Shri Subrahmanya Karavalamba Ashtakam
Shri Subrahmanya Karavalamba Ashtakam composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Complete 8 verses praying for Lord Murugan's protecting hand against Kuja Dosha and enemies in IAST English transliteration, Phalashruti, and English meaning.
Dhyanam
Oṁ Śrī Subrahmaṇyāya Namaḥ ॥
Meditate upon Lord Subrahmanya with devotion and concentration before beginning the recitation of the Karavalamba Stotram.
Verses
hē svāminātha karuṇākara dīnabandhō,
śrīpārvatīśamukhapaṅkaja padmabandhō ।
śrīśādidēvagaṇapūjitapādapadma,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
dēvādidēvanuta dēvagaṇādhinātha,
dēvēndravandya mṛdupaṅkajamañjupāda ।
dēvarṣināradamunīndrasugītakīrtē,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
nityānnadāna niratākhila rōgahārin,
tasmātpradāna paripūritabhaktakāma ।
śṛtyāgamapraṇavavāchyanijasvarūpa,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
krauñchāsurēndra parikhaṇḍana śaktiśūla,
pāśādiśastraparimaṇḍitadivyapāṇē ।
śrīkuṇḍalīśa dhṛtatuṇḍa śikhīndravāha,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
dēvādidēva rathamaṇḍala madhya vēdya,
dēvēndra pīṭhanagaraṃ dṛḍhachāpahastam ।
śūraṃ nihatya surakōṭibhirīḍyamāna,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
hārādiratnamaṇiyuktakirīṭahāra,
kēyūrakuṇḍalalasatkavachābhirāma ।
hē vīra tāraka jayā'marabṛndavandya,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
pañchākṣarādimanumantrita gāṅgatōyaiḥ,
pañchāmṛtaiḥ pramuditēndramukhairmunīndraiḥ ।
paṭṭābhiṣikta hariyukta parāsanātha,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
śrīkārtikēya karuṇāmṛtapūrṇadṛṣṭyā,
kāmādirōgakaluṣīkṛtaduṣṭachittam ।
bhaktvā tu māmavakaḻādhara kāntikāntyā,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
Concluding Prayer
Oṁ Śrī Subrahmaṇyāya Namaḥ ।
Vallīsanātha Mama Dēhi Karāvalambam ॥
O Lord Subrahmanya, Lord of Valli, please bless me with Your divine support, protection, and compassionate grace.
Benefits
subrahmaṇya karāvalambaṃ puṇyaṃ yē paṭhanti dvijōttamāḥ ।
tē sarvē mukti māyānti subrahmaṇya prasādataḥ ।
subrahmaṇya karāvalambamidaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhēt ।
kōṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādēva naśyati ॥
Meaning:
Those who recite this sacred Subrahmanya Karavalamba Stotram receive the grace of Lord Subrahmanya and attain liberation.
The Phalasruti further states that one who recites this Karavalamba Stotram after rising in the morning is freed from the sins accumulated over countless births through the grace of Lord Subrahmanya.
Introduction
The Subrahmanya Ashtakam Karavalamba Stotram is a sacred hymn dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya, also known as Kartikeya, Swaminatha, and Murugan. The eight verses praise His divine qualities, heroic deeds, compassion, and spiritual greatness.
The recurring prayer "Vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam" means "O Lord of Valli, please extend Your helping hand to me." Through this prayer, the devotee seeks the Lord's divine support, protection, and grace.
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Dhyanam
Oṁ Śrī Subrahmaṇyāya Namaḥ ॥
Meditate upon Lord Subrahmanya with devotion and concentration before beginning the recitation of the Karavalamba Stotram.
Verses
hē svāminātha karuṇākara dīnabandhō,
śrīpārvatīśamukhapaṅkaja padmabandhō ।
śrīśādidēvagaṇapūjitapādapadma,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
dēvādidēvanuta dēvagaṇādhinātha,
dēvēndravandya mṛdupaṅkajamañjupāda ।
dēvarṣināradamunīndrasugītakīrtē,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
nityānnadāna niratākhila rōgahārin,
tasmātpradāna paripūritabhaktakāma ।
śṛtyāgamapraṇavavāchyanijasvarūpa,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
krauñchāsurēndra parikhaṇḍana śaktiśūla,
pāśādiśastraparimaṇḍitadivyapāṇē ।
śrīkuṇḍalīśa dhṛtatuṇḍa śikhīndravāha,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
dēvādidēva rathamaṇḍala madhya vēdya,
dēvēndra pīṭhanagaraṃ dṛḍhachāpahastam ।
śūraṃ nihatya surakōṭibhirīḍyamāna,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
hārādiratnamaṇiyuktakirīṭahāra,
kēyūrakuṇḍalalasatkavachābhirāma ।
hē vīra tāraka jayā'marabṛndavandya,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
pañchākṣarādimanumantrita gāṅgatōyaiḥ,
pañchāmṛtaiḥ pramuditēndramukhairmunīndraiḥ ।
paṭṭābhiṣikta hariyukta parāsanātha,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
śrīkārtikēya karuṇāmṛtapūrṇadṛṣṭyā,
kāmādirōgakaluṣīkṛtaduṣṭachittam ।
bhaktvā tu māmavakaḻādhara kāntikāntyā,
vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥
Concluding Prayer
Oṁ Śrī Subrahmaṇyāya Namaḥ ।
Vallīsanātha Mama Dēhi Karāvalambam ॥
O Lord Subrahmanya, Lord of Valli, please bless me with Your divine support, protection, and compassionate grace.
Meaning
The stotram praises Lord Subrahmanya through descriptions of His divine nature, compassion, ornaments, weapons, heroic deeds, and relationship with the gods and devotees.
The central prayer, "Vallīsanātha mama dēhi karāvalambam," is repeated throughout the hymn. It is a humble appeal to Lord Subrahmanya to extend His helping hand and provide divine support to the devotee.
The verses particularly praise Lord Subrahmanya as:
- Swaminatha — the compassionate Lord and friend of the distressed.
- Lord of the divine hosts — praised and worshipped by the gods and sages.
- Remover of afflictions — described as one who removes diseases and fulfills the desires of devotees.
- Destroyer of Krauncha — praised for His heroic destruction of the demon Krauncha.
- Victor over Shura and Taraka — celebrated for His divine victories over powerful demons.
- Peacock-riding Lord — described with His divine weapons and majestic form.
- Kartikeya — whose compassionate glance is filled with divine grace.
The final verse is a heartfelt prayer asking Lord Kartikeya to purify the mind from desires and other inner impurities through His compassionate and radiant presence.
Chanting Rules & Guidelines
- Take a bath and maintain personal cleanliness before the recitation.
- Choose a clean and peaceful place for chanting.
- Meditate upon Lord Subrahmanya before beginning the stotram.
- Recite the verses with devotion, concentration, and clear pronunciation.
- Morning is considered a suitable time for devotional recitation.
- Tuesday and Shashti are especially associated with Lord Subrahmanya worship.
- Maintain a calm and devotional state of mind during the recitation.
Benefits
subrahmaṇya karāvalambaṃ puṇyaṃ yē paṭhanti dvijōttamāḥ ।
tē sarvē mukti māyānti subrahmaṇya prasādataḥ ।
subrahmaṇya karāvalambamidaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhēt ।
kōṭijanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādēva naśyati ॥
Meaning:
Those who recite this sacred Subrahmanya Karavalamba Stotram receive the grace of Lord Subrahmanya and attain liberation.
The Phalasruti further states that one who recites this Karavalamba Stotram after rising in the morning is freed from the sins accumulated over countless births through the grace of Lord Subrahmanya.