Listen & Chant Along
Meaning & Translation
Sanskrit
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Transliteration
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Deity / Quality Invoked
Krishna
Pronunciation
Full Translation
Known as the Dvadasakshara — the "twelve-syllable" mantra — this is one of the principal mantras of Vishnu in his form as Krishna (Vasudeva, "son of Vasudeva" and also "the one who dwells in all things"). It is a complete prayer of surrender: an offering of reverence to the divine present everywhere and within everyone.
Spiritual Significance
Regarded in the Bhagavata tradition as a mantra of liberation, it is chanted for refuge, purification, and union with the divine. Its twelve syllables are often used for japa (repetition on mala beads) as well as in Kirtan.
Cultural Context & History
The mantra appears throughout the Bhagavata Purana, associated with great devotees such as the child-sage Dhruva. It is a common initiation mantra in Vaishnava lineages and has been brought to Western audiences through artists like Deva Premal & Miten.
Terms in the Glossary
Words from this page, explained in our A–Z reference.