Kara Charana Kritam Va करचरणकृतं वा

Word-by-word meaning

karacaraṇakṛtam

done by hands and feet

vākkāyajam

born of speech and body

karmajam

born of actions

śravaṇanayanajam

born of ears and eyes

mānasam

mental, of the mind

aparādham

fault, offence

vihitam avihitam

prescribed or unprescribed (done or wrongly done)

kṣamasva

please forgive

karuṇābdhe

O ocean of compassion

śambho

O Shambhu, giver of auspiciousness (Shiva)

When and how to recite

1. Before going to sleep, sit quietly on the bed or before the home shrine.
2. Briefly recall the day and any harsh words, careless acts or unkind thoughts.
3. Join your palms and recite the shloka slowly, sincerely asking forgiveness.
4. Resolve to do better tomorrow, then rest with a calm mind.

Significance

Kara Charana Kritam Va is the forgiveness prayer recited at night before sleep. It is the concluding verse of the Shiva Aparadha Kshamapana Stotra, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. The devotee asks Lord Shiva to forgive every fault of the day, whether committed by the hands, feet, speech, body, ears, eyes or mind, knowingly or unknowingly. Ending the day this way brings honesty, humility and a peaceful mind, which is why many families make it their last prayer.

The prayer recognises that we make mistakes through every faculty, hands, feet, speech, body, senses and mind, and often without noticing. Rather than carrying guilt to bed, the devotee hands it over to Shiva, the ocean of compassion, and asks pardon. This nightly self-examination encourages honesty, humility and a resolve to improve. 'Vihitam avihitam' is usually understood as what was done though forbidden and what was left undone though it ought to have been done, covering every kind of shortcoming.

Frequently asked questions