Krishna
Krishna bija-mantra
ॐ क्लीं कृष्णाय नमः
Oṁ Klīṁ Kṛṣṇāya Namaḥ
Simple reading: Om kleem krish-naa-ya na-mah
About this mantra
The short seed-mantra of Krishna — the bija Kleem joined to his name. Kleem is the kama-bija of the tantric tradition, the same seed that opens the eighteen-syllable Gopala mantra of the Gopala Tapani Upanishad.
Meaning
Om — Kleem — salutations to Krishna. Kleem is the seed of akarshana, attraction: tradition says Krishna does not need to be reached so much as stopped being resisted, and the bija works on the resistance. His very name is glossed 'the all-attractive' — so the mantra, in full, is a consent: draw me.
When to recite it
For turning toward Krishna — mornings, Janmashtami, and Holi's love-coloured days; counted when the heart's own resistance is the actual obstacle.
Word by word
- ॐoṁ
- the primordial sound
- क्लींklīṁ
- the bīja of divine attraction
- कृष्णायkṛṣṇāya
- to Krishna
- नमःnamaḥ
- I bow, salutations
Source: Gopāla-tāpanī / tantra bīja-mantra tradition
Note: Given here in its commonly used form; wording can vary slightly between family and regional traditions.