Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam
Introduction to Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam
The Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam with its enchanting refrain "Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja Gaurisham" is a devotional eight-verse hymn that celebrates Lord Shiva as the beloved consort of Goddess Gauri (Parvati). The term "Gaurisha" literally means "the lord of Gauri," highlighting the inseparable bond between Shiva and Shakti, the divine masculine and feminine principles of the universe.
This beautiful ashtakam repeatedly urges devotees to worship Gaurisha — Lord Shiva in His most gracious form as the divine husband of Parvati. Each verse reveals a different facet of Shiva's glory while the refrain "Bhaja Gaurisham" serves as a powerful invocation, reminding the seeker that true devotion to Shiva also honors the divine feminine energy represented by Goddess Gauri.
Reciting the Gaurisha Ashtakam with devotion is believed to invoke the combined blessings of Shiva and Parvati, granting marital harmony, family prosperity, spiritual wisdom, and ultimate liberation. It is especially auspicious when chanted on Mondays, during Shravan, and on festivals dedicated to Shiva-Parvati.
Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam: Sanskrit, English & Tamil Verses
॥ श्री गौरीशाष्टकम ॥
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते।
जलभवदुस्तरजलधिसुतरणं
ध्येयं चित्ते शिवहरचरणम्।
अन्योपायं न हि न हि सत्यं
गेयं शङ्कर शङ्कर नित्यम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥1॥
दारापत्यं क्षेत्रं वित्तं
देहं गेहं सर्वमनित्यम्।
इति परिभावय सर्वमसारं
गर्भविकृत्या स्वप्नविचारम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥2॥
मलवैचित्ये पुनरावृत्तिः
पुनरपि जननीजठरोत्पत्तिः।
पुनरप्याशाकुलितं जठरं किं
नहि मुञ्चसि कथयेश्चित्तम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥3॥
मायाकल्पितमैन्द्रं जालं
नहि तत्सत्यं दृष्टिविकारम्।
ज्ञाते तत्त्वे सर्वमसारं
मा कुरु मा कुरु विषयविचारम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥4॥
रज्जौ सर्पभ्रमणा-रोपः
तद्वद्ब्रह्मणि जगदारोपः।
मिथ्यामायामोहविकारं
मनसि विचारय बारम्बारम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥5॥
अध्वरकोटीगङ्गागमनं
कुरुते योगं चेन्द्रियदमनम्।
ज्ञानविहीनः सर्वमतेन
न भवति मुक्तो जन्मशतेन।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥6॥
सोऽहं हंसो ब्रह्मैवाहं
शुद्धानन्दस्तत्त्वपरोऽहम्।
अद्वैतोऽहं सङ्गविहीने
चेन्द्रिय आत्मनि निखिले लीने।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥7॥
शङ्करकिंङ्कर मा कुरु चिन्तां
चिंतामणिना विरचितमेतत्।
यः सद्भक्त्या पठति हि नित्यं
ब्रह्मणि लीनो भवति हि सत्यम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥8॥
॥ इति श्रीचिन्तामणिविरचितं गौरीशाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
॥ Shri Gaurishashtakama ॥
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate।
JalabhavadustarajaladhisutaranamDhyeyam Chitte Shivaharacharanam।
Anyopayam Na Hi Na Hi SatyamGeyam Shankara Shankara Nityam।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥1॥
Darapatyam Kshetram VittamDeham Geham Sarvamanityam।
Iti Paribhavaya SarvamasaramGarbhavikritya Svapnavicharam।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥2॥
Malavaichitye PunaravrittihPunarapi Jananijatharotpattih।
Punarapyashakulitam Jatharam KimNahi Munchasi Kathayeshchittam।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥3॥
Mayakalpitamaindram Jalam NaHi Tatsatyam Drishtivikaram।
Jnate Tattve Sarvamasaram MaKuru Ma Kuru Vishayavicharam।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥4॥
Rajjau Sarpabhramana-Ropastadvadbrahmani Jagadaropah।
MithyamayamohavikaramManasi Vicharaya Barambaram।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥5॥
Adhvarakotigangagamanam KuruteYogam Chendriyadamanam।
Jnanavihinah Sarvamatena NaBhavati Mukto Janmashatena।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥6॥
Soaham Hamso BrahmaivahamShuddhanandastattvaparoaham।
Advaitoaham SangavihineChendriya Atmani Nikhile Line।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥7॥
Shankarakimnkara Ma Kuru ChintamChimtamanina Virachitametat।
Yah Sadbhaktya Pathati Hi NityamBrahmani Lino Bhavati Hi Satyam।
Bhaja Gaurisham Bhaja GaurishamGaurisham Bhaja Mandamate॥8॥
॥ Iti Shrichintamanivirachitam Gaurishashtakam Sampurnam ॥
॥ ஶ்ரீ கௌரீஶாஷ்டகம ॥
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே।
ஜலபவதுஸ்தரஜலதிஸுதரணம்த்யேயம் சித்தே ஶிவஹரசரணம்।
அன்யோபாயம் ந ஹி ந ஹி ஸத்யம்கேயம் ஶங்கர ஶங்கர நித்யம்।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥1॥
தாராபத்யம் க்ஷேத்ரம் வித்தம்தேஹம் கேஹம் ஸர்வமநித்யம்।
இதி பரிபாவய ஸர்வமஸாரம்கர்பவிக்ருத்யா ஸ்வப்னவிசாரம்।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥2॥
மலவைசித்யே புனராவ்ருத்திःபுனரபி ஜனனீஜடரோத்பத்திः।
புனரப்யாஶாகுலிதம் ஜடரம் கிம்நஹி முஞ்சஸி கதயேஶ்சித்தம்।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥3॥
மாயாகல்பிதமைந்த்ரம் ஜாலம் நஹி தத்ஸத்யம் த்ருஷ்டிவிகாரம்।
ஜ்ஞாதே தத்த்வே ஸர்வமஸாரம் மாகுரு மா குரு விஷயவிசாரம்।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥4॥
ரஜ்ஜௌ ஸர்பப்ரமணா-ரோபஸ்தத்வத்ப்ரஹ்மணி ஜகதாரோபः।
மித்யாமாயாமோஹவிகாரம்மனஸி விசாரய பாரம்பாரம்।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥5॥
அத்வரகோடீகங்காகமனம் குருதேயோகம் சேந்த்ரியதமனம்।
ஜ்ஞானவிஹீனः ஸர்வமதேன நபவதி முக்தோ ஜன்மஶதேன।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥6॥
ஸோ(அ)ஹம் ஹம்ஸோ ப்ரஹ்மைவாஹம்ஶுத்தானந்தஸ்தத்த்வபரோ(அ)ஹம்।
அத்வைதோ(அ)ஹம் ஸங்கவிஹீனேசேந்த்ரிய ஆத்மனி நிகிலே லீனே।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥7॥
ஶங்கரகிம்ங்கர மா குரு சிந்தாம்சிந்தாமணினா விரசிதமேதத்।
யः ஸத்பக்த்யா படதி ஹி நித்யம்ப்ரஹ்மணி லீனோ பவதி ஹி ஸத்யம்।
பஜ கௌரீஶம் பஜ கௌரீஶம்கௌரீஶம் பஜ மந்தமதே॥8॥
॥ இதி ஶ்ரீசிந்தாமணிவிரசிதம் கௌரீஶாஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥
॥ శ్రీ గౌరీశాష్టకమ ॥
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే।
జలభవదుస్తరజలధిసుతరణం
ధ్యేయం చిత్తే శివహరచరణం।
అన్యోపాయం న హి న హి సత్యం
గేయం శంకర శంకర నిత్యం।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥1॥
దారాపత్యం క్షేత్రం విత్తం
దేహం గేహం సర్వమనిత్యం।
ఇతి పరిభావయ సర్వమసారం
గర్భవికృత్యా స్వప్నవిచారం।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥2॥
మలవైచిత్యే పునరావృత్తిః
పునరపి జననీజఠరోత్పత్తిః।
పునరప్యాశాకులితం జఠరం కిం
నహి ముంచసి కథయేశ్చిత్తం।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥3॥
మాయాకల్పితమైంద్రం జాలం
నహి తత్సత్యం దృష్టివికారం।
జ్ఞాతే తత్త్వే సర్వమసారం
మాకురు మా కురు విషయవిచారం।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥4॥
రజ్జౌ సర్పభ్రమణా-రోపస్
తద్వద్బ్రహ్మణి జగదారోపః।
మిథ్యామాయామోహవికారం
మనసి విచారయ బారంబారం।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥5॥
అధ్వరకోటీగంగాగమనం
కురుతేయోగం చేంద్రియదమనం।
జ్ఞానవిహీనః సర్వమతేన
నభవతి ముక్తో జన్మశతేన।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥6॥
సోఽహం హంసో బ్రహ్మైవాహం
శుద్ధానందస్తత్త్వపరోఽహం।
అద్వైతోఽహం సంగవిహీనే
చేంద్రియ ఆత్మని నిఖిలే లీనే।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥7॥
శంకరకింంకర మా కురు చింతాం
చింతామణినా విరచితమేతత్।
యః సద్భక్త్యా పఠతి హి నిత్యం
బ్రహ్మణి లీనో భవతి హి సత్యం।
భజ గౌరీశం భజ గౌరీశం
గౌరీశం భజ మందమతే॥8॥
॥ ఇతి శ్రీచింతామణివిరచితం గౌరీశాష్టకం సంపూర్ణం ॥
Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam
1 First Verse
ध्येयं चित्ते शिवहरचरणम्।
अन्योपायं न हि न हि सत्यं
गेयं शङ्कर शङ्कर नित्यम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
2 Second Verse
देहं गेहं सर्वमनित्यम्।
इति परिभावय सर्वमसारं
गर्भविकृत्या स्वप्नविचारम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
3 Third Verse
पुनरपि जननीजठरोत्पत्तिः।
पुनरप्याशाकुलितं जठरं किं
नहि मुञ्चसि कथयेश्चित्तम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
4 Fourth Verse
नहि तत्सत्यं दृष्टिविकारम्।
ज्ञाते तत्त्वे सर्वमसारं
मा कुरु मा कुरु विषयविचारम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
5 Fifth Verse
तद्वद्ब्रह्मणि जगदारोपः।
मिथ्यामायामोहविकारं
मनसि विचारय बारम्बारम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
6 Sixth Verse
कुरुते योगं चेन्द्रियदमनम्।
ज्ञानविहीनः सर्वमतेन
न भवति मुक्तो जन्मशतेन।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
7 Seventh Verse
शुद्धानन्दस्तत्त्वपरोऽहम्।
अद्वैतोऽहं सङ्गविहीने
चेन्द्रिय आत्मनि निखिले लीने।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
✦ Eighth Verse (Phala Shruti)
चिंतामणिना विरचितमेतत्।
यः सद्भक्त्या पठति हि नित्यं
ब्रह्मणि लीनो भवति हि सत्यम्।
भज गौरीशं भज गौरीशं
गौरीशं भज मन्दमते॥
Spiritual Benefits of Reciting Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam
- Divine Couple's Blessings: Invokes the combined grace of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
- Marital Harmony: Strengthens marital bonds and brings peace to family life
- Removes Obstacles: Clears hurdles in personal and spiritual endeavors
- Spiritual Wisdom: Bestows deep understanding of the Shiva-Shakti principle
- Inner Balance: Harmonizes the masculine and feminine energies within
- Purifies Heart: Cleanses the heart of negativity and fills it with devotion
- Prosperity: Brings material and spiritual abundance to the household
- Liberation: Guides the devotee toward ultimate spiritual freedom
Chanting Instructions
- Sit facing east or north in a clean, quiet place
- Light a diya (lamp) and incense before Lord Shiva's image or Shiva Lingam
- Offer bilva leaves, water, and white flowers to Mahadeva
- Chant with pure devotion and clear pronunciation
- Ideal times: early morning, during Maha Shivaratri, or Mondays
- Recite 1, 3, or 11 times for maximum spiritual benefit
- Conclude with a prayer seeking Lord Shiva's continued blessings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam
What is the Gaurisha Ashtakam?
The Gaurisha Ashtakam is a sacred eight-verse Sanskrit hymn that glorifies Lord Shiva as "Gaurisha" — the Lord and beloved consort of Goddess Gauri (Parvati). Composed by the poet Chintamani, it carries the powerful refrain "Bhaja Gaurisham" (worship the Lord of Gauri) and imparts deep Advaita Vedantic wisdom, urging the seeker to renounce worldly illusion and realize the Supreme Brahman through devotion to Shiva.
Who composed the Gaurisha Ashtakam?
According to the colophon verse (Phala Shruti) of the hymn itself — "चिन्तामणिना विरचितमेतत्" — the Gaurisha Ashtakam was composed by a saint-poet named Chintamani. The name "Chintamani" also means "wish-fulfilling gem," symbolizing that this hymn itself is like a divine gem that fulfills the supreme wish of spiritual liberation.
What is the meaning of "Bhaja Gaurisham"?
"Bhaja Gaurisham" translates to "Worship the Lord of Gauri." Here, "Bhaja" means to worship or serve with devotion, "Gauri" refers to Goddess Parvati (the golden or fair one), and "Isha" means Lord or ruler. Thus "Gaurisha" is Lord Shiva in His aspect as the divine husband of Parvati, and the refrain is a repeated call to devote oneself to this supreme form of Shiva.
What are the spiritual benefits of reciting the Gaurisha Ashtakam?
Regular recitation of the Gaurisha Ashtakam is believed to grant discernment between the real and the unreal (Viveka), detachment from worldly illusions, purification of the mind, and ultimately, absorption in Brahman (Brahma-Laya). As the Phala Shruti declares, one who recites it daily with true devotion "truly becomes merged in Brahman." It also invokes the combined blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for marital harmony and family well-being.
When is the best time to chant the Gaurisha Ashtakam?
The most auspicious times to chant the Gaurisha Ashtakam are during the Brahma Muhurta (approximately 4:00–5:30 AM), on Mondays (Somvar — the day of Lord Shiva), during the holy month of Shravan, and on festivals like Maha Shivaratri. However, the hymn can be recited at any time with sincere devotion. Chanting it 1, 3, or 11 times daily before a Shiva Lingam or image of Shiva-Parvati enhances its spiritual potency.
What philosophical teaching does the Gaurisha Ashtakam convey?
The Gaurisha Ashtakam teaches the core principles of Advaita Vedanta through devotion to Lord Shiva. It declares the impermanence of worldly attachments (wife, wealth, body, home), illustrates the concept of superimposition (Adhyasa) through the rope-snake analogy, emphasizes that rituals without knowledge cannot grant liberation, and culminates in the realization of "So'ham" (I am He) and "Brahmaivāham" (I am Brahman). It beautifully bridges Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (knowledge) as paths to the same truth.
Is Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam available in Tamil?
Yes. This page includes Shri Gaurisha Ashtakam in Tamil script along with Sanskrit (Devanagari) and English transliteration for convenient chanting.