shivavishwanathkashivaranasi

𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍀 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

काशी विश्वनाथाष्टकम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Brahma Muhurta or early morning, on Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, or while on pilgrimage to Kashi·📜 Shaiva stotra tradition; popularly attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Shaiva stotra tradition; popularly attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya (traditional attribution) · c. 8th century CE (traditional)

Kashi (Varanasi), on the banks of the Ganga, is revered as the eternal city of Lord Shiva, where he is enshrined as Vishwanatha — 'Lord of the Universe' — in one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. According to tradition, Shiva never abandons Kashi even at the time of cosmic dissolution, and those who die within its sacred bounds receive the 'Taraka mantra' from his own mouth, leading to liberation. The Vishwanathashtakam distills the glory of this Lord into eight luminous verses, each calling the devotee to 'worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of Varanasi.' It is sung daily by pilgrims and devotees across India.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held in Kashi that anyone who breathes their last within the sacred precincts of the city receives the Taraka (liberating) mantra directly from Lord Vishwanatha and crosses the ocean of birth and death — a grace echoed in the eighth and ninth verses of this hymn, which promise that steady meditation on the Lord seated in the heart leads to moksha at the body's end.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑌮𑌣𑍀𑌯𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌗𑍗𑌰𑍀𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௧॥

Gaṅgā-taraṅga-ramaṇīya-jaṭā-kalāpaṁ Gaurī-nirantara-vibhūṣita-vāma-bhāgam। Nārāyaṇa-priyam-anaṅga-madāpahāraṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥1॥

Meaning:वाराणसी नगरी के अधिपति विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जिनका जटाजूट गंगा की तरंगों से रमणीय है, जिनका वाम भाग सदा गौरी से विभूषित है, जो नारायण के प्रिय हैं और जिन्होंने कामदेव के मद का हरण किया।

Verse 2

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑌗𑍋𑌚𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍇𑌕𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌶𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑍀𑌠𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌵𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌕𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௨॥

Vācām-agocaram-aneka-guṇa-svarūpaṁ Vāgīśa-viṣṇu-sura-sevita-pāda-pīṭham। Vāmena vigraha-vareṇa kalatra-vantaṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥2॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जो वाणी के अगोचर हैं, अनेक गुणों के स्वरूप हैं, जिनके चरण-पीठ की सेवा ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और देवगण करते हैं, जो अपने सुन्दर वाम अंग में अपनी प्रिया (पार्वती) को धारण करते हैं।

Verse 3

𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌂 𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌗𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌣𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌜𑌟𑌿𑌲𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌶𑌾𑌭𑌯𑌵𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௩॥

Bhūtādhipaṁ bhujaga-bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣitāṅgaṁ Vyāghrājināmbara-dharaṁ jaṭilaṁ trinetram। Pāśāṅkuśābhaya-vara-prada-śūla-pāṇiṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥3॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जो भूतों के अधिपति हैं, सर्पों के आभूषणों से अंग सुशोभित हैं, व्याघ्रचर्म धारण करते हैं, जटाधारी और त्रिनेत्र हैं, तथा हाथों में पाश, अंकुश, अभय एवं वरमुद्रा और त्रिशूल धारण करते हैं।

Verse 4

𑌶𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌭𑌾𑌲𑍇𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌾𑌨𑌲𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌬𑌾𑌣𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌭𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௪॥

Śītāṁśu-śobhita-kirīṭa-virājamānaṁ Bhālekṣaṇānala-viśoṣita-pañca-bāṇam। Nāgādhipāracita-bhāsura-karṇa-pūraṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥4॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जिनका किरीट चन्द्रमा से सुशोभित होकर विराजमान है, जिन्होंने ललाट-नेत्र की अग्नि से पञ्चबाण (कामदेव) को सुखा दिया, जिनके कर्ण नागराज से रचित कुण्डलों से देदीप्यमान हैं।

Verse 5

𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌤𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌂 𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌪𑍁𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌪𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌗𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌲𑌂 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌟𑌵𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௫॥

Pañcānanaṁ durita-matta-mataṅga-jānāṁ Nāgāntakaṁ danuja-puṅgava-pannagānām। Dāvānalaṁ maraṇa-śoka-jarāṭavīnāṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥5॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जो पापरूपी मतवाले हाथियों के लिए सिंह हैं, दैत्यश्रेष्ठरूपी सर्पों के नाशक हैं, तथा मृत्यु, शोक एवं जरारूपी वन के लिए दावानल हैं।

Verse 6

𑌤𑍇𑌜𑍋𑌮𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌮𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑌕𑌲𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌕𑌲𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௬॥

Tejomayaṁ saguṇa-nirguṇam-advitīyam Ānanda-kandam-aparājitam-aprameyam। Nāgātmakaṁ sakala-niṣkalam-ātma-rūpaṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥6॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जो तेजोमय, सगुण एवं निर्गुण, अद्वितीय, आनन्द के मूल, अपराजित, अप्रमेय, नागस्वरूप, आत्मस्वरूप, सकल एवं निष्कल हैं।

Verse 7

𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌦𑍋𑌷𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌂 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌲𑌯𑌂 𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌾𑌸𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌾𑌧𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌧𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍁𑌭𑌗𑌂 𑌗𑌰𑌲𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௭॥

Rāgādi-doṣa-rahitaṁ sva-janānurāgaṁ Vairāgya-śānti-nilayaṁ girijā-sahāyam। Mādhurya-dhairya-subhagaṁ garalābhirāmaṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥7॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — जो राग आदि दोषों से रहित होकर भी अपने जनों के प्रति अनुरागी हैं, वैराग्य एवं शान्ति के निलय हैं, गिरिजा के सहायक हैं, माधुर्य एवं धैर्य से सुभग हैं और विष को धारण करके भी अभिराम हैं।

Verse 8

𑌆𑌶𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌯 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌹𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌪𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑍇 𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚 𑌸𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯 𑌮𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑍗। 𑌆𑌦𑌾𑌯 𑌹𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌮𑌲𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍॥௮॥

Āśāṁ vihāya parihṛtya parasya nindāṁ Pāpe ratiṁ ca sunivārya manaḥ samādhau। Ādāya hṛt-kamala-madhya-gataṁ pareśaṁ Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥8॥

Meaning:विश्वनाथ का भजन करो — आशा को त्यागकर, दूसरों की निन्दा छोड़कर, पाप में रति का निवारण करके, मन को समाधि में स्थिर कर, हृदय-कमल के मध्य विराजमान परमेश्वर को धारण करते हुए।

Verse 9

𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑍇𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌨𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌮𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌠𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌃। 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌲𑌸𑍗𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌯𑍇 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌚 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍॥௯॥

Vārāṇasī-pura-pateḥ stavanaṁ śivasya Vyākhyātam-aṣṭakam-idaṁ paṭhate manuṣyaḥ। Vidyāṁ śriyaṁ vipula-saukhyam-ananta-kīrtiṁ Samprāpya deha-vilaye labhate ca mokṣam॥9॥

Meaning:जो मनुष्य वाराणसीपति शिव के इस व्याख्यात अष्टक का पाठ करता है, वह विद्या, श्री, विपुल सौख्य एवं अनन्त कीर्ति प्राप्त कर, देहत्याग पर मोक्ष को प्राप्त करता है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗🔊gaṅgā-taraṅgathe waves of the river Ganga

𑌰𑌮𑌣𑍀𑌯🔊ramaṇīyacharming, delightful, beautiful

𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌪𑌂🔊jaṭā-kalāpaṁthe mass / coil of matted locks (of hair)

𑌗𑍗𑌰𑍀🔊gaurīGoddess Gauri (Parvati)

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌮𑍍🔊nirantara-vibhūṣita-vāma-bhāgamwhose left side is ever adorned (by Gauri)

𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊nārāyaṇa-priyamdear to Narayana (Vishnu)

𑌅𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌦𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂🔊anaṅga-madāpahāraṁdestroyer of the pride/intoxication of Anaṅga (Kamadeva, the god of desire)

𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌸𑍀𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂🔊vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁthe Lord of the city of Varanasi (Kashi)

𑌭𑌜 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌮𑍍🔊bhaja viśvanāthamworship Vishwanatha — the Lord of the universe

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑌗𑍋𑌚𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊vācām-agocarambeyond the reach of words / inexpressible

𑌅𑌨𑍇𑌕𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌂🔊aneka-guṇa-svarūpaṁwhose nature embodies countless auspicious qualities

𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌂🔊bhūtādhipaṁlord of all beings / lord of the ghostly hosts (bhutas)

𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌧𑌰𑌂🔊vyāghra-ajināmbara-dharaṁwearing a tiger-skin as his garment

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊trinetramthe three-eyed one

𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌶𑌾𑌭𑌯𑌵𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌂🔊pāśāṅkuśa-abhaya-vara-prada-śūla-pāṇiṁholding in his hands the noose, goad, the gestures of fearlessness and boon-giving, and the trident

𑌶𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟🔊śītāṁśu-śobhita-kirīṭawhose crown is adorned by the cool-rayed moon

𑌭𑌾𑌲𑍇𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌾𑌨𑌲𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌬𑌾𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊bhāla-īkṣaṇa-anala-viśoṣita-pañca-bāṇamwho dried up (burnt) the five-arrowed Kama with the fire of the eye on his forehead

𑌤𑍇𑌜𑍋𑌮𑌯𑌂🔊tejomayaṁfull of effulgence / radiant light

𑌸𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊saguṇa-nirguṇam-advitīyamwith and without attributes, the non-dual one (without a second)

𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊ānanda-kandamthe very root / source of bliss

𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌦𑍋𑌷𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂🔊rāgādi-doṣa-rahitaṁfree from the defects of attachment and the like

𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌾𑌸𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊girijā-sahāyamthe companion of Girija (Parvati, daughter of the mountain)

𑌆𑌶𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌯🔊āśāṁ vihāyaabandoning (worldly) desire / hope

𑌮𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑍗🔊manaḥ samādhau(placing) the mind in deep meditation (samadhi)

𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌯𑍇 𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌚 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍🔊deha-vilaye labhate ca mokṣamattains liberation (moksha) when the body falls away

Benefits of Chanting काशी विश्वनाथाष्टकम्

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Invokes the grace and protection of Lord Vishwanatha, the presiding Jyotirlinga deity of Kashi (Varanasi)

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Said to bestow knowledge (vidya), prosperity (shri), abundant happiness and lasting fame, as stated in the final verse

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Cultivates dispassion and a meditative, one-pointed mind by its very theme of renouncing desire and slander

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A complete contemplation on Shiva's form and supreme non-dual nature, ideal for daily devotion

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Considered especially auspicious to recite on a pilgrimage to Kashi or before the Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

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Recitation upon the fall of the body is traditionally held to lead the devotee to liberation (moksha)

How to Chant काशी विश्वनाथाष्टकम्

Repetitions9times

Best TimeBrahma Muhurta or early morning, on Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, or while on pilgrimage to Kashi

Sit facing east or toward a Shiva Lingam, take a moment to still the mind, and recite all eight verses with the refrain 'Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham', concluding with the ninth phala-shruti verse. It may be chanted once or in cycles of nine. As the eighth verse advises, recite it after letting go of worldly cravings and ill-will toward others, placing the mind in quiet meditation on the Lord seated in the heart-lotus. Chanting before the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, or while mentally visualising Varanasi on the Ganga, deepens the devotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete काशी विश्वनाथाष्टकम् written in the Grantha 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) in praise of Lord Vishwanatha — Shiva as the Lord of Kashi (Varanasi). It begins 'Gaṅgā-taraṅga-ramaṇīya-jaṭā-kalāpaṁ' and each verse ends with the refrain 'Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham'. A ninth phala-shruti verse describes the fruits of its recitation.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century philosopher-saint who composed many devotional hymns. It belongs to the larger body of Shaiva stotra literature centred on Kashi, the holiest of Shiva's cities.

It celebrates the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga at Varanasi (Kashi) in Uttar Pradesh — one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and among the most revered pilgrimage sites in Sanatana Dharma.

The closing verse states that one who recites it gains knowledge, prosperity, abundant happiness and endless fame, and attains liberation (moksha) when the body falls away. It is especially recommended on Mondays, Maha Shivaratri, and during pilgrimage to Kashi.