Pashupati Ashtakam
Pashupati Ashtakam
पशुपत्यष्टकम्
पशुपतीन्दुपतिं धरणीपतिं भुजगलोकपतिं च सतीपतिम् ।
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥1॥
न जनको जननी न च सोदरो न तनयो न च भूरिबलं कुलम् ।
अवति कोऽपि न कालवशं गतं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥2॥
मुरजडिण्डिमवाद्यविलक्षणं मधुरपञ्चमनादविशारदम् ।
प्रमथभूतगणैरपि सेवितं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥3॥
शरणदं सुखदं शरणान्वितं शिव शिवेति शिवेति नतं नृणाम् ।
अभयदं करुणावरुणालयं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥4॥
नरशिरोरचितं मणिकुण्डलं भुजगहारमुदं वृषभध्वजम् ।
चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥5॥
मखविनाशकरं शशिशेखरं सततमध्वरभाजिफलप्रदम् ।
प्रलयदग्धसुरासुरमानवं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥6॥
मदमपास्य चिरं हृदि संस्थितं मरणजन्मजरामयपीडितम् ।
जगदुदीक्ष्य समीपभयाकुलं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥7॥
हरिविरञ्चिसुराधिपपूजितं यमजनेशधनेशनमस्कॄतम् ।
त्रिनयनं भुवनत्रितयाधिपं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥8॥
पशुपतेरिदमष्टकमद्भुतं विरचितं पृथिवीपतिसूरिणा ।
पठति संशऋणुते मनुजः सदा शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम् ॥9॥
इति श्रीपशुपत्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
About This Stotram
Overview
Pashupati Ashtakam is a nine-verse Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva in his aspect as Pashupati, the lord and protector of all living beings. The verses address Shiva's supreme sovereignty over all creatures, his consort Parvati (Girija), and the futility of worldly existence without divine grace. The text belongs to the Shaiva devotional hymn tradition.
What are the benefits of chanting Pashupati Ashtakam?
- Invokes Shiva's protection from suffering and worldly obstacles
- Promotes spiritual progress and orientation toward liberation (moksha)
- Deepens the practitioner's sense of surrender to Shiva's sovereignty
- Brings peace of mind through focused meditation on Pashupati's qualities
When is the best time to recite this?
The ashtakam is recited in the morning or evening. Mondays, Pradosha days, and Maha Shivaratri are especially appropriate times, as these are associated with Shiva worship.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Pashupati is one of Shiva's oldest epithets, appearing in the Vedic Rigveda (2.33.14) and the Atharva Veda's Shri Rudram. The concept of Pashupati as the lord who liberates beings from bondage (pasha) is central to the Pashupata school of Shaiva philosophy, one of the earliest Shaiva sects. This particular ashtakam's author and composition date are not established; it belongs to the body of Sanskrit Shaiva devotional poetry that crystallized during the medieval period. The Pashupati form is also the primary deity of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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
- Parvati Vallabha Ashtakam — a parallel ashtakam to Shiva as Parvati's consort, sharing the same hymn structure and Shaiva orientation
- Lingashtakam — another widely recited Shaiva ashtakam, praising Shiva through the linga symbol