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Krishna Mantra sanskrit

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mantra

Om — the primordial sound. Namo — "I bow," "I surrender," "I offer salutations" (from Sanskrit namah, meaning to bow or to yield). Bhagavate — "to the Bhagavan," the Blessed Lord, the divine being who possesses all six divine qualities: infinite knowledge, infinite power, infinite wealth, infinite strength, infinite beauty, and infinite renunciation. Vasudevaya — "to Vasudeva," meaning "the one who dwells (vasa) in all things (deva)" — a primary name of Vishnu-Krishna. Full meaning: "I bow to the divine Lord Vasudeva, the all-pervading Bhagavan."

This is the Dvadasakshari (twelve-syllable) mantra, one of the most sacred mantras in Vaishnavism. It appears in the Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, and is the central mantra of the Srimad Bhagavatam — a text that describes this mantra as capable of granting liberation to even the most bound soul. Vasudeva (from vasu = light/radiance, deva = divine) refers to Vishnu-Krishna as the light that pervades and sustains all existence. Bhagavate emphasises that this is not a limited deity but the full, unlimited divine being.

This mantra is used in Vishnu sahasranama puja, Ekadashi fasting practice, and as a daily japa mantra. Chant 108 times on a tulsi (holy basil) mala, as tulsi is sacred to Vishnu. Ekadashi (the 11th day of each lunar fortnight) is especially auspicious for this mantra. Wear clean yellow or white clothing during practice. Many practitioners make this their life mantra — a single mantra chanted throughout the day in continuous remembrance (smarana) of Vishnu.

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Lyrics

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Word-by-Word Meaning

Sanskrit Meaning
Om This sound helps you connect with transcendence or divinity.
Namo I bow to you.
Bhagavate The One who is full of all that is considered divine.

Benefits of Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mantra

  • Purifies consciousness and gradually dissolves the ego's attachment to the material world

    Source: Srimad Bhagavatam — this mantra described as capable of granting liberation

  • Invokes Vishnu's quality of all-pervasiveness, dissolving the sense of separation

    Source: Vishnu Purana — Vasudeva as the light dwelling in all things

  • Creates a sattvic (pure, clear, peaceful) quality of mind with regular practice

    Source: Traditional Vaishnava practice

  • Grants protection from negative influences and establishes divine grace in the practitioner's life

    Source: Bhagavata Purana — Vishnu as the preserver and protector

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya?
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya is the Dvadasakshari — the twelve-syllable mantra — one of the most sacred mantras in the Vaishnava tradition. It is a complete act of surrender to Lord Vishnu-Krishna, identified as Vasudeva, the one who dwells in all things. The mantra appears at the very beginning of the Srimad Bhagavatam, where the sage Shuka offers it as the opening salutation. The Bhagavata Purana describes this mantra as capable of liberating even the most entangled soul when chanted with sincerity. Unlike shorter beej mantras, this twelve-syllable form provides a complete statement: identification of the divine (Bhagavate — the all-powerful one), naming (Vasudevaya — the all-pervading), and surrender (Namo — I bow).
What does Vasudevaya mean?
Vasudeva comes from vasu (light, radiance, wealth, treasure) and deva (divine). Together, Vasudeva means "the divine one who is light, who dwells everywhere as the radiance underlying all things." It is a primary name of both Vishnu and Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita (7.19), Krishna states: "Vasudevah sarvam iti" — "Vasudeva is everything." This is the deepest meaning of the name: not merely that Vishnu-Krishna is a great deity, but that the very substance and light of existence is Vasudeva. Chanting Vasudevaya is thus not just invoking a being but recognising the divine nature of all existence.
What are the benefits of chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya?
The Srimad Bhagavatam describes this mantra as purifying the mind, dissolving karmic entanglements, and ultimately leading the practitioner to liberation. Practically, regular chanters report a growing sense of peace, reduced reactivity, and a feeling of divine protection. The mantra invokes Vishnu's quality of preservation and protection. Vishnu is the sustainer of cosmic order — where there is chaos, his mantra restores harmony. Where there is fear, it brings courage. Where there is confusion, it brings clarity. For practitioners on a devotional (bhakti) path, this mantra gradually transforms the relationship with existence from one of grasping to one of surrender and trust.
How and when should I chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya?
Chant 108 times daily on a tulsi mala — tulsi is sacred to Vishnu and amplifies this mantra's effect. Morning (Brahma Muhurta) is ideal, facing east or north. Ekadashi — the 11th day of each lunar fortnight — is the most auspicious day for Vishnu mantras. Many Vaishnavas fast on Ekadashi and chant this mantra throughout the day. Thursday (Vishnu's sacred day) is also auspicious for dedicated practice. Avoid chanting during states of strong emotional agitation; the mantra requires a certain stillness to penetrate deeply. Begin with 108 repetitions, and over months increase to three rounds (324) if you wish a more intensive practice.
Is Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya the same as a Krishna mantra or a Vishnu mantra?
Both. In Vaishnava theology, Vishnu and Krishna are identical — different names and forms of the same supreme divine reality. Vasudeva is also the name of Krishna's father, which is why Krishna himself is sometimes called Vasudeva in the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita. In practice, this mantra is equally at home in Vishnu temples and Krishna temples. Some traditions (particularly South Indian Vaishnavism) emphasise its Vishnu connection; others (ISKCON, Gaudiya Vaishnavism) emphasise it as a Krishna mantra. The deity behind both is the same — the all-pervading, all-sustaining divine consciousness of whom Vishnu and Krishna are equally complete expressions.

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