Krishna Mantras

Kṛṣṇa Kāma-Bīja Mantra

क्लीं कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय गोपीजनवल्लभाय स्वाहा

Kliṁ Kṛṣṇāya Govindāya Gopījana-Vallabhāya Svāhā!

Oṁ! I offer myself to Kṛṣṇa, the supreme protector Govinda, the beloved of the Gopīs, invoking the energy of divine attraction (Kliṁ). Svāhā!

Or more simply: Salutations to Kṛṣṇa — Govinda — the beloved of the Gopīs — with the power of divine love!

• Kāma-bīja (कामबीज) means "the seed syllable of love and attraction" — here, Kliṁ (क्लीं) is the kāma bīja.
• It is a mantra of love, devotion, and spiritual attraction, focusing on Kṛṣṇa’s most intimate and enchanting aspect as the beloved of the Gopīs.

• This mantra invokes the sweet, attractive, all-loving aspect of Kṛṣṇa.
• Kliṁ calls upon the energy of divine attraction — helping the devotee become drawn to God and vice versa.
• It is a powerful tool for developing love (prema) for Kṛṣṇa.

Breakdown word by word:

• Kliṁ (क्लीं): This is the Kāmabīja (seed syllable of desire/love). It symbolizes divine attraction, love, devotion, and the power to enchant. It’s closely associated with Kṛṣṇa, who is the supreme attractor (ākarṣaka). In Sanskrit, "Kliṁ" is called a bīja mantra — a "seed" syllable with great vibrational power.
• Kṛṣṇāya (कृष्णाय): "To Kṛṣṇa" — Dative case, meaning "for Kṛṣṇa" or "unto Kṛṣṇa." Kṛṣṇa = The dark-hued one, the all-attractive Lord.
• Govindāya (गोविन्दाय): "To Govinda" — another name of Kṛṣṇa, meaning "the protector (or Lord) of cows," or "the protector of the senses." Go = cow/senses; Vinda = one who finds/protects.
• Gopījana-Vallabhāya (गोपीजनवल्लभाय): To the beloved of the Gopīs (cowherd maidens) — Gopījana = the group of gopīs; Vallabha = beloved, dearest one. This highlights Kṛṣṇa’s most intimate and sweet relationship with his devotees.
• Svāhā (स्वाहा): a sacred exclamation meaning "I offer," "so be it," "hail!" or "I surrender this into the sacred fire." Traditionally used at the end of mantras to signify complete offering.

Krishna Gayatri Mantra

ॐ देवकीनन्दनाय विद्महे ।
वासुदेवाय धीमहि ।
तन्नः कृष्णः प्रचोदयात् ॥

Oṁ Devakīnandanāya Vidmahe
Vāsudevāya Dhīmahi
Tanno Kṛṣṇaḥ Pracodayāt

Oṁ! Let us know (meditate upon) the son of Devakī (Devakīnandana).
Let us meditate upon Vāsudeva (the all-pervading Lord).
May Kṛṣṇa inspire and illumine our intellect!

• Oṁ (ॐ): The primordial sacred syllable — the sound of the universe — invoking the Divine.
• Devakīnandanāya (देवकीनन्दनाय): "To Devakīnandana" — Devakī's son (Devakī = mother of Kṛṣṇa; Nandana = son or delight). Dative case: "unto the son of Devakī."
• Vidmahe (विद्महे): "We contemplate," "we know," or "we understand."
• Vāsudevāya (वासुदेवाय): "To Vāsudeva" — another name for Kṛṣṇa, meaning "the son of Vasudeva" or "the all-pervading Lord" (Vāsudeva can mean both "son of Vasudeva" and "the one who dwells in all beings").
• Dhīmahi (धीमहि): "We meditate upon," "we hold in our consciousness."
• Tanno (तन्नः): "May that (Lord) for us" — (tat = that, naḥ = for us).
• Kṛṣṇaḥ (कृष्णः): "Kṛṣṇa" — the supreme, all-attractive one.
• Pracodayāt (प्रचोदयात्): "May (He) inspire," "may (He) direct," "may (He) propel (our thoughts/intellect)."