Krishna
Gopala mantra — eighteen syllables
क्लीं कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय गोपीजनवल्लभाय स्वाहा
Klīṁ kṛṣṇāya govindāya gopījana-vallabhāya svāhā
Simple reading: Kleem krish-naa-ya go-vin-daa-ya go-pee-ja-na val-la-bhaa-ya svaa-haa
About this mantra
The eighteen-syllable Gopala mantra of the Gopala Tapani Upanishad — Krishna 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 — everything said is also surrendered.
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