Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
kāśī viśvanāthāṣṭakam
gaṅgā taraṅga ramaṇīya jaṭā kalāpaṃ
gaurī nirantara vibhūṣita vāma bhāgaṃ
nārāyaṇa priyamanaṅga madāpahāraṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 1 ||
vācāmagocaramaneka guṇa svarūpaṃ
vāgīśa viṣṇu sura sevita pāda padmaṃ
vāmeṇa vigraha varena kalatravantaṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 2 ||
bhūtādipaṃ bhujaga bhūṣaṇa bhūṣitāṅgaṃ
vyāghrāñjināṃ baradharaṃ, jaṭilaṃ, trinetraṃ
pāśāṅkuśābhaya varaprada śūlapāṇiṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 3 ||
sītāṃśu śobhita kirīṭa virājamānaṃ
bālekṣaṇātala viśoṣita pañcabāṇaṃ
nāgādhipā racita bāsura karṇa pūraṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 4 ||
pañcānanaṃ durita matta mataṅgajānāṃ
nāgāntakaṃ dhanuja puṅgava pannāgānāṃ
dāvānalaṃ maraṇa śoka jarāṭavīnāṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 5 ||
tejomayaṃ saguṇa nirguṇamadvitīyaṃ
ānanda kandamaparājita maprameyaṃ
nāgātmakaṃ sakala niṣkalamātma rūpaṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 6 ||
āśāṃ vihāya parihṛtya paraśya nindāṃ
pāpe rathiṃ ca sunivārya manassamādhau
ādhāya hṛt-kamala madhya gataṃ pareśaṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 7 ||
rāgādhi doṣa rahitaṃ svajanānurāgaṃ
vairāgya śānti nilayaṃ girijā sahāyaṃ
mādhurya dhairya subhagaṃ garalābhirāmaṃ
vārāṇaśī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham || 8 ||
vārāṇaśī pura pate sthavanaṃ śivasya
vyākhyātaṃ aṣṭakamidaṃ paṭhate manuṣya
vidyāṃ śriyaṃ vipula saukhyamananta kīrtiṃ
samprāpya deva nilaye labhate ca mokṣam ||
viśvanāthāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭheḥ śiva sannidhau
śivalokamavāpnoti śivenasaha 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