Mantra.Tips

षण्मुख स्तोत्रम् (षडाननं कुङ्कुमरक्तवर्णम्) Meaning — Line by Line

षण्मुख स्तोत्रम् (षडाननं कुङ्कुमरक्तवर्णम्)

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of षण्मुख स्तोत्रम् (षडाननं कुङ्कुमरक्तवर्णम्) with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

ṣaḍānanaṃ kuṅkumaraktavarṇaṃ

षडाननं कुङ्कुमरक्तवर्णं महामतिं दिव्यमयूरवाहनम् रुद्रस्य सूनुं सुरसैन्यनाथं गुहं सदाहं शरणं प्रपद्ये

ṣaḍānanaṃ kuṅkumaraktavarṇaṃ mahāmatiṃ divyamayūravāhanam | rudrasya sūnuṃ surasainyanāthaṃ guhaṃ sadāhaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye ||

Meaningमैं सदा गुह की शरण लेता हूँ — षण्मुख (छह मुख वाले) भगवान, कुङ्कुम के समान गहरे लाल वर्ण वाले, महान बुद्धि वाले, दिव्य मयूर पर सवार, रुद्र (शिव) के पुत्र और देवसेना के अधिपति।

Verse 2#

jñānaśaktidhara skanda vallīkalyāṇasundara |

ज्ञानशक्तिधर स्कन्द वल्लीकल्याणसुन्दर देवसेनामनःकान्त कार्तिकेय नमोऽस्तु ते

jñānaśaktidhara skanda vallīkalyāṇasundara | devasenāmanaḥkānta kārtikeya namo'stu te ||

Meaningहे ज्ञानशक्ति (वेल) के धारक, हे स्कन्द, हे वल्ली के सुन्दर वर, हे देवसेना के मनप्रिय, हे कार्तिकेय — आपको नमस्कार हो।

Verse 3#

oṃ subrahmaṇyāya namaḥ |

सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः

oṃ subrahmaṇyāya namaḥ |

Meaningॐ सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः।

Word-by-Word Breakdown

षडाननं
ṣaḍānanaṃ
the six-faced one (Shanmukha) — Murugan with his six countenances
कुङ्कुमरक्तवर्णं
kuṅkuma-rakta-varṇaṃ
of a deep red hue like kumkuma (vermilion)
महामतिं
mahā-matiṃ
of vast wisdom, the supremely intelligent
दिव्यमयूरवाहनम्
divya-mayūra-vāhanam
who rides the divine peacock
रुद्रस्य सूनुं
rudrasya sūnuṃ
the son of Rudra (Shiva)
सुरसैन्यनाथं
sura-sainya-nāthaṃ
the lord and commander of the army of the gods
गुहं
guhaṃ
Guha, who dwells in the secret cave of the heart
सदाहं शरणं प्रपद्ये
sadā ahaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye
I forever take refuge (in him)
ज्ञानशक्तिधर
jñāna-śakti-dhara
O bearer of the Shakti-spear of wisdom (the Vel)
स्कन्द
skanda
O Skanda, the leaping spark of Shiva's energy
वल्लीकल्याणसुन्दर
vallī-kalyāṇa-sundara
O handsome bridegroom of Valli
देवसेनामनःकान्त
devasenā-manaḥ-kānta
O beloved of the heart of Devasena (Deivanai)
कार्तिकेय नमोऽस्तु ते
kārtikeya namo'stu te
O Kartikeya, salutations be to you
ॐ सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः
oṃ subrahmaṇyāya namaḥ
Om, salutations to Subrahmanya — the sealing mula-mantra

Origin & History

Source: Traditional dhyana sloka of Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan)

Author: Traditional

'Shadananam Kumkuma Raktavarnam' is the dhyana sloka most loved and most often recited before the worship of Lord Murugan. In a single verse it paints his whole form — the six radiant faces, the deep vermilion glow, the divine peacock mount, the son of Rudra who leads the armies of heaven — and surrenders the devotee into refuge with the words 'Guham sada aham sharanam prapadye'. It is commonly joined with the salutation 'Jnana-shakti-dhara Skanda, Valli-kalyana-sundara, Devasena-manah-kanta, Kartikeya namostute', which hails Murugan as the bearer of the spear of wisdom and the beloved of his consorts Valli and Devasena, and is sealed with his mula-mantra, 'Om Subrahmanyaya Namah'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Shanmukha Stotram 'Shadananam Kumkuma Raktavarnam'?
It is the most famous dhyana sloka (meditation verse) of Lord Murugan, picturing him as Shanmukha — the six-faced, vermilion-coloured, wise Lord who rides the divine peacock, son of Shiva and commander of the gods — and ending 'Guham sada aham sharanam prapadye', 'I forever take refuge in Guha'.
Why is Murugan called Guha and Shanmukha here?
'Shanmukha' (Shadanana) means 'the six-faced one', for Murugan was formed from six sparks of Shiva and nursed by the six Krittika mothers. 'Guha' means 'he who dwells in the cave' — both the cave of Saravana where he was born and the secret cave of the devotee's own heart.
How is this stotram used in worship?
It is most often the opening dhyana verse before a longer Murugan worship or archana, used to fix the mind on the Lord's form. Many also chant it on its own as a short daily prayer, followed by the salutation 'Jnana-shakti-dhara Skanda...' and the mula-mantra 'Om Subrahmanyaya Namah'.
What does 'Om Subrahmanyaya Namah' mean?
It means 'Om, salutations to Subrahmanya'. This is the mula-mantra (root mantra) of Lord Murugan, used to seal the meditation; repeating it invokes the Lord's grace, wisdom and protection.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →