Shri Vishwanathashtakam in Sanskrit ( श्रीविश्वनाथाष्टकम् )
Shri Vishwanathashtakam is composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi was founded by Lord Shiva. The city also known as Kashi and Benaras is one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus. To the Hindus, the Ganges is a sacred river and any town or city on its bank is believed to be auspicious. But Varanasi has a special sanctity, for it is believed, this is where Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati stood when time started ticking for the first time. Hindus believe that a person who breaths his last in Kashi, is blessed with eternal salvation, thus freed from the tormenting cycle of birth and death. This has attracted people from all over the world to this place. Kashi is also the holy land to have Vishwa Nath temple of Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve “jyotirlingas” of Lord Shiva present on Earth (according to Hindu mythology). The holy city of Kashi, thus becomes an adored location for all the followers of Sanatan dharm who believe in the cult of Lord Shiva. It is called as Shiv ki Nagri (city of Shiva) in Rig Veda. Some believe Kashi to be the abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, hence a pilgrimage of utmost importance for the devout Hindus.Those who study this eight-canto eulogy on Viswanatha in the proximity of Siva (in Varanasi), attain Moksha at the time of death, after obtaining knowledge, wealth, friends, and immeasurable glory, achieve the world of Siva and then they rejoice with Him.
श्रीविश्वनाथाष्टकम्
गङ्गा तरङ्ग रमणीय जटा कलापं
गौरी निरन्तर विभूषित वाम भागं
नारायण प्रियमनङ्ग मदापहारं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (१)
वाचामगोचरमनेक गुण स्वरूपं
वागीश विष्णु सुर सेवित पाद पद्मं
वामेण विग्रह वरेन कलत्रवन्तं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (२)
भूतादिपं भुजग भूषण भूषिताङ्गं
व्याघ्राञ्जिनां बरधरं, जटिलं, त्रिनेत्रं
पाशाङ्कुशाभय वरप्रद शूलपाणिं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (३)
सीतांशु शोभित किरीट विराजमानं
बालेक्षणातल विशोषित पञ्चबाणं
नागाधिपा रचित बासुर कर्ण पूरं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (४)
पञ्चाननं दुरित मत्त मतङ्गजानां
नागान्तकं धनुज पुङ्गव पन्नागानां
दावानलं मरण शोक जराटवीनां
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (५)
तेजोमयं सगुण निर्गुणमद्वितीयं
आनन्द कन्दमपराजित मप्रमेयं
नागात्मकं सकल निष्कलमात्म रूपं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (६)
आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परश्य निन्दां
पापे रथिं च सुनिवार्य मनस्समाधौ
आधाय हृत्-कमल मध्य गतं परेशं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (७)
रागाधि दोष रहितं स्वजनानुरागं
वैराग्य शान्ति निलयं गिरिजा सहायं
माधुर्य धैर्य सुभगं गरलाभिरामं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाधम् (८)
वाराणसी पुर पते स्थवनं शिवस्य
व्याख्यातम् अष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्य
विद्यां श्रियं विपुल सौख्यमनन्त कीर्तिं
सम्प्राप्य देव निलये लभते च मोक्षम् ॥
विश्वनाधाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेः शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेनसह मोदते ॥
