rajarajeshwarilalitatripura-sundaridevi

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Fridays, during Navaratri, and at dawn or dusk before the Devi·📜 Stotra attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

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

Origin & Story

Stotra attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees of Sri Rajarajeshwari hold that sincere daily recitation of this Ambashtakam draws the Mother's kataksha — her single glance of grace that the hymn says 'beautifies' the reciter — bringing about sudden turns of fortune, the lifting of long-standing want, and at the last, as the phalashruti promises, the gift of liberation.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌶𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌿 𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌰𑌬𑌲𑌾 𑌅𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾 𑌉𑌮𑌾 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌹𑍈𑌮𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍀 𑌕𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌨𑍀 𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑍀। 𑌸𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌨𑌵𑌯𑍗𑌵𑌨𑌾 𑌶𑍁𑌭𑌕𑌰𑍀 𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௧॥

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||

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌿𑌨𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍀 𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌵𑌾𑌣𑍀 𑌪𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌵𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌲𑍀 𑌗𑌾𑌨𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾 𑌲𑍋𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍀। 𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣𑍀 𑌉𑌡𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌬𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌵𑌦𑌨𑌾 𑌧𑍂𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑌂𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑍀 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௨॥

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||

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌨𑍂𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑌧𑌰𑍀 𑌕𑍇𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑍀 𑌜𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌚𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌕𑌵𑍈𑌜𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌲𑌹𑌰𑍀 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌵𑍇𑌯𑌕𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌾। 𑌵𑍀𑌣𑌾𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍋𑌦𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌕𑌰𑌾 𑌵𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌨𑍇 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௩॥

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||

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌰𑍗𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌭𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌬𑌗𑌲𑌾 𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍀 𑌵𑍈𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌵𑍀 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌣𑍀 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑍀 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌦𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑌾। 𑌚𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌪𑍋𑌷𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀 𑌦𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌯𑌣𑍀 𑌪𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌵𑍀 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௪॥

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

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌧𑌨𑍁𑌃𑌕𑍁𑌶𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌶𑌧𑌰𑍀 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌬𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍀 𑌮𑌧𑍁𑌕𑍈𑌟𑌭𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑌮𑌨𑍀 𑌵𑌾𑌣𑍀 𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾। 𑌮𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌮𑍂𑌕𑌦𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌮𑌨𑍀 𑌮𑌾𑌹𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀 𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌕𑌾 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௫॥

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||

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌨𑌕𑌰𑍀 𑌆𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌵𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌰𑌸𑌃 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾। 𑌓𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌾 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌦𑌾 𑌉𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௬॥

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||

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌶𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌤 𑌆𑌗𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌾 𑌆𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌯𑌾 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌪𑌿𑌪𑍀𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀 𑌯𑌾 𑌵𑍈 𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌿𑌨𑍀। 𑌯𑌾 𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌰𑍇𑌫𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀 𑌯𑌾 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌲𑌾 𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௭॥

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||

Meaning:O 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

𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌂 𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌂 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌤𑍍 𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌕𑌟𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌵𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌲𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌐𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌪𑌠𑌨𑌾𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌚 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀॥௮॥

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||

Meaning:O 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 Meaning

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𑌅𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾🔊ambaO Mother

𑌶𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌿🔊shambhaviConsort of Shambhu (Shiva)

𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌃🔊chandramaulihOne who (with Shiva) bears the moon on her crest

𑌅𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾 𑌉𑌮𑌾 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀🔊aparna uma parvatiAparna, Uma, Parvati — names of the Daughter of the Mountain

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍀🔊trinayaniThe three-eyed Goddess

𑌕𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌨𑍀 𑌭𑍈𑌰𑌵𑍀🔊katyayani bhairaviKatyayani and Bhairavi — fierce forms of the Devi

𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾🔊samrajya-lakshmi-pradaBestower of imperial fortune and sovereign prosperity

𑌚𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍀🔊chidrupiOne whose nature is pure Consciousness

𑌪𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌤𑌾🔊paradevataThe Supreme Deity, the highest divinity

𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑍀🔊bhagavatiThe Divine Goddess endowed with all majesty

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀🔊shri-rajarajeshwariThe Empress of emperors, sovereign Goddess (the refrain ending every verse)

𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌿𑌨𑌿🔊mohiniThe enchantress who bewitches the three worlds

𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍀🔊ananda-sandhayiniBestower of bliss

𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌲𑍀 𑌗𑌾𑌨𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾🔊venu-murali gana-priyaFond of the music of flute and pipe

𑌉𑌡𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌬𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌵𑌦𑌨𑌾🔊uduraja-bimba-vadanaWhose face is like the orb of the moon (king of stars)

𑌵𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌨𑍇 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌾🔊virasane samsthitaSeated firmly in the heroic posture (virasana)

𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍀 𑌵𑍈𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌵𑍀 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌣𑍀🔊jvalamukhi vaishnavi brahmaniShe is Jvalamukhi, Vaishnavi and Brahmani (the Matrika powers)

𑌮𑌧𑍁𑌕𑍈𑌟𑌭𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌶𑌮𑌨𑍀🔊madhu-kaitabha-prashamaniSlayer of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha

𑌗𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰🔊gayatri pranavaksharaShe is the Gayatri and the syllable Om (pranava)

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌪𑌿𑌪𑍀𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀🔊brahmadi-pipilikanta-jananiMother of all beings, from Brahma down to the tiniest ant

𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾🔊moksha-pradaGranter of liberation to those who recite her hymn

Benefits of Chanting Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam

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Invokes Sri Rajarajeshwari (Lalita Tripurasundari) as the supreme sovereign Goddess

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Promises 'samrajya-lakshmi' — imperial fortune, prosperity and abundance

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The phalashruti assures unbroken aishwarya (prosperity) and ultimately moksha (liberation)

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Gathers the Devi's many forms — Parvati, Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Varahi — into one worship

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Bestows the Mother's gracious kataksha (sidelong glance) of blessing

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Especially auspicious during Navaratri and on Fridays for the Devi's grace

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Cultivates one-pointed devotion and the bliss (ananda) the hymn celebrates

How to Chant Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam

Repetitions9times

Best TimeFridays, during Navaratri, and at dawn or dusk before the Devi

Bathe and sit before an image or Sri Chakra of the Goddess. Light a lamp and offer kumkum and flowers. Recite the eight verses with attention to the recurring refrain 'Chidrupi Paradevata Bhagavati Sri Rajarajeshwari', letting the mind rest on the Goddess as pure Consciousness (chit). Nine or eleven recitations on Fridays and through the nine nights of Navaratri are especially recommended for her grace and prosperity.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam 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.

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.

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.

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'.

'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).