purificationpavitrikaranapundarikakshavishnu

Apavitrah Pavitro Va (Pavitrikarana Mantra)

अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the very beginning of any puja, homa, or sacred ritual; or whenever purification is needed·📜 Traditional Pavitrikarana mantra (Vaishnava / Puranic ritual tradition; widely cited from Garuda and Padma Purana usage)

Also known as: apavitrah pavitro va · apavitra pavitro va · pavitrikarana mantra · purification mantra · yah smaret pundarikaksham · sarvavastham gato pi va

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Apavitrah pavitro va is the universal purification verse (pavitrikarana mantra) recited at the very beginning of almost every Hindu puja and ritual. It declares that mere remembrance of the lotus-eyed Lord Vishnu purifies a person, inside and out, regardless of their condition. It is chanted while sprinkling water on oneself and the ritual articles to make them fit for worship.

Origin & Story

Traditional Pavitrikarana mantra (Vaishnava / Puranic ritual tradition; widely cited from Garuda and Padma Purana usage) · Traditional (ancient ritual verse) · Puranic / classical

This verse became the universal opening of Hindu ritual worship across nearly all traditions. Before performing puja a worshipper must first become pure, yet outer cleansing alone is incomplete. The verse resolves this by declaring that remembrance of the lotus-eyed Lord Vishnu accomplishes complete purification, inner and outer, irrespective of one's state. For this reason it is recited at the threshold of countless ceremonies, from simple home worship to elaborate fire sacrifices.

✦ As told in scripture

The verse itself is the testimony of its power: it promises that even one who is impure or in any troubled condition is instantly made wholly pure — outwardly and inwardly — by the single act of remembering Pundarikaksha, the lotus-eyed Lord.

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The Mantra

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अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा। यः स्मरेत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः॥

Apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṃ gato 'pi vā. yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ.

Meaning:Whether one is impure or pure, or has passed into any condition whatsoever, anyone who remembers the lotus-eyed Lord (Vishnu) becomes purified — pure both outwardly and inwardly.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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अपवित्रः🔊apavitraḥimpure, unclean

पवित्रः🔊pavitraḥpure, clean

वा🔊vāor

सर्व-अवस्थाम्🔊sarva-avasthāmany condition or state whatsoever

गतः🔊gataḥhaving reached / being in

अपि🔊apieven

वा🔊vāor

यः🔊yaḥwhoever

स्मरेत्🔊smaretremembers / meditates upon

पुण्डरीकाक्षम्🔊puṇḍarīkākṣamthe lotus-eyed Lord (Vishnu)

सः🔊saḥhe, that person

बाह्य-अभ्यन्तरः🔊bāhya-abhyantaraḥoutwardly and inwardly

शुचिः🔊śuciḥpure, purified

Benefits of Chanting Apavitrah Pavitro Va (Pavitrikarana Mantra)

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Purifies the worshipper and all ritual articles before any puja

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Affirms that remembrance of Vishnu cleanses inner and outer impurity

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Removes ritual and mental impurity (ashaucha) so worship can proceed

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Establishes the right devotional mood at the start of any ceremony

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Can be chanted whenever one feels impure or before sacred acts

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Invokes the grace of Pundarikaksha, the lotus-eyed Lord

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Brings a sense of inner cleanliness, peace and fitness for worship

How to Chant Apavitrah Pavitro Va (Pavitrikarana Mantra)

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the very beginning of any puja, homa, or sacred ritual; or whenever purification is needed

This is the standard pavitrikarana (self-purification) verse. Take a little water in the right hand or a darbha grass / flower, recite the verse, and sprinkle the water over your head and body and over the articles of worship. Reciting it thrice while remembering Pundarikaksha (lotus-eyed Vishnu) purifies the worshipper and the place, making them ready for the puja that follows.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the pavitrikarana mantra — a purification verse recited at the start of almost every Hindu puja or background ritual. It purifies the worshipper, the place and the materials before worship begins.

Pundarikaksha means 'the lotus-eyed one', a well-known name of Lord Vishnu. The verse teaches that simply remembering Him purifies a person completely, both externally and internally.

Traditionally one takes water (often with a blade of darbha grass or a flower) and sprinkles it on oneself and the puja items while reciting the verse, signifying that all are now made pure by the remembrance of Vishnu.

Yes. Anyone may recite it whenever they wish to feel purified — before prayer, study, or sacred activity — since its essence is that remembrance of the Lord makes one pure regardless of outer circumstances.