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Shankarashtakam

Text in Roman script

Devotional text

śakarāṭaka
{|| śakarāṭaka ||}
īgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
śīṣajaṭāgaṇabhāraṃ garalāhāraṃ samatasaṃhāra |
kailāsāiivahāraṃ pāraṃ bhavavāiradherahaṃ vade || 1||
cakalovalabhālaṃ kaṭhayālaṃ jagayīpāla |
kṛtanaramatakamālaṃ kālaṃ kālaya komalaṃ vade || 2||
kopeṇahatakāmaṃ vāmārāmaṃ nagejāvāma |
saṃsṛitaśokivarāmaṃ yāmaṃ kaṭhena kāraṇaṃ vade || 3||
kiṭataṭivalisatanāgaṃ khaḍatayāgaṃ mahāutayāga |
ivagativaṣayarasarāgaṃ bhāgaṃ yaeṣu ibataṃ vade || 4||
ipurāidakadanujātaṃ igirajākātaṃ sadaiva saṃśāta |
līlāivijatakṛtātaṃ bhātaṃ vātepu deihanāṃ vade || 5||
surasiradālutakeśaṃ idaśakuleśaṃ dālayāveśa |
ivagatāśeṣaleśaṃ deśaṃ savaṭasapadāṃ vade || 6||
karatalakilatipanākaṃ ivagatajarākaṃ sukamaṇāṃ pāka |
parapadavītavarākaṃ nākagamapūgavidataṃ vade || 7||
bhūitivabhūiṣatakāyaṃ dutaramāyaṃ ivavajatāpāya |
mathasamūhasahāyaṃ sāyaṃ ātanarataraṃ vade || 8||
yatupadāṭakametaānadena inamataṃ inaya |
paṭhita samāihatacetāḥ ānoyate sa śaivameva pada || 9||
iita īmaparamahaṃsavāimaānadivaricataṃ īśakarāṭakaṃ sapūṇa |

About this ashtakam — Shiva

Devotional recitation is one of the simplest and most powerful practices in the Hindu tradition. Regular chanting calms the mind, purifies the atmosphere of the home, and deepens one’s connection with the deity. These sacred compositions have been sung by devotees for generations and are suitable for daily practice, during morning or evening puja, or on special festival days.

How to chant

Sit comfortably facing your home altar or a clean, quiet space. Light a lamp or incense if you wish. Begin with a short prayer to Ganesha, then recite the text slowly and clearly, focusing on the meaning rather than speed. Consistency matters more than duration — even five minutes of daily chanting brings visible peace of mind.

maha-shivaratrimondayshaivasanskritashtakamdevotional