Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.8.7
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionAttend Carefully to Each Mantra Syllable
“Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya]. Preceding each syllable by the oṁkāra, one should place the syllables of the mantra on the tips of his fingers, beginning with the index finger of the right hand and concluding with the index finger of the left. The four remaining syllables should be placed on the joints of the thumbs.”
What the purport teaches
- The next instruction is to chant the twelve-syllable mantra oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
- Each syllable is preceded by the oṁkāra and placed on the fingertips, beginning with the right index finger and ending with the left index finger.
- The four remaining syllables are placed on the joints of the thumbs. The instruction gives a definite order for this placement.
Try this today
Read oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya aloud slowly once, giving attention to its syllables.
Ask yourself
How attentive are you to each syllable when you chant?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.