Mantras

Mantras

• ॐ Om The one syllable. It is not addressed to anyone — it is the sound everything else is said with. Recited at the beginning and end of every other recitation. Traditionally chanted on its own in the pre-dawn hours, drawn out over one long breath. 11 times · 21 times · 108 — a full mala · about 11 minutes for the full round
• ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं। भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥ Om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ · tat savitur vareṇyaṃ · bhargo devasya dhīmahi · dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt We hold in mind the radiance of the sun that gives life; may it set our understanding in motion. The mantra most closely tied to brahma muhurta and to sunrise — traditionally recited facing east as the light comes, and counted on a mala. Taught as the one to give a child at the sacred-thread ceremony. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 20 minutes for the full round
• ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥ Om tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam · urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya māmṛtāt We honour the three-eyed one, the fragrance that makes things grow. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its stem, free us from death — not from deathlessness. Recited for long life and recovery, and said on behalf of somebody who is ill. ⚠️ It is said BESIDE medicine and a doctor, never instead of either. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 23 minutes for the full round
• कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती। करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम्॥ Karāgre vasate Lakṣmīḥ kara-madhye Sarasvatī · kara-mūle tu Govindaḥ prabhāte kara-darśanam In the fingertips is Lakshmi, in the palm Saraswati, at the wrist Govinda — so look at your hands in the morning. The first thing said on waking, while still in bed, looking at your own open palms. Said once, not counted. once · 3 times · about 36 seconds for the full round
• समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले। विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे॥ Samudra-vasane devi parvata-stana-maṇḍale · Viṣṇu-patni namas tubhyaṃ pāda-sparśaṃ kṣamasva me Goddess robed in the ocean, mountains at your breast, wife of Vishnu — forgive me for setting my feet on you. Said as the feet touch the floor, before the first step of the day. Once. once · about 12 seconds for the full round
• ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय॥ Om asato mā sad gamaya · tamaso mā jyotir gamaya · mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya From the unreal lead me to the real, from darkness to light, from death to what does not die. From the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Recited in the dark before dawn, and at the close of a practice. 3 times · 11 times · about 2 minutes for the full round
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः। गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥ Gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ · guruḥ sākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ The Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the Guru is the absolute itself. To that Guru, my salutation. Said before study and before sitting for practice, and on Guru Purnima. once · 3 times · 11 times · about 2 minutes for the full round
• ॐ नमः शिवाय Om namaḥ śivāya Salutation to Shiva — to the auspicious. The five-syllable mantra, panchakshara. Counted on a mala; Mondays and the pre-dawn hours are the times usually given. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 7 minutes for the full round
• ॐ नमो नारायणाय Om namo nārāyaṇāya Salutation to Narayana. The eight-syllable mantra, ashtakshara, of the Vaishnava tradition. Counted on a mala at any hour, and taught as the one that needs no other qualification. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 7 minutes for the full round
• ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय Om namo bhagavate vāsudevāya Salutation to the Lord, the son of Vasudeva. The twelve-syllable mantra. Recited before reading the Bhagavatam. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 9 minutes for the full round
• हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे॥ Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare · Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare Calling on the names themselves — nothing is asked for. Sixteen names, one round of a mala being 108 repetitions of the whole. Traditionally begun in the hours before dawn. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 18 minutes for the full round
• श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम Śrī Rāma jaya Rāma jaya jaya Rāma Victory to Rama — said, not asked. The thirteen-syllable name recitation, kept going through ordinary work as well as at japa time. 11 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 9 minutes for the full round
• ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः Om aiṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ Salutation to Saraswati. Said by students before study, and on Vasant Panchami. The pre-dawn hours are the ones traditionally given for learning. 11 times · 21 times · 108 — a full mala · about 7 minutes for the full round
• ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः Om hrāṃ hrīṃ hrauṃ saḥ sūryāya namaḥ Salutation to the sun. Said facing east at first light, and with each round of surya namaskar. 12 times · 27 — a quarter mala · 108 — a full mala · about 9 minutes for the full round
• ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ Peace — said three times, for the three kinds of trouble: what comes from oneself, from others, and from the world. The close of every recitation. once · 3 times · about 18 seconds for the full round