Chandrasekhara Ashtakam
Chandrasekhara Ashtakam
Chandrasekhara Ashtakam
chandrashekharAShTakam
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara pAhimAm |
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara rakShamAm || (2)
ratnasAnu sharAsanaM rajatAdri shRRi~Nga niketanaM
shi~njinIkRRita pannageshvara machyutAnala sAyakam |
kShipradagda puratrayaM tridashAlayai-rabhivanditaM
chandrashekharamAshraye mama kiM kariShyati vai yamaH || 1 ||
pa~nchapAdapa puShpagandha padAmbuja dvayashobhitaM
phAlalochana jAtapAvaka dagdha manmadha vigraham |
bhasmadigdha kalebaraM bhavanAshanaM bhava mavyayaM
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara rakShamAm || 2 ||
mattavAraNa mukhyacharma kRRitottarIya manoharaM
paNkajAsana padmalochana pUjitANghri saroruham |
deva sindhu tara~Nga shrIkara sikta shubhra jaTAdharaM
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara pAhimAm || 3 ||
yakSha rAjasakhaM bhagAkSha haraM bhuja~Nga vibhUShaNam
shailarAja sutA pariShkRRita chAruvAma kalebaram |
kShela nIlagalaM parashvadha dhAriNaM mRRigadhAriNam
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara pAhimAm || 4 ||
kuNDalIkRRita kuNDalIshvara kuNDalaM vRRiShavAhanaM
nAradAdi munIshvara stutavaibhavaM bhuvaneshvaram |
andhakAntaka mAshritAmara pAdapaM shamanAntakaM
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara rakShamAm || 5 ||
bheShajaM bhavarogiNA makhilApadA mapahAriNaM
dakShayaj~na vinAshanaM triguNAtmakaM trivilochanam |
bhakti mukti phalapradaM sakalAgha sa~Ngha nibarhaNaM
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara rakShamAm || 6 ||
bhaktavatsala-marchitaM nidhimakShayaM haridambaraM
sarvabhUta patiM parAtpara-maprameya manuttamam |
somavArina bhUhutAshana soma pAdyakhilAkRRitiM
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara pAhimAm || 7 ||
vishvasRRiShTi vidhAyakaM punarevapAlana tatparaM
saMharaM tamapi prapa~ncha masheShaloka nivAsinam |
krIDayanta maharnishaM gaNanAtha yUtha samanvitaM
chandrashekhara chandrashekhara chandrashekhara rakShamAm || 8 ||
mRRityubhIta mRRikaNDusUnukRRitastavaM shivasannidhau
yatra kutra cha yaH paThenna hi tasya mRRityubhayaM bhavet |
pUrNamAyurarogatAmakhilArthasampadamAdaraM
chandrashekhara eva tasya dadAti muktimayatnataH || 9 ||
About This Stotram
Overview
The Chandrasekhara Ashtakam is a 9-verse Sanskrit ashtakam dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Chandrasekhara, meaning "the one who bears the moon on his head." The text invokes this specific iconographic form of Shiva, associating the moon on Shiva's matted locks with his mastery over time, cycles, and the mind, and belongs to the Shaivite devotional tradition.
What are the benefits of chanting Chandrasekhara Ashtakam?
- Protection from fear and negative forces
- Attainment of inner peace and tranquility
- Removal of obstacles through Shiva's grace
- Progress in spiritual practice within the Shaivite tradition
When is the best time to recite this?
Morning and evening are the standard recitation times. Mondays are particularly associated with Shiva worship, and Shivaratri and Maha Shivaratri are the most important annual occasions for reciting this ashtakam. Other days dedicated to Lord Shiva throughout the calendar year are also appropriate.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Ashtakams as a form of Sanskrit devotional composition flourished from the 8th century onward, with Adi Shankaracharya being the most prominent composer of the form. The Chandrasekhara Ashtakam follows this tradition but its specific author is not identified in available sources. The iconographic emphasis on the moon as Shiva's ornament has roots in Puranic descriptions of Shiva and reflects the Shaivite theological understanding of Shiva as the lord of time and cosmic cycles. The text has been preserved through continuous oral and devotional tradition in Shaivite communities across India.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Lingashtakam — another 8-verse Shaivite ashtakam dedicated to the Shiva Linga, widely recited in the same devotional context
- Shiva Panchakshara Stotram — a short stotram on the five-syllable Shiva mantra, foundational to Shaivite practice