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Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

श्री राजराजेश्वर्यष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. amba shambhavi chandramaulir-abala aparna uma parvati
  2. Verse 2. amba mohini devata tribhuvani ananda-sandhayini
  3. Verse 3. amba nupura-ratna-kankana-dhari keyura-haravali
  4. Verse 4. amba raudrini bhadrakali bagala jvalamukhi vaishnavi
  5. Verse 5. amba shula-dhanuh-kushankusha-dhari ardhendu-bimbadhari
  6. Verse 6. amba srishti-vinasha-palana-kari arya visamshobhita
  7. Verse 7. amba shashvata agamadi-vinuta arya mahadevata
  8. Verse 8. amba palita-bhakta-rajir-anisham ambashtakam yah pathet
Verse 1#

amba shambhavi chandramaulir-abala aparna uma parvati

अम्बा शाम्भवि चन्द्रमौलिरबला अपर्णा उमा पार्वती काली हैमवती शिवा त्रिनयनी कात्यायनी भैरवी। सावित्री नवयौवना शुभकरी साम्राज्यलक्ष्मीप्रदा चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥१॥

amba shambhavi chandramaulir-abala aparna uma parvati kali haimavati shiva trinayani katyayani bhairavi | savitri navayauvana shubhakari samrajya-lakshmi-prada chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||1||

MeaningO Mother, you are Shambhavi who bears the crescent moon, the slender one, Aparna, Uma, Parvati; you are Kali, daughter of Himavan, the auspicious, three-eyed Katyayani and Bhairavi; you are Savitri, ever-youthful, the doer of good, the bestower of imperial fortune — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess Bhagavati, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 2#

amba mohini devata tribhuvani ananda-sandhayini

अम्बा मोहिनि देवता त्रिभुवनी आनन्दसन्धायिनी वाणी पल्लवपाणि वेणुमुरली गानप्रिया लोलिनी। कल्याणी उडुराजबिम्बवदना धूम्राक्षसंहारिणी चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥२॥

amba mohini devata tribhuvani ananda-sandhayini vani pallava-pani venu-murali gana-priya lolini | kalyani uduraja-bimba-vadana dhumraksha-samharini chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||2||

MeaningO Mother, you are the enchanting deity of the three worlds, the giver of bliss; you are Vani (Saraswati) with tender hands, delighting in the music of flute and pipe; you are Kalyani, moon-faced, the slayer of Dhumraksha — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 3#

amba nupura-ratna-kankana-dhari keyura-haravali

अम्बा नूपुररत्नकङ्कणधरी केयूरहारावली जातीचम्पकवैजयन्तिलहरी ग्रैवेयकैराजिता। वीणावेणुविनोदमण्डितकरा वीरासने संस्थिता चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥३॥

amba nupura-ratna-kankana-dhari keyura-haravali jati-champaka-vaijayanti-lahari graiveyakair-ajita | vina-venu-vinoda-mandita-kara virasane samsthita chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||3||

MeaningO Mother, adorned with jewelled anklets and bangles, with armlets and rows of necklaces, shining with garlands of jasmine and champaka and neck-ornaments, your hands graced with the play of vina and flute, seated in the heroic posture — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 4#

amba raudrini bhadrakali bagala jvalamukhi vaishnavi

अम्बा रौद्रिणि भद्रकाली बगला ज्वालामुखी वैष्णवी ब्रह्माणी त्रिपुरान्तकी सुरनुता देदीप्यमानोज्ज्वला। चामुण्डाश्रितरक्षपोषजननी दाक्षायणी पल्लवी चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥४॥

amba raudrini bhadrakali bagala jvalamukhi vaishnavi brahmani tripurantaki suranuta dedipyamanojjvala | chamundashrita-raksha-posha-janani dakshayani pallavi chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||4||

MeaningO Mother, you are the fierce Bhadrakali, Bagala, Jvalamukhi, Vaishnavi, Brahmani, destroyer of Tripura, praised by the gods, blazing with splendour; the nourishing mother who protects those who take refuge in Chamunda, Dakshayani, the tender one — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 5#

amba shula-dhanuh-kushankusha-dhari ardhendu-bimbadhari

अम्बा शूलधनुःकुशाङ्कुशधरी अर्धेन्दुबिम्बाधरी वाराही मधुकैटभप्रशमनी वाणी रमासेविता। मल्लाद्यासुरमूकदैत्यदमनी माहेश्वरी अम्बिका चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥५॥

amba shula-dhanuh-kushankusha-dhari ardhendu-bimbadhari varahi madhu-kaitabha-prashamani vani rama-sevita | malladyasura-muka-daitya-damani maheshwari ambika chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||5||

MeaningO Mother, bearer of trident, bow, noose and goad, with lips like the crescent moon, you are Varahi, queller of Madhu and Kaitabha, served by Vani and Rama (Saraswati and Lakshmi); subduer of the demons Malla and the rest and of the mute Daitya, the great Maheshwari, Ambika — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 6#

amba srishti-vinasha-palana-kari arya visamshobhita

अम्बा सृष्टिविनाशपालनकरी आर्या विसंशोभिता गायत्री प्रणवाक्षरामृतरसः पूर्णानुसन्धीकृता। ओङ्कारी विनुता सुरार्चितपदा उद्दण्डदैत्यापहा चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥६॥

amba srishti-vinasha-palana-kari arya visamshobhita gayatri pranavakshara-amrita-rasah purnanusandhi-krita | omkari vinuta surarchita-pada uddanda-daityapaha chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||6||

MeaningO Mother, you carry out creation, destruction and preservation, the noble one resplendent; you are Gayatri, the nectar-essence of the syllable Om, attained through complete contemplation; the embodiment of Om, praised and worshipped by the gods, destroyer of arrogant demons — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 7#

amba shashvata agamadi-vinuta arya mahadevata

अम्बा शाश्वत आगमादिविनुता आर्या महादेवता या ब्रह्मादिपिपीलिकान्तजननी या वै जगन्मोहिनी। या पञ्चप्रणवादिरेफजननी या चित्कला मालिनी चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥७॥

amba shashvata agamadi-vinuta arya mahadevata ya brahmadi-pipilikanta-janani ya vai jagan-mohini | ya pancha-pranavadi-repha-janani ya chit-kala malini chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||7||

MeaningO Mother, eternally praised by the Vedas and Agamas, the noble Supreme Deity, mother of all from Brahma to the ant, the very enchantress of the universe, source of the sacred syllables and the garland of conscious energies — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Verse 8#

amba palita-bhakta-rajir-anisham ambashtakam yah pathet

अम्बा पालितभक्तराजिरनिशं अम्बाष्टकं यः पठेत् अम्बालोककटाक्षवीक्षललिता ऐश्वर्यमव्याहतम्। अम्बा पावनमन्त्रराजपठनादन्ते मोक्षप्रदा चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी॥८॥

amba palita-bhakta-rajir-anisham ambashtakam yah pathet amba-loka-kataksha-viksha-lalita aishwaryam-avyahatam | amba pavana-mantra-raja-pathanad-ante cha moksha-prada chidrupi paradevata bhagavati shri-rajarajeshwari ||8||

MeaningO Mother, who ever protects the multitude of your devotees — whoever recites this Ambashtakam, beautified by your gracious sidelong glance, gains unbroken prosperity, and through the recitation of your purifying king-of-mantras attains liberation in the end — O Consciousness-formed Supreme Goddess, Sri Rajarajeshwari!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

अम्बा
amba
O Mother
शाम्भवि
shambhavi
Consort of Shambhu (Shiva)
चन्द्रमौलिः
chandramaulih
One who (with Shiva) bears the moon on her crest
अपर्णा उमा पार्वती
aparna uma parvati
Aparna, Uma, Parvati — names of the Daughter of the Mountain
त्रिनयनी
trinayani
The three-eyed Goddess
कात्यायनी भैरवी
katyayani bhairavi
Katyayani and Bhairavi — fierce forms of the Devi
साम्राज्यलक्ष्मीप्रदा
samrajya-lakshmi-prada
Bestower of imperial fortune and sovereign prosperity
चिद्रूपी
chidrupi
One whose nature is pure Consciousness
परदेवता
paradevata
The Supreme Deity, the highest divinity
भगवती
bhagavati
The Divine Goddess endowed with all majesty
श्रीराजराजेश्वरी
shri-rajarajeshwari
The Empress of emperors, sovereign Goddess (the refrain ending every verse)
मोहिनि
mohini
The enchantress who bewitches the three worlds
आनन्दसन्धायिनी
ananda-sandhayini
Bestower of bliss
वेणुमुरली गानप्रिया
venu-murali gana-priya
Fond of the music of flute and pipe
उडुराजबिम्बवदना
uduraja-bimba-vadana
Whose face is like the orb of the moon (king of stars)
वीरासने संस्थिता
virasane samsthita
Seated firmly in the heroic posture (virasana)
ज्वालामुखी वैष्णवी ब्रह्माणी
jvalamukhi vaishnavi brahmani
She is Jvalamukhi, Vaishnavi and Brahmani (the Matrika powers)
मधुकैटभप्रशमनी
madhu-kaitabha-prashamani
Slayer of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha
गायत्री प्रणवाक्षर
gayatri pranavakshara
She is the Gayatri and the syllable Om (pranava)
ब्रह्मादिपिपीलिकान्तजननी
brahmadi-pipilikanta-janani
Mother of all beings, from Brahma down to the tiniest ant
मोक्षप्रदा
moksha-prada
Granter of liberation to those who recite her hymn

Origin & History

Source: Stotra attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: c. 8th century CE (traditional attribution)

Adi Shankaracharya, the founder of Advaita Vedanta, was also a supreme devotee of the Divine Mother and composed numerous Shakta hymns. In the Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam he addresses the Goddess as the highest sovereignty (Rajarajeshwari) and as pure Consciousness (chidrupi), weaving together her countless names and forms — Saguna in description yet Nirguna in essence. The hymn reflects his vision that the Mother of the universe and the formless Brahman are one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Rajarajeshwari?
Rajarajeshwari means 'the Empress of even kings of kings'. She is the supreme form of the Divine Mother, identical with Lalita Tripurasundari, worshipped as the sovereign of the universe and the deity at the centre of the Sri Chakra.
Who composed the Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century teacher and devotee of the Divine Mother, who composed many Devi hymns including the Soundarya Lahari.
Why is it also called Ambashtakam?
Every verse begins with the word 'Amba' (O Mother), so the hymn is also known as the Ambashtakam — the 'eight verses to the Mother'. The final verse itself uses the word 'ambashtakam'.
What does the refrain mean?
'Chidrupi Paradevata Bhagavati Sri Rajarajeshwari' means 'the Consciousness-formed Supreme Deity, the Divine Goddess Sri Rajarajeshwari'. It affirms that the Mother of all forms is in essence pure Consciousness (chit).

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