काशीविश्वनाथाष्टकम् — Kashi Vishwanathashtakam

Composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya

---

Introduction & Background

In the sacred geography of Sanatana Dharma, Kashi is known as the Anandavana (Forest of Bliss) held atop Lord Shiva’s trident. Within this sacred soil shines Vishwanath — the Lord of the Universe. When Adi Shankaracharya visited Kashi, he experienced the boundless transcendence of Vishwanath and composed these eight ecstatic verses. Chanting this ashtakam connects the soul directly to the sanctity of the sanctum sanctorum of the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

---

Verse 1

गंगाधरं शशिकिशोरकिरीटभारं
भालस्थलोज्ज्वलसविस्तरनेत्रहारम् ।
भस्माङ्गरागमनिशं कमनीयकान्तं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration:
Gaṅgā-dharaṁ śaśi-kiśora-kirīṭa-bhāraṁ
Bhāla-sthalojjvala-savistara-netra-hāram |
Bhasmāṅga-rāgam-aniśaṁ kamanīya-kāntaṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 1 ||

Meaning:
I surrender to Lord Vishwanath, the sole protector and sovereign of Kashi: who holds the celestial Ganga in his matted locks; whose head is adorned with the delicate crescent moon; whose forehead radiates the luminous brilliance of the wide third eye; who is continuously smeared with fragrant sacred ash; and whose divine beauty enchants the entire universe.

---

Verse 2

कण्ठप्रभाकलितनीलमणिप्रकाशं
कस्तूरिकापरिमलेष्वपि लोललोलम् ।
कल्लोलजालकमनीयगभीरनादं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration:
Kaṇṭha-prabhā-kalita-nīlamaṇi-prakāśaṁ
Kastūrikā-parimaleṣv-api lola-lolam |
Kallola-jāla-kamanīya-gabhīra-nādaṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 2 ||

Meaning:
I take refuge today in the King of Kashi: whose throat shines with the iridescent azure lustre of a polished sapphire (from holding the cosmic poison); who is pleased with offerings of divine musk; and whose sacred aura echoes with the majestic, deep resonance of rolling ocean waves and cosmic silence.

---

Verse 3

मन्दारपुष्पकरवीरविचित्रहारं
मत्तेभचर्मवसनं कलिकल्मषघ्नम् ।
मार्तण्डमण्डलभवाखिललोकनेत्रं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration:
Mandāra-puṣpa-karavīra-vicitra-hāraṁ
Mattebha-carma-vasanaṁ kali-kalmaṣa-ghnam |
Mārtaṇḍa-maṇḍala-bhavākhila-loka-netraṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 3 ||

Meaning:
I bow to the supreme monarch of Kashi: who wears garlands woven with celestial Mandara and red Karavira blossoms; who is clad in the hide of the elephant demon symbolizing conquered ego; who destroys all impurities and sins of the Kali Yuga; and whose eyes represent the sun, moon, and fire that illuminate the three realms.

---

Verse 4

चन्द्रार्कवह्निनयनं जगदेकहेतुं
दक्षाध्वरप्रमथनेन कृतोद्यमं तम् ।
शम्भुं गिरीन्द्रतनयारतिबद्धभावं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration:
Candrārka-vahni-nayanaṁ jagad-eka-hetuṁ
Dakṣādhvara-pramathanena kṛtodyamaṁ tam |
Śambhuṁ girīndra-tanayā-rati-baddha-bhāvaṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 4 ||

Meaning:
I seek shelter in Lord Vishwanath: whose three eyes are the sun, moon, and fire; who is the singular primordial cause behind the creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe; who quelled the arrogant pride of Daksha’s sacrifice; who is Shambhu, the granter of peaceful happiness; and whose eternal heart is deeply united with Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas.

---

Verse 5

व्याघ्राजिनं परिदधानमुदारकीर्तिं
शैलेंद्रजावदनचुम्बितचारुगण्डम् ।
कैलासवासभवनं प्रणतप्रसन्नं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration:
Vyāghrājinaṁ paridadhānam-udāra-kīrtiṁ
Śailendra-jā-vadana-cumbita-cāru-gaṇḍam |
Kailāsa-vāsa-bhavanaṁ praṇata-prasannaṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 5 ||

Meaning:
I bow to the sovereign Lord of Kashi: who wears the tiger skin; whose noble glory is sung throughout eternity; whose radiant cheek is gently caressed by the gaze of the mountain princess Parvati; whose natural residence is Mount Kailasa; and who instantly becomes pleased and merciful with anyone who prostrates before him with sincere devotion.

---

Verse 6

पद्मासनस्थितमनल्पमुनीन्द्रवन्द्यं
वेदान्तवेद्यममलं मुनिमानसाब्जम् ।
संसारघोरदवदावनिरूपतोयं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration:
Padmāsana-sthitam-analpa-munīndra-vandyaṁ
Vedānta-vedyam-amalaṁ muni-mānasābjam |
Saṁsāra-ghora-dava-dāva-nirūpa-toyaṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 6 ||

Meaning:
I bow to the Lord of Kashi: seated firmly in the yogic lotus posture (Padmasana); worshiped by the greatest of rishis; known truly through the Upanishads and Vedanta; spotless and taintless; blooming in the lotus of the meditator’s heart; and who acts like rain-bearing nectar quenching the fierce forest fire of worldly existence (Samsara).

---

Verse 7

सच्चिदानन्दममृतं प्रमथाधिपं तं
भिक्षाटनप्रियकरं वरदं प्रसन्नम् ।
योगीन्द्रहृत्कमलवासमशेषरूपं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration:
Sac-cid-ānandam-amṛtaṁ pramathādhipaṁ taṁ
Bhikṣāṭana-priya-karaṁ varadaṁ prasannam |
Yogīndra-hṛt-kamala-vāsam-aśeṣa-rūpaṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 7 ||

Meaning:
I surrender to Lord Vishwanath: who is Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute (Sat-Chit-Ananda); who is immortal and commander of the Pramatha hosts; who delights in walking as a mendicant in Kashi asking for love and humility; who bestows boons with a compassionate countenance; and who resides in the heart lotuses of realized sages.

---

Verse 8

तेजोमयं सकललोकहितप्रदं तं
मृत्युञ्जयं भवभयप्रशमैकहेतुम् ।
विद्याधरप्रवरनारदगीतकीर्तिं
काशीपुराधिपतिमद्य भजे शरण्यम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration:
Tejomayaṁ sakala-loka-hita-pradaṁ taṁ
Mṛtyuñjayaṁ bhava-bhaya-praśamaika-hetum |
Vidyādhara-pravara-nārada-gīta-kīrtiṁ
Kāśī-purādhipatim-adya bhaje śaraṇyam || 8 ||

Meaning:
I bow to the ruler of Kashi: who is embodiment of supreme self-luminous Light (Tejomaya); who continually confers welfare onto all creation; who is the conqueror of death (Mrityunjaya); who is the sole antidote to the innate fear of mortality; and whose praises are joyfully sung by Vidyadharas, Gandharvas, and the divine sage Narada.

---

फलश्रुति — Phala Shruti

काशीविश्वनाथाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते ॥

Meaning:
Whoever recites or listens with pure heart to this sacred Kashi Vishwanathashtakam becomes freed from every sin and error, and upon casting off the mortal body, is glorified in the highest realm of Shiva (Shivaloka), attaining eternal oneness with the Divine.