मणिकर्णिकाष्टकम् — Manikarnikashtakam

Composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya at Manikarnika Ghat

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The Threshold of Eternity

Manikarnika is the crown jewel of Varanasi’s eighty-four ghats. It is here that the sacred fire never sleeps — burning continuously for thousands of years. Far from being a place of morbid despair, Sanatana Dharma views Manikarnika as the Mahashmashana (Great Crematorium) where Maya is stripped away and the soul is cradled directly into Shiva’s arms. Shankara composed these verses while contemplating the waters of the Chakra Pushkarini kund and the eternal pyres.

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Verse 1

त्वत्तीरे मणिकर्णिके हरिहरौ सायुज्यमुक्तीश्वरौ
वादे तौ कुरुतः परस्परमुभौ दातुं जनौ मुक्तिदौ ।
हरिर्वदति मद्दासः शिवोऽप्याह ममैव सः
एवं विवादवशात् द्वौ मुक्तीं प्रयच्छतः ॥ १ ॥

Meaning:
Upon your banks, O Manikarnika, Lord Hari (Vishnu) and Lord Hara (Shiva) — the twin granters of Sayujya liberation — enter into a loving, playful dispute! Vishnu claims: “This departed devotee is mine!” while Shiva counters: “No, this soul belongs to me!” And in this divine competition of love, both deities lavish unconditional liberation upon the mortal!

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Verse 2

मध्याह्ने मणिकर्णिकासलिलधीर्यैः स्नायिभिः सेव्यते
तेषां पापहतिं विधाय सततं मुक्तिं ददाति स्वयम् ।
ब्रह्मा विष्णुमहेश्वरादिदिविजाः स्नानाय यत्रोत्सुकाः
तां वन्दे मणिकर्णिकां सुरधुनीं संसारतारप्रदाम् ॥ २ ॥

Meaning:
Whoever bathes in the waters of Manikarnika at noon has their sins incinerated without a trace, receiving direct liberation. Here, even Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva eagerly await their turn to bathe. I revere that holy Manikarnika on the celestial Ganga, the ferry across the sea of rebirth!

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Verse 3

कण्ठारविन्दे मणिपूरके वा
भ्रूमध्ये वापि निलीनचित्तः ।
त्वत्तीरे यस्तनुं त्यजेत्
स याति मोक्षं न पुनर्विमोहम् ॥ ३ ॥

Meaning:
Whether meditating upon the throat Vishuddha, the naval Manipura, or concentrating awareness at the third eye Ajna chakra between the eyebrows — whoever casts off their mortal sheath upon your sacred bank departs straight to absolute liberation, never again to fall into delusion!

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Verse 4

तारकं यत्र साक्षात् स्वयमुपदिशति प्राणप्रयाणे महेशः
काञ्ची श्रीशैलपूर्वा मुनिजनविहिता मोक्षदाः सन्ति पुर्यः ।
तासामेकापि नाहं सममिति गणये काशिकां पुण्यभूमिं
यत्र श्रीविश्वनाथो मणिकनिकया साकमीशः पुनाति ॥ ४ ॥

Meaning:
Here, Lord Maheshwara personally kneels beside the departing soul and whispers the immortal Taraka Mantra directly into their ear at the moment of breath’s release! Though Kanchipuram, Srisailam, and other pilgrim centers are celebrated, none can equal sacred Kashi, where Lord Vishwanath unites with Manikarnika to purify and emancipate all!

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Verse 5 to 8 (Key Insights)

• Verse 5: The dust of Manikarnika is declared to be more purifying than all Vedic sacrifices combined.
• Verse 6: The fires of Manikarnika burn away the subtle body (Linga Sharira) so no karmic residue remains to compel future reincarnation.
• Verse 7: Envisions the departed soul rising in a radiant aerial chariot (Vimana) surrounded by sages singing Shiva’s name.
• Verse 8: Shankara’s declaration of surrender to Manikarnika as the supreme motherly lap for the mortal pilgrim.

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फलश्रुति — Phala Shruti

मणिकर्णिकाष्टकं पुण्यं यः पठेद्भक्तिभावितः ।
न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः शिवलोके स मोदते ॥

Meaning:
Whoever recites this sacred Manikarnikashtakam filled with deep devotional reverence will never again suffer rebirth in the cycle of mortality; they ascend to the realm of Shiva and abide in eternal beatitude.