shivaashtakamshankaracharyanamavali

Shiva Namavali Ashtakam

Shiva Namavali Ashtakam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Daily at dawn or dusk, on Mondays, during Pradosha Kaal, and on Maha Shivaratri·📜 Shaiva stotra corpus attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Shiva Namavali Ashtakam, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, is an eight-verse hymn that strings together a garland of Shiva's holy names — Chandrachuda, Nilakantha, Gangadhara, Vishvanatha, Mahesha and many more. In each of the first seven verses the devotee calls out these names and pleads 'Jagadisha Raksha!' — 'O Lord of the universe, protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow!'. The final verse offers salutations to Shiva as the burner-away of the misery of poverty.

Origin & Story

Shaiva stotra corpus attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya (traditionally) · c. 8th century CE

This namavali ashtakam belongs to the rich body of Shiva hymns ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya. Rather than narrating a story, it pours out a continuous garland of Shiva's epithets — from his cosmic attributes (Nilakantha who drank the poison, Gangadhara who bears the river, the five-faced Panchavaktra) to his sacred geography (Vishvanatha and Manikarnika-isha of Kashi). The repeated cry 'Jagadisha Raksha' frames the whole hymn as a prayer of refuge by a soul lost in the wilderness of worldly suffering.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees recite this ashtakam in times of fear, illness or hardship, trusting the promise implicit in its refrain — that the Lord of the universe protects those who surrender. The final verse, saluting Shiva as the destroyer of the sorrow of poverty, is especially chanted by those in financial distress, who report relief and renewed steadiness through faith in his grace.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

He Chandrachuda Madana-Antaka Shula-Pane Sthano Girisha Girija-Isha Mahesha Shambho Bhutesha Bhita-Bhaya-Sudana Mam-Anatham Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (1)

Meaning:O crescent-crowned Lord, slayer of Desire, trident-bearer; O immovable one, Lord of the mountain, Lord of Girija, great Lord Shambhu; O Lord of beings, remover of the fear of the frightened — protect me, an orphan, O Lord of the universe, from the dense forest of the sorrows of worldly life!

Verse 2

He Parvati-Hridaya-Vallabha Chandra-Maule Bhuta-Adhipa Pramatha-Natha Girisha-Chapa He Vamadeva Bhava Rudra Pinaka-Pane Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (2)

Meaning:O beloved of Parvati's heart, moon-crested one; O master of the spirits, lord of the Pramatha hosts, wielder of the mountain-bow; O Vamadeva, Bhava, Rudra, bearer of the Pinaka bow — protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow, O Lord of the universe!

Verse 3

He Nilakantha Vrishabha-Dhvaja Pancha-Vaktra Lokesha Shesha-Valaya Pramath-Esha Sharva He Dhurjate Pashupate Girija-Pate Mam Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (3)

Meaning:O blue-throated one, bull-bannered, five-faced; Lord of the worlds, serpent-girdled, lord of the Pramathas, O Sharva; O matted-haired Dhurjati, Lord of creatures, consort of Girija — protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow, O Lord of the universe!

Verse 4

He Vishvanatha Shiva Shankara Deva-Deva Gangadhara Pramatha-Nayaka Nandikesha Baneshvar-Andhaka-Ripo Hara Loka-Natha Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (4)

Meaning:O Vishvanatha, Shiva, Shankara, God of gods; bearer of the Ganga, leader of the Pramathas, lord of Nandi; lord of Bana, foe of Andhaka, O Hara, Lord of the worlds — protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow, O Lord of the universe!

Verse 5

Varanasi-Pura-Pate Manikarnik-Esha Viresha Daksha-Makha-Kala Vibho Gan-Esha Sarvajna Sarva-Hridayaika-Nivasa Natha Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (5)

Meaning:O Lord of the city of Varanasi, Lord of Manikarnika; O hero-lord, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, O all-pervading lord of the ganas; O all-knowing one, sole dweller in every heart, O Master — protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow, O Lord of the universe!

Verse 6

Shriman-Maheshvara Kripamaya He Dayalo He Vyoma-Kesha Shiti-Kantha Gana-Adhi-Natha Bhasma-Anga-Raga Nri-Kapala-Kalapa-Mala Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (6)

Meaning:O glorious Maheshvara, full of grace, O compassionate one; O sky-haired, dark-throated, chief of the ganas; O one adorned with ash and a garland of skulls — protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow, O Lord of the universe!

Verse 7

Kailasa-Shaila-Vinivasa Vishala-Bhala Bhala-Lochana Suresha Sura-Ari-Natha He Andhaka-Asura-Nisudana Medinisha Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanaj-Jagadisha Raksha (7)

Meaning:O dweller on Mount Kailasa, broad-browed, fore-head-eyed; Lord of the gods, master even of the gods' foes; O slayer of the demon Andhaka, Lord of the earth — protect me from the dense forest of worldly sorrow, O Lord of the universe!

Verse 8

Gauri-Vilasa-Bhavanaya Maheshvaraya Panchananaya Sharana-Agata-Kalpakaya Sharvaya Sarva-Jagatam-Adhipaya Tasmai Daridrya-Duhkha-Dahanaya Namah Shivaya (8)

Meaning:Salutations to that Shiva — the abode of Gauri's delight, the great Lord, the five-faced one, the wish-granting tree for those who seek refuge, Sharva, the sovereign of all the worlds — the one who burns away the sorrow of poverty.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

He Chandrachuda🔊O Lord who wears the crescent moon in your hair

Madana-Antaka🔊O destroyer of Madana (Kama, the god of desire)

Shula-Pane🔊O wielder of the trident in your hand

Girisha Girija-Isha Mahesha Shambho🔊O Lord of the mountains, Lord of Girija (Parvati), great Lord, source of bliss

Bhita-Bhaya-Sudana🔊O remover of the fear of the frightened

Mam Anatham🔊me, who am without a protector

Samsara-Duhkha-Gahanat🔊from the dense thicket of the sorrows of worldly existence

Jagadisha Raksha🔊O Lord of the universe, protect (me)!

Parvati-Hridaya-Vallabha🔊O beloved of Parvati's heart

Nilakantha🔊O blue-throated one (who held the Halahala poison)

Vrishabha-Dhvaja🔊O one whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)

Pancha-Vaktra🔊O five-faced one

Gangadhara🔊O bearer of the river Ganga

Vishvanatha🔊O Lord of the universe (the deity of Kashi)

Varanasi-Pura-Pate🔊O Lord of the city of Varanasi (Kashi)

Manikarnik-Esha🔊O Lord of the Manikarnika ghat

Vyoma-Kesha🔊O one whose hair is the sky (space)

Bhasma-Anga-Raga🔊O one whose bodily adornment is sacred ash

Gauri-Vilasa-Bhavanaya🔊To him who is the abode of Gauri's (Parvati's) delight

Daridrya-Duhkha-Dahanaya Namah Shivaya🔊to the burner-away of the sorrow of poverty — salutations to Shiva

Benefits of Chanting Shiva Namavali Ashtakam

✦

A powerful prayer for protection from the sorrows and fears of worldly existence (samsara)

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Each verse is a garland of Shiva's names, making it a complete act of nama-smarana (remembrance of the divine names)

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The recurring plea 'Jagadisha Raksha' instils surrender and fearlessness

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The final verse is especially invoked to remove poverty and material distress (daridrya-duhkha-dahana)

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Cultivates steady devotion and refuge in Shiva as the sole protector of the helpless

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Easy and uplifting to chant daily for peace of mind

How to Chant Shiva Namavali Ashtakam

Repetitions8times

Best TimeDaily at dawn or dusk, on Mondays, during Pradosha Kaal, and on Maha Shivaratri

Recite all eight verses with devotion, calling out each of Shiva's names with feeling and dwelling on the plea for protection. It is well suited to daily recitation as a prayer for refuge and freedom from fear. Chanting before a Shiva Lingam or image, or simply with eyes closed in remembrance, is recommended. The eighth verse closes with 'Namah Shivaya', so let the mind rest in surrender at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Shiva Namavali Ashtakam written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn (ashtakam) that weaves together many of Shiva's sacred names (namavali) into a prayer for protection. It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and begins 'He Chandrachuda Madana-Antaka Shula-Pane'.

It means 'O Lord of the universe (Jagadisha), protect me from the dense forest (gahana) of the sorrows (duhkha) of worldly existence (samsara)!'. This plea ends the first seven verses, expressing complete surrender and a cry for refuge.

The eighth and final verse salutes Shiva as 'Daridrya-Duhkha-Dahanaya' — the one who burns away the sorrow of poverty. For this reason the hymn is recited not only for protection but also to relieve material hardship and distress.

It can be chanted any day as a daily prayer for protection, and is especially recited on Mondays, during Pradosha Kaal, in the month of Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri.