ਚੌਰਾष੍ਟਕਮ੍ (ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਚੌਰਾਗ੍ਰਗਣ੍ਯ ਪੁਰੁषਾष੍ਟਕਮ੍)

Overview

The Chaurashtakam (Sri Chauragraganya Purushashtakam) is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn in the Vaishnava tradition that praises Lord Krishna under the epithet "foremost among thieves." The text portrays Krishna's acts of stealing — butter, the Gopis' garments, and the sins of devotees — as expressions of divine love and liberation rather than wrongdoing.

What are the benefits of chanting Chaurashtakam?

• Invokes Krishna's grace for the removal of accumulated sins.
• Cultivates a mood of surrender by focusing on Krishna's playful, accessible nature.
• Supports purification of the mind through repetition of the divine name.
• Encourages detachment from worldly possessions and ego.
• Fosters devotion within the Bhakti framework of Vaishnavism.

When is the best time to recite this?

There is no single prescribed time, but recitation is considered especially appropriate during Krishna Janmashtami, the month of Kartika, and during morning or evening devotional sessions. It may be recited at any time as a standalone act of devotion.

What is the historical and traditional background?

The Chaurashtakam belongs to the Vaishnava devotional tradition, with themes that align closely with the Krishna Bhakti movements of medieval India. The author is not known. The title "Chauragraganya Purushashtakam" identifies the hymn as an ashtakam (eight-verse composition) addressed to the supreme being celebrated as the greatest of thieves, a poetic conceit widely used in Vaishnava literature to describe Krishna's irresistible draw on devotees. It circulates as a standalone hymn in various devotional collections.

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

• Krishna Ashtakam — another eight-verse Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Krishna's attributes and deeds.
• Madhurashtakam — a Vaishnava ashtakam by Vallabhacharya celebrating the sweetness (madhurya) of Krishna.
• Gopala Sahasranama — a thousand-name enumeration of Krishna in his form as the cowherd, sharing the same devotional context.