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Kartikeya (Murugan) mantra
ॐ शरवणभवाय नमः
Oṁ Śaravaṇabhavāya Namaḥ
Simple reading: Om sha-ra-va-na-bha-vaa-ya na-mah
About this mantra
The mantra of Kartikeya — Murugan, Skanda, Subrahmanya — born in the sharavana reeds, commander of the devas, beloved across the Tamil lands and beyond.
Meaning
Om, salutations to Sharavanabhava — 'the one born in the sharavana', the lake of reeds where six sparks of Shiva's fire became one six-faced child. The name is itself a mantra of six syllables — sha-ra-va-na-bha-va — one, the tradition notes, for each face of Murugan. The reciter bows to the god of the impossible start: scattered beginnings, gathered by the Mother, fused into a commander.
When to recite it
Skanda Shashti and Thaipusam are its festivals; Tuesdays in the south belong to Murugan. Counted before campaigns of every kind — examinations, competitions, fresh starts after scattering.
Word by word
- ॐoṁ
- the primordial sound
- शरवणभवायśaravaṇabhavāya
- to the one born in the sharavana reeds
- नमःnamaḥ
- I bow, salutations
Source: Traditional ṣaḍakṣara (six-syllable) mantra of the Skanda tradition