Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram
सुब्रह्मण्य षोडशनाम स्तोत्रम्
Also known as: subrahmanya shodasa nama stotram · subramanya shodasanama · sixteen names of subrahmanya · jnanasaktidhara skanda · shodasa nama stotram murugan
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✦ Meaning
The Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram is a short, powerful hymn from the Skanda Purana enumerating the sixteen sacred names of Lord Murugan — from Jnana-shakti-dhara and Skanda to Krauncha-bhetta and Shikhi-vahana. Its phala-shruti promises that one who recites these sixteen names daily is freed from all sins, gains the wisdom of Brihaspati and the radiance of Brahman, and obtains every desire. It is a favourite daily prayer of Subrahmanya devotees.
Origin & Story
Skanda Purana · Traditional (from the Skanda Purana) · Puranic
The Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram is drawn from the Skanda Purana and belongs to the cherished class of 'shodasa-nama' (sixteen-name) hymns. In a few compact verses it gathers sixteen of Lord Murugan's most beloved names, each one a doorway into his story — Jnana-shakti-dhara who bears the spear of wisdom, Skanda the leaping spark of Shiva's power, Sharakanana-sambhava born among the reeds, Tarakantaka and Krauncha-bhetta who slew the demons, Brahma-shasta who taught Brahma the meaning of Om, and Shikhi-vahana who rides the peacock. The hymn closes with the promise that the daily reciter is freed from all sin and blessed with wisdom and grace.
✦ As told in scripture
It is told that one who keeps these sixteen names on his lips each day is shielded by Murugan's grace as surely as the gods were shielded by his Vel — his sins dissolving, his intellect brightening like that of Brihaspati, and his heart's wishes coming to pass.
Complete Text with Meaning
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ज्ञानशक्तिधरः स्कन्दो देवसेनापतिस्तथा । सुब्रह्मण्यो गजारूढः शरकाननसम्भवः ॥ १॥
jñānaśaktidharaḥ skando devasenāpatistathā | subrahmaṇyo gajārūḍhaḥ śarakānanasambhavaḥ || 1||
Meaning:Jnana-shakti-dhara (bearer of the spear of wisdom), Skanda, and likewise Deva-senapati (commander of the gods' army); Subrahmanya, Gajarudha (mounted on the elephant), Sharakanana-sambhava (born in the reed-forest);
कार्तिकेयः कुमारश्च षण्मुखस्तारकान्तकः । सेनानीर्ब्रह्मशास्ता च वल्लीकल्याणसुन्दरः ॥ २॥
kārtikeyaḥ kumāraśca ṣaṇmukhastārakāntakaḥ | senānīrbrahmaśāstā ca vallīkalyāṇasundaraḥ || 2||
Meaning:Kartikeya, Kumara, Shanmukha (the six-faced), Tarakantaka (slayer of Taraka); Senani (the general), Brahma-shasta (instructor of Brahma), and Valli-kalyana-sundara (the handsome groom of Valli);
बालश्च क्रौञ्चभेत्ता च शिखिवाहन एव च । एतानि स्वामिनामानि षोडश प्रत्यहं नरः ॥ ३॥
bālaśca krauñcabhettā ca śikhivāhana eva ca | etāni svāmināmāni ṣoḍaśa pratyahaṃ naraḥ || 3||
Meaning:Bala (the child), Krauncha-bhetta (splitter of Krauncha), and Shikhi-vahana (rider of the peacock) — these are the sixteen names of the Lord.
यः पठेत्सर्वपापेभ्यः स मुच्यते महामुने ।
yaḥ paṭhetsarvapāpebhyaḥ sa mucyate mahāmune |
Meaning:The man who recites these sixteen names every day is freed from all sins, O great sage.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram
A short Skanda Purana stotram naming the sixteen most sacred names (shodasa-nama) of Lord Murugan
Its phala-shruti declares that daily recitation frees the devotee from all sins
Tradition holds that the reciter gains the wisdom of Brihaspati (guru of the gods) and the radiance of Brahman
Each name is a meditation on one of Murugan's deeds and forms — a complete remembrance of the Lord
Easy to memorise and ideal for daily japa; especially recited on Skanda Shashti, Tuesdays and Krittika days
Invoked for wisdom, protection, removal of sins, and the fulfilment of cherished desires
How to Chant Subrahmanya Shodasanama Stotram
Bathe and sit before an image of Lord Murugan with his Vel. Recite the verses naming the sixteen names with attention to each name's meaning, then the concluding phala line. As the names are short, many recite them sixteen or more times as daily japa, dwelling on each form of the Lord as it is named. Conclude by offering the merit at his feet.