Om Namo Narayanaya lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning
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Ashtakshari mantra#
ॐ नमो नारायणाय ॥
oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya ||
ॐ, समस्त प्राणियों के आश्रय नारायण को नमस्कार।
Om, salutations to Narayana — the refuge of all beings.
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Source — Narayana Upanishad#
ओमित्यग्रे व्याहरेत् । नम इति पश्चात् ।
नारायणायेत्युपरिष्टात् ।
ओमित्येकाक्षरम् । नम इति द्वे अक्षरे ।
नारायणायेति पञ्चाक्षराणि ।
एतद्वै नारायणस्याष्टाक्षरं पदम् ॥omityagre vyāharet | nama iti paścāt |
nārāyaṇāyetyupariṣṭāt |
omityekākṣaram | nama iti dve akṣare |
nārāyaṇāyeti pañcākṣarāṇi |
etadvai nārāyaṇasyāṣṭākṣaraṃ padam ||पहले "ॐ" का उच्चारण करे, फिर "नमः", और उसके बाद "नारायणाय"। "ॐ" एक अक्षर है, "नमः" दो अक्षर, "नारायणाय" पाँच अक्षर। यही नारायण का अष्टाक्षर पद है।
One should first utter "Om", then "namaḥ", and after that "Nārāyaṇāya". "Om" is one syllable, "namaḥ" two, "Nārāyaṇāya" five. This is the eight-syllable word of Narayana.
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Om Namo Narayanaya — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ॐ | oṃ | The primordial sound; in Sri Vaishnava teaching, a-u-m stands for the Lord, the soul and their eternal relation |
| नमः | namaḥ (namo) | Salutation; read as "na mama" — "not for myself" |
| नारायणाय | nārāyaṇāya | To Narayana — the one who is the refuge (ayana) of all beings (nara), and who rests on the waters |
What Om Namo Narayanaya means
Om Namo Narayanaya means "Om, salutations to Narayana". It has eight syllables — o, na, mo, nā, rā, ya, ṇā, ya — and so is called the Ashtakshari mantra. The Narayana Upanishad declares it to be "the eight-syllable word of Narayana", and says that one who studies it reaches the Lord.
"Narayana" is explained in two classic ways: the one who is the refuge (ayana) of all beings (nara), and the one who dwells in the causal waters (nāra) — Vishnu resting on Shesha in the cosmic ocean. Either way the name means the Lord in whom everything rests and who rests in everything.
In the Sri Vaishnava tradition the Ashtakshari is the Tirumantra, the first of the three secrets taught at initiation. It is read as a complete statement of the soul's life: Om — the soul belongs to the Lord; namaḥ — "not for myself"; Nārāyaṇāya — "for Narayana alone".
How to chant Om Namo Narayanaya
- WhenAny time; especially at dawn, on Ekadashi and during temple worship
- Count108 times on a mala
- MalaTulsi or lotus-seed beads
- FacingEast or north
- Prepare. Wash and sit quietly facing east or north, before an image of Vishnu or Narayana if you have one.
- Remember Narayana. Picture the Lord resting on Shesha in the ocean of milk, with Lakshmi at his feet.
- Chant. Chant "Om Namo Narayanaya" steadily, aloud or silently, one repetition per bead.
- Complete the round. Do not cross the head bead; turn the mala to continue.
- Offer. Close by offering the japa to Narayana — "not for myself, but for you".
The mantra is chanted freely by devotees. In the Sri Vaishnava tradition it is formally received from an acharya at Pancha Samskara along with its meaning — follow your tradition.
Where Om Namo Narayanaya comes from
The mantra is given in the Narayana Upanishad (part of the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajurveda), which explains its eight syllables and declares that one who chants it attains Narayana. The Mahabharata and the Puranas praise it too; the sage Narada is said to wander the worlds chanting "Narayana, Narayana".
A famous story tells that Ramanujacharya, after receiving the meaning of the Tirumantra from his teacher Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi under a vow of secrecy, climbed the temple tower at Tirukkoshtiyur and proclaimed it to everyone below, saying that he would gladly bear the punishment if it would save so many. The Ashtakshari remains the heart of Sri Vaishnava devotion.
About Om Namo Narayanaya
The Ashtakshari — Narayana's eight-syllable mantra from the Narayana Upanishad, the Tirumantra of the Sri Vaishnavas — with its meaning, its source verse and how to chant it. It was composed by Narayana Upanishad, Upanishadic. The text is in Sanskrit.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Om Namo Narayanaya?
Om Namo Narayanaya was composed by Narayana Upanishad (Upanishadic).
Where can I read Om Namo Narayanaya lyrics in English?
This page has the full Om Namo Narayanaya in Sanskrit (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.
ॐ नमो नारायणाय का अर्थ क्या है?
इस पेज पर ॐ नमो नारायणाय के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।
How many verses are there in Om Namo Narayanaya?
Om Namo Narayanaya has 2 verses as given on this page.
In which language is Om Namo Narayanaya?
Om Namo Narayanaya is in Sanskrit. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.
How long does it take to recite Om Namo Narayanaya?
A full recitation takes about 3 min.
To whom is Om Namo Narayanaya dedicated?
Om Namo Narayanaya is dedicated to Vishnu (Narayana). The Ashtakshari — Narayana's eight-syllable mantra from the Narayana Upanishad, the Tirumantra of the Sri Vaishnavas — with its meaning, its source verse and how to chant it.
What does Om Namo Narayanaya mean?
"Om, salutations to Narayana" — the Lord who is the refuge of all beings.
Why is it called the Ashtakshari?
Because it has eight (ashta) syllables: o-na-mo-nā-rā-ya-ṇā-ya. The Narayana Upanishad itself counts them: Om one, namaḥ two, Nārāyaṇāya five.
What is the difference between Om Namo Narayanaya and Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya?
Both are mantras of Vishnu. Om Namo Narayanaya has eight syllables and comes from the Narayana Upanishad; Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya has twelve and is the chief mantra of the Bhagavata Purana.
Why do people greet each other with "Narayana"?
In many Vaishnava communities and among sadhus, saying "Om Namo Narayanaya" or "Narayana" is a greeting that honours the Lord in the other person.
