Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam (Vishnu Dhyana Mantra)

A verse to see Vishnu before you pray

A dhyana shloka is a verse for visualising: before you chant a deity's names or mantra, you first hold their form in your mind. Shantakaram is the dhyana shloka of Vishnu that almost everyone knows. It is one of the meditation verses recited before the Vishnu Sahasranama, and on its own it is said at the start of Vishnu puja, Satyanarayan katha and Ekadashi worship.

The picture it draws is the reclining Vishnu, Anantashayana, lying on the coils of the serpent Shesha on the ocean of milk, with a lotus rising from his navel. The verse's metre, mandakranta, is slow and even, which is part of why it is so easy to sing.

Meaning, phrase by phrase

• Shantakaram: whose form is peace itself.
• Bhujagashayanam: who rests on the serpent (Shesha).
• Padmanabham: from whose navel rises the lotus, the lotus on which Brahma sits to create the world.
• Suresham: lord of the gods.
• Vishvadharam: the support of the universe.
• Gaganasadrisham: vast and all-pervading like the sky.
• Meghavarnam shubhangam: dark like a rain cloud, with an auspicious form.
• Lakshmikantam kamalanayanam: beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed.
• Yogibhirdhyanagamyam: reached by yogis through meditation.
• Vande vishnum bhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanatham: I bow to Vishnu, who removes the fear of worldly existence, the one lord of all the worlds.

Notice the movement in the verse: it begins with calm, widens to the whole universe and the sky, comes close again in his colour and eyes, and ends with what he does for the devotee, taking away bhava-bhaya, the fear that comes with being caught in birth and death.

How to use it

• Daily puja: sit before Vishnu's image, close your eyes and recite the verse once, slowly, picturing each part as you name it. Then begin your mantra, such as Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, or your path.
• Before Vishnu Sahasranama: it is said among the opening dhyana verses.
• Thursdays and Ekadashi: both are Vishnu's days. Many families recite it with the Om Jai Jagdish Hare aarti.
• Before sleep: since it is a verse of calm, some people recite it at night to settle the mind.

Variant spellings: you will see bhujangashayanam as well as bhujagashayanam. Both words mean serpent; bhujaga keeps the metre exact.

Frequently asked questions

Which god is described in Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam?

Vishnu, in his reclining form on the serpent Shesha, with Lakshmi as his consort. Padmanabha and Lakshmikanta in the verse are both his names.

When should the Shantakaram mantra be recited?

At the start of Vishnu puja, before the Vishnu Sahasranama, and on Thursdays and Ekadashi. It can be said any time; morning and evening worship are most common.

How many times should I chant it?

As a dhyana shloka it is usually said once, or three times, before the main worship. It is not normally counted on a mala.

What does "bhavabhayaharam" mean?

"Remover of the fear of bhava." Bhava here means worldly existence, the cycle of birth and death. The verse asks Vishnu to free the devotee from that fear.

Is it from the Vishnu Sahasranama?

It is recited among the dhyana verses before the thousand names, but it is not one of the names themselves. It is also used independently as Vishnu's standard meditation verse.

Can I recite it without Sanskrit knowledge?

Yes. Read the transliteration slowly a few times and keep the meaning in mind. The visual meaning matters more here than perfect accent.