viśvanāthāṣṭakam

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, whose matted hair is made beautiful by the waves of the Ganga, whose left side is continuously adorned by Goddess Gauri, who is dear to Lord Narayana, and who destroyed the pride of Ananga (Kamadeva - the God of Love).

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, who is beyond the reach of speech (words), whose form possesses countless virtues, whose footstool is served by Brahma (Lord of Speech), Vishnu, and other gods, and who is accompanied by His consort (Gauri) on His left as His supreme half.

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, the Lord of all beings, whose body is adorned with serpent ornaments, who wears garments of tiger skin, who has matted hair and three eyes, and whose hands hold a noose, a goad, a trident, and display the gestures of granting boons and fearlessness.

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, who shines with a crown adorned by the cool-rayed moon, who reduced the five-arrowed God of Love (Kamadeva) to ashes with the fire of His forehead eye, and whose radiant ear-ornaments are made of the king of serpents.

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, who has five faces, who is like a lion (destroyer of elephants) to the maddened elephants of our sins, who is like the eagle (Garuda - destroyer of serpents) to the serpents of the foremost among demons, and who is like a forest fire to the forest of death, grief, and old age.

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, who is full of radiance, who is both with attributes (Saguna) and without attributes (Nirguna), who is without a second (non-dual), who is the root of bliss, the invincible, the immeasurable, the essence of Omkara (Naga/Nada), who is both with form and formless, and who is the nature of the Supreme Self.

I worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, who is free from flaws like attachment and anger, who has deep love for His devotees, who is the abode of detachment and peace, who is accompanied by Girija (Parvati), who is endowed with sweetness and courage, and who looks beautiful with the poison (on His throat).

Having abandoned all desires, given up criticizing others, completely restrained the inclination towards sin, and fixed the mind in deep meditation, one should firmly install the Supreme Lord in the center of the heart-lotus, and worship Vishwanatha, the Lord of the city of Varanasi.

Whichever human recites this hymn of eight verses describing the glory of Shiva, the Lord of Varanasi, will attain knowledge, wealth, immense happiness, and endless fame in this world, and after leaving the body, will attain liberation (Moksha).

Whoever recites this Vishwanathashtakam in the presence of Lord Shiva, attains the realm of Shiva (Shivaloka) and rejoices along with Shiva.