Religion:Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya
Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya (Sanskrit: ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय, lit. 'I bow to God Vāsudeva'; 
listen (help·info)) 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 (help·info) |
Refers to the Supreme Infinite Spirit or Person. Om represents the Shabda Brahman. |
| Namo | नमो (namo) |
Namo (help·info) |
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 (help·info) |
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 (help·info) |
Vasu means "Life in all beings" Devaya means "God". This means God(life/light) who lives of all beings.
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. |
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Details
Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevaya means "prostration to Vasudeva", who is variously understood as Krishna.[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).
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. The mantra can also be found in the Vishnu Purana.[12]
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]
See also
- Hare Krishna (mantra)
- Svayam Bhagavan
- Om Namo Narayanaya
- Om Tat Sat
- Hari Om
- Vishnu Sahasranama
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. pp. 186. http://archive.org/details/cu31924023004629.
- ↑ Benjamin Walker. Hindu World Vol. 2 An Encyclopedic Survey Of Wisdom Benjamin Walker. pp. 27. http://archive.org/details/hindu-world-vol.-2-an-encyclopedic-survey-of-wisdom-benjamin-walker.
- ↑ Prabhakar Balvant Machwe (1983). Bhāratīya Saṃskr̥ti, Volume 1. Bhāratīya Saṃskr̥ti Saṃsada. p. 212. https://books.google.com/books?id=qa8aAAAAMAAJ.
- ↑ Edwin F. Bryant (18 June 2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 354. ISBN 978-0-19-972431-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=2n4VDAAAQBAJ.
- ↑ Dineschandra Sircar (1971). Studies In The Religious Life Of Ancient and Medieval India by Dineschandra Sircar (1971). pp. 19. http://archive.org/details/Sircar1971.
- ↑ Swami Sivananda exclusive books. pp. 73. http://archive.org/details/swami-sivananda-books.
- ↑ 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. https://books.google.com/books?id=tzSBzgEACAAJ. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ↑ "Chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya". http://sacralweb.blogspot.in/2008/10/chanting-om-namo-bhagavate-vasudevaya.html.
- ↑ Swami Krishnananda. "The Significance of Mantra-Japa Sadhana". swami-krishnananda.org. http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/disc/disc_90.html.
- ↑ Upanishad Brahmayogin (in English). 108 Upanishads with Sanskrit Commentary of Upanishad Brahma Yogin. Adyar Library. http://archive.org/details/108_Upanishads_with_Sanskrit_Commentary_of_Upanishad_Brahma_Yogin.
- ↑ Alexander Studholme (2002). The Origins of Oṃ Maṇipadme Hūṃ: A Study of the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra. SUNY Press. pp. 177. ISBN 978-0-7914-5389-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=5VlulOGhZ3EC&pg=PA177.
- ↑ Veda Vyasa. Vishnu Purana English Translation with Sanskrit Text. pp. 72. https://archive.org/details/vishnu-purana-sanskrit-english-ocr/page/n77/mode/1up.
- ↑ "Dhruva". Vaniquotes. http://www.vaniquotes.org/wiki/Prince_Dhruva_was_initiated_by_Narada_into_chanting%E2%80%A6_om_namo_bhagavate_vasudevaya,_and_Lord_Vasudeva_incarnated_Himself_as_Prsnigarbha,_the_Personality_of_Godhead_with_four_hands,_and_awarded_the_prince_a_specific_planet_above_the_seven_stars.
- ↑ "Swami Vivekananda Letters". Vedanta network Boston. http://www.vivekananda.org/newSVLetters.asp.
- ↑ "Swami Vivekananda letter the 15th February [1893"]. Ramakrishna Vivekananda Info. http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/unpublished/i_your_highness.htm.
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