Sri Jagannatha Ashtakam is the Slokam in praise of and as prayer to Sri Jagannatha Swamy of Puri Temple, Orissa. Puri was originally called as Purushothama Kshethra. Lord Jagannath is the manifestation of Sri Krishna, the eight Avathar of Sri Maha Vishnu.
Puri Jagannath Temple – Legend
“Jagan Natha” means the Lord of the universe. The emergence of this temple is mentioned in Brahma Puran.
Malwa Kingdom
During Sathya Yug, the Malwa Kingdom was ruled by Indra Dyumna. The capital was Avanti. He was a very pious King. He was also an ardent Vishnu Bhakt.
He thought that a superb temple had to be built for Sri Maha Vishnu. He had considered several places. First, he considered Ujjain in which there was a famous Sri Maha Kaleshwar Temple. Then he thought of finding some other place.
Purushothama Kshethra
In his search, he chanced upon the sea shore which was considered as Purushothama Kshethra. There was a legend attached to this place.
Earlier, there used to be an idol of Sri Maha Vishnu vested with the enormous powers of Sri Vishnu. Whoever worshipped the idol had their sins alleviated.
This made Dharma Raja (Sri Yama) very much worried as he was literally left jobless. So, he requested Sri Vishnu to attend to the issue.
Sri Vishnu had ordained the burying of the statue. Though the statue was buried, the place had retained its divinity.
Temple
Indra Dyumna was camping at the sea shore. He was very much impressed by the sea shore and its serenity. He had immediately commenced activities for building the temple.
He had received huge contributions for the building. A lot of scholars and experts were invited for making the building plan. He had done even an Ashwamedh Yagna prior to commencing the work.
Idols
When he was contemplating on the idols to be installed at the temple, he had a dream at night. Sri Vishnu appeared in the dream and told him to use a particular tree near the sea shore for making the idols.
Next day morning, the tree was identified. Sri Vishnu and Sri Viswakarma (the celestial architect) had come in the form of two brahmins and made the idols of Jagannath, Bala Bhadra and Subhadra and handed over to the King.
Sri Jagannatha Ashtakam
Sri Jagannatha Ashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. He had composed the Slokam when he visited Puri Jagannath temple. It is believed that Sri Chaitanya Prabhu had also recited this Slokam when he visited the temple.
Sri Jagannatha Ashtakam contains eight stanzas each describing the attributes of Lord Jagannath. The additional stanza explains the benefits of reciting this slokam.
Sri Jagannatha Ashtakam is narrated in Devanagari and English scripts with a simple English translation.
कदाचित् कालिन्दी तट विपिन सङ्गीत तरलो
मुदाभीरी नारी वदन कमलास्वाद मधुपः
रमा शम्भु ब्रह्मामर पति गणेशार्चित पदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (1)
kadhaachith kaalindhee thata vipina sanGgeetha tharaloa
mudhaa-bheeree naaree vadhana kamala-asvaadha maDhupah
ramaa shambhu brahma-amara pathi gaNesha-architha padhoa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Sri Jagannath permeates the orchards at the banks of the river Kalindi (the other name for the river Yamuna) with the soulful music from His flute. The music is as gentle as the flow of the Kalindi river. Similar to the bee enjoying the blooming lotuses, He is glad in the company of the Gopikas whose face happily gloom in His presence.
His holy lotus feet are ardently worshipped by Rama Devi, His consort, Shiva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesha.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखि पिच्छं कटितटे
दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचर कटाक्षं च विदधत्
सदा श्रीमद्वृन्दावन वसति लीला परिचयो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (2)
bhuje savyae veNuM shirasi shikhi pichChaM katithatae
dhukoolaM nethra-anthae sahachara kataakShaM cha vidhaDhath
sadhaa shreemadh-vrundhaavana vasati leelaa parichayoa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Sri Jagannath holds the flute in His left hand. He adorns a peacock feather on His head. He drapes soft and smooth silken costumes in His waist. He blesses His acquaintances with His sideways glances.
He revels and indulges in his playful activities in the forests of Vrindavan which is rich and abundant.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनक रुचिरे नील शिखरे
वसन् प्रासादान्तः सहज वलभद्रेण बलिना
सुभद्रा मध्यस्थः सकल सुर सेवावसर दो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (3)
maha-amBhoDhes-theerae kanaka ruchirae neela shikharae
vasan praasaadha-anthah sahaja valaBhadraeNa balinaa
suBhadhraa maDhyasThah sakala sura saeva-avasara dhoa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Sri Jagannath stays on the top of the blue hill in the golden shores of the ocean at Purushothama Kshethra. He is at the palace accompanied by His brother Bala Bhadra, the strong and with His sister Subhadra in the middle. He accords opportunities to the Devas to serve Him for the fulfillment of their wishes.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
कृपा पारावारः सजल जलद श्रेणि रुचिरो
रमा वाणी रामः स्फुरदमल पंकेरुह मुखः
सुरेन्द्रैराराध्यः श्रुति गण शिखा गीत चरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (4)
krupaa paaraavaarah sajala jaladha shraeNi ruchiroa
ramaa vaaNee raamah sphuradhamala pangkaeruha mukhah
suraendhrair-aaraaDhyah shruthi gaNa shikhaa geetha charithoa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Sri Jagannath has benevolence which is as vast as the sea. He is as beautiful as the full water laden dark rain clouds. He is the source of delight to both Sri Lakshmi and Sri Saraswathi. His charming face is as splendorous as the blemish free blooming lotus. He is sincerely worshipped by the leaders of the Devas. His glories are praised and sung in various scriptures.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलित भूदेव पटलैः
स्तुति प्रादुर्भावं प्रति पदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः
दया सिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकल जगतां सिन्धु सुतया
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (5)
raTha-arooDoa gachChan paThi militha bhoodhaeva patalaih
sthuthi praadhurBhaavaM prathi padham-upaakarNya sadhayah
dhayaa sinDhur-banDhuh sakala jagathaaM sinDhu suthayaa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Sri Jagannath exists in His chariot during the Rath Yathra. Among the devotees who gather like an ocean near the Rath, a group of scholars sing and praise Him. During the progress of the yathra, He keeps His ears open listening to the chants at every step; His heart throbs for His devotees. His mercy and benevolence are as mighty as the ocean; The entire populace is the progeny of such ocean.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
परंब्रह्मापीडः कुवलय दलोत्फुल्ल नयनो
निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहित चरणोऽनन्त शिरसि
रसानन्दी राधा सरस वपुरालिङ्गन सुखो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (6)
paraM-brahma-apeedah kuvalaya dhalothphulla nayanoa
nivaasee neelaadhrau nihitha charaNoAanantha shirasi
rasa-anandhee raaDhaa sarasa vapura-alinGgana sukhoa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Sri Jagannath is in the concise form of Sri Para Brahmam, the supreme consciousness. His eyes resemble the petals of the fully bloomed lotus. He exists in the blue hill (which denotes the world); His feet rests on the head of the naga. Sri Radha Devi is happy in His presence; She is blissful when He embraces Her with divine love.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
न वै याचे राज्यं न च कनक माणिक्य विभवं
न याचेऽहं रम्यां सकल जन काम्यां वरवधूम्
सदा काले काले प्रमथ पतिना गीत चरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (7)
na vai yaachae raajyaM na cha kanaka maaNikya viBhavaM
na yaachae-ahaM ramyaaM sakala jana kaamyaaM vara-vaDhoom
sadhaa kaalae kaalae pramaTha pathinaa geetha charithoa
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
I neither aspire for kingdom nor yearn for precious jewels and gems. I also do not desire beautiful women. At every moment and every time, I wish to keep my mind only on such God (Sri Jagannath) whose deeds are praised by the Lord of the Devas, i.e., Lord Shiva.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरमसारं सुरपते
हर त्वं पापानां विततिमपरां यादवपते
अहो दीनेऽनाथे निहित चरणो निश्चितमिदं
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे (8)
hara thvaM saMsaaraM dhruthatharam-asaaraM sura-pathae
hara thvaM paapaanaaM vithathim-aparaaM yaadhava-pathae
ahoa dheenae-anaaThae nihitha charaNoa nishchitham-idham
jagannaaThah svaamee nayana paTha gaamee Bhavathu mae
Please severe my attachment to this worldly life. The worldly life is basically worthless. You are the Lord of the Devas. Kindly do away with my sins which accumulate due to this worldly life. You are the Lord of the Yadhavas. I am certain that You will provide safe haven at your lotus feet for the hapless and miserable persons.
I humbly meditate upon Sri Jagannatha Swamy who is the focus of my inner and outer visions.
जगन्नाथाष्टकं पुण्यं यः पठेत् प्रयतः शुचि
सर्वपाप_विशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति (9)
jagannaaTha-aShTakaM puNyam yah paTeth prayathah shuchi
sarva-paapa vishudhDha-athmaa viShNu-loakaM sa gachChathi
The person who sincerely and devoutly reads and recites this Slokam shall get all his sins alleviated. The person shall become so pure hearted that he would reach Vishnu lok on liberation.
