अष्टकम्
Ashtakam
Classical Sanskrit hymns of eight verses — with Devanagari text, Roman transliteration, and verse-by-verse English meaning.
All Ashtakams
कृष्ण अष्टकम्
Krishna Ashtakam
Krishna · Sanskrit · Adi Shankaracharya
Krishna Ashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya — 8 Sanskrit shlokas praising Lord Krishna as slayer of Kansa and Chanura, protector of devotees.
Read Ashtakam →शिव अष्टकम्
Shiva Ashtakam
Shiva · Sanskrit
Shiva Ashtakam — 8 Sanskrit shlokas praising Lord Shiva as Vishwanatha, the cosmic lord with Ganga in his locks, third eye, and destroyer of evil.
Read Ashtakam →गणेश अष्टकम्
Ganesh Ashtakam
Ganesha · Sanskrit
Ganesh Ashtakam — 8 Sanskrit shlokas praising Lord Ganesha's elephant head, broken tusk, Modaka sweet, and his grace as the remover of all obstacles.
Read Ashtakam →राम अष्टकम्
Ram Ashtakam
Ram · Sanskrit
Ram Ashtakam — 8 Sanskrit shlokas saluting Lord Ram's eight names: Rama, Ramabhadra, Ramachandra, offering liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Read Ashtakam →हनुमान अष्टकम्
Hanuman Ashtakam
Hanuman · Sanskrit
Hanuman Ashtakam — 8 Sanskrit shlokas praising Hanuman's immense strength, devotion to Ram, Lanka-burning tail, and oceanic flight for protection and courage.
Read Ashtakam →लक्ष्मी अष्टकम्
Lakshmi Ashtakam
Lakshmi · Sanskrit · Adi Shankaracharya
Lakshmi Ashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya — 8 Sanskrit shlokas saluting Mahalakshmi as the destroyer of Kolasura, bestower of wealth, wisdom, liberation, and the supreme Shakti.
Read Ashtakam →About Ashtakam
An Ashtakam is a Sanskrit devotional hymn of exactly eight shlokas — 'ashta' means eight. Each shloka praises a different name, form, or attribute of the deity. The eight-verse form is considered particularly auspicious in Vedic tradition, reflecting the eight directions (Ashtadisha), the eight guardians (Ashtadikpalas), and the eight limbs of yoga (Ashtanga).
Most celebrated Ashtakams were composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher-saint who also composed the Shiva Panchakshara Stotra and Bhaja Govindam. His compositions are remarkable for combining profound philosophical depth with musical beauty — they can be understood at the level of pure devotion or as sophisticated Vedantic meditation. Nearly all Ashtakams conclude with a Phalashruti verse listing the fruits of recitation.
Also See
Frequently Asked Questions about Ashtakam
What is an Ashtakam?
An Ashtakam is a Sanskrit devotional hymn of exactly eight shlokas — 'ashta' means eight. Each shloka praises one name or attribute of the deity. Most Ashtakams end with a phalashruti listing the benefits of recitation.
Who composed most of the Ashtakams?
Many celebrated Ashtakams were composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), including the Krishna Ashtakam and Shiva Ashtakam. He traveled across India establishing four monastic centers and composed hundreds of Sanskrit hymns combining philosophical depth with devotional beauty.
What is the difference between an Ashtakam and a Stotra?
An Ashtakam is a specific type of Stotra with exactly 8 verses. All Ashtakams are Stotras, but not all Stotras are Ashtakams. Other types include Panchakam (5 verses), Shatakam (100 verses), and Sahasranama (1000 names).
What is a Phalashruti?
A Phalashruti is a concluding verse listing the spiritual benefits of reciting the hymn. It is not counted among the eight main verses — it is a separate addition that motivates regular recitation by describing the fruits (phala) of the practice.
How is an Ashtakam different from a Chalisa?
A Chalisa is a Hindi/Awadhi hymn of 40 verses in accessible vernacular language. An Ashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn of 8 verses in formal classical Sanskrit. Chalisas are longer and narrative; Ashtakams are shorter and densely philosophical. Both are acts of devotional praise.