Sankata Mochana Hanuman Ashtakam

Overview

The Sankata Mochana Hanuman Ashtakam is a Sanskrit ashtakam (eight-verse hymn) dedicated to Lord Hanuman in his role as "Sankata Mochana," the remover of distress and difficulties. It belongs to the Hanuman devotional tradition and draws on narrative episodes from Hanuman's life as recorded in the Ramayana to establish his capacity to protect and assist devotees.

What are the benefits of chanting Sankata Mochana Hanuman Ashtakam?

• Removal of obstacles and relief from distress (sankata)
• Development of courage and mental strength
• Protection from fear and harmful circumstances
• Peace of mind and steadiness in difficult situations

When is the best time to recite this?

Tuesday and Saturday are the days traditionally associated with Hanuman worship and are the primary days for recitation. It is also recited on Hanuman Jayanti and during times of personal difficulty. Both morning and evening recitation are practiced.

What is the historical and traditional background?

Hanuman devotional literature developed alongside the wider Ramayana tradition and expanded significantly during the Bhakti movement of the medieval period. The ashtakam genre, consisting of eight verses, is a common structural form in Sanskrit stotra literature. The author of this ashtakam is unknown, and it has been transmitted through oral and manuscript traditions associated with Hanuman temples and Ramayana-centered devotional communities across 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

• Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram — a parallel hymn addressing obstacle removal through Ganesha rather than Hanuman
• Sankshepa Ramayanam — a condensed Ramayana text that shares the Ramayana narrative tradition from which this ashtakam draws