Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya

Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya (Sanskrit: ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय, lit. 'I bow to God Vāsudeva'; listen^ⓘ) is one of the most popular mantras in Hinduism, and according to the Bhagavata tradition, the most important mantra in Vaishnavism.^[1] It is called the Dvadasakshari Mantra,^[2] or simply Dvadasakshari, meaning the "twelve-syllable" mantra, dedicated to Vishnu or Krishna.^[3]^[4]

Origin

Bhagavatism, one of the traditions that was assimilated with what would become Vaishnavism, revered the Vrishni heroes, primary among them being Vāsudeva (Krishna).^[5] It may be concluded that the mantra was first associated with the reverence of Vāsudeva as the supreme deity^[6] before he was syncretised with Vishnu, after which it became an invocation of both deities.

Meaning

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya means "Om, I bow to Lord Vāsudeva or Lord Vishnu".^[7]

Term	Devanagari	Listen	Meaning
Om	ॐ	Om^ⓘ	Refers to the Supreme Infinite Spirit or Person. Om represents the Shabda Brahman.
Namo	नमो (namo)	Namo^ⓘ	Salutation, worship, a common spoken valediction or salutation originating from the Indian subcontinent. 'Namo' नमो is the Sandhi form of 'namas' नमस्, neuter nominative singular.
Bhagavate	भगवते	Bhagavate^ⓘ	1. God in Sanskrit, someone who is considered God (or equally powerful, merciful). 'Bhagavate' भगवते is the dative of 'bhagavat' भगवत्. 2. Bhagavate is one who is becoming divine.^[8]
Vāsudevāya	वासुदेवाय	Vāsudevāya^ⓘ	Vasu means "Life in all beings" Devaya means "God". This means God(life/light) who lives of all beings. Other meaning for Krishna is also known as Vāsudeva (Krishna), because He was the son of Vasudeva. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna called Krishna by the name Vaasudeva multiple times. 'Vāsudevāya' वासुदेवाय is the dative of 'vāsudeva' वासुदेव.

Details

Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevaya means "prostration to Vasudeva", who is variously understood as Krishna an incarnation of Vishnu."^[9] The Vaishnava Upanishads state that this mantra is described on the Sudarshana Chakra:^[10]

Similarly, in the twelve petals, is placed the Vasudevan (the twelve-syllabled Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya).
— Vaishnava Upanishads

The Sharada Tilaka, a Tantric text, states:

"Dvadasharno mahamantrah pradhano Vaishnavagame"— The twelve lettered mantra is the chief among vaishnava mantras.

Similarly, this is referred to as the ultimate mantra in the Shrimad Bhagavatam. This twelve syllable mantra^[11] is known as a mukti (liberation) mantra, and a spiritual formula for attaining freedom.^[12] The mantra can also be found in the Vishnu Purana.

In the epic Mahabharata, Dhruva chanted this mantra in his penance as ordered by sage Narada.^[13]

In popular culture

Swami Vivekananda used this phrase multiple times in his lectures and letters.^[14]^[15]
Swami Sivananda suggested to repeat mantras like Om or "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya".^[16]
Vedanta philosopher Dayananda Saraswati wrote a book named "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya".^[17]
Willow Smith and Jahnavi Harrison put this mantra into their song Gajendra from their collaborative album RISE

References

^ Farquhar, J. N. (John Nicol) (1920). An outline of the religious literature of India. Cornell University Library. London ; New York : H. Milford, Oxford University Press. p. 186.
^ Benjamin Walker. Hindu World Vol. 2 An Encyclopedic Survey Of Wisdom Benjamin Walker. p. 27.
^ Prabhakar Balvant Machwe (1983). Bhāratīya Saṃskr̥ti, Volume 1. Bhāratīya Saṃskr̥ti Saṃsada. p. 212.
^ Edwin F. Bryant. Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 354.
^ Dineschandra Sircar (1971). Studies In The Religious Life Of Ancient and Medieval India by Dineschandra Sircar (1971). p. 19.
^ Swami Sivananda exclusive books. p. 73.
^ J. Donald Walters (1 March 2002). The Art and Science of Raja Yoga: Fourteen Steps to Higher Awareness : Based on the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. Crystal Clarity Publishers. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-1-56589-166-1. Retrieved 24 June 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya". Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^ Swami Krishnananda. "The Significance of Mantra-Japa Sadhana". swami-krishnananda.org. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^ Upanishad Brahmayogin. 108 Upanishads with Sanskrit Commentary of Upanishad Brahma Yogin. Adyar Library.
^ Alexander Studholme (2002). The Origins of Oṃ Maṇipadme Hūṃ: A Study of the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra. SUNY Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-7914-5389-6.
^ "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya". Retrieved 14 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Dhruva". Vaniquotes. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^ "Swami Vivekananda Letters". Vedanta network Boston. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^ "Swami Vivekananda letter the 15th February [1893]". Ramakrishna Vivekananda Info. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^ "20 Instructions by Swami Sivanananda". Writespirit. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^ "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya by Swami Dayananda Saraswati". vedicbooks.net/. Retrieved 4 May 2012.

[1] Farquhar, J. N. (John Nicol) (1920). An outline of the religious literature of India. Cornell University Library. London ; New York : H. Milford, Oxford University Press. p. 186.

[2] Benjamin Walker. Hindu World Vol. 2 An Encyclopedic Survey Of Wisdom Benjamin Walker. p. 27.

[3] Prabhakar Balvant Machwe (1983). Bhāratīya Saṃskr̥ti, Volume 1. Bhāratīya Saṃskr̥ti Saṃsada. p. 212.

[4] Edwin F. Bryant. Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 354.

[5] Dineschandra Sircar (1971). Studies In The Religious Life Of Ancient and Medieval India by Dineschandra Sircar (1971). p. 19.

[6] Swami Sivananda exclusive books. p. 73.

[Walters2002-7] J. Donald Walters (1 March 2002). The Art and Science of Raja Yoga: Fourteen Steps to Higher Awareness : Based on the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. Crystal Clarity Publishers. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-1-56589-166-1. Retrieved 24 June 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}

[Chanting_Om_Namo_Bhagavate_Vasudevaya_chant_blg-8] "Chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya". Retrieved 14 April 2012.

[The_Significance_of_Mantra-Japa_Sadhana_Kr-9] Swami Krishnananda. "The Significance of Mantra-Japa Sadhana". swami-krishnananda.org. Retrieved 14 April 2012.

[10] Upanishad Brahmayogin. 108 Upanishads with Sanskrit Commentary of Upanishad Brahma Yogin. Adyar Library.

[Studholme2002-11] Alexander Studholme (2002). The Origins of Oṃ Maṇipadme Hūṃ: A Study of the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra. SUNY Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-7914-5389-6.

[Om_Namo_Bhagavate_vasudevaya-12] "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya". Retrieved 14 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}

[13] "Dhruva". Vaniquotes. Retrieved 14 April 2012.

[Swami_Vivekananda_Letters-14] "Swami Vivekananda Letters". Vedanta network Boston. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.

[Swami_Vivekananda_letter_the_15th_February_[1893]-15] "Swami Vivekananda letter the 15th February [1893]". Ramakrishna Vivekananda Info. Retrieved 14 April 2012.

[20_Instructions_by_Swami_Sivanananda-16] "20 Instructions by Swami Sivanananda". Writespirit. Retrieved 14 April 2012.

[Om_Namo_Bhagavate_Vasudevaya_by_Swami_Dayananda_Saraswati-17] "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya by Swami Dayananda Saraswati". vedicbooks.net/. Retrieved 4 May 2012.