ISKCON Pranam Mantras

ISKCON Pranam Mantras are special devotional prayers used to show respect and gratitude towards spiritual teachers (gurus), Srila Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON), the Panch-Tattva (Lord Chaitanya and His associates), and all Vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Krishna).

These mantras hold deep spiritual meaning and significance, serving as powerful instruments to create a connection with the divine and elevate spiritual consciousness.

What Are Pranam Mantras?

Pranam Mantras are respectful prayers offered by devotees. "Pranam" means to bow down or offer humble respect. By chanting these mantras, devotees acknowledge their gratitude, respect, and dependence on spiritual guides and the Lord Himself.

Why Are They Important?

Chanting Pranam Mantras helps:

• Cultivate humility and respect.

• Strengthen spiritual connection with the guru and Krishna.

• Purify one's heart and consciousness.

• Invoke divine blessings for spiritual growth.

When Should You Chant Pranam Mantras?

ISKCON Pranam Mantras are typically chanted:

• Before beginning any devotional activity, prayers, or meditation.

• Upon entering temples or sacred spaces.

• At the start and conclusion of spiritual gatherings and kirtans.

Hare Krishna Maha-mantra

This is the principal ISKCON mantra chanted by devotees worldwide. It is a transcendental sound vibration that purifies the heart and connects the soul with Lord Krishna.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Sri Radha Pranama

This pranam mantra is a heartfelt offering to Srimati Radharani, the Queen of Vrindavan. Her golden complexion and divine qualities are glorified as she is most dear to Lord Krishna.

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi radhe vṛndāvaneśvari
vṛṣabhānu-sute devi praṇamāmi hari-priye

I offer my respects to Radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrindavana. You are the daughter of King Vrisabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna.

Sri Krishna Pranama

This sacred krishna pranam mantra glorifies Lord Krishna as the ocean of mercy, friend of the fallen, master of the gopis, and beloved of Radharani.

he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho
dīna-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopikā-kānta
rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

O my dear Krishna, ocean of mercy, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the cowherdmen and the lover of the gopis, especially Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Mangalacarana

This traditional ISKCON pranam mantra seeks blessings from the spiritual master, Vaishnavas, and the Pancha Tattva. It acknowledges the entire Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage, including Lord Caitanya, Srimati Radharani, and Sri Krishna.

vande ’haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca
śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitam taṁ sa-jīvam
sādvaitaṁ sāvadūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devam
śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā- śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and of all the other preceptors on the path of devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnavas and unto the six Gosvamis, including Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Jiva Gosvami, and their associates. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Advaita Acarya Prabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and all His devotees, headed by Srivasa Thakura. I then offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, Srimati Radharani, and all the gopis, headed by Lalita and Visakha.

Sri Guru Pranama

This is a central guru pranam mantra in ISKCON, expressing gratitude to the spiritual master for opening the eyes of knowledge.

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

mukhaṁ karoti vācālaṁ
paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande
śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen, by whose mercy the dumb can speak eloquently and the lame can cross mountains.

Sri Panca-tattva Pranama

This ISKCON pranam mantra glorifies the five aspects of the Lord—Sri Krishna Caitanya and His expansions and energies.

pañca-tattvātmakam kṛṣṇaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Krishna, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional incarnation, manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy.

Sri Rupa Pranama

This guru pranam mantra honors Srila Rupa Goswami, who fulfilled the inner desires of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

śrī-caitanya-mano-’bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ dadāti sva-padāntikam

When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?

Srila Prabhupada Pranati

This important prabhupada pranam mantra honors His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON.

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Chaitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

Sri Gauranga Pranama

This ISKCON pranam mantra glorifies Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the most merciful incarnation distributing love of Krishna.

namo mahā-vādanyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tv̄iṣe namaḥ

O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Pranati

A deep guru pranam mantra dedicated to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada, and a key figure in the Gaudiya Math tradition.

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine
śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye
kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ
mādhuryojjvala-premādhya-śrī-rūpānuga-bhaktida
śrī-gaura-karuṇā-śakti-vigrahāya namo ’stu te
namas te gaura-vāṇi-śrī-mūrtaye dīna-tāriṇe
rūpānuga-viruddhāpasiddhānta-dhvānta-hāriṇe

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Vārṣabhānavi-devi-dayita dāsa [another name of Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati], who is favored by Srimatī Rādhārānī and the ocean of transcendental mercy. I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Sri Caitanya’s mercy, delivering devotional service enriched with conjugal love of Rādhā and Krishna in line with Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's teachings. I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya and deliverer of fallen souls, who do not tolerate any teaching contrary to devotional service.

Sri Vaishnava Pranama

This ISKCON pranam mantra offers obeisances to all Vaishnava devotees who are like wish-fulfilling trees, full of compassion for the fallen souls.

vañcā-kalpatarūbhyas ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānām pavane bhyo vaiṣṇave bhyo namo namah

I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are like wish-fulfilling trees, able to fulfill the desires of everyone, and full of compassion for fallen conditioned souls.

Srila Gaurakisora Pranati

Dedicated to Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, this guru pranam mantra praises his renunciation and deep love for Krishna.

namo gaura-kisorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye
vipralambha-rasāmbhode padāmbujāya te namaḥ

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, renunciation personified. He is always immersed in separation and intense love of Krishna.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Pranati

Glorifying Bhaktivinoda Thakura, this ISKCON pranam mantra recognizes his pivotal role in reviving Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

namo bhaktivinodāya sat-cid-ānanda-nāmine
gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda, the transcendental energy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and a firm follower of the Gosvāmīs—headed by Śrīla Rūpa.

Srila Jagannatha Pranati

This pranam mantra honors Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, known for revealing the sacred birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

gauravirbhava-bhūmeś tvam nirdeśṭa sāj-jana-priyah
vaiṣṇava-sarvabhaumaḥ śrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ

I offer my respectful obeisances to Jagannatha dasa Babaji, respected by the entire Vaishnava community, who revealed the place where Lord Caitanya appeared.

Sambandhadhideva Pranama

A beautiful krishna pranam mantra to Sri Sri Radha-Madana Mohana, who reveal the eternal relationship between the soul and the Lord.

jayatām surataḥ paṅgor mama manda-mater gati
mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau radha-madana-mohanau

Glory to the all-merciful Radha and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill-advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.

Panca‑tattva Maha‑mantra

This ISKCON mantra is widely chanted to invoke the mercy of Lord Caitanya and His associates.

(jaya) śrī‑kṛṣṇa‑caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī‑advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi‑gaura‑bhakta‑vrinda

Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Śri Nityānanda Prabhu, His incarnation Śri Advaita Prabhu, His internal potency Śri Gadādhara Prabhu, and His marginal potency Śrīvāsa Prabhu. He is in the midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Abhidheyadhideva Pranama

A prayerful pranam mantra to Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, eternally served in Vrindavana under a desire tree.

dīvyad-vṛndāranya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ
śrīmad-ratnāgāra-simhāsana-sthau
śrīmad-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau
preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi

In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Sri Sri Rādhā‑Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my most humble obeisances unto Them.

Prayojanadhideva Pranama

This krishna pranam mantra glorifies Sri Gopinatha, the Lord of the gopis, who enchants everyone with His divine flute.

śrī-mān rāsa-rasāraṃbhī-vaṁśī-vaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ
karṣan veṇu‑svanair gopīr gopīnāthaḥ śriye ’stu naḥ

Sri Gopīnātha, originator of the transcendental mellow of the rasa dance, stands on the shore in Vaṁśīvata and attracts the cowherd damsels with His divine flute’s sound. May they all confer upon us Their benediction.