esc

Begin typing to search across all traditions

Mantra Practice Card

Om Mani Padme Hum

Buddhist · Compassion

Om Mani Padme Hum

The Jewel in the Lotus

Deity Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig)
Best Time Any time, though morning practice sets the tone for the day.
Repetitions 108 per mala round.
Chakra Heart chakra (Anahata).

About This Mantra

Om Mani Padme Hum is the six-syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion who embodies the mercy of all the Buddhas. It is the most widely recited mantra in Tibetan Buddhism, carved into stones along mountain paths, spun in prayer wheels, and whispered by monks and laypeople alike across the Himalayan world. Each syllable is said to close the door to rebirth in one of the six realms of samsaric existence.

How to Chant

Sit in meditation posture with the spine erect. Visualize Avalokiteshvara (or simply a radiant white light of compassion) above the crown of your head. As you chant each repetition, imagine light streaming down from this presence, purifying your body, speech, and mind. The mantra can be chanted aloud at a steady, rhythmic pace, or recited silently while counting on a mala.

Pronunciation Guide

Ohm Mah-nee Pahd-may Hoom. The 'Om' is as described in standard Sanskrit pronunciation. 'Mani' has the stress on the first syllable with a soft 'n.' 'Padme' is two syllables -- 'Pahd-may' -- not three.

Benefits

Cultivates bodhichitta -- the awakened heart of compassion. Reduces self-centered fixation and expands awareness to include others' suffering. Calms anxiety and soothes emotional turbulence.

Graha Connection

Avalokiteshvara's qualities of compassion, gentleness, and responsiveness to suffering mirror the Moon's significations in Jyotish. The mantra is especially supportive for those with afflicted or weak Moon placements, cultivating the emotional openness and nurturing capacity the Moon represents.

Personalized Reading

Your Jyotish Portrait

Your birth chart reveals which mantras resonate most with your planetary makeup. A Jyotish Portrait weaves all your placements — nakshatra, grahas, houses, dashas — into one coherent narrative.

$19
Get Your Portrait