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Karva Chauth Chandra Arghya Mantra (Om Somaya Namah) — Word-by-Word Meaning

करवा चौथ चन्द्र अर्घ्य मंत्र (ॐ सोमाय नमः)

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

ॐ
Om
The primordial sound, the Pranava, invoked before sacred mantras
सोमाय
Somaya
To Soma — the Moon god, also the nectar/Soma deity
नमः
Namah
Salutations, I bow / offering of reverence
क्षीरपुत्राय
Kshira-Putraya
To the son of the milky ocean (the Moon arose from the churning of the ocean of milk)
विद्महे
Vidmahe
May we know / let us realize
अमृततत्त्वाय
Amrita-Tattvaya
To the essence of nectar / immortality (the Moon as the vessel of amrita)
धीमहि
Dhimahi
Let us meditate upon
तन्नः चन्द्रः
Tannah Chandrah
May that Chandra (Moon) — to us
प्रचोदयात्
Prachodayat
Inspire and illumine (our minds)
श्रां श्रीं श्रौं
Shraam Shreem Shraum
The seed (bija) syllables of the Moon's planetary mantra
सः
Sah
The bija completing the lunar mantra
चन्द्रमसे नमः
Chandramase Namah
Salutations to the Moon (Chandrama)

Complete Translation

Om, salutations to Soma, the Moon god. We contemplate the son of the ocean of milk; we meditate upon the essence of nectar and immortality — may that Moon inspire and illumine us. Om, with the seed-syllables Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah, salutations to the Moon.

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Chandra (Moon) worship mantras used in the Karva Chauth arghya ritual

Author: Unknown (traditional; Chandra Gayatri from the Gayatri tradition)

Period: Classical / traditional

Karva Chauth is observed on the fourth day of the waning moon in Kartik, when married women keep a strict fast from dawn until the moon rises, praying for the long life of their husbands. The fast is broken only after offering arghya to the Moon. Chandra (Soma), who emerged from the churning of the ocean of milk holding the nectar of immortality, is invoked with 'Om Somaya Namah', his Gayatri, and his seed mantra. The Moon represents the mind, coolness and amrita, making him the perfect deity for a vow seeking longevity and marital harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions

What mantra is chanted during Karva Chauth moon worship?▼
The simplest and most widely used is 'Om Somaya Namah' (salutations to the Moon god). Many also recite the Chandra Gayatri ('Om Kshira-Putraya Vidmahe...') and the Moon's bija mantra 'Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandramase Namah' while offering arghya.
Why is the Moon worshipped on Karva Chauth through a sieve?▼
On Karva Chauth, married women fast for their husband's long life and break the fast only after sighting the Moon. The Moon, born of the ocean of nectar, symbolizes longevity, love and coolness. Viewing it (and then the husband) through a sieve is a traditional ritual believed to filter away inauspiciousness before the darshan.
How is arghya offered to the Moon?▼
Hold water in a karva (spouted pot) or in your palms and pour it slowly toward the Moon while chanting 'Om Somaya Namah'. Offer it three times, along with a lamp, flowers and sweets, then complete the prayer for your husband's welfare.
Can unmarried girls or others chant these mantras?▼
Yes. While Karva Chauth is observed mainly by married women, anyone may chant 'Om Somaya Namah' and the Chandra mantras to honour the Moon, to calm the mind, or to strengthen a weak Moon in their birth chart.

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