Guru Mantra - Om Graam Greem Graum Sah Gurave Namah

The Guru Mantra — the beej mantra of Guru / Brihaspati (Jupiter), chanted for wisdom, fortune, growth and good guidance.

Meaning

With the seed-syllables of Jupiter, the mantra bows to Guru Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods, the luminous bestower of wisdom and prosperity.

Benefits

Chanted on Thursdays to strengthen Jupiter for wisdom, education, marriage, children, fortune, spiritual growth and right guidance.

How the Mantra Is Built

The seeds Graam Greem Graum carry Guru's sound ga through the three vowel energies, with Sah releasing the call and Gurave Namah closing it — "to Guru," Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods. Jupiter is the great benefic of the Vedic sky: wisdom, dharma, teachers, children, marriage (in a woman's chart he signifies the husband), wealth that endures, and faith itself. Where Jupiter is strong, the tradition says, grace finds a door.

How to Chant

Chant on Thursdays, in the morning, facing north-east — the direction of Jupiter and of wisdom; yellow is his colour, so a yellow asana, yellow flowers, chana dal, turmeric and besan sweets are the traditional accompaniments. The classical vowed count for Guru is 19,000 repetitions; the everyday practice is one mala of 108 every Thursday. Many keep a light Thursday fast alongside, eating once without salt, and honour a teacher or elder that day — Brihaspati's real offering.

When Astrology Prescribes It

The Guru mantra is prescribed for a debilitated Jupiter (in Capricorn), a combust or badly housed Guru — showing as poor judgement, stalled education, delay in marriage or children, or loss of faith and direction — and through Guru dasha and the Guru Chandal period (Jupiter conjunct Rahu). Check that affliction with the Guru Chandal Dosha checker, and see whether your Jupiter instead forms the auspicious Gaja Kesari Yoga.

Jupiter's companion remedies are the kindest of the nine: Thursday charity of chana dal, turmeric, yellow cloth or bananas; feeding students, teachers and priests; and honest respect shown to one's own elders and gurus, which the tradition treats as Brihaspati's true worship. His gemstone is yellow sapphire (pukhraj), taken up only after the chart has been examined. Since Guru is the karaka of children, couples awaiting a child often keep this mantra alongside the Santana Gopala mantra.

The Guru Mantra - Om Graam Greem Graum Sah Gurave Namah above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with — switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.