Krishna Gayatri Mantra — Word-by-Word Meaning
कृष्ण गायत्री मंत्र
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
ॐ
Om
the primordial sound
विद्महे
Vidmahe
may we know / we seek to know — the joy of Devaki (Devaki-nandana)
धीमहि
Dhimahi
we meditate upon — Vasudeva (son of Vasudeva, the indwelling Lord)
तन्नः … प्रचोदयात्
Tannah … Prachodayat
may Krishna inspire and illumine our intellect
Complete Translation
Om. May we know the joy of Devaki (Devaki-nandana); may we meditate upon Vasudeva (son of Vasudeva, the indwelling Lord); may that Krishna inspire and illumine our minds.
Origin & History
Source: The Gayatri mantra of Lord Krishna
Author: Traditional (Vedic)
Beyond the universal Gayatri Mantra, the Vedic tradition gives each great deity its own Gayatri — a prayer in the sacred Gayatri meter calling upon that deity to illumine the intellect. The Krishna Gayatri Mantra invokes Lord Krishna, the giver of love, devotion, joy and divine wisdom, in the timeless pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat" — "may we know, may we meditate, may the Lord inspire our minds." Chanted at the sandhya hours, it is a complete and gentle daily sadhana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Krishna Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is the Gayatri mantra of Lord Krishna: "Om Devakinandanaya Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dhimahi. Tanno Krishnah Prachodayat". Set in the sacred Gayatri meter, it invokes Lord Krishna to inspire and illumine the intellect, in the pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat".
What are the benefits of the Krishna Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is chanted for love, devotion, joy and divine wisdom, and to awaken clarity and wisdom of mind. As a Gayatri mantra it is held to be especially purifying and steadying, bringing the blessings of Lord Krishna into daily life.
When and how many times should it be chanted?▼
Chant it 108 times on a mala, ideally at dawn and the other sandhya times, facing east. Wednesday is its special day. It can be made part of a daily Gayatri sadhana.
What does "Vidmahe Dhimahi Prachodayat" mean?▼
Every Gayatri follows this pattern: "Vidmahe" — may we know; "Dhimahi" — may we meditate upon; "Prachodayat" — may that deity inspire and illumine our intellect. So the mantra is a prayer for the deity to awaken wisdom within us.
Can anyone chant the Krishna Gayatri Mantra?▼
Yes — deity Gayatri mantras may be chanted by anyone with devotion. They are recited at dawn after a bath, with a clean mind, ideally on Wednesday, and are a gentle, complete daily practice.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →