ramavishnuashtakambrahmananda

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍 (𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍)

Shri Rama Ashtakam (Namami Ramamishvaram) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Morning during Rama worship, on Ram Navami, Vijayadashami, and on Tuesdays·📜 Shri Ramashtakam composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda

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

Origin & Story

Shri Ramashtakam composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda · Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda · Medieval / early modern devotional period

This Ramashtakam belongs to the Bhakti tradition of compressing the entire Ramayana into a short, singable hymn of praise. Composed by the saint Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda, it differs from the Vedantic Ramashtakam of Vyasa: instead of dwelling on Rama's non-dual nature, it narrates Rama's deeds one after another — protecting sages, redeeming Ahalya, breaking Shiva's bow, going to the forest, slaying demons, befriending the vanaras, bridging the ocean, destroying Ravana, and ruling Ayodhya — and crowns each with the affirmation that this very hero is 'Ishvara', the Supreme Lord. The hymn thus unites the loving remembrance of Rama's story with recognition of his divinity.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees cherish how this hymn, in just eight short verses, lets one re-live the whole Ramayana — and traditionally hold that one who lovingly remembers Rama through such a stotra, recalling how he removed the burdens of gods, sages and subjects alike, finds his own burdens lightened and his mind drawn from the darkness of worry into the light of devotion ('jagat-tamo-divaakaram').

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌶𑌵𑌂𑌶𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌲𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௧॥

Kritaarta-deva-vandanam dinesha-vamsha-nandanam, Sushobhi-bhaala-chandanam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (1)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — to whom the distressed gods offered their prayers, the delight of the Solar dynasty, whose forehead is beautifully adorned with sandal-paste.

Verse 2

𑌮𑍁𑌨𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌧𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௨॥

Muneendra-yajna-kaarakam shilaa-vipatti-haarakam, Mahaa-dhanur-vidaarakam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (2)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — protector of the sacrifice of the great sage Vishvamitra, remover of the calamity of the stone (who liberated Ahalya), the breaker of the mighty bow of Shiva.

Verse 3

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌂 𑌤𑌪𑍋𑌵𑌨𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑍁𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௩॥

Svataata-vaakya-kaarinam tapovane vihaarinam, Kare suchaapa-dhaarinam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (3)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who obeyed the word of his own father (and accepted exile), who roamed in the forest of austerities, holding the beautiful bow in his hand.

Verse 4

𑌕𑍁𑌰𑌂𑌗𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍। 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌕𑍀𑌶𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௪॥

Kurangam-ukta-saayakam jataayu-moksha-daayakam, Pravidhda-keesha-naayakam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (4)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who loosed his arrow at the (golden) deer, who granted liberation to Jatayu, who became the cherished leader of the monkeys.

Verse 5

𑌪𑍍𑌲𑌵𑌂𑌗𑌸𑌂𑌗𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌬𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌨𑌗𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍। 𑌦𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌂𑌶𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௫॥

Plavanga-sanga-sammatim nibaddha-nimnagaa-patim, Dashaasya-vamsha-sankshatim namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (5)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who took counsel with the host of monkeys, who bound the lord of rivers (the ocean) by the bridge, the destroyer of the dynasty of the ten-faced Ravana.

Verse 6

𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌹𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌕𑌪𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௬॥

Videena-deva-harshanam kapeepsita-artha-varshanam, Svabandhu-shoka-karshanam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (6)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who gladdened the dejected gods, who showered the monkeys with the boons they desired, who dispelled the grief of his own kinsmen.

Verse 7

𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௭॥

Gataari-raajya-rakshanam prajaajana-aarti-bhakshanam, Kritaasta-moha-lakshanam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (7)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who, his foes vanquished, protected the realm, who devoured the sufferings of his subjects, who ended the marks of delusion.

Verse 8

𑌹𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌚𑌲𑌾𑌭𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍॥௮॥

Hritaakhila-achalaa-bharam svadhaama-neeta-naagaram, Jagat-tamo-divaakaram namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (8)

Meaning:I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who removed the entire burden of the earth, who led the citizens of Ayodhya to his own divine abode, the sun that dispels the darkness of the world.

Verse 9

॥ 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌹𑌂𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥

Iti shree-paramahamsa-svaami-brahmaananda-virachitam shree-raamaashtakam sampoornam.

Meaning:Thus ends the Shri Ramashtakam composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊krita-aarta-deva-vandanamThe one to whom the distressed gods offered their prayers (and who heeded them)

𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌶𑌵𑌂𑌶𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊dinesha-vamsha-nandanamThe delight of the Solar dynasty (the line of Surya, the sun-lord)

𑌸𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌲𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊sushobhi-bhaala-chandanamWhose forehead is beautifully adorned with sandal-paste

𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊namaami raamam-eeshvaramI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord (Ishvara)

𑌮𑍁𑌨𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊muneendra-yajna-kaarakamThe protector of the sacrifice of the great sage (Vishvamitra)

𑌶𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊shilaa-vipatti-haarakamThe remover of the calamity of the stone (liberating Ahalya from her curse)

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌧𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊mahaa-dhanur-vidaarakamThe breaker of the great bow (Shiva's bow, at Sita's swayamvara)

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊sva-taata-vaakya-kaarinamThe one who obeyed the word of his own father (Dasharatha) and went into exile

𑌤𑌪𑍋𑌵𑌨𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊tapovane vihaarinamWho roamed in the forest of austerities (the Dandaka forest)

𑌕𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑍁𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊kare suchaapa-dhaarinamHolding the beautiful bow in his hand

𑌕𑍁𑌰𑌂𑌗𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊kurangam-ukta-saayakamWho released his arrow at the deer (Maricha disguised as the golden deer)

𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊jataayu-moksha-daayakamThe giver of liberation (moksha) to Jatayu (the vulture who fought Ravana)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌕𑍀𑌶𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊pravidhda-keesha-naayakamWho befriended and won over the monkey-king (Sugriva)

𑌪𑍍𑌲𑌵𑌂𑌗𑌸𑌂𑌗𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊plavanga-sanga-sammatimWho took counsel together with the host of monkeys

𑌨𑌿𑌬𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌨𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌨𑌗𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊nibaddha-nimnagaa-patimWho bound the lord of rivers (the ocean) by building the bridge (Setu)

𑌦𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌂𑌶𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊dashaasya-vamsha-sankshatimThe destroyer of the dynasty of the ten-faced one (Ravana)

𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌹𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊videena-deva-harshanamWho brought joy to the dejected, suffering gods

𑌕𑌪𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊kapi-eepsita-artha-varshanamWho showered upon the monkeys the rewards they desired

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊sva-bandhu-shoka-karshanamWho drew away (dispelled) the grief of his own kinsmen

𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊gata-ari-raajya-rakshanamWho, his enemies gone, protected the kingdom (with righteous rule)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊prajaajana-aarti-bhakshanamWho consumed (removed) the sufferings of his subjects

𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊krita-asta-moha-lakshanamWho put an end to the marks of delusion (in his devotees)

𑌹𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌾𑌚𑌲𑌾𑌭𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊hrita-akhila-achalaa-bharamWho removed the entire burden of the earth

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊svadhaama-neeta-naagaramWho led the citizens (of Ayodhya) to his own divine abode

𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊jagat-tamo-divaakaramThe sun that dispels the darkness (of ignorance) of the world

𑌈𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊eeshvaramThe Supreme Lord, the Ruler (Ishvara)

Benefits of Chanting Shri Rama Ashtakam (Namami Ramamishvaram)

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Each verse beautifully recalls a key episode of the Ramayana, making it a complete remembrance of Rama's life-story

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Affirms Rama as 'Ishvara' — the Supreme Lord — deepening devotion beyond the human story

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Praised as 'jagat-tamo-divaakaram', the sun that dispels the darkness of ignorance, hence chanted for clarity and wisdom

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Recalls how Rama removed the suffering of gods, sages, monkeys and subjects — invoked for relief from one's own troubles

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Ideal for daily Rama worship and especially powerful on Ram Navami and Vijayadashami

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Cultivates the ideals of dharma — obedience, courage, friendship and just rule — embodied by Rama

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Short, rhythmic and melodious, easy to memorize and chant for the whole family

How to Chant Shri Rama Ashtakam (Namami Ramamishvaram)

Repetitions8times

Best TimeMorning during Rama worship, on Ram Navami, Vijayadashami, and on Tuesdays

After a bath, sit before an image of Sri Rama (with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman) and light a lamp. Recite all eight verses melodiously, allowing the mind to follow the unfolding story of the Ramayana that each verse paints — from the gods' prayer to Rama's reign in Ayodhya — and bowing inwardly at every refrain 'namaami raamam-eeshvaram'. It may be recited 8 times for its eight verses, or as a daily part of Rama worship. Its rhythmic meter makes it especially suited to be sung.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Shri Rama Ashtakam (Namami Ramamishvaram) 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 to Lord Rama in which every verse ends with 'namaami raamam-eeshvaram' — 'I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord.' Each verse compresses a major episode of the Ramayana into a single image, so that the whole hymn becomes a swift, devotional retelling of Rama's life.

This Ramashtakam was composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda, as stated in its closing colophon ('iti shree-paramahamsa-svaami-brahmaananda-virachitam'). It is distinct from the other well-known Ramashtakam attributed to Sage Vyasa that begins 'Bhaje visheshasundaram'.

In order, the verses recall: the gods' plea to Rama; the protection of Vishvamitra's sacrifice and the liberation of Ahalya; the breaking of Shiva's bow; the exile and forest life; the slaying of Maricha (the golden deer) and liberation of Jatayu; the friendship with Sugriva; building the bridge over the ocean and destroying Ravana's line; gladdening the gods and kinsmen; the righteous reign; and finally leading the people of Ayodhya to his divine abode.

It is especially recited on Ram Navami (Rama's birthday) and Vijayadashami, on Tuesdays, and as part of daily morning Rama worship. Because it is short and melodious, it is well suited to group singing and family recitation.