Study guide
Vishwanathashtakam Guide - Eight Verses to Kashi Vishvanatha
Guide to Vishwanathashtakam: eight verses to Shiva as Lord of Varanasi, each closing with worship Vishvanath, with English meaning and links to Shankaracharya's Kashi hymns.
Vishwanathashtakam (विश्वनाथाष्टकम्) is a beloved hymn to Shiva as Lord of Varanasi. Traditionally attributed to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, it praises Vishvanatha, the sovereign of Kashi who grants liberation to those who remember him with devotion. Each of its eight verses paints another aspect of the Lord and closes with the refrain: worship the Lord of Varanasi, Vishvanath.
The hymn moves from iconographic praise to Vedantic depth. Ganga adorns his locks, Gauri graces his left side, and Kama's pride is stolen at a glance. Later verses praise the Lord as luminous, with and without qualities, abode of dispassion, and finally the Supreme seated in the heart-lotus when hope, blame, and sinful attachment are renounced. Shankara holds bhakti and inquiry together: the same Lord of Kashi is both the beautiful three-eyed form and the inner reality beyond speech.
Place in the Kashi and Shiva collections
Vishwanathashtakam belongs to the Shiva collection and the sacred-places hymns to Kashi. Read Dwadashalinga Stotram and Manikarnikashtakam for related Kashi praise. The Shiva stotras guide and travel and compositions guide offer broader context.
Verse by verse
- Verse 1- Ganga in locks, Gauri at his side, stealer of Kama's pride
- Verse 2 - beyond speech; worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and gods
- Verse 3 - lord of beings, serpent-ornamented, clad in tiger skin
- Verse 4- moon-crested; brow fire dried Kama's five arrows
- Verse 5 - destroyer of sin, grief, death, and old age
- Verse 6 - luminous, with and without qualities; bliss-root Self
- Verse 7 - free from passion; abode of dispassion and peace
- Verse 8 - renouncing hope and blame; Supreme in the heart-lotus
How to use this edition
Open the Vishwanathashtakam hubfor synopsis and verse grid. Use Chant mode for uninterrupted recitation. Compare with Kalabhairavashtakam guidefor another Kashi hymn, or Shiva Bhujangam guide for a longer Shiva praise in bhujanga metre.
Common questions
- What is Vishwanathashtakam?
- Vishwanathashtakam is an eight-verse hymn to Shiva as Vishvanatha, Lord of Varanasi. Each verse paints another aspect of the Kashi Lord and closes with the refrain to worship the Lord of Varanasi.
- When is it chanted in Kashi?
- Devotees recite it at Vishwanath temple, during Kashi pilgrimage, and on Mondays dedicated to Shiva. It is among the most beloved Kashi hymns attributed to Shankaracharya.
- What related hymns are on this site?
- Pair it with Dwadashalinga Stotram, Manikarnikashtakam, and Kalabhairavashtakam. The Shankaracharya travel guide covers pilgrimage hymns to sacred places.
- How long does it take to chant?
- Most devotees complete all eight verses in about five minutes at a moderate pace.