Shri Rama Ashtakam
Introduction to Shri Rama Ashtakam
The Shri Rama Ashtakam beginning with "Kritartadevavandanam" is a magnificent eight-verse hymn that glorifies Lord Rama — the Maryada Purushottam (the supreme ideal person), the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and the embodiment of dharma, virtue, and righteous conduct.
This ashtakam praises Lord Rama as the one whom even the gods worship and honor. It describes His divine qualities — His unwavering commitment to truth, His compassion for all beings, His valor in vanquishing evil, and His role as the ideal son, husband, brother, and king. Each verse illuminates a different aspect of Rama's supreme personality.
Reciting the Rama Ashtakam instills the virtues of dharma in the devotee's heart, grants protection from adversity, and brings the blessings of Lord Rama's divine grace. It is especially powerful when chanted on Ram Navami, Tuesdays, during Chaitra month, and at any time one seeks courage and righteousness.
Shri Rama Ashtakam: Sanskrit, English & Tamil Verses
॥ श्रीरामाष्टकम् ॥
कृतार्तदेववन्दनंदिनेशवंशनन्दनम्।
सुशोभिभालचन्दनंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥1॥
मुनीन्द्रयज्ञकारकंशिलाविपत्तिहारकम्।
महाधनुर्विदारकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥2॥
स्वतातवाक्यकारिणंतपोवने विहारिणम्।
करे सुचापधारिणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥3॥
कुरङ्गमुक्तसायकंजटायुमोक्षदायकम्।
प्रविद्धकीशनायकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥4॥
प्लवङ्गसङ्गसम्मतिंनिबद्धनिम्नगापतिम्।
दशास्यवंशसङ्क्षतिंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥5॥
विदीनदेवहर्षणंकपीप्सितार्थवर्षणम्।
स्वबन्धुशोककर्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥6॥
गतारिराज्यरक्षणंप्रजाजनार्तिभक्षणम्।
कृतास्तमोहलक्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥7॥
हृताखिलाचलाभरंस्वधामनीतनागरम्।
जगत्तमोदिवाकरंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥8॥
इदं समाहितात्मनानरो रघूत्तमाष्टकम्।
पठन्निरन्तरं भयंभवोद्भवं न विन्दते॥9॥
॥ इति श्रीपरमहंसस्वामिब्रह्मानन्दविरचितं श्रीरामाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
॥ Shri Ramashtakam ॥
Kritaartadevavandanam Dineshavamshanandanam.
Sushobhibhaaalachandanam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥1॥
Muneendrayajnaakarakam Shilaavipattiharakam.
Mahaadhanurvidaarakam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥2॥
Svataatavaakyakaarinam Tapovane Vihaarinam.
Kare Suchaapaadhaarinnam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥3॥
Kurangamuktasaayakam Jataayumokshadaayakam.
Praviddhakeeshanaayakam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥4॥
Plavangasangasammatim Nibaddhanimnagaapatim.
Dashaasyavamshasankshyatim Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥5॥
Videenadevaharshanam Kapeepsitaarthavarshanam.
Svabandhushokakarshanam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥6॥
Gataariraajyarakshanam Prajaajanaartibhakshanam.
Kritaastamohalakshanam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥7॥
Hritaakhilaachalaabharam Svadhaaamaneeta Naagaram.
Jagattamodivakaram Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥8॥
Idam Samaahitaatmanaanaro Raghuttamashtakam.
Pathannirantaram Bhayam Bhavodbhavam Na Vindate.॥9॥
॥ Iti Shri Paramahamsa Svaami Brahmaananda Virachitam Shri Raamashtakam Sampoornam ॥
॥ ஶ்ரீராமாஷ்டகம் ॥
க்ருதார்ததேவவந்தனம்தினேஶவம்ஶநந்தனம்।
ஸுஶோபிபாலசந்தனம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥1॥
முனீந்த்ரயஜ்ஞகாரகம்ஶிலாவிபத்திஹாரகம்।
மஹாதனுர்விதாரகம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥2॥
ஸ்வதாதவாக்யகாரிணம்தபோவனே விஹாரிணம்।
கரே ஸுசாபதாரிணம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥3॥
குரங்கமுக்தஸாயகம்ஜடாயுமோக்ஷதாயகம்।
ப்ரவித்தகீஶநாயகம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥4॥
ப்லவங்கஸங்கஸம்மதிம்நிபத்தனிம்னகாபதிம்।
தஶாஸ்யவம்ஶஸங்க்ஷதிம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥5॥
விதீனதேவஹர்ஷணம்கபீப்ஸிதார்தவர்ஷணம்।
ஸ்வபந்துஶோககர்ஷணம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥6॥
கதாரிராஜ்யரக்ஷணம்ப்ரஜாஜனார்திபக்ஷணம்।
க்ருதாஸ்தமோஹலக்ஷணம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥7॥
ஹ்ருதாகிலாசலாபரம்ஸ்வதாமனீதநாகரம்।
ஜகத்தமோதிவாகரம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥8॥
இதம் ஸமாஹிதாத்மனாநரோ ரகூத்தமாஷ்டகம்।
படந்நிரந்தரம் பயம்பவோத்பவம் ந விந்ததே॥9॥
॥ இதி ஶ்ரீபரமஹம்ஸஸ்வாமிப்ரஹ்மானந்தவிரசிதம் ஶ்ரீராமாஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥
॥ శ్రీరామాష్టకం ॥
కృతార్తదేవవందనందినేశవంశనందనం।
సుశోభిభాలచందనంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥1॥
మునీంద్రయజ్ఞకారకంశిలావిపత్తిహారకం।
మహాధనుర్విదారకంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥2॥
స్వతాతవాక్యకారిణంతపోవనే విహారిణం।
కరే సుచాపధారిణంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥3॥
కురంగముక్తసాయకంజటాయుమోక్షదాయకం।
ప్రవిద్ధకీశనాయకంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥4॥
ప్లవంగసంగసమ్మతింనిబద్ధనిమ్నగాపతిం।
దశాస్యవంశసంక్షతింనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥5॥
విదీనదేవహర్షణంకపీప్సితార్థవర్షణం।
స్వబంధుశోకకర్షణంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥6॥
గతారిరాజ్యరక్షణంప్రజాజనార్తిభక్షణం।
కృతాస్తమోహలక్షణంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥7॥
హృతాఖిలాచలాభరంస్వధామనీతనాగరం।
జగత్తమోదివాకరంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥8॥
ఇదం సమాహితాత్మనానరో రఘూత్తమాష్టకం।
పఠన్నిరంతరం భయంభవోద్భవం న విందతే॥9॥
॥ ఇతి శ్రీపరమహంసస్వామిబ్రహ్మానందవిరచితం శ్రీరామాష్టకం సంపూర్ణం ॥
Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Shri Rama Ashtakam
1 First Verse
सुशोभिभालचन्दनंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
2 Second Verse
महाधनुर्विदारकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
3 Third Verse
करे सुचापधारिणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
4 Fourth Verse
प्रविद्धकीशनायकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
5 Fifth Verse
दशास्यवंशसङ्क्षतिंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
6 Sixth Verse
स्वबन्धुशोककर्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
7 Seventh Verse
कृतास्तमोहलक्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
8 Eighth Verse
जगत्तमोदिवाकरंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
✦ Phala Shruti (Verse 9)
पठन्निरन्तरं भयंभवोद्भवं न विन्दते॥
Spiritual Benefits of Reciting Shri Rama Ashtakam
- Instills Dharma: Strengthens commitment to righteousness
- Grants Courage: Bestows fearlessness in facing life's challenges
- Divine Protection: Shields from evil and negative forces
- Purifies Character: Cultivates noble virtues and conduct
- Removes Sins: Burns accumulated karmic debts
- Bestows Peace: Brings harmony to family and relationships
- Grants Victory: Ensures success in righteous endeavors
- Leads to Liberation: Opens the path to moksha through Rama's grace
Chanting Instructions
- Sit in a clean, quiet place facing east or north
- Light a lamp and incense before the image of Lord Rama
- Offer tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, or water to the Lord
- Chant with devotion, meditating on Rama's divine qualities
- Ideal times: Brahma Muhurta, Ram Navami, Tuesdays, Chaitra month
- Recite 1, 3, or 11 times for maximum spiritual benefit
- Conclude with "Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram"
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Shri Rama Ashtakam
What is Shri Rama Ashtakam?
Shri Rama Ashtakam, also known as Kritartadevavandanam, is a sacred eight-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda that glorifies Lord Rama — the Maryada Purushottam, seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Each verse ends with the refrain "Namaami Raamamishvaram" (I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord) and describes a different aspect of Rama's divine life and qualities.
Who composed the Shri Rama Ashtakam?
The Shri Rama Ashtakam was composed by Shri Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda, a revered saint and ascetic in the Hindu tradition. The colophon of the hymn ("Iti Shri Paramahamsa Svaami Brahmaananda Virachitam") confirms his authorship. He composed this hymn as a devotional offering to Lord Rama.
What are the benefits of chanting Shri Rama Ashtakam?
Regular chanting of Shri Rama Ashtakam instills dharma, grants courage and fearlessness, provides divine protection from evil, purifies character, removes accumulated karmic sins, bestows peace and harmony in relationships, ensures success in righteous endeavors, and ultimately leads to moksha (liberation). The phala shruti (verse 9) specifically states that one who recites it with a concentrated mind will never encounter fear born of worldly existence.
When is the best time to chant Shri Rama Ashtakam?
The most auspicious times to chant Shri Rama Ashtakam are during Brahma Muhurta (pre-dawn hours), on Ram Navami (Lord Rama's birthday), on Tuesdays (Mangalvar), and during the sacred month of Chaitra. However, this hymn can be recited at any time with sincere devotion. Chanting 1, 3, or 11 times is recommended for maximum spiritual benefit.
How many verses are in Shri Rama Ashtakam?
The Shri Rama Ashtakam consists of eight main verses (ashtakam means "group of eight") plus a ninth verse which is the phala shruti (the fruit of recitation). The eight verses narrate Lord Rama's entire life journey — from His worship by the gods, through His exile and the war with Ravana, to His establishment of Rama Rajya and His role as the cosmic sun.
Can anyone chant Shri Rama Ashtakam?
Yes, the Shri Rama Ashtakam can be chanted by anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. There are no restrictions on who may recite this sacred hymn. The only requirement is sincere devotion and a concentrated mind. It is recommended to sit in a clean place, face east or north, and light a lamp before beginning the recitation.
Is Rama Ashtakam available in Tamil lyrics?
Yes. This page includes Rama Ashtakam in Tamil (தமிழ்) script along with Sanskrit and English transliteration for easier recitation.