Chanted at dawn and dusk.
Karcharana Krtam Va Mantra is known as the Shiva Forgiveness Mantra and Shiva Meditation Mantra. It is also a prayer.
Karacharana Kritam Vaa Kaya Jam Karmajam Vaa
Shravannayanjam Vaa Maansam Vaa Paradham
Vihitam Vihitam Vaa Sarv Metat Kshamasva
Jay Jay Karunaabdhe Shri Mahadev Shambho
Its translation
Hail to The O Shiv! Lord of the Lords, you being the ocean of compassion, please forgive all the errors committed by me (during the day), knowingly and unknowingly, (while performing actions) involving my feet, hands, speech, body, ears, eyes and mind. I surrender to you.
This prayer can be repeated in the morning and at night. It is also possible to replace Shiva with one’s Ishta Devata. It is a sincere prayer from the heart and it evokes the blessings of the deity. It enables and ensures that one has positive and healing thoughts, 24 hours. The morning is the start of a new day and night is the end of the day.
After saying the prayer one can close one’s eyes with the vision of the Deity. Forgiveness is asked for wrongs committed and all through the day one is involved in actions which use the senses. Often one mishears and misunderstands and this sows seeds of doubt and prejudice. It results in miscommunication, and it is shared with others. One hurts others without being aware. Sometimes one may upset near and dear ones or be in a silent rage. One’s deity resides in one’s heart and is a witness to this mental torture and agony. Therefore, one’s deity will forgive one and accepts one as one is.
Feel comforted and protected
It is a beautiful prayer and it can be used by all. Children love it as it describes the Deity as an ocean of love and how the senses respond to daily interactions. It is easy to say and since it is said morning and night, it helps one to feel comforted and protected.
I have taken the translation of the mantra from the Bal Vihar book of prayers and explanations by Swamini Aaradhanananda (Chinmaya Mission Trust). Bal Vihar means a gathering of children where they are taught how to pray and bloom as flowers.
Listen and repeat in preparation for Shivaratri on March 8th.
Aim Hrim Klim