Shanmukha Stotram
श्री षण्मुख स्तोत्रम्
What is the Shanmukha Stotram?
Shanmukha Stotram The Shanmukha Stotram is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, praising Murugan (Skanda / Kartikeya) as Shanmukha, the six-faced form worshipped at the Tiruchendur seashore temple in Tamil Nadu. Every verse closes with the same refrain, 'I meditate on the six-faced one who dwells on the ocean shore,' and asks him in turn to dissolve disease, sorrow and sin, to recall his victory over the demon Surapadma, and to grant the fruit of good deeds.
The Shanmukha Stotram is one of the shorter, more compact hymns to Murugan, built entirely around a single refrain that keeps returning the listener’s attention to his six faces and his shrine by the southern sea. Where the well-known Subrahmanya Ashtakam pleads with him verse after verse in the voice of a struggling devotee, this stotram works differently – each of its eight verses adds one more layer of description, moving from his gentle presence in the hearts of sages to his fierce role as the destroyer of the demon Taraka and Surapadma, then to his ornaments, his protection of the virtuous, his war record, his teaching of Agastya, his radiant face, and finally a plea to burn away the sins carried over from past births. Chanted as a set, the eight verses read almost like eight facets of one figure, which fits a deity best known for looking in six directions at once.
Shanmukha Stotram Lyrics
Each of the eight verses below ends with the same refrain naming the deity who dwells by the sea at Tiruchendur. The four lines of every verse are separated by ' / ' – pause briefly there when chanting, and let the refrain fall a little slower each time since it is the line you are meant to hold in the mind.
Naradadi-deva-yogi-brinda-hrin-niketanam
barhi-varya-vaham indu-shekhareshta-nandanam
bhakta-loka-roga-duhkha-papa-sangha-bhanjanam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
नारदादिदेवयोगिबृन्दहृन्निकेतनं
बर्हिवर्यवाहमिन्दुशेखरेष्टनन्दनम्
भक्तलोकरोगदुःखपापसङ्घभञ्जनं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
The opening verse places Shanmukha inside the hearts of Narada and the great sage-yogis, riding his peacock, the cherished son of Shiva who wears the crescent moon. The refrain names him as the six-faced one dwelling on the ocean shore and asks him, in this first appearance, to break the disease, sorrow and sin of ordinary devotees – a practical request that sets the tone for a hymn less about philosophy and more about protection.
Tarakarim indra-mukhya-deva-brinda-vanditam
chandra-chandanadi shitalanka-matma-bhavitam
yaksha-siddha-kinnaradi mukhya-divya-pujitam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
तारकारिमिन्द्रमुख्यदेवबृन्दवन्दितं
चन्द्रचन्दनादि शीतलाङ्कमात्मभावितम्
यक्षसिद्धकिन्नरादिमुख्यदिव्यपूजितं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
Here he is Tarakari, slayer of the demon Taraka, honored by Indra and the assembled gods, yet described as cool as sandal paste and moonlight rather than as a figure still charged with battle-fury. Yakshas, siddhas and kinnaras all pay him homage, so the verse holds together two things at once – the six faces as the source of a decisive, demon-ending strength, and the same six faces at rest, unshaken once the fight is over.
Champakabja-malati-sumadi-malya-bhushitam
divya-shat-kirita-hara-kundaladyalankritam
kunkumadi-yukta-divya-gandha-panka-lepitam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
चम्पकाब्जमालतीसुमादिमाल्यभूषितं
दिव्यषट्किरीटहारकुण्डलाद्यलङ्कृतम्
कुङ्कुमादियुक्तदिव्यगन्धपङ्कलेपितं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
This verse turns to ornament rather than power – champaka, lotus and jasmine garlands, necklaces and earrings, kumkum and fragrant sandal paste smeared over his form. The one striking, literal detail is the mention of six crowns, one for each head, which keeps the six-faced image grounded even in a verse that is otherwise a simple, affectionate description of how the deity is dressed for worship.
Ashritakhileshta-loka-rakshanamaranghripam
shakti-panim achyutendra-padma-sambhavadhipam
shishta-loka-chintitartha-siddhi-dana-lolupam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
आश्रिताखिलेष्टलोकरक्षणामराङ्घ्रिपं
शक्तिपाणिमच्युतेन्द्रपद्मसम्भवाधिपम्
शिष्टलोकचिन्तितार्थसिद्धिदानलोलुपं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
Shanmukha is now the protector at whose feet even the immortals take refuge, holding the Shakti spear, ranked above Vishnu, Indra and Brahma in this devotee's telling. He is described as eager, almost impatient, to grant what disciplined and righteous people are quietly hoping for – a reminder that the six faces are conventionally read as looking outward in every direction, so that no sincere request goes unseen.
Virabahu purva-koti-vira-sangha-saukhyadam
shurapadma-mukhya-laksha-koti-shura-muktidam
indra-purva-deva-sangha-siddha-nitya-saukhyadam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
वीरबाहु पूर्वकोटिवीरसङ्घसौख्यदं
शूरपद्ममुख्यलक्षकोटिशूरमुक्तिदं
इन्द्रपूर्वदेवसङ्घसिद्धनित्यसौख्यदं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
This is the war-memory verse – Viravahu and the crores of warriors under him are given comfort, and Surapadma and his own vast army are freed even in their defeat, a detail South Indian tellings often keep because Surapadma is finally granted a place near Murugan rather than simply destroyed. Indra and the gods, once under siege, receive lasting peace, so each of the six faces here recalls a different front the deity once had to hold.
Jambavairi-kamini-manoratha-bhipurakam
kumbha-sambhavaya sarva-dharma-saradayakam
tam bhavabdhi-potam ambikeyam ashu siddhidam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
जम्बवैरिकामिनीमनोरथाभिपूरकं
कुम्भसम्भवाय सर्वधर्मसारदायकं
तं भवाब्धिपोतमम्बिकेयमाशु सिद्धिदं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
The scene shifts to the sage Agastya, said to be born from a pot, to whom Shanmukha teaches the essence of dharma, and to Indrani, wife of Jambha's slayer Indra, whose heartfelt wish he fulfills. He is called the boat that carries devotees across the ocean of worldly existence and Ambika's own son who grants requests quickly – a verse that positions him as teacher and guide as much as warrior.
Purna-chandra-bimba-koti-tulya-vaktra-pankajam
varnaniya-sach-charitram ishta-siddhi-dayakam
svarna-varna-gatram ugra-siddha-loka-shikshakam
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
पूर्णचन्द्रबिम्बकोटितुल्यवक्त्रपङ्कजं
वर्णनीयसच्चरित्रमिष्टसिद्धिदायकं
स्वर्णवर्णगात्रमुग्रसिद्धलोकशिक्षकं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
The poet compares the lotus faces to crores of full moons shining together, praises his exemplary conduct, and notes his golden complexion. He is also named a teacher to accomplished yogis and siddhas here, which matters for the six-faces theme – the same faces already shown as fierce in battle and gentle in ornament are now shown as a source of instruction to those already advanced on a spiritual path.
Purva-janma-sanchitagha-sangha-bhanga-tatparam
sarva-dharma-dana-karma-purva-punya-siddhidam
sarva-shatru-sangha-bhanga-dakshamindra-japatim
bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam
पूर्वजन्मसञ्चिताघसङ्घभङ्गतत्परं
सर्वधर्मदानकर्मपूर्वपुण्यसिद्धिदं
सर्वशत्रुसङ्घभङ्गदक्षमिन्द्रजापतिं
भावयामि सिन्धुतीरवासिनं षडाननम्
Meaning
The closing verse asks for release from sins carried over from past births, grants the fruit of charitable and righteous action, and calls him skilled at breaking every hostile force ranged against a devotee. He is named here as the husband of Devasena, Indra's daughter, which ties the hymn back to his household life just before the final refrain closes the meditation on the ocean-shore deity.
What the Six Faces of Shanmukha Mean
The story behind Shanmukha’s six faces is told across the Skanda Purana and its regional retellings: six sparks from Shiva’s third eye fell into the Ganga and then into a reed grove by the lake Sharavana, where they were nursed by six star-mothers, the Krittikas. When Parvati gathered the six infants into her arms, they merged into a single child with six heads and twelve arms, strong enough to lead the gods against the demon Surapadma who had made even Indra powerless. That single act of merging is why Shanmukha is worshipped as one deity, not six, even though every image and every verse of this stotram keeps counting the faces separately.
Various South Indian traditions read the six faces as six functions rather than six separate persons – one face is said to grant knowledge, one grace, one valor against evil, one the fulfillment of righteous desires, one the practice of yoga and penance, and one control over the material world, so that between them nothing a devotee might need falls outside his sight. Other tellings connect the number to the five gross elements plus the subtler thread of consciousness that holds them together, which is why the six-crowned image in verse three of this hymn and the six-directional protection implied in verse four are read as more than decoration – they are the same idea in two different verses.
Practically, what the stotram is doing is walking a devotee through those functions one by one: verse one asks for relief from disease and sin, verse two recalls the destruction of evil, verse three dwells on grace and beauty, verse four on protection, verses five and six on courage and right teaching, verse seven on wisdom, and verse eight on the clearing of old karma. Read together, the eight verses cover most of what a person turning to Murugan is likely to be asking for.
When to Chant the Shanmukha Stotram
- – Sit facing east or north if possible, and light a lamp or incense before Murugan's image if you keep one at home.
- – Begin with the simple invocation 'Om Saravanabhavaya Namah' three times to settle the mind before the verses.
- – Chant the eight verses in order, keeping the pace even rather than rushing to the refrain each time.
- – Let the refrain 'bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam' land a touch slower – it is the line the whole verse is building toward.
- – If you are chanting for a specific worry named in one verse – illness in verse one, protection in verse four, old karma in verse eight – pause there and hold that intention briefly.
- – Close by repeating the final line once more and, if you can, follow it with a short personal prayer in your own words.
- – Ordinary daily chanting is fine at any pace, but during Skanda Shashti many devotees complete all eight verses once for each of the six days leading up to Shashti.
Benefits of Chanting the Shanmukha Stotram
Traditional benefits attributed to this stotram track its own eight verses fairly closely – each verse asks for something specific, so the promised benefits are just as specific rather than a single vague blessing.
- : Relief from prolonged illness and lingering worry, drawn directly from the first verse's request to dissolve disease, sorrow and sin.
- : Protection from hostile situations and ill-wishers, following the fourth and eighth verses' language of guarding devotees and breaking opposing forces.
- : Courage in the face of a genuine struggle, taken from the war verses recalling Viravahu's army and the defeat of Surapadma.
- : A steadier, calmer mind, since the second verse specifically praises Shanmukha's coolness and composure even after fierce battle.
- : Support in clearing long-standing obstacles or karmic patterns, referencing the eighth verse's plea to release sins from past births.
- : A sense of guidance for anyone starting formal study or a new discipline, connecting to the sixth and seventh verses where he teaches Agastya and instructs accomplished yogis.
Origin of the Shanmukha Stotram
This stotram carries the title ‘Tiruchendur Sri Shanmukha Stotram’ and closes with a colophon crediting it to ‘srimat shankara bhagavatah’ – the revered Shankara. As with many short Sanskrit stotras attributed to Adi Shankaracharya across South India, that attribution is traditional rather than backed by a surviving signed manuscript, and it should be read as an honorific claim of authorship that has been passed down with the text rather than a settled historical fact.
What is more solidly traceable is the geography: every one of the eight verses ends by naming the deity as one who dwells ‘sindhu-tira’ – on the shore of the ocean – which points to the Tiruchendur temple on the Tamil Nadu coast, one of the six sacred abodes of Murugan (Arupadai Veedu) and the only one of the six built directly on the seashore. The stotram is catalogued today alongside other Subrahmanya hymns such as the Subrahmanya Bhujangam, the Shanmukha Kavacham and the Shanmukha Pancharatna Stuti, but it is a separate composition from all of them, built around its own single refrain rather than shared verses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Murugan have six faces?
According to the Skanda Purana, six sparks from Shiva's third eye were nursed into six infants by the six Krittika star-mothers, and when Parvati embraced all six at once they fused into a single child with six heads. The six faces are traditionally read as six functions – knowledge, grace, valor, fulfillment of desires, discipline and worldly command – united in one deity rather than six separate gods.
Is the Shanmukha Stotram the same as the Subrahmanya Bhujangam?
No. The Subrahmanya Bhujangam is a longer hymn in the bhujanga-prayata meter beginning 'Sada Balam…', usually attributed to Adi Shankaracharya as well but structured very differently, with its own refrains. The Shanmukha Stotram is a separate, shorter eight-verse composition built around the refrain 'bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam.'
Who wrote the Shanmukha Stotram?
The closing colophon attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, and it is often published under the fuller title 'Tiruchendur Sri Shanmukha Stotram.' As with several short devotional stotras carrying his name, the attribution is traditional rather than documented by an original manuscript.
What does the refrain 'bhavayami sindhu-tira-vasinam shadananam' mean?
It translates to 'I meditate on the six-faced one who dwells on the shore of the ocean.' It appears at the end of all eight verses and points specifically to the Tiruchendur temple, built directly on the Tamil Nadu coastline.
When is the best time to recite this stotram?
Skanda Shashti, the six-day festival marking Murugan's victory over Surapadma, is the most common occasion, along with monthly Karthigai (Krittika) star days and Tuesdays, which many South Indian households set aside for Subrahmanya worship.
How many verses does the Shanmukha Stotram have?
Eight verses, each with four lines, followed by a closing colophon line naming the composition and its traditional author.
Can beginners chant this stotram without knowing Sanskrit?
Yes. The transliteration on this page uses plain Roman letters without diacritical marks, so it can be read phonetically. Reading it aloud slowly a few times, following the ' / ' pauses between lines, is enough to build familiarity before attempting it from memory.
Is the Shanmukha Stotram connected to Tiruchendur temple specifically?
Yes, directly – every verse's refrain names the deity as one who dwells on the ocean shore, which is understood as a reference to the Tiruchendur Murugan temple, one of the six Arupadai Veedu shrines and the only seaside one among them.
॥ ॐ शरवणभवाय नमः ॥