The mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' is the most widely recited mantra in Tibetan Buddhism, associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Its earliest known appearance is in the Karandavyuha Sutra (c. 4th–5th century CE), a Mahayana Buddhist text that describes the mantra's power to liberate beings from suffering. The six syllables—Om, Ma, Ni, Pad, Me, Hum—are traditionally explained as purifying the six realms of samsara: Om purifies the realm of the gods, Ma the jealous gods, Ni the human realm, Pad the animal realm, Me the hungry ghosts, and Hum the hell realms.
Each syllable also corresponds to a Buddha family and a specific aspect of enlightened mind. The mantra is chanted for the cultivation of compassion (karuna), the purification of negative karma, and the attainment of enlightenment. In the Karandavyuha Sutra, the Buddha declares that reciting this mantra even once with faith brings immeasurable merit and leads to rebirth in the pure land of Sukhavati. The mantra is also central to the practice of Avalokiteshvara sadhana, where it is visualized as a garland of syllables around the deity's heart.
Traditionally, it is chanted 108 times or more, often with a mala, and can be recited at any time, though dawn and dusk are considered especially auspicious. In Tibetan Buddhist ritual, the mantra is often accompanied by visualizations of light radiating from the syllables, purifying all beings. While the mantra is primarily Buddhist, it has been adopted in some Hindu tantric traditions as a dhyana mantra for compassion, though it is not found in classical Hindu scriptures. No specific cautions are recorded; it is considered universally beneficial.
The mantra's profound meaning is encapsulated in the phrase 'the jewel in the lotus,' symbolizing the union of compassion (the jewel) and wisdom (the lotus), leading to the realization of Buddhahood.
Homage to the jewel in the lotus.
The mantra contains the seed syllable 'hūṁ' (हूँ), a bija associated with the vajra family and the enlightened mind of all Buddhas.