purificationpavitrikaranapundarikakshavishnu

Apavitrah Pavitro Va (Pavitrikarana Mantra)

अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा in English · English

🕉️ 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)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 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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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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apavitraḥ🔊impure, unclean

pavitraḥ🔊pure, clean

vā🔊or

sarva-avasthām🔊any condition or state whatsoever

gataḥ🔊having reached / being in

api🔊even

vā🔊or

yaḥ🔊whoever

smaret🔊remembers / meditates upon

puṇḍarīkākṣam🔊the lotus-eyed Lord (Vishnu)

saḥ🔊he, that person

bāhya-abhyantaraḥ🔊outwardly and inwardly

śuciḥ🔊pure, purified

Benefits of Chanting अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा

✦

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 अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा

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

This page shows the complete अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा 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 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.