View source for Om mani padme hum

{{Short description|Buddhist mantra}}
{{Italic title}}{{Chinese
| pic = <!--KARMANSIN(1828) p1.387 Schriftproben.jpg-->
| piccap = The mantra in different Asian writing systems
| ibox-order = zh,bo,vi,th,ko1,mn,ja,ta,hi,sa,ru,bn,as,ne,my
| c = 唵嘛呢叭咪吽
| p = Ōng mā nī bēi mēi hōng
| altname3 = Karandavyuha Sutra name
| c3 = 唵麼抳缽訥銘吽
| p3 = Ōng mó ní bō nè míng hōng
| tib = ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ
| wylie = oM ma Ni pad+me hU~M
| zwpy = Om Mani Bêmê Hum
| hangul = 옴 마니 반메 훔<br />옴 마니 파드메 훔
| rr = Om mani banme hum<br />Om mani padeume hum
| kana = オーム マニ パドメー フーム<br />オム マニ ペメ フム
| romaji = Ōmu Mani Padomē Fūmu<br />Omu Mani Peme Fumu
| san = Devanagari:  {{script|deva|ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ}}<br />Siddham: {{script|Sidd|𑖌𑖼𑖦𑖜𑖰𑖢𑖟𑖿𑖦𑖸𑖮𑖳𑖽}}
| hin = ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ
| Kannada = ॐ ಮಣಿ ಪದ್ಮೇ ಹೂಂ
| rus = Ом мани падме хум
| tyv = Ом мани падме хуң
| mnc = ᢀᠣ ᠮᠠᢏᡳ ᢒᠠᡩᠮᡝ ᢀᡥᡠᡠ
| mnc_rom = om mani padme hüüm
| mon = {{script|Cyrl|Ум мани бадмэ хум}}<br/>{{script|Latn|Om mani badme khum}}
| mong = ᢀᠣᠸᠠ<br />ᠮᠠᢏᢈ<br />ᢒᠠᢑᠮᠧ<br />ᢀᠾᠤᠤ
| monr = Owam mani padme huum
| vie = Úm ma ni bát ni hồng<br />Án ma ni bát mê hồng
| tha = โอม มณี ปัทเม หูม
| mar = ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ
| tam = ௐ மணி பத்மே ஹூம்
| bn = {{lang|bn|ওঁ মণি পদ্মে হূঁ}}
| as = {{lang|as|ওঁ মণি পদ্মে হূঁ}}
| ne = {{lang|ne|ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ}}
| my = {{lang|my|ဥုံ မဏိ ပဒ္မေ ဟုံ}}
| bi = {{IPA|my|òʊɰ̃ ma nḭ paʔ mè hòʊɰ̃|}}
| lang1 = [[Malayalam]]
| lang-content1 = {{lang|ml|ഓം മണി പദ്മേ ഹും}}
| lang2 = [[Odia language|Odia]]
| lang-content2 = {{lang|or|ଓ‍ଁ ମଣି ପଦ୍ମେ ହୁଁ}}
| lang3 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| lang-content3 = {{lang|mr|ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ}}
| lang4 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
| lang-content4 = {{lang|pa|ਓਮ ਮਣਿ ਪਡਮੇ ਹੂੰ}}
| lang5 = [[Chakma language|Chakma]]
| lang-content5 = {{lang|ccp|{{script|Cakm|𑄃𑄮𑄀 𑄟𑄧𑄕𑄨 𑄛𑄧𑄘𑄳𑄟𑄬 𑄦𑄪𑄀}}}}
}}
'''''{{IAST|Oṃ maṇi padme hūm̐}}'''''<ref>Pronunciation of the mantra as chanted by a [[Tibet]]an: [http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/om-mani-padme-hung.wav Wave Format] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20051208022032/http://dharma-haven.org/tibetan/om-mani-padme-hung.ra Real Audio Format].
{{Dead link |date=August 2021}}
</ref> ({{langx|sa|ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ}}, {{IPA|sa|õːː mɐɳɪ pɐdmeː ɦũː|IPA}}) is the six-syllabled [[Sanskrit]] [[mantra]] particularly associated with the four-armed [[Shadakshari]] form of [[Avalokiteshvara]], the [[bodhisattva]] of compassion. It first appeared in the [[Mahayana]] ''[[Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra|Kāraṇḍavyūha sūtra]]'', where it is also referred to as the ''sadaksara'' ({{langx|sa|षडक्षर}}, six syllabled) and the ''paramahrdaya'', or "innermost heart" of [[Avalokiteshvara]].<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 67.</ref> In this text, the mantra is seen as the condensed form of all Buddhist teachings.<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 72.</ref>

The precise meaning and significance of the words remain much discussed by Buddhist scholars. The literal meaning in English has been expressed as "praise to the jewel in the lotus",<ref>[https://insighttimer.com/carrieg108/guided-meditations/om-mani-padme-hum-12 Grossman, Carrie]</ref> or as a declarative aspiration, possibly meaning "I in the jewel-lotus".<ref>Alexander Studholme, ''The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra'', SUNY, 2002, p. 117</ref> ''Padma'' is the Sanskrit for the [[Sacred lotus in religious art|Indian lotus (''Nelumbo nucifera'')]] and ''mani'' for "jewel", as in a [[Mani Jewel|type of spiritual "jewel"]] widely referred to in Buddhism.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QeIeAAAAQBAJ&dq=Om+mani+padme+hum+literal+meaning&pg=PA126 ''Essential Buddhism, A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices''], p. 126, Jack Maguire, 2013</ref> The first word, ''[[Om|aum/om]]'', is a sacred syllable in various [[Indian religions]], and ''hum'' represents the spirit of [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mantras associated with Avalokiteshvara (aka Quan Yin, Chenrezig) in Siddham, Tibetan (Uchen), Ranajana (Lantsa), Elvish, and Klingon|url=http://www.visiblemantra.org/avalokitesvara.html |access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> 

In [[Tibetan Buddhism]], this is the most ubiquitous mantra and its recitation is a popular form of religious practice, performed by [[Laity|layperson]]s and [[Monasticism|monastics]] alike. It is also an ever-present feature of the landscape, commonly carved onto rocks, known as [[mani stone]]s, painted into the sides of hills, or else it is written on [[prayer flag]]s and [[prayer wheels]].<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 2.</ref>

In [[Chinese Buddhism]], the mantra is mainly associated with the bodhisattva [[Guanyin]], who is the East Asian manifestation of [[Avalokiteshvara]]. The recitation of the mantra remains widely practiced by both [[Sangha|monastics]] and [[Upāsaka|laypeople]], and it plays a key role as part of the standard liturgy utilized in many of the most common Chinese Buddhist rituals performed in monasteries.<ref name=":2">佛門必備. https://amituofo.com.au/uploads/short-url/sLim3w1qiC7tPBoUR8BHpgBwmU5.pdf</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Lye, Hun Yeow, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia |title=Feeding Ghosts: A Study of the Yuqie Yankou Rite |url=https://libraetd.lib.virginia.edu/public_view/b8515n64w |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=libraetd.lib.virginia.edu}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=swb |date=2022-05-05 |title=The Chinese Buddhist Cultus: Common Public Rituals in PRC Monasteries Today |url=https://chinesebuddhiststudies.org/article/the-chinese-buddhist-cultus-common-public-rituals-in-prc-monasteries-today/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies |language=en-US}}</ref> It is common for the Chinese [[hanzi]] transliteration of the mantra to be painted on walls and entrances in Chinese Buddhist temples, as well as stitched into the fabric of particular ritual adornments used in certain rituals.

The mantra has also been adapted into Chinese [[Taoism]].<ref name=":5">Jackowicz, Steve, ''Om Mani Padme Hum'' in Daoist Revision, Journal of Daoist Studies, University of Hawai'i Press, Volume 6, 2013 pp. 203-210 10.1353/dao.2013.0009</ref>

== Meaning and effects ==
[[File:1348 Mogaoku Stele.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stele of Sulaiman]], erected at the [[Mogao Caves]] in 1348 to commemorate the donations of Sulaiman, Prince of [[Xining]]. It includes the six-syllable mantra written in six different scripts: [[Ranjana script|Lantsa]] [1st row], [[Tibetan script|Tibetan]] [2nd row], [[Uighur script|Uighur]] [far left], [[ʼPhags-pa script|'Phags-pa]] [left], [[Tangut script|Tangut]] [right], [[Chinese characters|Chinese]] [far right].]]

=== Semantic ===
[[Mantra]]s may be interpreted by practitioners in many ways, or even as mere sequences of sound whose effects lie beyond strict [[semantic]] meaning.

The middle part of the mantra, ''{{IAST|maṇi padme}}'', is often interpreted as being in the [[locative case]], "wish-fulfilling jewel in the lotus", [[Sanskrit]] ''{{IAST|maṇi}}'' "wish-fulfilling/priceless gem, jewel, [[cintamani]]" and the [[Locative case|locative]] of ''{{IAST|padma}}'' "[[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]]". The lotus is a symbol present throughout Indian religion, signifying purity (due to its ability to emerge unstained from the mud) and spiritual fruition (and thus, awakening).<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 112.</ref> ''Maṇipadme'' is preceded by the ''{{IAST|[[oṃ]]}}'' syllable and followed by the ''{{IAST|hūṃ}}'' syllable, both interjections without linguistic meaning, but widely known as divine sounds.

However, according to [[Donald S. Lopez Jr.|Donald Lopez]] (citing Tibetan grammatical sources) it is much more likely that ''{{IAST|maṇipadme}}'' is in fact a [[vocative expression|vocative]], addressing a [[bodhisattva]] called ''{{IAST|maṇipadma}}'', "Jewel-Lotus" – an alternative epithet of the bodhisattva [[Avalokitesvara]].<ref>Lopez, 331; the vocative would have to be feminine</ref>

[[Damien Keown]] also notes that another theory about the meaning of the mantra is that it actually invokes a female deity named Manipadmi.<ref>Keown, Damien (2004), ''A Dictionary of Buddhism'', p. 204.</ref> This is due to evidence from texts such as the ''Kāraṇḍavyūhasūtra'' which depict the mantra as a female deity. Also, as noted by Studholme, if the word is read as a vocative, it is most likely in the feminine [[grammatical gender]], because if masculine, it would be a highly irregular form.<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 111.</ref> Thus as Lopez notes, the original meaning of the mantra could in fact be an invocation of "she of the lotus jewel", who is the ''vidya'' (wisdom) and consort of Avalokiteshvara and is equivalent to [[Shakti]]'s role ''vis a vis'' [[Shiva]].<ref name=":0">Lopez (1988), p. 132.</ref>

Regarding the relationship between the jewel and the lotus, Sten Konow argued that it could either refer to "a lotus that is a jewel" or to "a jewel in the lotus". He argues that the second explanation makes more sense, indicating Shaivite influence through the imagery of the [[lingam]] and the [[yoni]], both also terms associated with ''mani'' and ''padma'' respectively.<ref name=":0" /> Thus the mantra could in fact mean "O, she with the jewel in her lotus".

According to Alexander Studholme however, the meaning of ''manipadme'' "should be parsed as a [[Tatpurusha|tatpurusa]], or 'determinative', compound in the (masculine or neuter) locative case", meaning "in the jewel-lotus", or "in the lotus made of jewels", which refers to:<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 116.</ref><blockquote>the manner in which buddhas and bodhisattvas are said to be seated in these marvelous blooms and, in particular, to the manner in which more mundane beings are believed to appear in the pure land of the buddhas. Given the predominance, in the ''Kāraṇḍavyūha'' and in the Mahayana in general, of the religious goal of the pure land of Amitabha, it may be safely assumed that ''{{IAST|maṇipadme}}'' would have been quite naturally associated with the mode of the rebirth of human beings there. The recitation of {{IAST|Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ}}, then, the bringing to mind of the name of the Buddhist isvara, includes a declaration of the manner in which a person is reborn in Sukhavati: "in the jewel lotus."</blockquote>

=== According to the ''Kāraṇḍavyūhasūtra'' ===
[[File:Chenrezig Sand Mandala.jpg|thumb|right|A Tibetan [[sand mandala]] of [[Avalokitesvara]], a key element of the [[Empowerment (Vajrayana)|tantric initiation ritual]] required to practice the mantra according to the ''Kāraṇḍavyūha'']]
[[File:Writing at Yonghe Temple.JPG|thumb|right|At [[Yonghe Temple]], [[Beijing]]]]
[[File:OM MANI PADME HUM (Lanydza script).svg|thumb|right|In the Nepalese [[Ranjana script|Lanydza]] script]]
The first known description of the mantra appears in the ''[[Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra]]'' ("The Basket’s Display", c. 4–5th centuries), which is part of certain Mahayana canons such as [[Chinese Buddhist canon|Chinese]] and [[Tibetan Buddhist canon|Tibetan]]. In this [[sutra]], [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] states, "This is the most beneficial mantra. Even I made this aspiration to all the million Buddhas and subsequently received this teaching from Buddha [[Amitabha]]."<ref>[http://www.khandro.net/practice_mantra.htm Khandro.net: Mantras]</ref> 

The sutra promotes the recitation of this mantra as a means to liberation. It states that whoever knows (''janati'') the mantra will know liberation as a fully enlightened Buddha. It also states that initiation into the mantra by a qualified preceptor (which is said to be a lay ''[[dharmabhāṇaka]]'', ''[[Vidyadhara (Buddhism)|vidyadhara]]'' or ''[[mahasiddha]]'') is an important requirement for practicing this mantra. In the sutra, Avalokitesvara says that the mantra should not be given to one who has not seen the [[mandala]].<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 143.</ref> This initiation is said to be open to all Buddhists regardless of class and gender, whether they be of the Mahayana or [[Hinayana]], but not to [[Tirthika|''tirthikas'']].<ref>Studholme (2002), pp. 69-71.</ref>

The ''Kāraṇḍavyūhasūtra'' also sees the mantra as the [[pith]] or condensed expression of all "eighty four thousand Dharmas". Because of this it is called "the grain of rice of the Mahayana", and reciting it is equivalent to reciting numerous sutras.<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 73.</ref> 

Thus, according to Studholme, the significance of the mantra in the ''Kāraṇḍavyūha'' is mainly that it is the "innermost heart" of Avalokitesvara, and therefore is "a means both of entering into the presence of Avalokitesvara and of appropriating some of the bodhisattva's power".<ref>Studholme (2002), p. 106.</ref> Its practice is said to lead numerous positive qualities including:<ref>Studholme (2002), pp. 106-108.</ref>

* The seeing (''darsana'') the bodhisattva's "thousand-fold" form, 
* Rebirth into the myriad worlds contained in the pores of the bodhisattva's body 
* Innumerable [[samadhi]]s (meditative absorptions), including the samadhi of "rejoicing in loving kindness and compassion" (''maitri-karuna-mudito''). 
* The development of "great compassion" (''maha [[Karuṇā|karuna]]'')
* Accumulation of immeasurable [[Merit (Buddhism)|merit]]
* Accomplishment of the [[Pāramitā|six perfections]]
* Awakening (''[[Enlightenment in Buddhism|bodhi]]'')

In this sutra, the ''sadaksari mahavidya'' (six syllabled great ''[[Vidya (philosophy)|vidya]]'') also appears as a goddess, "autumn yellow" in color, with four arms, with two arms holding a lotus and prayer beads, and the other two in [[Añjali Mudrā|anjali mudra]]. According to Studholme, these features are similar to the way the mantra ''[[Om Namah Shivaya|Om nama shivaya]]'' is depicted in [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] texts, since "both are concise ''vidyas'', the ''hrdayas'' [heart] of their respective ''[[Ishvara|isvaras]]'', sui generis means of attaining liberation, universally available, though of rare value and somewhat secret. Both are also, it has been argued, conceived of as forms of ''[[pranava]]'' [divine sound]."<ref>Studholme (2002), pp. 74-75.</ref>

=== In Tibetan Buddhism ===
[[File:Om-mani-padme-hum 02.svg|thumb|right|The mantra in Tibetan script with the six syllables colored]]
[[File:OM MANI PADME HUM.svg|thumb|right|"Om mani padme hūṃ [[hrīḥ]]"]]
[[File:Om Mani Padme Hum.jpg|thumb|right|"Om mani padme hūṃ", [[mani stone]] carved in [[Tibetan script]] outside the [[Potala Palace]] in [[Lhasa]]]]
[[File:Ом мани падме хуң.jpg|thumb|right|The largest mantra inscription in the world is located on Dogee Mountain in [[Kyzyl]], Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biggest Ever Buddhist Mantra on a Mountain in Tuva |url=https://en.tuvaonline.ru/2006/09/12/biggest-ever-buddist-mantra-on-a-mountain-in-tuva.html |access-date=28 October 2018 |work=Tuva-Online}}</ref>]]

The 11th-century Bengali master [[Atiśa|Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna]], who was influential in bringing Buddhism to Tibet, also wrote a short treatise on the mantra called the ''Arya-sad-aksari-sadhana''.<ref>Skilling, Peter, An ''Oṃ Maṇipadme Hūṃ''. Inscription from South-East Asia, Aséanie, Sciences humaines en Asie du Sud-Est, Année 2003 11 &nbsp;pp. 13-20.</ref> Some Buddhist scholars argue that the mantra as practiced in [[Tibetan Buddhism]] was based on the ''Sadhanamala'', a collection of ''[[sadhana]]'' or spiritual practices published in the 12th century.<ref name="assp">{{cite web|url=http://www.cqvip.com/QK/80443X/2003002/8922419.html|title=Analysis of the Six Syllable practice – the relationship between The Six Syllable and Amitabha|last=Li|first=Yu|access-date=September 1, 2008}}</ref> However, according to Peter Alan Roberts, "the primary source for Tibetan Avalokitesvara practices and teachings" is the 11th-century ''[[Maṇi Kambum]]''.<ref name=":1">Roberts, Peter Alan, Translating Translation: An Encounter with the Ninth-Century Tibetan Version of the ''Karandavyuha-sutra.'' JOCBS. 2012 (2): 224-242</ref>

Donald Lopez writes that according to a 17th-century work by the prime minister of the fifth Dalai Lama, the meaning of the mantra is said to be "O, you who have the jewel and the lotus." That ''manipadme'' is in the [[vocative case]] is also supported by a 9th-century Tibetan grammatical treatise.<ref>Lopez (1988), p. 131.</ref>

Lopez also notes that the majority of Tibetan Buddhist texts have regarded the translation of the mantra as secondary, focusing instead on the correspondence of the six syllables of the mantra to various other groupings of six in the Buddhist tradition.<ref>Lopez, 130</ref>

For example, in the ''Chenrezig [[Sadhana]]'', Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche expands upon the mantra's meaning, taking its six syllables to represent the purification of the six realms of existence:<ref>Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche, ''Chenrezig sadhana''</ref><br />

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Syllable]] !! Six [[Pāramitā]]s !! Purifies !! [[Samsara (Buddhism)|Samsaric realm]] !! Colors !! Symbol of the Deity  !! (Wish them) To be born in
|-  valign="top"
! [[Om]]
| Generosity || Pride / Ego || [[Deva (Buddhism)|Devas]] || White|| Wisdom || Perfect Realm of [[Mount Potalaka | Potala]]
|-  valign="top"
! Ma
| Ethics || Jealousy / Lust for entertainment || [[Asura (Buddhism)|Asuras]] || Green || Compassion || Perfect Realm of Potala
|-  valign="top"
! Ni
| Patience || Passion / desire || [[Human beings in Buddhism|Humans]] || Yellow || Body, speech, mind<br>quality and activity || [[Dewachen]]
|-  valign="top"
! Pad
| Diligence || Ignorance / prejudice || [[Animals in Buddhism|Animals]] || Blue || Equanimity || the presence of Protector ([[Chenrezig]])
|-  valign="top"
! Me
| Renunciation || Greed / possessiveness || [[Preta|Pretas (hungry ghosts)]] || Red || Bliss || Perfect Realm of Potala
|-  valign="top"
! Hum
| Wisdom || Aggression / hatred || [[Naraka (Buddhism)|Naraka]] || Black || Quality of Compassion || the presence of the Lotus Throne (of Chenrezig)
|-
|}<br />

==== According to Trijang Rinpoche ====
The tutor to the present Dalai Lama, [[Trijang Rinpoche]] (1901–1981) wrote a commentary on the mantra which states: <blockquote>Regarding mani padme, "Jewel Lotus" or "Lotus Jewel" is one of the names of the noble Avalokitesvara. The reason that he is called by that is that, just as a lotus is not soiled by mud, so the noble Avalokitesvara himself has, through his great wisdom, abandoned the root of samsara, all the stains of the conception of true existence together with its latencies. Therefore, to symbolize that he does not abide in the extreme of mundane existence, he holds a white lotus in his hand...He joins the palms of his two upper hands, making the gesture of holding a jewel to symbolize that, like a wish-granting jewel, he eliminates all the oppression of suffering for all sentient beings and bestows upon them all temporary and ultimate benefit and bliss.<ref>Lopez (1988), p. 133.</ref></blockquote>

==== According to the 14th Dalai Lama ====
The [[14th Dalai Lama|14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso]] states:
:"It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hung, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast... The first, Om [...] symbolizes the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"

:"The path of the middle way is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method: (the) altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.[...]"

:"The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom[...]"

:"Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hung, which indicates indivisibility[...]"

:"Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hung, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"

<div align="right">—[[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama]], "On the meaning of: OM MANI PADME HUNG"<ref>[[Tenzin Gyatso|Gyatso, Tenzin]]. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm Om Mani Padme Hung]</ref></div>

==== Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche ====
[[File:Mune wall col.jpg|thumb|Carved [[mani stone]]s, each with "Om Mani Padme Hum" on a pathway in [[Zangskar]]]]
: "The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.

: "So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?"
<div align="right">—[[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]], ''Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones''<ref>[[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]], ''Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones''. {{ISBN|0-87773-493-3}}</ref></div>

=== In Chinese Buddhism ===
[[File:六字真言.jpg|thumb|297x297px|[[Chinese characters|Hanzi]] transliteration of the mantra (read from left to right), painted on a Chinese Buddhist temple on [[Mount Putuo]], which is regarded in Chinese Buddhist tradition as the [[bodhimaṇḍa]] of [[Guanyin]] (Avalokiteshvara)]]
The mantra was first introduced into [[Chinese Buddhism]] during the [[Song dynasty]] (960 - 1279) in 983 CE when the ''Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra'' was first translated into Chinese by the monk Tianxizai<sup>[[:zh:天息災|[zh]]]</sup> ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 天息災, [[pinyin]]: ''Tiānxīzāi'', [[Sanskrit]]: ''Devasantika'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambiguity of Avalokites'vara and Scriptural Sources for the Cult of Kuen-yin in China |url=http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BJ001/10_18.htm |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=ccbs.ntu.edu.tw}}</ref> The mantra's popularity further heightened during subsequent Chinese dynasties due to increased interactions between Chinese Buddhists and Tibetan and Mongolians Buddhists. 

The mantra remains ubiquitous and widely employed in contemporary Chinese Buddhist liturgies and practices, such as the esoteric [[Yujia Yankou]] rite, where it is recited up to 108 times during a subsection where the ritual space is visualized, as well as being incorporated into the ''Āryavalokiteśvarā Bodhisattva Vikurvana Dhāraṇī'' ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 觀音靈感真言, [[Pinyin]]: ''Guānyīn Línggǎn Zhēnyán''), which is one of the [[Ten Small Mantras]] that are recited every morning and evening as part of the standard daily liturgy at all Chinese Buddhist temples.<ref>Orzech ''et al.'' (2011), p. 527.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ten Small Mantras |url=https://www.buddhamountain.ca/Ten_Small_Mantras.php |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=www.buddhamountain.ca}}</ref><ref>Buddhist Text Translation Society (2013), Daily Recitation Handbook: Sagely City of 10,000 Buddhas</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=張宏實 (著) |date=2024-12-23 |title=圖解十小咒：下載諸佛菩薩的智慧與慈悲 |url=https://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/en/search/search_detail.jsp?seq=706878 |language=zh |pages=192}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> 

=== In Taoism ===
[[File:性命圭旨 觀音密呪圖.png|thumb|199x199px|Instructions on utilizing the mantra from the ''[[Xingming guizhi]]'', a [[Ming dynasty]] (1368 - 1644) Taoist manual.]]
Usage of the mantra has spread into Taoism, where various figures from the Buddhist pantheon such as [[The Buddha|Śākyamuni Buddha]] and [[Avalokiteśvara|Avalokiteshvara]] have been incorporated as part of the Taoist pantheon.<ref name=":5" /> Like in Buddhism, usage of the mantra is widespread in mainstream Taoist practice. 

A key example of the mantra's employment is the practice of a chanting exercise which maps the syllables to specific areas of the body. During the exercise, the practitioner recites the mantra using certain intonations while performing specific visualizations in order to attain a transcendental state of experience.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackowicz |first=Steve |date=2013 |title=Om Mani Padme Hum in Daoist Revision |url=https://doi.org/10.1353/dao.2013.0009 |journal=Journal of Daoist Studies |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=203–210 |doi=10.1353/dao.2013.0009 |issn=1941-5524|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The mantra is also widely used by Taoist practitioners when creating [[fulu]]<nowiki/>s (Taoist charms that are usually written in a talismanic script).

== Transliterations ==
In English, the mantra is variously [[transliterated]], depending on the schools of [[Buddhism]] as well as individual teachers.
[[File:平安符｜澎湖觀音亭.jpg|thumb|A [[fulu]] written using the Chinese [[Chinese characters|hanzi]] transliteration of "Om mani padme hum" ]]
[[File:Om Mani Padme Hum in Pearl in the Palm.svg|thumb|Illustration with both [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Tangut language|Tangut]] transliterations of the mantra from the [[Pearl in the Palm]], a 12th-century bilingual glossary between both languages]]
Most authorities consider ''maṇipadme'' to be one compound word rather than two simple words.<ref>Lopez, 131.</ref> Sanskrit writing does not have capital letters and this means that capitalisation of transliterated mantras varies from all caps, to initial caps, to no caps. The all-caps rendering is typical of older scholarly works, and Tibetan Sadhana texts.

* [[IAST]] (Roman alphabet): {{IAST|Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūm̐}}
* [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]]: {{bo-textonly|lang=bo|ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ}} ([[Tibetan Pinyin]]: Om Mani Bêmê Hum)
* [[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|ॐ मणिपद्मे हूँ}}
* [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]]: 
** [[Classical Mongolian language|Classical Mongolian]]: {{MongolUnicode|ᢀᠣᠸᠠ<br>ᠮᠠᢏᢈ<br>ᢒᠠᢑᠮᠧ<br>ᢀᠾᠤᠤ|lang=cmg}} (Owam mani padme huum)
** [[Khalkha Mongolian|Khalkha]]: Ум мани бадмэ хум (Um mani badme khum)
** [[Buryat language|Buryat]]: Ом маани бадмэ хум (Om maani badme khum)
** [[Kalmyk language|Kalmyk]]: Ом мани бадме хум (Om mani badme xum)
* [['Phags-pa script|'Phags pa]]: ʼom ma ni pad me hung {{Phagspa|v|ꡝꡡꡏ<br> ꡏ<br> ꡋꡞ<br> ꡌꡊ<br> ꡏꡠ<br> ꡜꡟꡃ}}
* [[Manchu language|Manchu]]: {{MongolUnicode|ᢀᠣ<br>ᠮᠠᢏᡳ<br>ᢒᠠᡩᠮᡝ<br>ᢀᡥᡠᡠ|lang=mnc}} (Om mani padme hüüm)
* [[Tangut language|Tangut]]: {{Tangut|𗙫𗏵𗐱𗴟𗘺𗦀|Li Fanwen's Tangut-Chinese Dictionary: #0774 #3369 #4884 #3425 #0201 #2224}} ꞏa mja¹ nji² pja¹ mjij¹ xo
* [[Old Uyghur]]: oom mani badmi xung 
* [[Jurchen script|Jurchen]]: [[File:Am ma ni ba mi xu (horizontal).svg|x20px|Jason Glavy's Jurchen font: 嗆丵喒侠剣儂]] am ma ni ba mi xu
* [[Meitei language|Meitei]] ([[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]): {{lang|mni|{{script|Mtei|ꯑꯣꯝ ꯃꯅꯤ ꯄꯗ꯭ꯃꯦ ꯍꯨꯡ}}}} (''ōm manee padme hūng'') 
* {{lang-zh|c=唵嘛呢叭咪吽|p=Ōng mānī bēimēi hōng}} or {{lang|zh|唵麼抳缽訥銘吽}}; {{lang-zh|唵麼抳缽訥銘吽|p=Ōng móní bōnèmíng hōng|links=no}}
* [[Korean language|Korean]]: {{lang|ko|옴 마니 반메 훔}} (Om Mani Banme Hum) or {{lang|ko|옴 마니 파드메 훔}} (Om Mani Padeume Hum)
* [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: {{lang|ja|オーム・マニ・パドメー・フーム}} ({{Transliteration|ja|Ōmu Mani Padomē Fūmu}}) or {{lang|ja|オムマニペメフム}} ({{Transliteration|ja|Omu Mani Peme Fumu}}); however, in practice a Japanese pronunciation of {{lang|ja|唵麼抳缽訥銘吽}}, such as {{Transliteration|ja|on ma nei hatsu mi un}}, is used, e.g. in translations and adaptations of ''[[Journey to the West]]''.
* {{Langx|vi|Án ma ni bát mê hồng}}
* [[Siddham script|Siddham]]: 𑖌𑖼 𑖦𑖜𑖰 𑖢𑖟𑖿𑖦𑖸 𑖮𑗝𑖼
* [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]: {{lang|lep|ᰣᰨᰵ ᰕᰍᰧ ᰎᰳᰕᰬ ᰝᰫᰵ}}
* [[Limbu language|Limbu]]: {{lang|lif|ᤀᤥᤱ ᤔᤏᤡ ᤐᤍ᤻ᤔᤣ ᤜ᤺ᤢᤱ}}
* [[Brahmi script|Brahmi]]: 𑀑𑀁 𑀫𑀡𑀺 𑀧𑀤𑁆𑀫𑁂 𑀳𑀽𑀁
* {{Langx|hi|ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ}} (om mani padme hum)
* {{Langx|te|ఓం మణి పద్మే హుం}}
* {{Langx|ne|ॐ मणि पद्मे हुँ}}
* [[Pracalit script|Pracalit (Newari)]]: 𑑉 𑐩𑐞𑐶 𑐥𑐡𑑂𑐩𑐾 𑐴𑐸𑑃
* [[Assamese language|Assamese]]: {{lang|as|ওঁ মণি পদ্মে হুঁ}} (Öm Moni Podme hum)
* [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: {{lang|bn|ওঁ মণি পদ্মে হুঁ}} (Om Moni Pôdde hum)
* [[Odia language|Odia]]: ଓ‍ଁ ମଣି ପଦ୍ମେ ହୁଁ (Oṃ Maṇi Padme Huṃ)
* {{langx|si|ඕං මණි පද්මේ හුං}}
* {{Langx|ta|ௐ மணி பத்மே ஹூம்}}
* {{Langx|ml|ഓം മണി പദ്മേ ഹും}}
* {{Langx|kn|ಓಂ ಮಣಿ ಪದ್ಮೇ ಹುಂ}}
* [[Grantha script|Grantha]]: 𑍐 𑌮𑌣𑌿 𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑍇 𑌹𑍂𑌁
* [[Chakma language|Chakma]]: {{lang|ccp|𑄃𑄮𑄀 𑄟𑄧𑄕𑄨 𑄛𑄧𑄘𑄳𑄟𑄬 𑄦𑄪𑄀}}
* [[Burmese language|Burmese]]: {{lang|my|ဥုံမဏိပဒ္မေဟုံ }} ({{IPA|my|òʊɰ̃ ma nḭ paʔ mè hòʊɰ̃}})
* [[Mon language|Mon]]: ဥုံမဏိ ပဒ္မေ ဟုံ (ʼūṃmaṇi padme huṃ{{audio|LL-Q36727 (pli)-咽頭べさ-ဥုံမဏိ ပဒ္မေ ဟုံ.wav|listen}})
* {{Langx|shn|ဢုုံမꧣိပၻ်မေႁုံ}}
* [[Northern Thai language|Lanna]]: {{lang|nod|ᩒᩴ ᨾᨱᩥ ᨸᨴ᩠ᨾᩮ ᩉᩪᩴ}}
* {{Langx|th|โอํ มณิ ปทฺเม หุํ}}
* {{Langx|km|ឱំ មណិ បទ្មេ ហុំ}}
* {{Langx|lo|ໂອໍ ມະນິ ປັທເມ ຫຸໍ}}
* [[Cham language|Cham]]: {{lang|cja|ꨀꨯꨱꩌ ꨠꨘꨪ ꨚꩅꨠꨯꨮ ꨨꨭꨩꩃ}}
* [[Balinese language|Balinese]]: {{lang|ban|ᬑᬁ ᬫᬡᬶ ᬧᬤ᭄ᬫᬾ ᬳᬸᬁ}}
* {{Langx|jv|ꦎꦀ ꦩꦟꦶ ꦥꦢ꧀ꦩꦺ ꦲꦸꦀ}}
* [[Tagalog language|Tagalog (Filipino)]]: {{lang|tg|ᜂᜋ᜔ ᜋᜈᜒ ᜉᜇ᜔ ᜋᜒ ᜑᜓᜋ᜔}} Um mani pad mi hum

=== Variations ===
[[File:OM MANI PADME HUM HRI.svg|thumb|The mantra: Om Mani Peme Hum Hri|333x333px]]

As Bucknell ''et al.'' (1986, p.&nbsp;15) say, the complete [[Avalokiteshvara Mantra]] includes a final ''[[hrīḥ]]'' ({{langx|sa|ह्रीः}}, {{IPA|sa|ɦɽiːh|IPA}}), which is iconographically depicted in the central space of the syllabic mandala as seen in the ceiling decoration of the [[Potala Palace]].<ref>Bucknell, Roderick & Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986). ''The Twilight Language: Explorations in Buddhist Meditation and Symbolism''. Curzon Press: London. {{ISBN|0-312-82540-4}}, p. 15.</ref> The full mantra in Tibetan is thus:  {{bo-textonly|lang=bo|ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ་ཧྲཱིཿ}} The ''hrīḥ'' is not always vocalized audibly and may be resonated "internally" or "secretly" through intentionality.

According to Sam Van Schaik, Tibetan works from [[Dunhuang]] which was a major cult center of Avalokitesvara, contain numerous mantras associated with this figure, the six syllable mantra only being one of many. Some of these are lesser known variations on the six syllable mantra such as: ''Om vajra yaksa mani padme hum.''<ref>Schaik (2003).</ref>

Another variation, noted by Peter Alan Roberts, is ''Om manipadme hum mitra svaha''.<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
* [[Ye Dharma Hetu]]
* [[Maṇi Kambum]]
* [[Ashtamangala]]
* [[Great Compassion Mantra]] – Expanded Compassion of ''Om Mani Padma Hum''
* [[Heart sutra]]
* [[Samsara]]
* [[Samsara (2011 film)|''Samsara'' (2011 film)]]
* [[Shurangama Mantra]] – Expanded Protective Power of Om Mani Padma Hum
* [[Desire realm]]
* [[Yujia Yankou]], an example of a [[Chinese Buddhism|Chinese Buddhist]] ritual where the mantra is employed

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* Teachings from the Mani retreat, Chenrezig Institute, December 2000 (2001) by [[Lama Zopa]] [[Rinpoche]], {{ISBN|978-1-891868-10-8}}, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive [http://www.lamayeshe.com/acatalog/tmr.html downloadable]
* Bucknell, Roderick & Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986). ''The Twilight Language: Explorations in Buddhist Meditation and Symbolism''. Curzon Press: London. {{ISBN|0-312-82540-4}}
* Lopez, Donald (1998).  ''Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West''.  University of Chicago Press: Chicago.  {{ISBN|0-226-49311-3}}.

==Further reading==
*Alexander Studholme: ''The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum''. Albany NY: State University of New York Press, 2002 {{ISBN|0-7914-5389-8}} ([http://www.sunypress.edu/details.asp?id=60576 incl. Table of Contents])
*Mark Unno: ''Shingon Refractions: Myōe and the Mantra of Light''. Somerville MA, USA: Wisdom Publications, 2004 {{ISBN|0-86171-390-7}}
*Bucknell, Roderick & Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986). ''The Twilight Language: Explorations in Buddhist Meditation and Symbolism''. Curzon Press: London. {{ISBN|0-312-82540-4}}
*Buswell, Robert E. Jr. & Lopez, Donald S. Jr.. ''The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism''. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ., 2014 (p.&nbsp;603).
*A.H. Francke: ''The Meaning of Om Mani Padme-Hum'', Journal of the [[Royal Asiatic Society]], 1915
*Orzech, Charles; Sørensen, Henrik; Payne, Richard; ''Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia,'' BRILL, 2011.
*Lama Anagarika Govinda: ''Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism'', 1969. Samuel Weiser, Inc: NYC, NY. {{ISBN|0-87728-064-9}}.
*Lopez, D. S. (jr.) ''Prisoners of Shangri-la: Tibetan Buddhism and the West.'' Chicago University Press, 1988. (p.&nbsp;114ff.)
*[[Rodger Kamenetz]]: ''[https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061367397 The Jew in the Lotus (PLUS)]'' with an afterword by the author. (HarperOne, 2007) non-fiction. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061367397#reader_0061367397 Table of Contents]
*Schaik, Sam Van. ''The Tibetan Avalokitesvara cult in the tenth century: Evidence from the Dunhuang manuscripts. '' in "Tibetan Buddhist Literature and Praxis: Studies in Its Formative Period, 900-1400 : PIATS 2003 : Tibetan Studies: Proceedings of the Tenth Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Oxford, 2003"
*[[Sogyal Rinpoche]]: ''[[The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying]]'', Appendix 4 pg. 396–398, Rider, 10th Anniversary Edition, 2002 {{ISBN|0-7126-1569-5}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Om mani padme hum}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{NIE Poster|year=1905|Om Mani Padme Hum}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19970418061949/http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/meaning-of-om-mani-padme-hung.htm Dharma Haven: Om Mani Padme Hum]
* [http://www.khandro.net/practice_mantra.htm Khandro.net: Mantra]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140803080218/http://www.techofheart.co/2008/11/om-mani-padme-hum-sufic-interpretation.html Om Mani Padme Hum: a Sufi interpretation]
* [[Andrew West (linguist)|Andrew West]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20110524000617/http://babelstone.blogspot.com/2006/11/mani-stones-in-many-scripts.html An article on Om Mani Padme Hum in different scripts]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150201050717/http://www.fodian.net/world/1050.html Buddha speaks Mahayana Sublime Treasure King Sutra] English translation of Karandavyuha Sutra
* sung tune of Mani mantra derived from Karma Pakshi tradition (13th century CE) [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9FgFxqyo4ho]
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Karmapas}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Om Mani Padme Hum}}
[[Category:Buddhist mantras]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
[[Category:Culture in Kyzyl]]
[[Category:Avalokiteśvara]]
[[Category:Om mantras]]