Om Namo Narayanaya – Vishnu Ashtakshara Mantra

The eight syllables

ॐ नमो नारायणाय — "Om, salutations to Narayana." It is called the ashtakshara, the eight-syllable mantra: Om · na · mo · nā · rā · ya · ṇā · ya. The Narayana Upanishad names it and says that one who knows it reaches Vaikuntha; in the Sri Vaishnava tradition of Ramanuja it is the tirumantra, the first of the three great mantras given at initiation, and its three parts — Om, namah, Narayanaya — are read as a whole theology of surrender.

What "Narayana" means

The Manusmriti and the Mahabharata give the classic explanation: nara are the waters, born of the cosmic Person; because his first resting place (ayana) was on the waters, he is Narayana. Vishnu lying on Shesha on the ocean of milk is that image. A second reading takes nara as all beings and ayana as refuge: Narayana is the one in whom all beings rest, and who rests in them.

Om Namo Narayanaya or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya?

Both are Vishnu's principal mantras. The twelve-syllable dvadashakshara, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", is associated with Dhruva and the Bhagavata Purana, and with Krishna as Vasudeva. The eight-syllable "Om Namo Narayanaya" addresses Vishnu as Narayana, the cosmic lord on the waters. Neither is "better"; many devotees chant one as their main mantra and the other occasionally.

The short form "Narayan, Narayan" is Narada's constant refrain, which is why the sage is always pictured saying it as he travels the worlds.

The Mangalam shloka

Given above with the mantra: "Auspicious is Bhagwan Vishnu, auspicious is he whose banner bears Garuda, auspicious is the lotus-eyed one; Hari is the very home of auspiciousness." It is recited at the start of pujas, weddings and new ventures.

How to chant

• Ekadashi is the great day for Narayana's mantra, along with Thursdays and the whole of Kartik month.
• Sit facing east or north, offer Tulsi leaves, yellow flowers and a ghee lamp. A Tulsi mala is traditional for Vishnu.
• Chant 108 times or more. The mantra is also widely chanted silently through the day, and at the bedside of the dying — the Ajamila story makes "Narayana" the name that saves at the last breath.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of Om Namo Narayanaya?

"Om, salutations to Narayana" — Vishnu as the cosmic lord who rests on the waters and in whom all beings rest.

Why is it called the ashtakshara mantra?

Because it has eight syllables: Om-na-mo-na-ra-ya-na-ya.

Can anyone chant Om Namo Narayanaya?

Yes. It is chanted by all, though in the Sri Vaishnava tradition it is formally received at initiation (samashrayanam).

Which day is best for chanting it?

Ekadashi above all, then Thursdays and Kartik month.

Is "Narayan Narayan" the same mantra?

It is the name in its simplest form, made famous by Narada. The full mantra adds Om and the salutation.