dena (Devanagari: मंत्र देना ISO15919: maṁtra denā). This is same as diksha.
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REFERENCE
Prema Rasa Madira - The Intoxicating Bliss of Divine Love, Vol. 1, Ch. 3