Om Namo Bhagavate VÃÂsudevÃÂya (; ) is one of the most popular mantras in Hinduism and, according to the Bhagavata tradition, the most important mantra in Vaishnavism. It is called the Dvadasakshari Mantra, or simply Dvadasakshari, meaning the "twelve-syllable" mantra, dedicated to Vishnu or Krishna.
Bhagavatism, one of the traditions that was assimilated with what would become Vaishnavism, revered the Vrishni heroes, primary among them being VÃÂsudeva (Krishna). It may be concluded that the mantra was first associated with the reverence of VÃÂsudeva as the supreme deity before he was syncretised with Vishnu, after which it became an invocation of both deities.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya means "Om, I bow to Lord VÃÂsudeva or Lord Vishnu".
Om Namo Bhagavate VÃÂsudevaya means "prostration to Vasudeva", who is variously understood as Krishna. The Vaishnava Upanishads state that this mantra is described on the Sudarshana Chakra:
The Sharada Tilaka, a Tantric text, states:
Similarly, this is referred to as the ultimate mantra in the Shrimad Bhagavatam. This twelve syllable mantra is known as a mukti (liberation) mantra, and a spiritual formula for attaining freedom. The mantra can also be found in the Vishnu Purana.
In the epic Mahabharata, Dhruva chanted this mantra in his penance as ordered by sage Narada.