Gopala Mantra (Eighteen Syllables)

The eighteen-syllable mantra of Shri Krishna described in the Gopala Tapani Upanishad, addressed to Govinda, the beloved of the gopis.

क्लीं कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय गोपीजनवल्लभाय स्वाहा

klīṃ kṛṣṇāya govindāya gopījanavallabhāya svāhā

Meaning: with the seed syllable "klim" — this offering is to Krishna, to Govinda, to the beloved of the gopis.

This mantra is known as a principal mantra of Krishna in the Gopala Tapani Upanishad and in many Vaishnava traditions. It contains the bija (seed) syllable "klim", so by tradition such a bija mantra is chanted after receiving initiation (diksha) from a guru, following the guidance given.

Those without initiation may meditate on its meaning and chant mantras open to all, such as "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" or the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Syllables

18

Source

Gopala Tapani Upanishad