Shri Jagannath Ashktam - Complete meaning and benefits of chanting

Jagannath Ashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu worshipped primarily in the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, India. Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the eight verses praise the divine qualities and attributes of Lord Jagannath, invoking blessings for protection, liberation, and spiritual enlightenment. The hymn is often chanted by devotees seeking the grace and blessings of Lord Jagannath for guidance and fulfillment in life.

Table of Contents

1. Stotra

2. Meaning

3. Benefits of chanting Shri Jagannath Ashktam

4. Who can chant Shri Jagannath Ashktam & When to chant?

5. How to chant the stotram?

Stotra

Kadāchit kālindī taṭ vipin sangīt taralo
Mudābhīrī nārī vadan kamalā swād madhupah
Ramā shambhu brahmāmarapati gaṇeshārchit pado
Jagannāthah swāmī nayan path gāmī bhavatu me ॥1॥

Bhuje savye veṇuan shirasi shikhipichchhan kaṭitaṭe
Dukūlan netrānte sahachara-kaṭākṣhan vidadhate ।
Sadā shrīmad-vṛundāvana-vasati-līlā-parichayo
Jagannāthah swāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me ॥2॥

Mahāmbhodhestīre kanak ruchire nīl shikhare
Vasan prāsādāntah sahaj balabhadreṇ balinā ।
Subhadrā madhyasthah sakalasur sevāvasarado
Jagannāthah swāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me ॥3॥

Kṛupā pārāvārah sajal jalad shreṇiruchiro
Ramā vāṇī rāmah sfurad amal pankeruhamukhah ।
Surendrair ārādhyah shrutigaṇ shikhā gīt charito
Jagannāthah swāmī nayan path gāmī bhavatu me ॥4॥

Rathārūḍho gachchhan pathi milit bhūdev paṭalaiah
Stuti prādurbhāvam pratipadamupākarṇya sadayah ।
Dayā sindhurbandhuah sakal jagatāan sindhu sutayā
Jagannāthah swāmī nayan path gāmī bhavatu me ॥5॥

Paranbrahmāpīḍa़ah kuvalaya-dalotfulla-nayano
Nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-charaṇo’nanta-shirasi ।
Rasānandī rādhā-sarasa-vapurālingana-sukho
Jagannāthah swāmī nayana-pathagāmī bhavatu me ॥6॥

N vai yāche rājyan n ch kanak māṇikya vibhavan
N yāche’han ramyāan sakal jan kāmyāan varavadhūm ।
Sadā kāle kāle pramath patinā gītacharito
Jagannāthah swāmī nayan path gāmī bhavatu me ।।7।।

Har tvan sansāran drutataram asāran surapate
Har tvan pāpānāan vitatim aparāan yādavapate ।
Aho dīne’nāthe nihit charaṇo nishchitamidan
Jagannāthah swāmī nayan path gāmī bhavatu me ।।8।।

Jagannāthāṣhṭakan punyan yah paṭhet prayatah shuchiah ।
Sarvapāp vishuddhātmā viṣhṇulokan s gachchhati ।।9।।

॥ iti shrīmat shankarāchāryavirachitan jagannāthāṣhṭakan sanpūrṇam ॥

Stotra with meaning

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।।
Meaning - Sometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannatha, with His flute, makes a loud concert in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna. He is like a bumblebee who tastes the beautiful lotus-like faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and His lotus feet are worshiped by great personalities such as Lakshmi, Siva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesa. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.

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।।
Meaning - In His left hand Lord Jagannatha holds a flute. On His head He wears the feathers of peacocks and on His hips He wears fine yellow silken cloth. Out of the corners of His eyes He bestows sidelong glances upon His loving devotees and He always reveals Himself through His pastimes in His divine abode of Vrindavana. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.

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।।
Meaning - Residing on the shore of the great ocean, within a large palace situated upon the crest of the brilliant, golden Nilacala Hill, along with His powerful brother Bala-bhadra, and in the middle of Them His sister Subhadra, Lord Jagannatha bestows the opportunity for devotional service upon all godly souls. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.

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।।
Meaning:- Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy and He is beautiful like a row of blackish rain clouds. He is the storehouse of bliss for Lakshmi and Saraswati, and His face is like a spotless full-blown lotus. He is worshiped by the best of demigods and sages, and His glories are sung by the Upanishads. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.

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।।
meaning:- When Lord Jagannatha is on His Ratha-yatra cart and is moving along the road, at every step there is a loud presentation of prayers and songs chanted by large assemblies of brahmanas. 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.

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।।
meaning:- He is the ornament of the head of Lord Brahma and His eyes are like the full-blown petals of the lotus. He resides on the Nilacala Hill, and His lotus feet are placed on the heads of Ananta Deva. Lord Jagannatha is overwhelmed by the mellow of love and He becomes joyful in the embracing of the body of Sri Radharani, which is like a cool pond. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.

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।।
meaning:- I do not pray for a kingdom, nor for gold, rubies, and wealth. I do not ask for an excellent and beautiful wife as desired by all men. I simply pray that Jagannatha Swami, whose glories are always sung by Lord Siva, be the constant object of my vision.

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।।
meaning:- O Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast ocean of sins which has no shore. Alas, this is certain that Lord Jagannatha’s lotus feet are bestowed upon those who feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.

jagannāthāṣṭakaṁ punyaṁ yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ śuciḥ
sarva-pāpa-viśuddhātmā viṣṇu-lokaṁ sa gacchati।।9।।
meaning:- The self-retrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord Jagannatha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Visnu's abode.

॥ iti śrimat śaṅkaracārya viracitaṁ jagannāthāṣṭakam saṁpūrṇam।।

Benefits of chanting Shri Jagannath Ashktam

Chanting Shri Jagannath Ashtakam is believed to offer several benefits to devotees:

1.Divine Protection
2.Spiritual Fulfillment
3.Removal of Obstacles
4.Blessings for Liberation
5.Cleansing of Sins

Overall, chanting Shri Jagannath Ashtakam is considered a powerful spiritual practice that not only invokes the blessings of Lord Jagannath but also brings peace, protection, and spiritual growth to the devotee's life.

Who can chant Shri Jagannath Ashktam?

Shri Jagannath Ashtakam can be chanted by anyone who has devotion towards Lord Jagannath and seeks his blessings. There are no specific restrictions based on age, gender, or religious background. The hymn is open to all individuals who wish to express their reverence and seek the grace of Lord Jagannath.

Whether one is a devout follower of the Jagannath tradition or simply has an interest in Hindu spirituality, anyone can chant Shri Jagannath Ashtakam with sincerity and devotion. The hymn serves as a means of connecting with the divine qualities of Lord Jagannath and seeking his blessings for protection, spiritual growth, and fulfillment in life.

How to chant the stotram?

Before chanting the Shri Jagannath Ashktam, here are some traditional practices that devotees may follow to prepare for a more focused and meaningful experience:

1. Take a bath or wash your hands and face to feel physically clean. This can symbolize inner purification as well.
2. Find a quiet, clean space free from distractions where you can focus on the chanting.
3. Wear comfortable and clean clothes that allow you to sit comfortably.
4. Approach the chanting with reverence and devotion to Lord Jaganath. Set an intention for your chanting, whether it's seeking protection, peace, or spiritual growth.
5. You can offer a short prayer to Lord Surya before chanting, expressing your gratitude and seeking his blessings.