Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
kAzI vizvanAthASTakam
gaGgA taraGga ramaNIya jaTA kalApaM
gaurI nirantara vibhUSita vAma bhAgaM
nArAyaNa priyamanaGga madApahAraM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 1 ||
vAcAmagocaramaneka guNa svarUpaM
vAgIza viSNu sura sevita pAda padmaM
vAmeNa vigraha varena kalatravantaM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 2 ||
bhUtAdipaM bhujaga bhUSaNa bhUSitAGgaM
vyAghrAJjinAM baradharaM, jaTilaM, trinetraM
pAzAGkuzAbhaya varaprada zUlapANiM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 3 ||
sItAMzu zobhita kirITa virAjamAnaM
bAlekSaNAtala vizoSita paJcabANaM
nAgAdhipA racita bAsura karNa pUraM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 4 ||
paJcAnanaM durita matta mataGgajAnAM
nAgAntakaM dhanuja puGgava pannAgAnAM
dAvAnalaM maraNa zoka jarATavInAM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 5 ||
tejomayaM saguNa nirguNamadvitIyaM
Ananda kandamaparAjita maprameyaM
nAgAtmakaM sakala niSkalamAtma rUpaM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 6 ||
AzAM vihAya parihRtya parazya nindAM
pApe rathiM ca sunivArya manassamAdhau
AdhAya hRt-kamala madhya gataM parezaM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 7 ||
rAgAdhi doSa rahitaM svajanAnurAgaM
vairAgya zAnti nilayaM girijA sahAyaM
mAdhurya dhairya subhagaM garalAbhirAmaM
vArANazI purapatiM bhaja vizvanAtham || 8 ||
vArANazI pura pate sthavanaM zivasya
vyAkhyAtaM aSTakamidaM paThate manuSya
vidyAM zriyaM vipula saukhyamananta kIrtiM
samprApya deva nilaye labhate ca mokSam ||
vizvanAthASTakamidaM puNyaM yaH paTheH ziva sannidhau
zivalokamavApnoti zivenasaha modate ||
About This Stotram
Overview
The Kasi Vishwanathashtakam is an eight-verse Sanskrit ashtakam dedicated to Lord Vishwanatha (Shiva) as the presiding deity of Kashi (Varanasi). The verses praise Shiva's divine attributes, his association with the sacred Ganga, his consort Parvati, and the spiritual significance of the Kashi Kshetra. The text is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and belongs to the Shaiva devotional tradition.
What are the benefits of chanting Kasi Vishwanathashtakam?
- Attainment of liberation (moksha) through the grace of Kashi Vishwanatha
- Removal of sins and accumulated negative karma
- Fulfillment of devotional aspirations
- Protection and blessing from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
When is the best time to recite this?
Morning and evening are the standard recitation times. The Maha Shivaratri festival, the months of Shravana and Kartik, and any occasion of pilgrimage to or connection with Varanasi are particularly appropriate.
What is the historical and traditional background?
The ashtakam is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (c. 788–820 CE), who established one of his four mathas at Dwaraka and traveled extensively across India, composing devotional hymns at major pilgrimage sites. Kashi holds a unique place in Shaiva theology as the city where Shiva is believed to personally grant liberation (moksha) to those who die within its boundaries. The hymn is not drawn from a larger Vedic or Puranic scripture but is an independent composition in the classical Sanskrit devotional style. Its enduring popularity has been sustained through its inclusion in temple recitation and private devotional practice across North 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
- Kala Bhairava Ashtakam — an ashtakam to Bhairava, Kashi's guardian deity, attributed to the same author
- Shiva Tandava Stotram — a celebrated Sanskrit hymn in praise of Shiva's cosmic dance