Om Saravanabhavaya Namah
I bow to Kartikeya, the divine warrior born in the reed forest.
Sanskrit Text (Devanagari)
Transliteration (Roman Script)
Om Sharavanabhavaya Namah
Meaning & Translation
Salutations to the one born in the forest of reeds (Sharavana). This mantra invokes Lord Kartikeya (Murugan/Subramanya), the divine commander of the celestial armies, who was born from the fire of Shiva's third eye.
Benefits of Chanting Om Saravanabhavaya Namah
- ✓Grants victory over enemies and obstacles
- ✓Develops martial courage and strategic intelligence
- ✓Removes the influence of negative planetary energies (especially Mars)
- ✓Heals diseases related to blood, fever, and inflammation
- ✓Bestows beauty, youth, and vitality
How to Chant Om Saravanabhavaya Namah
- 1Sit facing south (Kartikeya's direction) or east
- 2Light a lamp with sesame oil and offer red flowers
- 3Chant 108 times with a rudraksha mala
- 4Focus on the Manipura (solar plexus) chakra — Kartikeya's seat of power
Best Time to Chant
Tuesdays and Sashti (sixth day of lunar month). Also during Skanda Sashti and Thai Pusam.
Recommended Repetitions
108 times daily
times per session (one mala = 108)
Source & Origin
Skanda Purana and Tamil Shaiva tradition. Central mantra in South Indian Murugan worship.
About Om Saravanabhavaya Namah
Om Sharavanabhavaya Namah is the principal mantra of Lord Kartikeya — known as Murugan in Tamil Nadu, Subramanya in Karnataka, and Skanda in the Puranic tradition. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati, born from the fire of Shiva's third eye to defeat the demon Tarakasura. As the commander (Senapati) of the celestial armies, he represents the focused, disciplined power of divine consciousness directed against ignorance and evil.
The name 'Sharavanabhava' refers to the reed forest (Sharavana Poigai) where the six divine sparks from Shiva's third eye were received by the six Krittikas (Pleiades constellation) and nurtured until they merged into a single child with six faces — Shanmukha (the six-faced one). This origin story encodes the teaching that divine consciousness, when focused and nurtured, becomes the most powerful force in creation.
Kartikeya worship is particularly strong in South India, where massive temples at Palani, Tiruchendur, and Swamimalai attract millions of devotees. The mantra is especially recommended for young people, soldiers, athletes, and anyone whose dharmic path requires courage, discipline, and victory over external challenges.