Monday Mantra for October 16, 2017:
“Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”
Om: The sound of the Eternal Universe
Namo: To worship or surrender to
Bhagavate: God
Vasudevaya: Another name for Krishna, a supreme Hindu God
“Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” has a rough translation of “I surrender to the Immortal Divine”, and this mantra serves as a direct invocation of the Hindu deity Krishna. Krishna is the eighth incarnation of the deity Vishnu, who is one part of the Holy Trinity in Hinduism along with Brahma and Shiva. Vishnu maintains, or preserves the material world, while Brahma creates and Shiva destroys.
Krishna embodies the qualities of Love and Compassion, and is one of the most popular and revered deities in Hinduism. Also a highly regarded figure in Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s tender essence is evoked through the practice of this discipline. Recite this mantra when you seek compassion for yourself or for others, or to feel the Divine love of Krishna. Because Sanskrit is a tonal language with its meaning embedded in the sound vibrations emitted from speaking, it is important to focus on the resonance of the words in order to reap the most benefits from this chant.