Jagannath Ashtakam | जगन्नाथ अष्टकम्

Jagannath Ashtakam (जगन्नाथ अष्टकम्): Shri Jagannath Ashtakam was composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lord Jagannath on his visit to Puri. The most important of hymns of Lord Jagannath, the Ashtakam was recited by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on his visit to Jagannath temple. The merit of reciting the sacred Jagannath Ashtakam carefully is such that, one becomes sinless and pure hearted and gains entrance to Vishnuloka.

Lord Jagannatha may look peculiar and strange to the Western world, but He is the life and soul of the Orissa’s people. Even though I attended the Rathayatra festival for many years in my youth, it was not until I met the devotees of ISKCON that my devotion for Jagannatha deepened. Now Jagannatha is worshiped in many ISKCON temples around the world, and I have grown to see Him as the most merciful and charming person who excuses His devotees’ offenses and attracts them further along the path of devotional service.

Jagannath Ashtakam was once recited by Shri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu Himself and has been a very important part of Lord Puri Jagannath’s worship since then.

The Skanda Purana relates King Indradyumna’s quest to find a deity form of Krishna after dreaming of a beautiful blue deity named Nila Madhava. The name describes the sapphire colour of the deity: Nila means blue, and Madhava is one of Krishna’s names. King Indradyumna sent messengers in all directions to find Nila Madhava, and a brahmana named Vidyapati returned successful.

He discovered that Vishvavasu, a pig farmer (savara) in a remote tribal village, was secretly worshiping Nila Madhava. When Vidyapati later returned to that place with Indradyumna, however, Nila Madhava was gone. King Indradyumna surrounded the village with his soldiers and arrested Vishvavasu.

 Jagannath Ashtakam Benefits:

• The self-retrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord Jagannatha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Vishnu’s abode.
• Reciting this Jagannath Ashtakam quickly remove this useless material existence one is undergoing. On reciting this Ashtakam god destroys this vast, shore less ocean of sins. Alas, this is certain Lord Jagannatha bestows His lotus feet upon those who feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him.

Who has to recite Jagannath Ashtakam:

• The persons who are lack of academy, far away from success must recite this Jagannath Ashtakam regularly. For further details please contact Astro Mantra.

जगन्नाथ अष्टकम् | Jagannath Ashtakam

कदाचित् कालिन्दी तट विपिन सङ्गीत तरलो

मुदाभीरी नारी वदन कमला स्वाद मधुपः

रमा शम्भु ब्रह्मामरपति गणेशार्चित पदो

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥१॥

भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिच्छं कटितटे

दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचर-कटाक्षं विदधते ।

सदा श्रीमद्‍-वृन्दावन-वसति-लीला-परिचयो

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥२॥

महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनक रुचिरे नील शिखरे

वसन् प्रासादान्तः सहज बलभद्रेण बलिना ।

सुभद्रा मध्यस्थः सकलसुर सेवावसरदो

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥३॥

कृपा पारावारः सजल जलद श्रेणिरुचिरो

रमा वाणी रामः स्फुरद् अमल पङ्केरुहमुखः ।

सुरेन्द्रैर् आराध्यः श्रुतिगण शिखा गीत चरितो

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥४॥

रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलित भूदेव पटलैः

स्तुति प्रादुर्भावम् प्रतिपदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः ।

दया सिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकल जगतां सिन्धु सुतया

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥५॥

परंब्रह्मापीड़ः कुवलय-दलोत्‍फुल्ल-नयनो

निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहित-चरणोऽनन्त-शिरसि ।

रसानन्दी राधा-सरस-वपुरालिङ्गन-सुखो

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथगामी भवतु मे ॥६॥

न वै याचे राज्यं न च कनक माणिक्य विभवं

न याचेऽहं रम्यां सकल जन काम्यां वरवधूम् ।

सदा काले काले प्रमथ पतिना गीतचरितो

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥७॥

हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरम् असारं सुरपते

हर त्वं पापानां विततिम् अपरां यादवपते ।

अहो दीनेऽनाथे निहित चरणो निश्चितमिदं

जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥८॥

जगन्नाथाष्टकं पुन्यं यः पठेत् प्रयतः शुचिः ।

सर्वपाप विशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥९॥

॥ इति श्रीमत् शंकराचार्यविरचितं जगन्नाथाष्टकं संपूर्णम् ॥