Shri Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam

Shri Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam: Mantra with Meaning

The Goddesses in Hinduism are depicted as the motherhood of God. She is the transforming power behind the sustaining power of the God. Goddess Rajarajeshwari, also known as Amba, or Parvati, or Durga, is the wife (consort) of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine forms. She is the most splendid form of the Cosmic Mother. She is the Royal Divine Queen of all Kings (Rajarajeshwari), the merciful protecting energy of the Cosmos. She is care, love, mercy and grace intensified. Two of Her most powerful and excellent forms are Durga (Goddess beyond reach) and Kali (Goddess of destruction).

According to the Puranas, She is engrossed in the creation of the Universe through Brahma, She sustains the creation through Vishnu and She also annihilates the creation through Shiva. She is the One performing the actions through the Gods. The scriptures describe Her to be seated on a Simhasana pose, upon Lord Sadashiva (the Cosmic Consciousness) whose legs are Brahma, Rudra, Indra and Vishnu. She is depicted to be worshipped by all the 33 principal Devas along with Lord Ganesha and Subrahmanya. She is the mother of the Universe Who is always contemplated upon and praised by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, served by Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati, and is even beyond the comprehension of the Trinity Gods.

Shri Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam is an octet in the praise of different forms and glories of the same Mother, believed to be composed by the enlightened Guru Shankaracharya. One who recites this beautiful and best among the stotras with full faith and devotion to Mother Amba (Goddess), will receive the blessing of knowledge, protection from all kinds of sufferings (and evils), and finally attains liberation, the highest goal to be attained.

Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya

Goddesses Rajarajeshwari

Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it

॥ श्रीराजराजेश्वर्यष्टकम् ॥

अम्बा शाम्भवि चन्द्रमौलि-रबलाऽपर्णा उमा पार्वती
काली हैमवती शिवा त्रिनयनी कात्यायनी भैरवी ।
सावित्री नव-यौवना शुभकरी साम्राज्य-लक्ष्मी-प्रदा
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥१॥

O Mother Amba, O Shambhavi (wife of Shiva), You are adorned with a crescent moon on forehead, You do not eat even leaves as food in fasting, You are known as Parvati, Kali, Haimavati and Shiva, You have three eyes, and You are known by the names Katyayani and Bhairavi,
O Savitri, You are forever young. O the bestower of auspiciousness, You bestow kingdom and wealth (unto your devotees), You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा मोहिनि देवता त्रिभुवनी आनन्द-संदायिनी
वाणी पल्लव-पाणि-वेणु-मुरली-गानप्रिया लोलिनी ।
कल्याणी उडु-राज-बिम्ब वदना धूम्राक्ष-संहारिणी
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥२॥

O Mother Amba, O Mohini (having enchanting form), You reside in all the three worlds and grant eternal bliss. You are the speech (Vani), and You like the music and song played by the flute of Krishna,
You are auspicious, Your face resembles the reflection of the Moon, You killed Dhumralochan (a demon) by burning him to ashes just by Your mere shout, You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा नूपुर-रत्न-कङ्कण-धरी केयूर-हारा-वली
जाती-चम्पक-वैजयं-तिलहरी ग्रैवेय-कैराजिता ।
वीणा-वेणु विनोद-मण्डितकरा वीरासने संस्थिता
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥३॥

O Mother Amba, You are shined with gems, stones and bracelet, You wear a garland made of Keyura, and Your neck is adorned with a wavy garland made of Jasmine, perfumes and pearls,
Your hands are adorned with a lute and flute for merriment, You are seated in the Virasana Yoga posture, You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा रौद्रिणि भद्रकालि बगला ज्वालामुखी वैष्णवी
ब्रह्माणी त्रिपुरान्तकी सुरनुता देदीप्य-मानोज्वला ।
चामुण्डा श्रित-रक्ष-पोष-जननी दाक्षायणी वल्लवी
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥४॥

O Mother Amba, You appear in frightening form of Raudrini and Bhadrakali, You are Bagala, Jwalamukhi, Vaisnavi, and Brahmani, You vanquish the three worlds, You are worshipped by the Devas, and You are radiant,
O Chamunda, You are the mother Who adorns, protects and nurtures all, You are Sati or Daksayani (Daughter of Daksha), You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा शूलधनुः कशाङ्-कुशधरी अर्धेन्दु-बिम्बाधरी
वाराही-मधुकैटभ-प्रशमनी वाणी रमासेविता ।
मल्ल-द्यासुर-मूक-दैत्य-मथनी माहेश्वरी चाम्बिका
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥५॥

O Mother Amba, You are wielding a monodent, a goad and a bow, You have a crescent moon on the forehead, You are Varahi, You destroyed the demons Madhu and Kaitabh, and You are honored by Saraswati and Lakshmi,
You vanquished Malla and Mooka demons, You are Maheshwari and Ambika, You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा सृष्टि-विनाश-पालनकरी आर्या विसं-शोभिता
गायत्री प्रणवाक्षरामृत-रसः पूर्णानुसंधी कृता ।
ओङ्कारी विनता-सुतार्चित-पदा उद्दण्ड दैत्यापहा
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥६॥

O Mother Amba, You alone create, destroy and nurture the world, You are Arya (of noble birth), You are devoid of adornment, You are Gayatri, You are full of the nectar of the Pranavakshara “Om”, and You have separated the heaven and the earth,
You are Omkari, Your feet has been adorned by the Garuda (son of Vinata), You punish the imbecile demons, You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा शाश्वत आगमादि-विनुता आर्या महादेवता
या ब्रह्मादिपि-पीलिकान्त-जननी या वै जगन्मोहिनी ।
या पञ्च-प्रणवादिरेफ-जननी या चित्कला मालिनी
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥७॥

O Mother Amba, You are revered (bowed) by treaties, You are Arya, You are the greatest Lord. That Who gives birth to everyone (from Brahma and the others to the smallest ants); that Who entices the world;
That Who gives birth to the five types of Pranava syllables (like OM); and that Who is the art of intellect; You are that One, O Mother, Who is adorned with a garland. You are eternal bliss, You are above all, You are the Supreme Goddess, and You rule the Lords as Rajarajeshwari.

अम्बा-पालित-भक्त-राज-दनिशं अम्बाष्टकं यः पठेत्
अम्बा-लोल-कटाक्ष-वीक्ष ललितं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम् ।
अम्बा पावन-मन्त्र-राज-पठना-दन्ते च मोक्षप्रदा
चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी ॥८॥

Those who read these eight stanzas on Amba (Mother), which is staying continuously with the devotees of Amba, which is a result of the glance of the eyes of the Mother, and which has all the wealth absorbed in it,
Will receive Moksha from Her Who is eternal bliss, Who is above all, Who is the Supreme Goddess, and Who rules the Lords as Rajarajeshwari, by the means of reading this best among chants.

॥ इति श्रीराजराजेश्वर्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus ends Shri Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam (composed by Adi Shankaracharya).

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NOTE:
For easy reading, dash sign (-) is placed in the middle of texts, leaving space as it is. If you want the original format, just remove dash sign from all the verses.