Sri Vishwanatha Ashtakam is the Slokam in praise of and as prayer to Lord Shiva. In this Slokam, Lord Vishwanatha of Varanasi is worshipped. “Vishwanatha” means the “Lord or the Leader of the Universe”.
Sri Vishwanatha Ashtakam was believed to be composed by the Scholar and Sage Sri Vyasa Maharishi.
Sri Vishwanatha Ashtakam contains eight stanzas each describing the virtues and the compassion of Lord Viswanatha.
Sri Vishwanatha Ashtakam is presented in Devanagari and English scripts with a simple translation.
गङ्गा तरङ्ग रमणीय जटा कलापं
गौरी निरन्तर विभूषित वाम भागम्
नारायण प्रियमनङ्ग मदापहारं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (1)
ganGgaa tharanGga ramaNeeya jataa kalaapaM
gauree niranthara vibhooShitha vaama bhaagam
naaraayaNa priyam-ananGga madha-apahaaraM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva has the charmingly arranged matted hair ornamented with the flowing streams of the river Ganga. His consort Gowri permanently adorns His left half. He is loved by Sri Narayana. He has diminished the vanity of Manmadha, the Deity of love.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
वाचामगोचरमनेक गुण स्वरूपं
वागीश विष्णु सुर सेवित पाद पीठम्
वामेन विग्रह वरेण कलत्र वन्तं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (2)
vaachaam-agocharam-anaeka guNa svaroopaM
vaageesha visNu sura saevitha paadha peeTam
vaamaena vigraha varaeNa kalathra vanthaM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva is beyond oral recitations as He is the personification so many characteristics in His divine attributes. Sri Brahma, Sri Vishnu and other Devas ardently worship His holy feet. His form is adorned by His consort Sri Parvathi at His left half.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
भूताधिपं भुजग भूषण भूषिताङ्गं
व्याघ्राजिनाम्बर धरं जटिलं त्रिनेत्रम्
पाशाङ्कुशाभय वरप्रद शूलपाणिं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (3)
bhootha-aDhipaM bhujaga bhooshaNa bhooShitha-anGgaM
vyaaghra-ajina-ambara Dharam jatilam thri-naethram
paasha-anGkusha-abhaya vara-pradha shoola-paaNiM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva is the Lord of the living beings. He wears snakes as the ornaments. He adorns the tiger skin. He has the matted hair. He has three eyes (sun, moon and fire). He holds the noose (pasha), the hook (ankusha) and the trident and He blesses and bestows protection from fears.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
शीतांशु शोभित किरीट विराज मानं
भालेक्षणानल विशोषितपञ्च बाणम्
नागाधिपारचित भासुर कर्णपुरं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (4)
sheethaaMshu shobhitha kireeta viraaja maanaM
bhaalaekShaNa-anala vishosHitha panjchcha baaNam
naaga-aDhipa-arachitha bhaasura karNapuraM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva has the dazzling cool rayed Chandra on His head as the crown. The fire from His third eye had devoured the five arrows of Manmadha. The King of serpents dazzle as His ear ornament.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
पञ्चाननं दुरित मत्त मतङ्ग जानां
नागान्तकं दनुज पुङ्गव पन्नगानाम्
दावानलं मरण शोक जराट वीनां
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (5)
panjchaananaM duritha maththa mathanGga jaanaaM
naaga-anthakaM dhanuja punGgava pannagaanaam
dhaavaanalaM maraNa shoka jaraata veenaaM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva is similar to the lion. He subdues our sins and desires which are as huge as elephant. He diminishes the serpents of devil in us like a Garuda. He is like the wild fire which devours the fear of death and sorrows in us.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
तेजोमयं सगुण निर्गुण मद्वितीयम्
आनन्द कन्दमपराजितमप्रमेयम्
नागात्मकं सकल निष्कलमात्मरूपं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (6)
thejomayaM saguNa nirguNa madhvi-theeyam
aanandha kandham-aparaajitham-apramaeyam
naaga-ahtmakam sakala niShkalama-athmaroopaM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva is spiritually resplendent. He can take the form of all characteristics. He can also be without any definable attribute. He is full of bliss which is not surpassed or conquered by anyone and which is beyond measurement. His person is decorated with snakes. He is without blemish. He is in the form of the athma unified with all.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
रागादि दोष रहितं स्वजनानुरागं
वैराग्य शान्ति निलयं गिरिजा सहायम्
माधुर्य धैर्य सुभगं गरलाभिरामं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (7)
raagaadhi dhoSha rahithaM svajana-anuraagaM
vairagya shaanthi nilayaM girijaa sahaayam
naaDhurya Dhairya subhagaM garala-abhiraamaM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Lord Shiva is beyond and away from all desires and passions. He is compassionate towards His devotees. He is dwelling in peace which arose out of His distancing from worldly desires. His companion is Sri Parvathi Devi, the daughter of the mountain King. He is always present with sweetness and mercy. His presence is auspicious. His throat is blue from the consumption of halahala (from the churning of cosmic ocean).
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परस्य निन्दां
पापे रतिं च सुनिवार्य मनः समाधौ
आदाय हृत्कमल मध्यगतं परेशं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् (8)
aashaaM vihaaya parihruthya parasya nindhaaM
paapae rathiM cha sunivaarya manah samaaDhau
aadhaaya hruth-kamala maDhyagathaM pareshaM
vaaraaNasee pura-pathiM bhaja vishvanaaTham
Let me distance myself from the desires, do away with the finding fault in others and keep myself away from the indulgence in pleasurable sins. Let me meditate on the Supreme God Lord Shiva in my heart like lotus.
I sincerely worship Sri Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi.
वाराणसी पुरपतेः स्तवनं शिवस्य
व्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्यः
विद्यां श्रियं विपुलसौख्यमनन्त कीर्तिं
सम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते च मोक्षम् (9)
vaaraaNasee pura-patheh sthavanaM shivasya
vyaakhyaatham-aShtakam-idhaM paTathe manuShyah
vidhyaaM shriyaM vipula-saukhyam-anantha keerthiM
sampraapya dheha-vilaye labhathe cha mokSham
The persons who sincerely and devoutly read and recite this Visvanatha Ashtakam describing the attributes of the Lord of Varanasi shall be blessed with good education and wisdom, prosperity, happiness, endless fame and moksha.
