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Totakashtakam

Text in Roman script

Devotional text

toṭakāṭakaṃ
{|| toṭakāṭakaṃ ||}
śaṃkaraṃ śaṃkarācāya keśavaṃ bādarāyaṇa |
sūbhāyakṛtau vade bhagavatau punaḥ punaḥ ||
nārāyaṇaṃ pabhuvaṃ visaṭhaṃ śata ca tapuparāśaraṃ ca |
yāsaṃ śukaṃ gauḍapadaṃ mahātaṃ goivadayogīmathāya iśaya ||
ī śaṃkarācāyamathāya papādaṃ ca hatāmalakaṃ ca iśaya |
taṃ toṭakaṃ vāita|kakāramayānamau saṃtatamānato | ama ||
|| toṭakāṭakaṃ ||
ividatāikhalaśāsudhājaladhe mihatopinaṣa kithatāthainadhe |
daye kalaye ivamalaṃ caraṇaṃ bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 1||
kaṇāvaṇālaya pālaya māṃ bhavasāgaraduḥkhivadūnada |
racayāikhaladaśanatavivadaṃ bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 2||
bhavatā janatā suihatā bhivatā inajabodhivacāraṇa cāmate |
kalayevarajīvivavekivadaṃ bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 3||
bhava eva bhavāinita me inatarāṃ samajāyata cetisa kautuikatā |
mama vāraya mohamahājaladha bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇaṃ || 4||
sukṛte | aidhakṛte bahudhā bhavato bhivatā samadaśanalālasatā |
aitadīnimamaṃ pirapālaya māṃ bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 5||
jagatīmivatuṃ kilatākṛtayo ivacarita mahāmahasachalataḥ |
aihamāṃśuiravā ivabhāisa guro bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 6||
gupuṃgava puṃgavaketana te samatāmayatāṃ niha ko | aipa sudhīḥ |
śaraṇāgatavasala tavinadhe bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 7||
ividatā na mayā ivaśadaikakalā na ca kacana kācanamata guro |
utameva ivadheiha kṛpāṃ sahajāṃ bhava śaṃkara deiśaka me śaraṇa || 8||

About this ashtakam

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.

daily-pujasanskritashtakamdevotional