Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

The twelve-syllable mantra — salutations to Lord Vasudeva, Shri Krishna. The key mantra of the Shrimad Bhagavatam, given by Narada to the boy Dhruva.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Meaning: "Om, I bow to Lord Vasudeva" — the one who dwells in all and in whom all dwell. The word "Bhagavan" means one who possesses in full the six excellences: power, righteousness, glory, beauty, knowledge and detachment.

It is called the dvadashakshara (twelve-syllable) mantra. In the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Narada gave this mantra to Dhruva, and the Bhagavatam itself opens with it. It is regarded as open to everyone.

Simple practice: after the morning bath, sit in a quiet place, bring the Lord to mind and chant it 108 times (one round) on a tulsi or sandalwood mala. If the mind wanders, gently bring it back to the name. Feeling and regularity matter more than numbers.

Syllables

12

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54 (instruction of Narada to Dhruva); also the opening invocation of the Bhagavatam

Japa Count

108