Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo (the Adi Mantra)
I bow to the Creative Wisdom, I bow to the Divine Teacher within.
This mantra is used for “tuning in” to the divine flow and self-knowledge within each of us and linking us to Yogi Bhajan and the Golden Chain of teachers. It is chanted at least three times before practicing Kundalini Yoga.
Listen to the Adi Mantra being chanted:
Here’s what the Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajan said at a lecture on March 23, 1990 in Los Angeles, CA about his mantra:
Actually, all teachings are there to tell you to be yourself…. Who are you? You are the vehicle. That’s why the opening mantra of the class is, “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.” We don’t say “Om Namo,” we say, “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.”
Oh transcendental, transparent, “Guru Dev” is transparent. “Dev” means transparent. “Guru” means who brings light into darkness. I bow to you, “Ong Namo,” Oh creative total self. The difference is, Ong and Om, when Om cannot be chanted, cannot be spoken, it is written in the Puran but it can be experienced. That’s why Guru Nanak put before it, “Ek Ong.” It is total permutation and combination to create that sound. There is no two opinions about it, to experience yourself and all in you. In that unisonness, is the beauty of life. Otherwise you will be victim of your own perpetual permanent fear.
For every success, for every achievement, for every love or for everything, we want a newness. Pleasure comes out of newness, enjoying newness. But there is a pleasure also which is everlasting, in which you become a new all the time. That’s the diagonal energy, that’s tantric energy.
Sabrina Wright says:
This mantra is so powerful.
Laurie says:
I can not do it in one breath my voice goes completely dead can’t get enough air
Pritpal Singh Khalsa says:
Hi Laurie – the recording in this post is a length that most people will be comfortable with. But if your breath does not allow you to chant as long as the recording, then you could chant without the recording, in your own timing, making the syllables of these sounds go faster to fit within your breath. Most people find that their breathing capacity increases over time as they practice chanting mantras. Blessings
Ana says:
Hi! Beautiful ! Where can I buy a mp3 please thanks
OngKar Kaur Khalsa says:
Sat Nam Ana, here are some places for you to find more about this mantra: https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=bIBzXK3nEI-u0PEPtuKuYA&q=ong+namo+guru+dev+namo+tune+in&oq=ong+namo+g&gs_l=psy-ab.1.7.0j0i20i319j0l8.2542.4615..9986…0.0..0.80.724.11….2..0….1..gws-wiz…..0..0i131j0i10j0i131i10.WWLOW-mCiUc
OngKar Kaur Khalsa says:
And there are additional resources in the other comments below. Sat Nam.
Kanmani says:
How many times we can say this Mantra ? Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo ? and during office hours ? or while travelling can we chant for 108 times ? like other chanting ?
Sada Bahar Kaur Khalsa says:
The Adi Mantra, Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo is chanted three times to start a class or practice and is not used for personal meditation in that form. You would use the Complete Adi Mantra for Individual Meditation which can be found here; https://www.spiritvoyage.com/meditation/Complete-Adi-Mantra-for-Individual-Meditation/MED-000007.aspx. Here is a video where you can hear how it is chanted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yo_Bt52FBs
Many Blessings
noshi says:
hi
which sikh granth did u find this mantra which page plz clarify
thanks
Pritpal Singh says:
Hi Noshi – this mantra does not originate within the Siri Guru Granth. It comes from the yoga tradition.
Agi says:
do You maybe know more about its past, and could share if it comes from Y.Bhajan in this shape or it was used by any previous teacher?
Sikh Dharma International says:
Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo invokes the blessing of your own higher consciousness when you practice Kundalini Yoga and links you to the long line of Spiritual Masters in the Golden Chain. Yogi Bhajan taught this to us exactly as it was taught to him.
also for the person who said they couldn’t chant it all in one breath – the correct answer is that if you can’t, you can take a quick sip of air through the mouth after Ong Namo, but you don’t inhale through the nose while chanting the mantra.
I highly recommend this user-friendly book for Kundalini Yogis: Kundalini Yoga: The Flow of Eternal Power, by Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa. She even says on the cover ‘An Easy Guide to the Yoga of Awareness.”
~Nam Kaur Khalsa