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Chandrashekhara Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

चन्द्रशेखर अष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Chandrashekhara Ashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Pahi Mam
  2. Verse 2. Ratna-sanu-sharasanam Rajatadri-shringa-niketanam
  3. Verse 3. Pancha-padapa-pushpa-gandha-padambuja-dvaya-shobhitam
  4. Verse 4. Matta-varana-mukhya-charma-kritottariya-manoharam
  5. Verse 5. Yaksha-raja-sakham Bhagaksha-haram Bhujanga-vibhushanam
  6. Verse 6. Kundali-krita-kundalishvara-kundalam Vrisha-vahanam
  7. Verse 7. Bheshajam Bhava-roginam-akhilapadam-apaharinam
  8. Verse 8. Bhakta-vatsalam-architam Nidhim-akshayam Haridambaram
Verse 1#

Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Pahi Mam

चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर पाहि माम्। चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर रक्ष माम्॥

Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Pahi Mam Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Raksha Mam

MeaningO Chandrashekhara, Chandrashekhara, Chandrashekhara — protect me! O Chandrashekhara, Chandrashekhara, Chandrashekhara — save me!

Verse 2#

Ratna-sanu-sharasanam Rajatadri-shringa-niketanam

रत्नसानुशरासनं रजताद्रिशृङ्गनिकेतनं शिञ्जिनीकृतपन्नगेश्वरमच्युताननसायकम्। क्षिप्रदग्धपुरत्रयं त्रिदशालयैरभिवन्दितं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Ratna-sanu-sharasanam Rajatadri-shringa-niketanam Shinjini-krita-pannageshvaram Achyutanana-sayakam Kshipra-dagdha-pura-trayam Tridashalayair-abhivanditam Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe whose bow is the jewelled mountain, who dwells upon the peak of the silver mountain, who made the king of serpents his bowstring and Vishnu his arrow, who swiftly burned the three cities, who is worshipped by the dwellers of heaven — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Verse 3#

Pancha-padapa-pushpa-gandha-padambuja-dvaya-shobhitam

पञ्चपादपपुष्पगन्धपदाम्बुजद्वयशोभितं भाललोचनजातपावकदग्धमन्मथविग्रहम्। भस्मदिग्धकलेवरं भवनाशनं भवमव्ययं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Pancha-padapa-pushpa-gandha-padambuja-dvaya-shobhitam Bhala-lochana-jata-pavaka-dagdha-manmatha-vigraham Bhasma-digdha-kalevaram Bhava-nashanam Bhavam-avyayam Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe whose two lotus feet are fragrant and worshipped with flowers, who burned the body of Manmatha with the fire of his forehead eye, whose body is smeared with ash, who destroys worldly bondage and is himself imperishable — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Verse 4#

Matta-varana-mukhya-charma-kritottariya-manoharam

मत्तवारणमुख्यचर्मकृतोत्तरीयमनोहरं पङ्कजासनपद्मलोचनपूजिताङ्घ्रिसरोरुहम्। देवसिन्धुतरङ्गसीकरसिक्तशुभ्रजटाधरं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Matta-varana-mukhya-charma-kritottariya-manoharam Pankajasana-padma-lochana-pujitanghri-saroruham Deva-sindhu-taranga-sikara-sikta-shubhra-jatadharam Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe who is beautiful, wearing the hide of the mighty elephant as an upper garment, whose lotus feet are worshipped by the lotus-eyed lotus-seated Brahma, who bears bright matted locks moistened by the spray of the celestial Ganga's waves — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Verse 5#

Yaksha-raja-sakham Bhagaksha-haram Bhujanga-vibhushanam

यक्षराजसखं भगाक्षहरं भुजङ्गविभूषणं शैलराजसुतापरिष्कृतचारुवामकलेवरम्। क्ष्वेलनीलगलं परश्वधधारिणं मृगधारिणं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Yaksha-raja-sakham Bhagaksha-haram Bhujanga-vibhushanam Shaila-raja-sutaparishkrita-charu-vama-kalevaram Kshvela-neela-galam Parashvadha-dharinam Mriga-dharinam Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe who is the friend of Kubera, who destroyed Bhaga's eyes, who is adorned with serpents, whose lovely left half is shared by the daughter of the mountain king (Parvati), whose throat is blue from poison, who holds an axe and a deer — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Verse 6#

Kundali-krita-kundalishvara-kundalam Vrisha-vahanam

कुण्डलीकृतकुण्डलीश्वरकुण्डलं वृषवाहनं नारदादिमुनीश्वरस्तुतवैभवं भुवनेश्वरम्। अन्धकान्तकमाश्रितामरपादपं शमनान्तकं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Kundali-krita-kundalishvara-kundalam Vrisha-vahanam Naradadi-muneeshvara-stuta-vaibhavam Bhuvaneshvaram Andhakantakam-ashritamara-padapam Shamanantakam Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe who wears coiled serpent earrings, who rides the bull, whose glory is praised by Narada and the great sages, the lord of the worlds, the slayer of Andhaka, the wish-fulfilling tree for those who take refuge, the ender of Yama — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Verse 7#

Bheshajam Bhava-roginam-akhilapadam-apaharinam

भेषजं भवरोगिणामखिलापदामपहारिणं दक्षयज्ञविनाशनं त्रिगुणात्मकं त्रिविलोचनम्। भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदं सकलाघसङ्घनिबर्हणं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Bheshajam Bhava-roginam-akhilapadam-apaharinam Daksha-yajna-vinashanam Triguna-atmakam Tri-vilochanam Bhukti-mukti-phala-pradam Sakalagha-sangha-nibarhanam Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe who is the medicine for those sick with worldly existence, who removes all calamities, who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, who embodies the three gunas and has three eyes, who grants both enjoyment and liberation and annihilates all heaps of sin — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Verse 8#

Bhakta-vatsalam-architam Nidhim-akshayam Haridambaram

भक्तवत्सलमर्चितं निधिमक्षयं हरिदम्बरं सर्वभूतपतिं परात्परमप्रमेयमनुत्तमम्। सोमवारिनभोहुताशनसोमपामरमेश्वरं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः॥

Bhakta-vatsalam-architam Nidhim-akshayam Haridambaram Sarva-bhuta-patim Paratparam-aprameyam-anuttamam Soma-vari-nabho-hutashana-somapa-mareshvaram Chandrashekharam-ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah

MeaningHe who is affectionate to devotees, who is worshipped, an inexhaustible treasure, who wears the directions as his garment (sky-clad), the lord of all beings, supreme beyond the supreme, immeasurable, unsurpassed, who is the moon, water, sky, fire, and the great lord — I take refuge in that Chandrashekhara. What indeed can the lord of death do to me?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

चन्द्रशेखर
Chandrashekhara
One who wears the moon (chandra) upon his crest (shekhara) — Lord Shiva
पाहि माम्
Pahi Mam
Protect me
रक्ष माम्
Raksha Mam
Save me, guard me
रत्नसानुशरासनं
Ratna-sanu-sharasanam
One whose bow is the jewelled mountain Meru
रजताद्रिशृङ्गनिकेतनं
Rajatadri-shringa-niketanam
One whose abode is the peak of the silver mountain (Kailasa)
शिञ्जिनीकृतपन्नगेश्वरम्
Shinjini-krita-pannageshvaram
One who made Vasuki, the king of serpents, his bowstring
क्षिप्रदग्धपुरत्रयं
Kshipra-dagdha-pura-trayam
One who swiftly burned the three cities (Tripura)
त्रिदशालयैरभिवन्दितं
Tridashalayair-abhivanditam
One who is worshipped by the dwellers of heaven (the devas)
माश्रये
Ashraye
I take refuge in
मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः
Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
What indeed can Yama, the lord of death, do to me?
भाललोचनजातपावक
Bhala-lochana-jata-pavaka
The fire born from the eye on his forehead (third eye)
दग्धमन्मथविग्रहम्
Dagdha-manmatha-vigraham
One who burned the body of Manmatha (Kamadeva, god of desire)
भस्मदिग्धकलेवरं
Bhasma-digdha-kalevaram
One whose body is smeared with sacred ash (vibhuti)
देवसिन्धुतरङ्ग
Deva-sindhu-taranga
The waves of the celestial river (Ganga)
शुभ्रजटाधरं
Shubhra-jatadharam
One who bears bright, matted locks of hair
क्ष्वेलनीलगलं
Kshvela-neela-galam
One whose throat is blue from the (halahala) poison
वृषवाहनं
Vrisha-vahanam
One whose vehicle is the bull (Nandi)
अन्धकान्तकम्
Andhakantakam
The slayer of the demon Andhaka
भेषजं भवरोगिणाम्
Bheshajam Bhava-roginam
The medicine for those afflicted with the disease of worldly existence
भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदं
Bhukti-mukti-phala-pradam
The bestower of both worldly enjoyment and liberation
सर्वभूतपतिं
Sarva-bhuta-patim
The lord of all beings
परात्परम्
Paratparam
Higher than the highest, supreme

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Shaiva stotra literature, popularly attributed to the sage Markandeya

Author: Traditionally attributed to Markandeya Rishi

Period: Classical (ancient)

The Chandrashekhara Ashtakam is traditionally linked to Markandeya, the boy who was fated to die at the age of sixteen. As the appointed hour arrived and Yama's noose descended, Markandeya clung to the Shiva Lingam and poured out his devotion. Lord Shiva, the conqueror of death, emerged from the Lingam, struck down Yama, and blessed the boy with deathlessness. The hymn's defiant refrain — 'I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, what can Yama do to me?' — captures this victory of devotion over death, and it has been chanted ever since for fearlessness and protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chandrashekhara mean?
Chandrashekhara means 'one who wears the moon (chandra) as his crest-jewel (shekhara)'. It is one of Lord Shiva's most beloved names, depicting the crescent moon adorning his matted locks — a symbol of his serenity and his mastery over time.
Why does each verse mention Yama, the god of death?
The refrain 'I take refuge in Chandrashekhara — what indeed can Yama do to me?' expresses fearless surrender. Once one has taken complete refuge in Shiva, the conqueror of death (Mrityunjaya), even Yama holds no terror. This is why the hymn is chanted for protection and freedom from the fear of death.
Is the Chandrashekhara Ashtakam connected to Markandeya?
Yes. The boy-sage Markandeya, destined to die at sixteen, embraced the Shiva Lingam and was saved when Shiva burst forth and stopped Yama. The fearless spirit of this hymn — clinging to Shiva and defying death — reflects that timeless story, and it is often chanted for longevity and protection.
When is the best time to chant this Ashtakam?
It is ideally chanted on Mondays (Shiva's day), during Pradosh Kaal, and on Maha Shivaratri. It is also recited in times of illness, fear, or danger, and on behalf of those who are sick, to invoke Shiva's protective grace.

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