Om Namo Narayananaya is a Mahamantra addressed to Vishnu, the all pervading one. Srevaishnava sect of Ramanuja takes this as most auspicious mantra. Its simple translation is, ‘Om, salutation to Narayana’.

If we wish to look deeper for the meaning, a more detailed etymological analysis is required: ‘Om’ is the cosmic sound- the sacred syllable which encompasses all of the universe, energy and consciousness. Namo means ‘Salutations’ or ‘bowing down’- in gratitude. ‘Na’ means not and ‘mo’ means mine, so namo also means not mine. All that is perceived and possessed is not mine. Narayanaya come from the Sanskrit root ‘nara’, means water or eternal and ‘ayana’ means resting place or journey. So narayana means that which is filled with(or pervaded) everywhere or one in an eternal path. The ‘-aya’ ending in Om Namo Narayanaya is equivalent to the proposition ‘for’. So, the mantra identify oneself as the whole universe. The goal of life is to realize the existence of Narayana everywhere.

Another meaning of Om Namo Narayanaya is about acknowledging and bowing before the divine in every individual.