Listen & Chant Along
Meaning & Translation
Sanskrit
ॐ मुनि मुनि महामुनि स्वाहा
Transliteration
Om Mu-ni Mu-ni Ma-ha-mu-ni So-ha
Deity / Quality Invoked
Buddha
Pronunciation
ohm MOO-nee MOO-nee mah-hah-MOO-nee SOH-hah
Full Translation
Om Muni Muni Mahamuni Soha honors Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha: "To the sage, the sage, the great sage, homage!" Muni means sage or silent one; the mantra ascends from sage to great sage, saluting the teacher whose awakening under the bodhi tree opened the path for all.
Spiritual Significance
Reciting the Buddha's mantra is said to plant the seed of one's own awakening and, traditionally, to draw a true teacher into one's life — for without a guide, the path is hard to find. It is often the first mantra given to newcomers in Tibetan Buddhist practice.
Cultural Context & History
The mantra condenses the longer homage "Om Muni Muni Mahamuniye Shakyamuniye Svaha" found in Mahayana liturgy. Deva Premal and the Gyuto Monks of Tibet recorded it as "Buddha" on "Tibetan Mantras for Turbulent Times" (2010), chanting it 108 times in the traditional way.