Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
kAshI vishvanAthAShTakam
gaNgA taraNga ramaNIya jaTA kalApaM
gaurI nirantara vibhUShita vAma bhAgaM
nArAyaNa priyamana~Nga madApahAraM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 1 ||
vAchAmagocharamaneka guNa svarUpaM
vAgIsha viShNu sura sevita pAda padmaM
vAmeNa vigraha varena kalatravantaM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 2 ||
bhUtAdipaM bhujaga bhUShaNa bhUShitA~NgaM
vyAghrA~njinAM baradharaM, jaTilaM, trinetraM
pAshA~NkushAbhaya varaprada shUlapANiM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 3 ||
sItAMshu shobhita kirITa virAjamAnaM
bAlekShaNAtala vishoShita pa~nchabANaM
nAgAdhipA rachita bAsura karNa pUraM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 4 ||
panchAnanaM durita matta mataNgajAnAM
nAgAntakaM dhanuja pu~Ngava pannAgAnAM
dAvAnalaM maraNa shoka jarATavInAM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 5 ||
tejomayaM saguNa nirguNamadvitIyaM
Ananda kandamaparAjita maprameyaM
nAgAtmakaM sakala niShkalamAtma rUpaM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 6 ||
AshAM vihAya parihRRitya parashya nindAM
pApe rathiM cha sunivArya manassamAdhau
AdhAya hRRit-kamala madhya gataM pareshaM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 7 ||
rAgAdhi doSha rahitaM svajanAnurAgaM
vairAgya shAnti nilayaM girijA sahAyaM
mAdhurya dhairya subhagaM garalAbhirAmaM
vArANashI purapatiM bhaja vishvanAtham || 8 ||
vArANashI pura pate sthavanaM shivasya
vyAkhyAtaM aShTakamidaM paThate manuShya
vidyAM shriyaM vipula saukhyamananta kIrtiM
samprApya deva nilaye labhate cha mokSham ||
vishvanAthAShTakamidaM puNyaM yaH paTheH shiva sannidhau
shivalokamavApnoti shivenasaha 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