Sri Jagannath Ashtakam: A Divine Hymn of Lord Jagannatha
What is Jagannath Ashtakam ?
Sri Jagannath Ashtakam is a sacred hymn written by the great philosopher and the saint, Adi Shankaracharya, in praise of Lord Jagannatha of Puri, Odisha. This beautiful eight-versed (hence the name Ashtakam) composition celebrates the divine form, pastimes, and mercy of Lord Jagannatha. Chanted mostly by devotees, especially during the grand Rath Yatra festival, it is believed to bestow immense spiritual blessings on its reciters.
The Significance of Sri Jagannath Ashtakam
This hymn is of great importance in Hinduism and is more specifically associated with the Vaishnavite tradition. It discusses various aspects of the enchanting form of Lord Jagannatha, his compassionate nature and his position as the supreme lord of the universe. The Jagannath Ashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya is said to have traditional significance; those who recite it with devotion are said to be purified of sin and to attain liberation (moksha).
Verse-Wise Analysis and Meaning
Verse 1
kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅgīta ta ralo
mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāśvāda-madhupaḥ
ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (1)
कदाचित् कालिन्दी तट विपिन सङ्गीत तरलो
मुदाभीरी नारी वदन कमला स्वाद मधुपः
रमा शम्भु ब्रह्मामरपति गणेशार्चित पदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥१॥
Meaning: A bumblebee tastes nectar from the lotus like faces of the Gopis, while Lord Jagannatha plays melodious tunes in the forests along the banks of the Yamuna. He is adored by Lakshmi (Ramā), Shiva (Shambhu), Indra, Brahma and Ganesha. I seek him to remain in my vision forever.
Verse 2
bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-picchaṁ kaṭitaṭe
dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ ca vidadhat
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (2)
भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिच्छं कटितटे
दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचर-कटाक्षं विदधते ।
सदा श्रीमद्-वृन्दावन-वसति-लीला-परिचयो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥२॥
Meaning: In His left hand Lord Jagannatha carries a flute, has a peacock feather on His head and is decorated with fine silk cloths. He has a kind look towards his devotees. That Lord Jagannatha, who has his eternal pastimes in Vrindavana, may be the object of my vision.
Verse 3
mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare
vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā
subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (3)
महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनक रुचिरे नील शिखरे
वसन् प्रासादान्तः सहज बलभद्रेण बलिना ।
सुभद्रा मध्यस्थः सकलसुर सेवावसरदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥३॥
Meaning: Lord Jagannatha resides on the golden Nilachala Parvat, near the vast ocean, in a grand temple. He has his elder brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra with him. He provides a chance for service to all celestial beings. I pray that Lord Jagannatha should be the object of my vision.
Verse 4
kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro
ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅkeruha-mukhaḥ
surendrair ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (4)
कृपा पारावारः सजल जलद श्रेणिरुचिरो
रमा वाणी रामः स्फुरद् अमल पङ्केरुहमुखः ।
सुरेन्द्रैर् आराध्यः श्रुतिगण शिखा गीत चरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥४॥
Meaning: Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy, his complexion is as black as dark rain clouds. He has a pure lotus face and is worshiped by Lakshmi and Saraswati and he is worshipped by the greatest demigods and sages. The Upanishads proclaim his glories. I pray that Lord Jagannatha should be the object of my vision.
Verse 5
rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ
stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ
dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā
jagannāthah svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (5)
रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलित भूदेव पटलैः
स्तुति प्रादुर्भावम् प्रतिपदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः ।
दया सिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकल जगतां सिन्धु सुतया
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥५॥
Meaning: When the Lord Jagannatha is in a cart and is being moved from one place to another, there are loud presentations of prayers and songs by large assemblies of brahmanas at every step. Hearing their hymns Lord Jagannatha is very favorably disposed towards them.. He is the ocean of mercy, and the true friend of all the worlds. May that Jagannatha Swami, along with His consort Lakshmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.
Verse 6
paraṁ-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano
nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo 'nanta-śirasi
rasānandī rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅgana-sukho
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (6)
परंब्रह्मापीड़ः कुवलय-दलोत्फुल्ल-नयनो
निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहित-चरणोऽनन्त-शिरसि ।
रसानन्दी राधा-सरस-वपुरालिङ्गन-सुखो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथगामी भवतु मे ॥६॥
Meaning: He is the ornament of the head of Lord Brahma and his eyes are like lotus and are fully opened. He resides on the Nilacala Hill, and His lotus feet are placed on the heads of Ananta Deva. He is filled with the taste of love and is happy in the embrace of the body of Sri Radharani, which is like a cool pond. I wish that Jagannatha Swami may be my vision.
Verse 7
na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ
na yāce 'haṁ ramyāṁ sakala jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (7)
न वै याचे राज्यं न च कनक माणिक्य विभवं
न याचेऽहं रम्यां सकल जन काम्यां वरवधूम् ।
सदा काले काले प्रमथ पतिना गीतचरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥७॥
Meaning: I do not ask for a kingdom, or wealth, or even a beautiful spouse. All I want is to have the privilege of seeing Lord Jagannatha, whose glory is sung by Lord Shiva.
Verse 8
hara tvaṁ saṁsāraṁ druta-taram asāraṁ sura-pate
hara tvaṁ pāpānāṁ vitatiṁ aparāṁ yādava-pate
aho dīne 'nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam idaṁ
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (8)
हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरम् असारं सुरपते
हर त्वं पापानां विततिम् अपरां यादवपते ।
अहो दीनेऽनाथे निहित चरणो निश्चितमिदं
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥८॥
Meaning: O my Lord of the demigods, please make me free from the pain of material life. O my Lord of the Yadus, I seek your pardon for my sins. Lord Jagannatha always gives refuge to those who surrender to Him. He is the one in whom I desire to see.
Benefits of Reciting Sri Jagannath Ashtakam
- Removes sins and purifies the soul.
- Grants devotion and blessings from Lord Jagannatha.
- Leads to liberation (moksha) and attainment of Vaikuntha.
- Fills the heart with divine love and peace.
- Bestows protection and well-being upon the devotee.
Conclusion
Sri Jagannath Ashtakam is a very popular hymn through which all the glory and beauty and compassion of Lord Jagannatha are encapsulated. The person who recites it gets the divine grace and the ultimate liberation if he recites it with faith and devotion. It is especially chanted during the Rath Yatra festival, which is an event where Lord Jagannatha’s mercy is invoked by all.
May Lord Jagannatha always be the object of our vision, and may he always bless us with eternal devotion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Sri Jagannath Ashtakam
Sri Jagannath Ashtakam is a revered hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lord Jagannatha of Puri, Odisha. It consists of eight verses (Ashtakam) glorifying the divine form, pastimes, and mercy of Lord Jagannatha.
The hymn was written by the great philosopher and saint, Adi Shankaracharya.
Sri Jagannath Ashtakam holds immense spiritual value, especially in the Vaishnavite tradition. It praises Lord Jagannatha’s divine attributes and is believed to grant purification of sins and liberation (moksha) to those who recite it with devotion.
Devotees often chant this hymn, particularly during the Rath Yatra festival and other auspicious occasions related to Lord Jagannatha.
Reciting the hymn with devotion is said to bestow spiritual blessings, purification of sins, divine protection, and ultimately lead to liberation.
The hymn highlights Lord Jagannatha’s enchanting form, his divine pastimes, his association with Radha and the Gopis, his residence at Nilachala (Puri), and his boundless compassion.
The hymn is written in Sanskrit.
The first verse describes Lord Jagannatha playing melodious tunes along the banks of the Yamuna, being adored by deities like Lakshmi, Shiva, and Brahma, and compares his devotees to bees attracted to the nectar of his divine presence.
The hymn portrays Lord Jagannatha as holding a flute, wearing a peacock feather, and residing in the grand temple of Puri alongside his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
One of the verses mentions Lord Jagannatha riding on a chariot, receiving praises from brahmanas and devotees, which directly aligns with the grand Rath Yatra festival held in Puri.
Yes, it references divine personalities such as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Brahma, Shiva, Indra, and Ganesha, all of whom revere Lord Jagannatha.
The final verse is a heartfelt plea for liberation, asking Lord Jagannatha to remove the sufferings of worldly existence and grant shelter to those who surrender to him.
The hymn can be found in various Hindu scriptures, devotional books, and online sources dedicated to Jagannatha worship.
It is best recited with devotion and a pure heart, preferably in front of Lord Jagannatha’s image or deity, especially during early mornings or evenings.
Yes, anyone with devotion and respect for Lord Jagannatha can recite the hymn, as Lord Jagannatha is considered the universal lord of all beings.
Also Read – Rath Yatra
Also Read – Snana Yatra