murugankartikeyaskandasubrahmanya

Om Saravanabhava Mantra (Subrahmanya Shadakshara)

ॐ शरवणभव मंत्र (सुब्रह्मण्य षडक्षर) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 108× repetitions·🕐 Dawn and dusk; especially Shashthi tithi, Tuesdays, Krittika Nakshatra days, and Skanda Shashthi·📜 Skanda upasana tradition (Puranic and Agamic Subrahmanya worship)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

'Om Saravanabhava' is the famed Shadakshara (six-syllable) mula-mantra of Lord Subrahmanya (Kartikeya, Murugan). The name recalls his birth in the Sharavana reed-forest, where the six sparks from Shiva's third eye became the six-faced child. Each of its six syllables is linked to one of his six faces, making it a complete invocation of Skanda in seed form.

Origin & Story

Skanda upasana tradition (Puranic and Agamic Subrahmanya worship) · Unknown (traditional) · Ancient

The mantra is rooted in the Skanda Purana account of Kartikeya's birth: Shiva's third-eye fire, too potent to be borne by anyone, was carried to the Sharavana reed-grove where it became the six-faced child. Hence the Lord's intimate name 'Saravanabhava'. The syllables became the celebrated Shadakshara mula-mantra, central to Subrahmanya worship in South India and the heart of texts like the Kanda Shasti Kavacham.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees recount that fervent repetition of 'Saravanabhava' during the six days of Skanda Shashthi, culminating in the Soora Samharam, has dispelled illness, fear and obstacles — mirroring the Lord's slaying of the demon Surapadma on the sixth day.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om Sharavanabhava (Om Saravanabhava)

Meaning:Om. Salutations to Saravanabhava — the Lord who was born amid the Sharavana, the celestial grove of reeds, where the six divine sparks from Shiva's eye were nurtured into the six-faced Skanda. (The mantra is chanted in three standard forms: the bare seed 'Om Saravanabhava'; the obeisance form 'Om Saum Saravanabhavaya Namah'; and the fuller bija form prefixed with Shreem, Hreem and Kleem.)

Verse 2

Om Saum Saravanabhavaya Namah

Verse 3

Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Saum Saravanabhavaya Namah

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Om🔊The primordial cosmic sound, the seed of all mantras

Sha🔊First of the six sacred syllables; corresponds to one of the six faces of Shanmukha

Ra🔊Second syllable of the Shadakshara; invokes the fiery, purifying energy of Skanda

Va🔊Third syllable; part of the six-lettered name of the Lord

Na🔊Fourth syllable of the mantra

Bha🔊Fifth syllable of the mantra

Va🔊Sixth syllable, completing 'Saravanabhava'

Saravanabhava🔊He who was born (bhava) in the Sharavana — the reed-grove (forest of arrow-reeds) where the six sparks of Shiva took form as the child Skanda

Saum🔊The Shakti/Shanmukha bija added in the fuller japa form, invoking the Lord's six-faced power

Namah🔊Salutations / I offer obeisance (closing the dative invocation 'Saravanabhavaya Namah')

Benefits of Chanting ॐ शरवणभव मंत्र (सुब्रह्मण्य षडक्षर)

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The principal seed (bija) mantra of Lord Murugan/Subrahmanya for direct connection

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Grants protection from fear, enemies and negative forces

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Bestows courage, will-power and victory in difficult situations

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Considered highly purifying, burning away obstacles like the Lord's fiery birth

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Easy to chant and ideal for continuous japa and meditation

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Foundation mantra recited within the Kanda Shasti Kavacham and Subrahmanya pujas

How to Chant ॐ शरवणभव मंत्र (सुब्रह्मण्य षडक्षर)

Repetitions108times

Best TimeDawn and dusk; especially Shashthi tithi, Tuesdays, Krittika Nakshatra days, and Skanda Shashthi

Chant 'Om Saravanabhava' 108 times with a clean mind, ideally facing east before an image of Murugan with the Vel. Each repetition can be meditated upon as invoking one of the six faces. The mantra is often repeated continuously (ajapa) and forms the core invocation of the Kanda Shasti Kavacham. Begin under guidance for formal upasana; for simple devotion, sincere repetition suffices.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete ॐ शरवणभव मंत्र (सुब्रह्मण्य षडक्षर) 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 means 'born in the Sharavana' — the grove of arrow-reeds (a marshy reed forest). According to the Skanda Purana, the six fiery sparks from Shiva's third eye were carried by Agni and Vayu to the Sharavana lake/grove, where they became six infants nursed by the six Krittika stars and then merged into the single six-faced Lord Skanda.

'Shadakshara' means 'six-syllabled'. The core 'Sa-Ra-Va-Na-Bha-Va' has six syllables, each traditionally associated with one of the six faces (Shanmukha) of Kartikeya. Together with the pranava 'Om' it forms the complete mula-mantra of Subrahmanya.

Yes. Saravanabhava is Kartikeya — son of Shiva and Parvati and brother of Ganesha. He is worshipped across India as Murugan, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Shanmukha, Guha and Mahasena, and is especially beloved in Tamil Nadu.