Karthigai Deepam Mantras & Slokas
Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lit lamps, and the tradition has always paired the act of lighting with a spoken prayer. These are the mantras and slokas most commonly recited on the day, together with a straightforward English meaning. Recite them slowly - the point is not speed but presence.
Deepa Jyoti Parabrahma - the Lamp Mantra
The classic verse recited while lighting a lamp - simple, universal, sufficient for most home pujas.
“Deepa jyoti parabrahma
Deepa jyoti Janardhana
Deepo hara tu me paapam
Sandhya deepa namostute”
Devanagari:
दीप ज्योति परब्रह्म
दीप ज्योति जनार्दन:
दीपो हरतु मे पापम्
सन्ध्या दीप नमोऽस्तुते
Meaning: The light of the lamp is the Supreme Brahman. The light of the lamp is Janardana (Vishnu). May the lamp remove my sins. Salutations to the divine lamp of the evening.
Shubham Karothi Kalyanam - the Children's Lamp Prayer
Traditionally taught to children as the first verse they recite when lighting the evening lamp. A gentle daily prayer.
“Shubham karothi kalyanam
Aarogyam dhana sampadam
Shatru buddhi vinaashaaya
Deepa jyotir namostute”
Meaning: May the lamp bring auspiciousness and well-being; health and wealth; the removal of enmity and ill-will. Salutations to the light of the lamp.
Arunachala Shiva - the Girivalam Chant
The chant sung by pilgrims walking around the Arunachala hill on Karthigai Deepam night, beloved of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Simple, rhythmic, meant to be walked to.
“Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva,
Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala!”
Meaning: "Shiva who is Arunachala" - the hill itself is Shiva. The chant invokes the formless divine which took form as the mountain of red-dawn fire.
Arunachaleswarar Namaskaram
A traditional mantra recited while witnessing the Karthigai Deepam - the great flame on the Arunachala hill.
“Varunathi surarchyaaya karunaathithya varchase
Arunachalanathaya karunamurthaye namah”
Meaning: Salutations to the Lord of Arunachala, worshipped by Varuna and the other gods, whose splendour surpasses even the compassionate sun, who is the very form of compassion.
Om Saravanabhava - the Muruga Mantra
The six-syllable mantra of Lord Muruga, the second deity of Karthigai Deepam. Recited on the day and daily by Muruga devotees.
“Om Saravanabhava”
Devanagari: ॐ शरवणभव
Meaning: "Salutations to the one born of Saravana (the reed lake in which Muruga's six sparks became six infants)." Each of the six syllables - Sa-Ra-Va-Na-Bha-Va - is associated with one of Muruga's six faces.
Om Namah Shivaya
The five-syllable mantra of Lord Shiva, older than any single legend attached to it. Suited to Karthigai Deepam because Deepam is, above all, Shiva's day.
“Om Namah Shivaya”
Devanagari: ॐ नमः शिवाय
Meaning: "Salutations to Lord Shiva." Each of the five syllables - Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya - represents one of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether.
The Traditional Lamp Salutation
A brief verse chanted after lighting the lamp, before beginning the puja.
“Bhoh deepa devi roopastvam
Karma saakshi hyavighnakrit
Yaavat pooja samaptih syaat
Taavat tvam susthiro bhava”
Meaning: O lamp, you are of the form of the goddess. You are the witness of all action, the remover of obstacles. Until this puja is complete, please burn steadily.
Longer chants for those who wish to go deeper
For the more devotionally inclined, the following longer works are traditionally associated with Shiva or Muruga and are often chanted around Karthigai Deepam:
- Sri Rudram (Namakam & Chamakam) - the great Vedic chant to Shiva.
- Shiva Panchakshara Stotram - Adi Shankara's five-syllable hymn.
- Skanda Sashti Kavacham - a protective hymn to Lord Muruga in Tamil, composed by Devaraya Swamigal.
- Thiruppugazh - the songs of the fifteenth-century Tamil saint Arunagirinathar in praise of Muruga.
- Aksharamanamalai - Sri Ramana Maharshi's marriage garland of letters, sung by his devotees during Girivalam.
Full texts and audio recordings of these are freely available on devotional sites such as Shlokam.org and Sri Ramanasramam.