Jagannatha Ashtakam

Overview

The Jagannatha Ashtakam is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Jagannatha, the form of Vishnu worshipped at the famous temple in Puri, Odisha. The verses describe the Lord's divine form, his pastimes in Vrindavan, and the devotee's longing for his darshan. The text is widely attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and belongs to the Vaishnava devotional tradition.

What are the benefits of chanting Jagannatha Ashtakam?

• Cultivates devotion and deepens connection with Lord Jagannatha
• Purifies the mind and removes accumulated sins
• Grants the fruit of darshan of the Lord at Puri
• Leads toward liberation (moksha)

When is the best time to recite this?

The Jagannatha Ashtakam is recited during morning and evening prayers. It is especially associated with the Ratha Yatra festival at Puri and any occasion of Jagannatha worship.

What is the historical and traditional background?

The Jagannatha Ashtakam is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (c. 788–820 CE), who is credited with composing devotional hymns for major deities across India. Lord Jagannatha is a form of Vishnu worshipped in the Shaiva-Vaishnava tradition of Odisha, with the Puri temple being one of the four sacred dhamas. The hymn's verses draw connections between Jagannatha and Krishna's Vrindavan pastimes, reflecting the syncretic nature of Jagannatha theology.

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

• Purushottama Ashtakam — another eight-verse hymn honoring the Supreme Person, a name closely associated with Jagannatha
• Govinda Ashtakam — attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, it praises the same divine form under the name Govinda