Chandrasekharar Ashtakam
Chandrasekhara Ashtakam is a very powerful prayer of eight verses. In Ashtakam, the power of Lord Shiva is depicted in the form of Mahamrityunjaya. Ashtakam is written by sage Markandeya. It is said that at the age of sixteen, Markandeya was saved by Shiva from the god of death (Kaal or Yama).
Meaning of Chandrasekhar: Chandra means moon and Shekhar means crown or head ornament. Lord Shiva is addressed by the name Chandrasekhar as he wears the moon on his forehead. The moon symbolizes the gentle, calm and benevolent nature of Shiva.
Chandrasekharar Ashtakam In English
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara pāhimām ।
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara rakṣamām ॥ (2)
ratnasānu śarāsanaṃ rajatādri śṛṅga nikētanaṃ
śiñjinīkṛta pannagēśvara machyutānala sāyakam ।
kṣipradagda puratrayaṃ tridaśālayai-rabhivanditaṃ
chandraśēkharamāśrayē mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ ॥ 1 ॥
pañchapādapa puṣpagandha padāmbuja dvayaśōbhitaṃ
phālalōchana jātapāvaka dagdha manmadha vigraham ।
bhasmadigdha kaḻēbaraṃ bhavanāśanaṃ bhava mavyayaṃ
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara rakṣamām ॥ 2 ॥
mattavāraṇa mukhyacharma kṛtōttarīya manōharaṃ
paṅkajāsana padmalōchana pūjitāṅghri sarōruham ।
dēva sindhu taraṅga śrīkara sikta śubhra jaṭādharaṃ
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara pāhimām ॥ 3 ॥
yakṣa rājasakhaṃ bhagākṣa haraṃ bhujaṅga vibhūṣaṇam
śailarāja sutā pariṣkṛta chāruvāma kaḻēbaram ।
kṣēḻa nīlagaḻaṃ paraśvadha dhāriṇaṃ mṛgadhāriṇam
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara pāhimām ॥ 4 ॥
kuṇḍalīkṛta kuṇḍalīśvara kuṇḍalaṃ vṛṣavāhanaṃ
nāradādi munīśvara stutavaibhavaṃ bhuvanēśvaram ।
andhakāntaka māśritāmara pādapaṃ śamanāntakaṃ
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara rakṣamām ॥ 5 ॥
bhēṣajaṃ bhavarōgiṇā makhilāpadā mapahāriṇaṃ
dakṣayajña vināśanaṃ triguṇātmakaṃ trivilōchanam ।
bhakti mukti phalapradaṃ sakalāgha saṅgha nibarhaṇaṃ
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara rakṣamām ॥ 6 ॥
bhaktavatsala-marchitaṃ nidhimakṣayaṃ haridambaraṃ
sarvabhūta patiṃ parātpara-mapramēya manuttamam ।
sōmavārina bhūhutāśana sōma pādyakhilākṛtiṃ
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara pāhimām ॥ 7 ॥
viśvasṛṣṭi vidhāyakaṃ punarēvapālana tatparaṃ
saṃharaṃ tamapi prapañcha maśēṣalōka nivāsinam ।
krīḍayanta maharniśaṃ gaṇanātha yūtha samanvitaṃ
chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara chandraśēkhara rakṣamām ॥ 8 ॥
mṛtyubhīta mṛkaṇḍusūnukṛtastavaṃ śivasannidhau
yatra kutra cha yaḥ paṭhēnna hi tasya mṛtyubhayaṃ bhavēt ।
pūrṇamāyurarōgatāmakhilārthasampadamādaraṃ
chandraśēkhara ēva tasya dadāti muktimayatnataḥ ॥ 9 ॥
