Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - Meaning & Benefits

This mantra appears in the Srimad Bhagavatam and other Puranas and is one of the most important of all Vaishnava mantras. It was the mantra by which the boy-sage Dhruva attained the Lord's vision after intense penance. Vasudeva means the son of Vasudeva (Krishna) and also the one who dwells (vasati) in all beings. Because it directly invokes the supreme Lord by his most intimate name, it is considered a complete mantra needing no elaborate ritual to begin.

The mantra in transliteration and Devanagari:

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

The twelve syllables are counted as: Om - Na - mo - Bha - ga - va - te - Va - su - de - va - ya. The opening Om is the primordial sound, and Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya means I bow to the Lord Vasudeva. It is often chanted on a tulsi mala in repetitions of 108.

Om is the sacred sound of the absolute. Namo means I bow, I offer my salutations. Bhagavate means to the Lord who is full of all glories - majesty, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. Vasudevaya means to Vasudeva, Krishna the son of Vasudeva, who also pervades and dwells within all that exists. Together the mantra is a complete act of loving surrender: Om, I bow to the all-pervading Lord Vasudeva.

1. Bathe and sit on a clean mat facing east or north in a quiet place. 2. Keep an image of Vishnu or Krishna and light a ghee lamp and incense. 3. Hold a tulsi or sandalwood mala and chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya slowly. 4. Begin with at least one mala (108 times); many devotees do 3 or 11 malas. 5. Keep the mind on the meaning and on Krishna's form as you chant. 6. End by sitting silently for a minute, then bow in gratitude. Ekadashi, Vaishnava festivals and the early morning brahma muhurta are especially auspicious for this jap.

Regular chanting of this dwadakshari mantra is believed to purify the mind, dissolve fear and ego, and fill the heart with devotion and peace. As the Mukti mantra, it is said to lead toward liberation and the Lord's grace, while also bringing protection, steadiness and inner strength in daily life. Above all, it is a simple, complete way to keep the name of Vasudeva alive on the tongue and in the heart.