Shri Pashupati Ashtakam
Introduction to Shri Pashupati Ashtakam
The Shri Pashupati Ashtakam beginning with "Pashupatim Dyupatim Dharanipatim" is a powerful eight-verse hymn that glorifies Lord Shiva in His compassionate form as Pashupati — the lord and protector of all living beings (pashu). The opening verse itself reveals Shiva's universal lordship: He is the lord of heaven (Dyupati), the lord of earth (Dharanipati), and the lord of all creatures (Pashupati).
The name Pashupati has profound spiritual significance. In the yogic tradition, "pashu" refers to all bound souls entangled in the web of maya (illusion), and "pati" means lord or master. Thus, Pashupati is the compassionate lord who liberates all bound souls from their ignorance and leads them toward spiritual freedom. The famous Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, is one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the world, drawing millions of devotees who seek the lord's blessings.
Reciting the Pashupati Ashtakam with devotion is believed to invoke Lord Shiva's protective grace over all aspects of life, free the soul from bondage, and grant the ultimate blessing of spiritual liberation. It is especially powerful when chanted during Maha Shivaratri, on Mondays, and during pilgrimages to Shiva temples.
Shri Pashupati Ashtakam: Sanskrit, English & Tamil Verses
॥ श्री पशुपत्यष्टकम् ॥
॥ ध्यानम् ॥
ध्यायेन्नित्यं महेशं रजतगिरिनिभं चारुचन्द्रावतंसं
रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम्।
पद्मासीनं समन्तात्स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं
विश्वाद्यं विश्वबीजं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम्॥
॥ अथ स्तोत्रम् ॥
पशुपतिं द्युपतिं धरणीपतिं भुजगलोकपतिं च सतीपतिम्।
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥1॥
न जनको जननी न च सोदरो न तनयो न च भूरिबलं कुलम्।
अवति कोऽपि न कालवशं गतं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥2॥
मुरजडिण्डिमवाद्यविलक्षणं मधुरपञ्चमनादविशारदम्।
प्रमथभूतगणैरपि सेवितं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥3॥
शरणदं सुखदं शरणान्वितं शिव शिवेति शिवेति नतं नृणाम्।
अभयदं करुणावरुणालयं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥4॥
नरशिरोरचितं मणिकुण्डलं भुजगहारमुदं वृषभध्वजम्।
चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥5॥
मखविनाशकरं शशिशेखरं सततमध्वरभाजिफलप्रदम्।
प्रलयदग्धसुरासुरमानवं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥6॥
मदमपास्य चिरं हृदि संस्थितं मरणजन्मजराभयपीडितम्।
जगदुदीक्ष्य समीपभयाकुलं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥7॥
हरिविरञ्चिसुराधिपपूजितं यमजनेशधनेशनमस्कृतम्।
त्रिनयनं भुवनत्रितयाधिपं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥8॥
पशुपतेरिदमष्टकमद्भुतं विरचितं पृथिवीपतिसूरिणा।
पठति संशृणुते मनुजः सदा शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम्॥9॥
॥ इति श्रीपृथिवीपतिसूरिविरचितं श्रीपशुपत्यष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥
॥ Shri Pashupatyashtakam ॥
॥ Dhyanam ॥
Dhyayennityam Mahesham Rajatagirinibham Charuchandravatamsam
Ratnakalpoijjvalangam Parashumrigavarabhitihastam Prasannam।
Padmasinam Samantatstutamamaraganairvyaghrakrittim Vasanam
Vishvadyam Vishvabijam Nikhilabhayaharam Panchavaktram Trinetram॥
॥ Atha Stotram ॥
Pashupatim Dyupatim Dharanipatim Bhujagalokapatim Cha Satipatim।
Pranatabhaktajanartiharam Param Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥1॥
Na Janako Janani Na Cha Sodaro Na Tanayo Na Cha Bhuribalam Kulam।
Avati Ko'pi Na Kalavasham Gatam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥2॥
Murajadindimavadyavilakshanam Madhurapanchamanadavisharadam।
Pramathabhutaganairapi Sevitam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥3॥
Sharanadam Sukhadam Sharananvitam Shiva Shiveti Shiveti Natam Nrinam।
Abhayadam Karunavarунalayam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥4॥
Narashirorachitam Manikundalam Bhujagaharamudam Vrishabhadhvajam।
Chitirajodhavalidhritavиgraham Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥5॥
Makhavinashakaram Shashishekharam Satatamadhvarabhajiphalapradam।
Pralayadagdhasurasuramanavam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥6॥
Madamapasya Chiram Hridi Samsthitam Maranajanamajarabhaypиditam।
Jagadudikshya Samipabhayakulam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥7॥
Hariviranchisuradhipapujitam Yamajaneshadhaneshanamaskritam।
Trinayanam Bhuvanatritayadhipam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥8॥
Pashupateridamashtakamadbhutam Virachitam Prithivipatisuurina।
Pathati Samshrinute Manujah Sada Shivapurim Vasate Labhate Mudam॥9॥
॥ Iti Shriprithivipatisuurivirachitam Shri Pashupatyashtakam Sampurnam ॥
॥ ஶ்ரீ பஶுபத்யஷ்டகம் ॥
॥ த்யானம் ॥
த்யாயேந்நித்யம் மஹேஶம் ரஜதகிரினிபம் சாருசந்த்ராவதம்ஸம்
ரத்னாகல்போஜ்ஜ்வலாங்கம் பரஶும்ருகவராபீதிஹஸ்தம் ப்ரஸன்னம்।
பத்மாஸீனம் ஸமந்தாத்ஸ்துதமமரகணைர்வ்யாக்ரக்ருத்திம் வஸானம்
விஶ்வாத்யம் விஶ்வபீஜம் நிகிலபயஹரம் பஞ்சவக்த்ரம் த்ரிநேத்ரம்॥
॥ அத ஸ்தோத்ரம் ॥
பஶுபதிம் த்யுபதிம் தரணீபதிம் புஜகலோகபதிம் ச ஸதீபதிம்।
ப்ரணதபக்தஜனார்திஹரம் பரம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥1॥
ந ஜனகோ ஜனனீ ந ச ஸோதரோ ந தனயோ ந ச பூரிபலம் குலம்।
அவதி கோ(அ)பி ந காலவஶம் கதம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥2॥
முரஜடிண்டிமவாத்யவிலக்ஷணம் மதுரபஞ்சமநாதவிஶாரதம்।
ப்ரமதபூதகணைரபி ஸேவிதம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥3॥
ஶரணதம் ஸுகதம் ஶரணான்விதம் ஶிவ ஶிவேதி ஶிவேதி நதம் ந்ருணாம்।
அபயதம் கருணாவருணாலயம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥4॥
நரஶிரோரசிதம் மணிகுண்டலம் புஜகஹாரமுதம் வ்ருஷபத்வஜம்।
சிதிரஜோதவலீக்ருதவிக்ரஹம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥5॥
மகவிநாஶகரம் ஶஶிஶேகரம் ஸததமத்வரபாஜிபலப்ரதம்।
ப்ரலயதக்தஸுராஸுரமானவம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥6॥
மதமபாஸ்ய சிரம் ஹ்ருதி ஸம்ஸ்திதம் மரணஜன்மஜராபயபீடிதம்।
ஜகதுதீக்ஷ்ய ஸமீபபயாகுலம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥7॥
ஹரிவிரஞ்சிஸுராதிபபூஜிதம் யமஜனேஶதனேஶநமஸ்க்ருதம்।
த்ரிநயனம் புவனத்ரிதயாதிபம் பஜத ரே மனுஜா கிரிஜாபதிம்॥8॥
பஶுபதேரிதமஷ்டகமத்புதம் விரசிதம் ப்ருதிவீபதிஸூரிணா ।
படதி ஸம்ஶ்ருணுதே மனுஜः ஸதா ஶிவபுரீம் வஸதே லபதே முதம்॥9॥
॥ இதி ஶ்ரீப்ருதிவீபதிஸூரிவிரசிதம் ஶ்ரீபஶுபத்யஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥
॥ శ్రీ పశుపత్యష్టకం ॥
॥ ధ్యానం ॥
ధ్యాయేన్నిత్యం మహేశం రజతగిరినిభం చారుచంద్రావతంసం
రత్నాకల్పోజ్జ్వలాంగం పరశుమృగవరాభీతిహస్తం ప్రసన్నం।
పద్మాసీనం సమంతాత్స్తుతమమరగణైర్వ్యాఘ్రకృత్తిం వసానం
విశ్వాద్యం విశ్వబీజం నిఖిలభయహరం పంచవక్త్రం త్రినేత్రం॥
॥ అథ స్తోత్రం ॥
పశుపతిం ద్యుపతిం ధరణీపతిం భుజగలోకపతిం చ సతీపతిం।
ప్రణతభక్తజనార్తిహరం పరం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥1॥
న జనకో జననీ న చ సోదరో న తనయో న చ భూరిబలం కులం।
అవతి కోఽపి న కాలవశం గతం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥2॥
మురజడిండిమవాద్యవిలక్షణం మధురపంచమనాదవిశారదం।
ప్రమథభూతగణైరపి సేవితం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥3॥
శరణదం సుఖదం శరణాన్వితం శివ శివేతి శివేతి నతం నృణాం।
అభయదం కరుణావరుణాలయం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥4॥
నరశిరోరచితం మణికుండలం భుజగహారముదం వృషభధ్వజం।
చితిరజోధవలీకృతవిగ్రహం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥5॥
మఖవినాశకరం శశిశేఖరం సతతమధ్వరభాజిఫలప్రదం।
ప్రలయదగ్ధసురాసురమానవం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥6॥
మదమపాస్య చిరం హృది సంస్థితం మరణజన్మజరాభయపీడితం।
జగదుదీక్ష్య సమీపభయాకులం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥7॥
హరివిరంచిసురాధిపపూజితం యమజనేశధనేశనమస్కృతం।
త్రినయనం భువనత్రితయాధిపం భజత రే మనుజా గిరిజాపతిం॥8॥
పశుపతేరిదమష్టకమద్భుతం విరచితం పృథివీపతిసూరిణా ।
పఠతి సంశృణుతే మనుజః సదా శివపురీం వసతే లభతే ముదం॥9॥
॥ ఇతి శ్రీపృథివీపతిసూరివిరచితం శ్రీపశుపత్యష్టకం సంపూర్ణం ॥
Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Shri Pashupati Ashtakam
ॐ Dhyanam (Meditation Verse)
रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम्।
पद्मासीनं समन्तात्स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं
विश्वाद्यं विश्वबीजं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम्॥
1 First Verse
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
2 Second Verse
अवति कोऽपि न कालवशं गतं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
3 Third Verse
प्रमथभूतगणैरपि सेवितं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
4 Fourth Verse
अभयदं करुणावरुणालयं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
5 Fifth Verse
चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
6 Sixth Verse
प्रलयदग्धसुरासुरमानवं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
7 Seventh Verse
जगदुदीक्ष्य समीपभयाकुलं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
8 Eighth Verse
त्रिनयनं भुवनत्रितयाधिपं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥
✦ Phala Shruti (Verse 9)
पठति संशृणुते मनुजः सदा शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम्॥
Spiritual Benefits of Reciting Shri Pashupati Ashtakam
- Freedom from Bondage: Liberates the soul from the bonds of maya and worldly attachments
- Universal Protection: Invokes Pashupati's protective grace over all living beings
- Spiritual Liberation: Opens the path to moksha through the lord of all souls
- Removes Fear: Eliminates fear of death and the unknown through Shiva's grace
- Purifies Karma: Burns away negative karmic bonds accumulated over lifetimes
- Divine Compassion: Awakens compassion for all beings, reflecting Pashupati's nature
- Inner Peace: Bestows deep tranquility and freedom from anxiety
- Yogic Advancement: Enhances meditation practice and spiritual discipline
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 Pashupati's continued blessings
Frequently Asked Questions about Shri Pashupati Ashtakam
What is the Pashupati Ashtakam?
The Pashupati Ashtakam (श्री पशुपत्यष्टकम्) is a sacred eight-verse hymn that glorifies Lord Shiva in His compassionate form as Pashupati — the lord and protector of all living beings. Beginning with "Pashupatim Dyupatim Dharanipatim," each verse ends with the powerful refrain "Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim" — "O humans, worship the Lord of Girija (Parvati)." It includes a Dhyanam (meditation verse) and a Phala Shruti describing the fruits of recitation.
Who composed the Pashupati Ashtakam?
The Pashupati Ashtakam was composed by Shri Prithivipati Suri, as stated in the colophon ("Iti Shri Prithivipatisuri Virachitam Shri Pashupatyashtakam Sampurnam"). The phala shruti (verse 9) also confirms this: "Virachitam Prithivipatisuurina" — composed by the wise Prithivipati. He was a learned Sanskrit scholar deeply devoted to Lord Shiva.
What does "Pashupati" mean?
"Pashupati" is a compound of two Sanskrit words: "Pashu" (पशु) meaning all living beings or bound souls, and "Pati" (पति) meaning lord, master, or protector. In the yogic tradition, "pashu" refers to individual souls (jivas) bound by the ropes of maya (illusion), and Pashupati is the compassionate lord who liberates these bound souls. The name thus signifies Shiva as the supreme protector and liberator of all sentient beings in the universe.
When is the best time to chant the Pashupati Ashtakam?
The most auspicious times for chanting the Pashupati Ashtakam are during Maha Shivaratri, on Mondays (Shiva's sacred day), and during the Pradosha Kala (twilight hours). The holy month of Shravan is especially powerful. It is ideal to chant early in the morning after a bath, or during evening Sandhya. Reciting it 1, 3, or 11 times with one-pointed devotion is recommended. The hymn is also traditionally chanted during pilgrimages to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.
What are the benefits of reciting the Pashupati Ashtakam?
The Phala Shruti (verse 9) promises that whoever recites or listens to this hymn will dwell in Shiva's divine abode (Shivapuri/Kailash) and attain supreme bliss (mudam). The ashtakam liberates the soul from the bonds of maya, removes the fear of death and old age (as described in verse 7), bestows the fearlessness (abhaya) mentioned in verse 4, purifies negative karma, and awakens compassion for all beings — reflecting Pashupati's own compassionate nature as the protector of every living creature.
What is the significance of the refrain "Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim"?
The refrain "भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्" translates to "O humans, worship the Lord of Girija!" — "Girija" (गिरिजा) meaning "born of the mountain" is a name for Parvati, and "Pati" (पति) means lord/husband. The word "भजत" (bhajata) is an imperative — a direct, urgent call to worship. "रे मनुजा" (re manuja) is a passionate address: "O humans!" This refrain serves as both a mantra and a wake-up call, reminding listeners that in a world tormented by death and suffering (as verse 7 describes), the only true refuge is the worship of Lord Shiva, the compassionate husband of Parvati.
Is Shri Pashupati Ashtakam available in Tamil?
Yes. This page includes Shri Pashupati Ashtakam in Tamil script along with Sanskrit (Devanagari) and English transliteration for easier chanting and study.