Diya Prayer & mantra guide
Karpur Gauram Lyrics in English, With Meaning
Karpur Gauram lyrics in English with the meaning of each passage, the original script, and the recording Diya plays to listen along.
The short answer
Karpur Gauram is a Sanskrit prayer to Shiva, sung at the close of aarti.
This page has all 10 passages of Karpur Gauram as sung in the recording Diya plays: the words in English letters, the original script where Diya's record has it, and the meaning of each passage in English, with the recording to listen along.
Karpur Gauram lyrics and meaning
Below are the 10 passages of Karpur Gauram as sung in the recording Diya plays, in the order they are sung. Each row gives the words in English letters under the original script, and their meaning in English. The meaning of 1 passage is still being reviewed and is marked.
| Words (original script and transliteration) | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| ॐ नमः शिवाय Om Namah Shivaaya | Om. I bow to Shiva. |
| कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारम् सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि Karpoora-gauram Karunaavataaram Samsaara-saaram Bhujagendra-haaram Karpoora-gauram Karunaavataaram Sadaa-vasantam Hridayaaravinde Bhavam Bhavaanee-sahitam Namaami | I bow to Bhava, Shiva, white as camphor, compassion embodied, the very essence of worldly existence, wearing the king of serpents as a garland. With Bhavani, Parvati, he dwells forever in the lotus of the heart. |
| कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारम् संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं Karpoora-gauram Karunaavataaram Samsaara-saaram Bhujagendra-haaram Karpoora-gauram Karunaavataaram | White as camphor, compassion embodied, the very essence of worldly existence, wearing the king of serpents as a garland. |
| मन्दारमाला कलितालकायै कपालमालाङ्कितशेखराय दिव्याम्बराय च दिगम्बराय नमः शिवाय च नमः शिवाय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय Mandaara-maalaa Kalitaalakaayai Kapaala-maalaankita-shekharaaya Divyaambaraaya Cha Digambaraaya Namah Shivaaya Cha Namah Shivaaya Namah Shivaayai Cha Namah Shivaaya | To her whose hair is adorned with mandara garlands; to him whose crest bears a garland of skulls; to him in divine garments and to him clothed in the directions. I bow to Shiva, and I bow to Shiva. I bow to Shivā, Parvati, and I bow to Shiva. |
| श्रीअखण्डनन्दबोधाय Shree-akhandananda-bodhaaya | Meaning still under review. |
| शोक संताप हारिणे Shoka Santaapa Haarinay | To the remover of grief and anguish. |
| सच्चिदानन्द स्वरूपाय श्री शंकराय नमो नमः Sachchidaananda Swaroopaaya Shree Shankaraaya Namo Namah | Again and again, I bow to revered Shankara, whose nature is being, consciousness, and bliss. |
| श्री शंकराय नमो नमः Shree Shankaraaya Namo Namah | Again and again, I bow to revered Shankara. |
| संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् Samsaara-saaram Bhujagendra-haaram | The very essence of worldly existence, wearing the king of serpents as a garland. |
| करुणावतारं Karunaavataaram | Compassion embodied. |
Listen and chant along in Diya
Diya's English explains each passage in plain language; it is not a word-for-word translation.
About Karpur Gauram
Karpur Gauram is a Sanskrit prayer to Shiva, sung at the close of aarti.
In Diya you can listen to mantras, prayers, aartis, bhajans, and devotional recordings, including Karpur Gauram. Diya is available for iPhone. See the Diya app.
Download the Karpur Gauram PDF
Download the Karpur Gauram lyrics in English (PDF): the full text in the original script with transliteration, and the meaning of each passage, ready to print.
Related reading
Questions people ask
What is Karpur Gauram?
Karpur Gauram is a Sanskrit prayer to Shiva, sung at the close of aarti.
Can I listen to Karpur Gauram while reading the words?
Yes. The recording Diya plays is on this page, above the words. In Diya you can listen to mantras, prayers, aartis, bhajans, and devotional recordings.
Is the English a word-for-word translation?
No. Diya's English gives the meaning of each passage in plain language, not a word-for-word translation. The meaning of 1 passage is still being reviewed and is marked.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- Karpur Gauram: words and English meanings (Diya listening library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
- Karpur Gauram |Shiv Bhajan |Students of Ajivasan Music Academy | Bholenath Mantra| Sawan Bhajan 2026
Times Music SpiritualPublished by YouTube
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