vishnudhyanashlokachaturbhuja

Sashankha Chakram Sakirita Kundalam (Vishnu Dhyana)

Sashankha Chakram Sakirita Kundalam (Vishnu Dhyana) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the beginning of Vishnu puja or meditation; early morning, and on Ekadashi and Thursdays·📜 Traditional Vishnu dhyana shloka recited before Vishnu worship and the Vishnu Sahasranama

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is a much-loved short dhyana (meditation) shloka of Lord Vishnu in His four-armed form. In a single verse it gathers His signature emblems and adornments — the conch and discus, crown and earrings, yellow silk robes, lotus eyes, and the Kaustubha gem gleaming upon His garlanded chest — and concludes with a reverent bow of the head. It is a favourite opening invocation for Vishnu worship and a simple daily salutation.

Origin & Story

Traditional Vishnu dhyana shloka recited before Vishnu worship and the Vishnu Sahasranama · Traditional · Classical

This verse belongs to the body of dhyana shlokas used to invoke Lord Vishnu before worship and the recitation of His hymns. By naming the Lord's emblems and adornments in a single, easily remembered verse, it allows the devotee to form a complete mental image of four-armed Vishnu and bow to Him before commencing japa or the chanting of His names.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees hold that simply bringing to mind the Lord's form as given in this verse — conch, discus, crown and Kaustubha — at the start of the day surrounds one with auspiciousness, for to remember Vishnu's armed and adorned form is to invite His protection.

0all time

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Sa-Shankha-Chakram Sa-Kirita-Kundalam Sa-Pita-Vastram Sarasiruhekṣhanam | Sa-Hara Vakṣhah-Sthala-Shobhi-Kaustubham Namami Vishnum Shirasa Chatur-Bhujam ||

Meaning:I bow my head to the four-armed Lord Vishnu — who bears the conch and the discus, who wears a crown and ear-ornaments, who is clad in yellow silk, whose eyes are like lotuses, and on whose chest shines a garland together with the radiant Kaustubha gem.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Sa-Shankha-Chakram🔊With the conch (shankha) and discus (chakra)

Sa-Kirita-Kundalam🔊With the crown (kirita) and ear-ornaments (kundalas)

Sa-Pita-Vastram🔊Clad in yellow garments (pitambara)

Sarasiruha🔊Lotus (that which grows in water)

Ikṣhanam🔊Eyes — hence having lotus-like eyes

Sa-Hara🔊With a garland / necklace (of pearls or flowers)

Vakṣhah-Sthala🔊The region of the chest / bosom

Shobhi🔊Shining, beautifying, lending splendour

Kaustubham🔊The Kaustubha gem (worn on Vishnu's chest)

Namami🔊I bow to, I salute

Vishnum🔊Lord Vishnu

Shirasa🔊With (my) head — i.e. bowing the head reverently

Chatur-Bhujam🔊The four-armed one

Benefits of Chanting Sashankha Chakram Sakirita Kundalam (Vishnu Dhyana)

✦

A concise, complete dhyana of four-armed Vishnu for the start of worship

✦

Easy to memorise, making daily Vishnu remembrance simple and steady

✦

Steadies and focuses the mind by gathering all the Lord's emblems in one image

✦

Invokes Vishnu's protection and grace through reverent salutation

✦

Suitable as an opening invocation before Vishnu hymns, japa, or the Vishnu Sahasranama

✦

Cultivates devotion by contemplating each of the Lord's auspicious adornments

How to Chant Sashankha Chakram Sakirita Kundalam (Vishnu Dhyana)

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the beginning of Vishnu puja or meditation; early morning, and on Ekadashi and Thursdays

Recite this dhyana verse with folded hands while visualising four-armed Vishnu exactly as described — bearing conch and discus, crowned, in yellow silk, lotus-eyed, the Kaustubha shining on His chest. Use it as the opening salutation before Vishnu japa, hymns, or the Vishnu Sahasranama. Chanting it three times, then bowing the head, settles the mind on the Lord's form before further worship.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Sashankha Chakram Sakirita Kundalam (Vishnu Dhyana) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It describes Lord Vishnu in His classic four-armed form, listing His emblems and adornments — conch, discus, crown, earrings, yellow silk, lotus eyes and the Kaustubha gem on His garlanded chest — and offers a reverent bow of the head to Him.

It is commonly recited as a brief opening invocation (dhyana) before Vishnu worship, japa, or the recitation of Vishnu hymns such as the Vishnu Sahasranama. It also serves well as a short daily salutation to the Lord.

The four arms signify the Lord's all-pervading power and His holding of the conch, discus, mace and lotus — emblems of sound, time/protection, strength and grace. The four-armed form is the traditional iconography of Vishnu.

The Kaustubha is the brilliant jewel that adorns Vishnu's chest, said to have emerged from the churning of the Milk Ocean. Together with the garland it lends splendour to the Lord's bosom and is described here to aid meditation.