Kama Gayatri: Meaning & Method

Mahanidhi Swami

Cupid, the material Kamadeva, is the god of love, desire and attraction who turns the minds and churns the hearts of all men and women with lust and attachment. Besides Cupid, there is the original God of pure unadulterated love, Sri Krishna, who seekers of love divine worship by chanting the ancient Vedic mantra called the Kama Gayatri.

The kama gayatri mantra is described in the Srsti-khanda of Padma Purna, the Gaudiya Vaisnava smrti, Hari-bhakti vilasa (3.321-2), citing Sanat kumāra Kalpa, and the Chaitanya-caritamrta by Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja.

Shastras state that within Vedic mantras one will discover the form, qualities and pastimes (rupa, guna, lila) of the devata described within the syllables and meter of the mantra. For example, within the kama gayatri one will first discover the form of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. After some time, the sadhaka will see the transcendental Kamadeva in his heart, and feel sweet sentiments for Kamadeva Sri Krishna in his mind while chanting the mantra.

And then if Krishna’s mercy manifests, the sadhaka will see Srimati Radharani along with Her eternal darling and beloved consort Shyamasundara. Eventually the mantra chanting will bring the qualities and pastimes of Radha Govinda Yugala into one’s heart too!

To properly chant the kama gayatri one should visualize the transcendental form of Sri Krishna, and contemplate the meaning of the kama gayatri as revealed by your diksha guru or adi guru Bhagavan Sri Krishna within the recesses of your purified heart.

In the following entry, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu defines the kama gayatri and gives a perfect Krishna meditation for sadhakas to use while chanting the mantra.

Once to Srila Sanatana Goswamipada, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Kama gayatri mantra is the personal divine form of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, kama gayatri mantra rupa, haya krishnera svarupa.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.21.125)

In other words, the mantra and rupa are one. There is no difference between the words of Kama gayatri and the form of Sri Krishna. When you chant Kama gayatri, you should see the form of Krishna while meditating on the meaning of the mantra.

Once while He was absorbed in Radharani’s mahabhava and tasting the joy of conjugal love (sukhe madhurya asvadana), Gauranga Mahaprabhu described how to meditate on Krishna’s form (rupa dhyana) while chanting the kama gayatri mantra.

Sri Chaitanyadeva continued saying, “O Sanatana! Kamadeva Sri Krishna’s lovely sweet face; His elongated reddish lotus eyes; His beautiful curly locks of hair; the candana bindu tilaka on His forehead; the makara kundala earrings on His shining cheeks, and His playful seductive smiles fragrant as honey all combine to create a constant festival for the eyes. The transcendental body of Krishna is sweeter than an ocean of sweetness, krishna anga madhurya sindhu su madhura. Krishna’s divine form is an ocean of the sweetest nectar, Krishna madhurya amitera sindhu.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.121-149)

My personal experience is that the sincere regular chanting of the kama gayatri mantra turns the mind toward Krishna. It fills the heart with sweet attraction to Krishna and desires to serve and love Krishna eternally in the land of blissful enchantment, Sridhama Vrindavana. The more one chants the kama gayatri mantra, the more he becomes attached to Sri Krishna. Many sadhakas daily chant several rounds (108 beads) of the mantra.

There is no limit. Since it is a very powerful, wish-fulfilling Vedic mantra, one should take advantage and daily chant many rounds to fulfill your cherished desires to find bliss, peace and love in Sri Krishna’s eternal service. The proof of the mantra’s power is your personal experience!

Kama Gayatri ki jai! Krishna Prema ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!