vishnuvishnu-dhyanashantakaramnarayana

Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam (Vishnu Dhyana) in Tamil

தமிழ்

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Thursday morning; Ekadashi; before Vishnu worship or Sahasranama·🎵 Audio included·📜 Traditional Vishnu Dhyana Shloka

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देवनागरी / Hindi తెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

Origin & Story

Traditional Vishnu Dhyana Shloka · Traditional · Classical

This single luminous verse is the classical dhyana (meditation) shloka of Lord Vishnu, recited across India before his worship and before the Vishnu Sahasranama. In one sweep it beholds Narayana asleep on the serpent Shesha upon the milk-ocean — serene, lotus-naveled, cloud-blue and lotus-eyed — the support of all the worlds and the remover of every fear.

✦ As told in scripture

Sages hold that to picture the Lord as this verse describes — serene upon the serpent, lotus-eyed and cloud-hued — is itself to be freed of fear; it is chanted first so that the mind, steadied on that peaceful form, may enter worship without agitation.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

ஶாந்தாகாரம் புஜகஶயநம் பத்மநாபம் ஸுரேஶம் விஶ்வாதாரம் ககநஸத்ரு'ஶம் மேகவர்ணம் ஶுபாங்கம் ।

Shantakaram bhujagashayanam padmanabham suresham Vishvadharam gaganasadrisham meghavarnam shubhangam

Meaning:Of serene form, reclining upon the serpent (Shesha), with a lotus springing from his navel, the Lord of the gods; the support of the universe, boundless as the sky, cloud-hued, with all-auspicious limbs;

Verse 2

லக்ஷ்மீகாந்தம் கமலநயநம் யோகிபிர்த்யாநகம்யம் வந்தே விஷ்ணும் பவபயஹரம் ஸர்வலோகைகநாதம் ॥

Lakshmikantam kamalanayanam yogibhirdhyanagamyam Vande vishnum bhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanatham

Meaning:the beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed, attained by yogis in meditation — I bow to Vishnu, remover of the fear of worldly existence, the one Lord of all the worlds.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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ஶாந்தாகாரம்🔊ShantakaramOf a peaceful, serene form

புஜகஶயநம்🔊BhujagashayanamReclining on the serpent Shesha (Adishesha), upon the ocean of milk

பத்மநாபம்🔊PadmanabhamFrom whose navel (nabhi) springs the lotus (padma) on which Brahma is born

லக்ஷ்மீகாந்தம்🔊LakshmikantamThe beloved (consort) of Goddess Lakshmi

பவபயஹரம்🔊BhavabhayaharamRemover of the fear (bhaya) of worldly existence (bhava)

Benefits of Chanting Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam (Vishnu Dhyana)

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The supreme dhyana shloka (meditation verse) of Lord Vishnu, recited to bring his image to mind before worship, japa or the Vishnu Sahasranama.

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Describes Vishnu reclining on Shesha with the lotus-navel, cloud-hued and lotus-eyed, deepening peace and devotion as one visualises the Lord.

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Believed to remove the fear of worldly existence (bhava-bhaya) and bestow serenity, protection and the grace of Narayana.

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Recited daily, and especially on Thursdays (Vishnu's day), on Ekadashi, and before reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama or Bhagavad Gita.

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Chanted as the opening dhyana before Vishnu, Narayana, Krishna or Satyanarayan puja.

How to Chant Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam (Vishnu Dhyana)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeThursday morning; Ekadashi; before Vishnu worship or Sahasranama

FaceEast or facing the deity

Sit calmly before an image of Vishnu (or Narayana / Krishna), light a lamp, and recite the shloka slowly while visualising each detail of the Lord's form — the serpent couch, the lotus-navel, the cloud-blue body and lotus eyes. It is the traditional dhyana verse chanted before the Vishnu Sahasranama.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam (Vishnu Dhyana) written in the Tamil script (தமிழ்) — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character into Tamil so Tamil Nadu devotees can read and chant it comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud, and the Roman (IAST) transliteration is shown beneath each verse for pronunciation.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is the most famous dhyana shloka (meditation verse) of Lord Vishnu, describing him of serene form reclining on the serpent Shesha, with a lotus from his navel, cloud-hued and lotus-eyed. It is traditionally recited to visualise the Lord before worship and before the Vishnu Sahasranama.

It is recited daily and especially on Thursdays (Vishnu's day) and Ekadashi, and as the opening dhyana before chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama, the Bhagavad Gita, or performing Vishnu / Satyanarayan puja.

It means: 'I bow to Vishnu — of peaceful form, reclining on the serpent, lotus-naveled, Lord of the gods, support of the universe, sky-vast, cloud-hued and auspicious of limb, beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed, reached by yogis in meditation, the remover of worldly fear and the one Lord of all the worlds.'

Vishnu reclines on Adishesha, the thousand-hooded serpent floating on the ocean of milk (Kshira Sagara), symbolising the Lord resting in serene cosmic consciousness between the cycles of creation, with a lotus rising from his navel from which Brahma creates the worlds.