Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Who Bhagwan Vishnu and Shri Krishna are

Vishnu is the preserver in the Trimurti, who sustains cosmic order (dharma) and descends as an avatar whenever it declines. Krishna is his eighth avatar — born in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva, raised in Vrindavan by Nanda and Yashoda, and later Arjuna's charioteer on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where his teaching became the Bhagavad Gita. For many Vaishnavas, Krishna is not only an avatar but the Supreme Lord himself. This mantra addresses God by the name Vasudeva, which holds both together: Krishna as the son of Vasudeva, and Vishnu as the one who dwells in all beings.

What the mantra means

Om, the primordial sound; namo, "salutations"; Bhagavate, "to the Lord"; Vāsudevāya, "to Vasudeva." The Vishnu Purana explains Bhagavan as the one who possesses the six bhagas in full — sovereignty, righteousness, glory, prosperity, knowledge and detachment. Vāsudeva means Krishna as the son of Vasudeva, and is also read as "the Lord who dwells in all beings and in whom all beings dwell." So the mantra is a salutation to God as both the personal Krishna and the all-pervading Vishnu.

The twelve-syllable mantra: it has exactly twelve syllables — om, na, mo, bha, ga, va, te, vā, su, de, vā, ya — which is why it is called the Dvadashakshari. Vaishnava tradition sometimes connects the twelve syllables with the twelve months and with the twelve names of Vishnu recited in daily worship.

Where it comes from: two moments in the Shrimad Bhagavatam make this mantra especially beloved. The Bhagavatam itself begins with it: its very first verse (1.1.1) opens "oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya." And in the fourth canto (4.8.54), the sage Narada gives this mantra to the five-year-old Dhruva, hurt by his stepmother's words, and tells him to meditate on it in the forest of Madhuvan. Through this mantra Dhruva receives the vision of Vishnu himself — and becomes the pole star, the symbol of unwavering devotion.

How to do the jaap

1. Day and time: Any day; Thursdays, Ekadashi, Janmashtami and the month of Kartik are especially favoured. Early morning after bathing is most usual.
2. Seat and direction: A clean asana facing east, before an image of Vishnu or Krishna.
3. Offerings: Tulsi leaves above all, with a ghee lamp, yellow flowers and a little butter-mishri or fruit.
4. Mala: A tulsi mala of 108 beads is traditional.
5. Count: One mala a day as a regular practice; on Ekadashi and Janmashtami many chant several malas. Following Dhruva's example, some keep a fixed daily count over a set period as a vow.
6. Close: Close with the aarti Om Jai Jagdish Hare.

Pair it with the Vishnu Gayatri Mantra, the Vishnu Chalisa or Krishna Chalisa. See also Ekadashi Vrat and Thursday Vishnu Bhakti.

Benefits traditionally associated with it

• Steady, unwavering devotion — the gift Dhruva received and the reason he became the pole star.
• Peace of mind and freedom from fear and grief.
• Protection and the sense of being held by the Lord who pervades everything.
• Fulfilment of sincere wishes — Dhruva began with a wish and ended with something greater.
• Ultimately, liberation (moksha); it is regarded as one of the principal mantras of the Vaishnava path.

Why people do it

Vaishnavas of every tradition chant this mantra, and for many it is the heart of their daily prayer. Some come to it through the Bhagavatam, which opens with these words; others through the story of Dhruva, which makes it a favourite for children and for anyone who feels hurt or overlooked. People chant it on Ekadashi fasts, on Thursdays and at Janmashtami, and in times of trouble when they want to rest in the Lord's protection. Because it names Krishna and Vishnu at once, it is equally at home in a Krishna temple and a Vishnu shrine.