narayanavishnuashtaksharamantra

𑍐 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌯 (𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰 𑌮𑌂𑌤𑍍𑌰)

ॐ नमो नारायणाय (अष्टाक्षर मंत्र) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 108× repetitions·🕐 Brahma Muhurta (pre-dawn), or any time; especially on Ekadashi, Thursdays and Saturdays·📜 Vedic and Vaishnava tradition; the Ashtakshara is glorified in the Narayana Upanishad and the Pancharatra and Sri Vaishnava Agamas

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Vedic and Vaishnava tradition; the Ashtakshara is glorified in the Narayana Upanishad and the Pancharatra and Sri Vaishnava Agamas · Eternal (apaurusheya) Vedic mantra · Vedic / ancient

Om Namo Narayanaya is revered as the very essence of the Vedas and is praised in the Narayana Upanishad, which declares that one who recites it crosses beyond death and attains immortality. In the Sri Vaishnava tradition it is one of the three sacred mantras (rahasya-traya), embodying complete surrender (prapatti) to Lord Narayana. The sage Narada and countless seers are said to have attained the highest realisation through its constant repetition.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that the boy-sage Dhruva, and Prahlada, and many devotees won the direct vision and unfailing protection of the Lord through unbroken remembrance of His name, of which the Ashtakshara is the crown. The Narayana Upanishad promises that one who chants this eight-syllabled mantra attains the fullness of life and crosses beyond sorrow and death.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

𑍐 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌯॥

Om Namo Narayanaya

Meaning:ॐ, मैं भगवान नारायण को प्रेमपूर्वक प्रणाम एवं समर्पण करता हूँ — जो परम पुरुष हैं, समस्त प्राणियों के आश्रय, धाम तथा परम गति हैं, और जो जल (कारण-सलिल) पर शयन करते एवं सर्वत्र व्याप्त हैं।

Verse 2

𑍐 𑌇𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑌰𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌨𑌮 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌤𑍍। 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌤𑍍॥ 𑍐 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌯॥

Om ity-agre vyaharet | Nama iti pashchat | Narayanaya ity-uparishtat Om Namo Narayanaya

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑍐🔊OmThe Pranava, the primordial sound that is Brahman itself; the praṇava bīja of the mantra

𑌨𑌮𑌃🔊NamahI bow; salutations; surrender of the ego — 'not mine'

𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌯🔊NarayanayaTo Narayana — the Supreme Lord Vishnu; literally 'the resting place (ayana) of all beings (nara)' and 'He who dwells upon the cosmic waters (nara)'

𑌨𑌾𑌰🔊NaraThe waters / the collective of living beings (souls)

𑌅𑌯𑌨🔊AyanaResting place, abode, refuge, the goal

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰🔊Ashtakshara'Eight-syllabled' — the name of this mantra (Om-Na-Mo-Na-Ra-Ya-Na-Ya), the foremost mantra of Lord Vishnu

𑍐 𑌇𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑌰𑍇𑌤𑍍🔊Om ity-agre vyaharet'One should utter Om at the beginning' — the opening injunction of the Narayana Upanishad on how to pronounce the mantra

𑌨𑌮 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊Nama iti pashchat'Then (utter) Namah afterward'

𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌾𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊Narayanaya ity-uparishtat'Then (utter) Narayanaya at the end' — thus completing the sacred eight-syllabled mantra

Benefits of Chanting ॐ नमो नारायणाय (अष्टाक्षर मंत्र)

✦

Bestows deep inner peace and stills a restless, anxious mind

✦

Considered a supreme mantra for liberation (moksha) and union with the Supreme

✦

Purifies the heart and burns away accumulated sins and negative tendencies

✦

Invokes the constant protection of the all-pervading Lord Narayana

✦

Cultivates surrender (prapatti) and unbroken remembrance of God

✦

Suitable for continuous japa and ajapa (effortless inner) repetition throughout the day

✦

Brings auspiciousness, well-being and a steady, devotional state of mind

How to Chant ॐ नमो नारायणाय (अष्टाक्षर मंत्र)

Repetitions108times

Best TimeBrahma Muhurta (pre-dawn), or any time; especially on Ekadashi, Thursdays and Saturdays

After bathing, sit in a clean place facing east or north and chant the mantra on a tulsi mala, 108 times or more, with a calm and devoted heart. The mantra may be chanted aloud, softly, or mentally; many practitioners repeat it silently with the breath throughout the day until it becomes effortless (ajapa-japa). Meditate on Lord Narayana reclining serenely on the serpent Ananta upon the ocean of milk. It can be given as a sacred mantra by a guru, but in its simple form it may be chanted by any sincere devotee.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete ॐ नमो नारायणाय (अष्टाक्षर मंत्र) written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

'Ashtakshara' means 'eight-syllabled'. It refers to 'Om Namo Narayanaya' (Om-Na-Mo-Na-Ra-Ya-Na-Ya), the most celebrated mantra of Lord Vishnu in the Narayana form. It is one of the principal mantras of the Vaishnava and especially the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

It means 'Om, I bow to Narayana.' The name Narayana means both 'the refuge and final abode of all beings (nara)' and 'He who rests upon the cosmic waters'. The mantra is thus a prayer of complete surrender to the Supreme Lord who pervades all and is the goal of all souls.

It is chanted for peace of mind, protection, purification and spiritual liberation (moksha). It cultivates surrender and constant remembrance of God, and is considered powerful enough to be a complete spiritual practice in itself when repeated with devotion.

It can be chanted aloud, whispered or repeated silently. Sit calmly, ideally in the early morning, and repeat it on a tulsi mala 108 times, or carry it inwardly with the breath throughout the day. Sincerity and steady remembrance matter most.