Vishnu
Dvadashakshara — the twelve-syllable mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Oṁ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya
Simple reading: Om na-mo bha-ga-va-te vaa-su-de-vaa-ya
About this mantra
The twelve-syllable mantra of surrender to Vasudeva — Krishna, the indwelling Lord. Central to the Bhagavata tradition.
Meaning
Om, I bow to Bhagavan Vasudeva. Vasudeva is Krishna as the indwelling one — from vas, to dwell: he in whom all beings live and who lives in all beings. Twelve syllables long, the mantra is the Bhagavata tradition's whole path in one line — not a request but an address: turning toward the person of the divine and handing oneself over.
When to recite it
A lifelong daily jaap for many Vaishnavas — mornings and Ekadashi days especially, before the Bhagavata is read, and in any hour that calls for surrender rather than striving.
Word by word
- ॐoṁ
- the primordial sound
- नमोnamo
- I bow, salutations
- भगवतेbhagavate
- to the Lord, full of divine glories
- वासुदेवायvāsudevāya
- to Vasudeva — Krishna, the all-pervading
Source: Bhāgavata tradition (Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa)