kara-charana-kritamkshama-prarthanaforgiveness-prayerend-of-puja

Kara Charana Kritam — Kshama Prayer

करचरणकृतं — क्षमा प्रार्थना

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 At the conclusion of any puja, havan, aarti or daily worship·📜 Traditional kshama-prarthana (closing prayer of worship)

Also known as: karacharanakritam vakkayajam karmajam va · kshama prarthana mantra · forgiveness prayer hindu · kara charan kritam

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

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English

Origin & Story

Traditional kshama-prarthana (closing prayer of worship) · Traditional · Classical

This beloved verse is the traditional close of Hindu worship — a humble plea for forgiveness offered to the Lord at the end of every puja. Recognising that no human worship can be free of error, the devotee lays every fault of body, speech and mind at the feet of 'the ocean of compassion', trusting that sincere love makes the offering whole. Addressed most often to Mahadeva (Shiva), it is recited the world over to complete a ritual.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that the Lord, the ocean of compassion, overlooks every flaw in the worship of one who closes with this verse from the heart — for to Him the devotee's sincerity outweighs all error.

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The Mantra

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करचरणकृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् । विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥

Karacharanakritam vakkayajam karmajam va Shravananayanajam va manasam vaparadham Vihitamavihitam va sarvametatkshamasva Jaya jaya karunabdhe shrimahadeva shambho

Meaning:Whatever wrong I have done by hand, foot, speech, body or deed, by ear, eye or mind — whether enjoined or forbidden — forgive it all, O ocean of compassion; victory, victory to You, Sri Mahadeva Shambhu!

Word-by-Word Meaning

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करचरणकृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा🔊Karacharanakritam vakkayajam karmajam vaWhatever offence committed by hand, foot, speech, body or action

श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम्🔊Shravananayanajam va manasam vaparadhamor by the ears, the eyes, or the mind — any offence

विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व🔊Vihitamavihitam va sarvametat kshamasvawhether prescribed or forbidden — forgive all of this

जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो🔊Jaya jaya karunabdhe shrimahadeva shambhoVictory, victory to You, O ocean of compassion, Sri Mahadeva Shambhu!

Benefits of Chanting Kara Charana Kritam — Kshama Prayer

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The universal prayer for forgiveness (kshama-prarthana) recited at the close of any puja or worship, asking the Lord to pardon every error and shortcoming.

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Acknowledges faults of body, speech and mind — done knowingly or unknowingly — and surrenders them to the Lord's boundless compassion.

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Completes a ritual: by tradition any lapse in the procedure of worship is made whole by sincerely reciting this verse at the end.

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Cultivates humility, repentance and trust in divine mercy, lightening the heart of guilt.

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Though addressed here to Mahadeva (Shiva), the same verse is offered to one's chosen deity by changing the final name.

How to Chant Kara Charana Kritam — Kshama Prayer

Repetitions1times

Best TimeAt the conclusion of any puja, havan, aarti or daily worship

FaceTowards the deity / East

Recite once with folded hands at the very end of worship, sincerely seeking forgiveness for any error of hand, foot, speech, eye, ear or mind during the puja — and indeed for all faults. Devotees of other deities replace 'Sri Mahadeva Shambho' with their Ishta Devata's name (e.g. 'Sri Madhava' for Vishnu).

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the kshama-prarthana — the prayer of forgiveness recited at the end of worship. It asks the Lord to pardon every fault committed by hand, foot, speech, body, ear, eye or mind, whether prescribed or forbidden, knowingly or unknowingly, and to make the worship complete despite any error.

Always at the conclusion of a puja, havan, aarti or daily prayer, as the final offering — surrendering all shortcomings of the worship to the Lord's compassion.

Yes. The verse is universal; only the final invocation changes. To Shiva it ends 'Sri Mahadeva Shambho'; for Vishnu/Krishna devotees it ends with names like 'Sri Madhava' or 'Karunabdhe Sri Krishna'.