Krishna
Gopala mantra — eighteen syllables
क्लीं कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय गोपीजनवल्लभाय स्वाहा
Simple reading
Kleem krish-naa-ya go-vin-daa-ya go-pee-ja-na val-la-bhaa-ya svaa-haa
Klīṁ kṛṣṇāya govindāya gopījana-vallabhāya svāhā
About this mantra
The eighteen-syllable Gopala mantra of the Gopala Tapani Upanishad. Krishna is adored as Govinda, beloved of the gopis of Vraja.
Meaning
Kleem, to Krishna, to Govinda, to the beloved of the gopis, svaha. The seed of divine attraction opens it and total offering closes it; between them stand three names that move from majesty (Krishna) through care (Govinda) to intimacy (the gopis' own beloved). Svaha gives the mantra its direction: all that is said is also surrendered.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Whole mantra
This mantra is a single line. Learn it whole, then add it to your review deck so it comes back for a check.
क्लीं कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय गोपीजनवल्लभाय स्वाहा
Klīṁ kṛṣṇāya govindāya gopījana-vallabhāya svāhā
0not said yet
Aim for eleven. Stop reading as soon as the whole mantra comes on its own.
Progress stays on this device.
When to recite it
Traditionally received from a teacher and kept as daily jaap: dawn practice, Janmashtami, and the month of Kartik. Those drawn to Krishna's sweetness more than his majesty keep it close.
Word by word
- क्लींklīṁ
- the bīja of divine attraction and love
- कृष्णायkṛṣṇāya
- to Krishna
- गोविन्दायgovindāya
- to Govinda
- गोपीजनवल्लभायgopījana-vallabhāya
- to the beloved of the gopis
- स्वाहाsvāhā
- I offer wholly
Source: Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad