Listen & Chant Along
Meaning & Translation
Sanskrit
ॐ हुं हनुमते नमः
Transliteration
Om Hum Hanumate Namaha
Deity / Quality Invoked
Hanuman
Pronunciation
OHM HOOM hah-noo-MAH-tay NAH-mah-hah
Full Translation
This is the classic Bija (seed-syllable) mantra of Hanuman. "Hum" is the seed sound of fierce protective power; "Hanumate Namaha" means "salutations to Hanuman." Chanted together, the syllables are understood to awaken Hanuman's qualities in the practitioner — fearlessness, vitality, humility, and one-pointed devotion. Where longer Hanuman prayers tell his story, the Bija mantra distills his presence into a single breath.
Spiritual Significance
Devotees turn to this mantra for courage in difficulty — Hanuman is the remover of fear, and the "Hum" seed syllable is traditionally associated with protection. It is often repeated 108 times with a mala, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days sacred to Hanuman. Because Hanuman is called the breath of Ram, the mantra is also used to steady the breath before practice.
Cultural Context & History
Bija mantras like this one come from the Tantric and Puranic streams of Hindu practice, where each deity has a seed-sound form. The Hanuman Project — a Guatemala-based Bhakti band led by Patita Pavana Das — built their song "Breath of Ram" around this mantra, weaving the Sanskrit seed syllables together with English prayers for courage.
Terms in the Glossary
Words from this page, explained in our A–Z reference.