Mahakatha Radio

Learn · Updated 3 October 2026

Bija mantra: the seed syllables Om, Shreem, Hreem, Gam and more

A bija mantra is a one-syllable seed sound like Om, Shreem or Gam. What each main bija means, the chakra and planet bijas, and how to chant them.

A bija mantra is a single seed syllable, such as Om, Shreem or Gam, that is said to hold the essence of a deity or a quality, the way a seed holds a whole tree. Bijas can be chanted on their own, but most often they sit inside a longer mantra, as Gam does in Om Gam Ganapataye Namah. They have no dictionary meaning; their power, in the tradition, is in the sound itself.

What "bija" means

Bija (also written beej or beeja) is Sanskrit for seed. Most bija syllables end in a soft humming "m" sound, written with a dot above the letter in Devanagari. When you chant them slowly, that hum resonates in the head and chest, which is part of why they are used in meditation.

Bijas are found throughout Hindu practice, especially in the Tantric and Shakta traditions of the Goddess, and in Buddhist practice too. A mantra like the Navarna mantra of Durga is almost entirely made of bijas. Some bija mantras are traditionally received from a teacher. Simple ones like Om and Gam are chanted freely by everyone.

The main bija mantras

Om (the universal seed)

ॐ Om

The first and most sacred seed, the sound from which all others are said to come. It begins almost every mantra. Chanted for balance and a sense of connection. Listen on Mahakatha.

Shreem and Hreem (Lakshmi and the Goddess)

ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं लक्ष्मीभ्यो नमः Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah

"I seek the blessings of the divine giver of all wealth and prosperity." This is the Lakshmi Beeja Mantra. Shreem (श्रीं) is Lakshmi's seed, the seed of abundance, beauty and grace. Hreem (ह्रीं) is the seed of the Great Goddess as Bhuvaneshwari, often linked with the heart; it appears in mantras to Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga and Kali alike. Chanted for contentment and fresh ideas. Listen on Mahakatha.

Aim (Saraswati)

ॐ ह्रीं ऐं ह्रीं सरस्वत्यै नमः Om Hreeng Aing Hreeng Saraswatyai Namah

"Through these seed sounds, I tap into the blessings of Goddess Saraswati." Aim (ऐं) is Saraswati's seed, the seed of learning, speech and music, here held between two Hreems. Chanted for focus and calm confidence. Listen on Mahakatha.

Kleem (love and devotion)

ॐ क्लीं कृष्णाय नमः Om Kleem Krishnaaya Namah

"I bow to the divine Lord Krishna." Kleem (क्लीं) is the seed of love and attraction, used in mantras to Krishna and to the Goddess. Chanted for joy and devotion. Some websites sell Kleem as a way to make a particular person love you. Tradition does not support using any mantra to control another person's feelings; chant it for a loving heart. Listen on Mahakatha.

The three Goddess seeds often appear together, as in the mantra of Mahagauri, the eighth form of Durga: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं महागौर्यै नमः (Om Aim Hreem Kleem Mahagauryai Namah).

Gam (Ganesha)

गं Gam

Gam is the seed of Ganesha, remover of obstacles. It is the heart of Om Gam Ganapataye Namah, and is chanted for focus and for reaching your goals. Listen on Mahakatha.

Krim (Kali)

क्रीं Krim

Krim, also written Kreem, is the seed of Kali, the Goddess as fierce, protective time. Chanted for courage over fear and doubt. Listen on Mahakatha.

Dum (Durga)

धूम् - धूम् - धूम् Dhoom - Dhoom - Dhoom

Durga's seed is most often given as Dum (दुं), as in Om Dum Durgayai Namah. Our recording, the Durga Beeja Mantra, chants the related sound Dhoom. Both are chanted for courage, protection and determination. Listen on Mahakatha.

Other deities have seeds too: Hroum (ह्रौं) for Shiva, Dam (दं) for Vishnu, and Dham (धं) for Kubera.

The chakra bija mantras

In yoga, each of the seven chakras has its own seed sound. Chanting them in order, from the base of the spine to the crown, is a common meditation. See mantras for the 7 chakras for a full practice.

The Navagraha bija mantras

Each of the nine planets of Vedic astrology has a bija mantra, built from three seeds and "sah":

How to chant a bija mantra

  1. Sit upright and breathe slowly for a minute.
  2. Chant slowly. Let the vowel open, then let the "m" hum fade on its own before the next repetition.
  3. Choose one bija and stay with it, 11, 21 or 108 times. A japa mala helps you keep count.
  4. Listen afterwards. Sit in the silence for a few breaths. Many teachers say the silence after a bija is as important as the sound.

Common mistakes are mixing many bijas at once, rushing, and treating seed syllables as magic formulas. They are tools for attention and devotion. Each recording linked above lets you hear the bija sung before you chant it. For a steady background to your practice, Mahakatha Radio plays mantras day and night, free and without ads.

Questions people ask

Which is the most powerful bija mantra?

Om is considered the source of all bija mantras, so most traditions place it first. Among the deity seeds, Shreem, Hreem, Kleem, Aim, Gam and Krim are the most widely used.

What is a bija mantra?

A bija mantra is a one-syllable seed sound, such as Om, Shreem or Gam, believed to carry the essence of a deity or quality. It is chanted alone or placed inside a longer mantra.

What are the bija mantras of the nine planets?

Each planet has a three-seed mantra followed by its name, such as ॐ ह्राम् ह्रीम् ह्रौम् सः सूर्याय नमः for the Sun. All nine are listed above with recordings.

What are the 12 bija mantras?

This usually means the twelve rashi bija mantras, one for each zodiac sign in Vedic astrology. For Mesha (Aries), for example, it is ॐ ऐं क्लीं सौः.

Which mantra becomes siddha in one day?

None, honestly. In the tradition, siddhi, the ripening of a mantra, comes from long, steady practice with devotion, not from one day of chanting. Be wary of anyone who promises otherwise.

Mahakatha Radio plays sacred mantras all day and all night, free and without ads. Listen live, or offer a prayer for someone you love.

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