Hari Ashtakam

Haryashtakam – Octet of prayers to Lord Vishnu

The Hari Ashtakam is a prayer dedicated to Vishnu as Hari. Hari means one who shows you the true path and removes the illusion or Maya in which you live. Our elders always emphasise that  one  should  remember the  Hari namam everyday as soon as they get up from bed in the early morning (atleast 3 times). Also hari namam with pranavam is frequently used at the starting or ending of sloka/aradanam.

This Stotra was composed and recited in praise of Hari by Shri Prahladazhwan, the Daitya or Demon who was one of the greatest devotees of Vishnu. As a result of his unflinching devotion and love, Lord Vishnu time and again saved his life and finally also took a great avatharam. This  is  a  stotra of  eight  verses which glorifies the greatness of hari and hari namam called Hari Ashtakam.

This is a Stotra if recited with utmost devotion set one on the right path of Moksha or ultimate liberation.

harirharati pApAni duShtacittairapi smruta: |

anicchayApi samspruShto dahatyevahi pAvaka: ||           (1)

sa gangA sa gayA setu: sa kAshi sa ca puShkaram |

jihvAgre vartate yasya harirityaksharadvayam ||              (2)

vArANasyAm kurukshetre naimishAraNya eva ca |

yatkrutam tena yenoktam harirityaksharadvayam ||      (3)

pruthivyAm yAni tIrthAni puNyAnyAyatanAni ca |

tAni sarvANyasheShAni harirityaksharadvayam ||            (4)

gavAm kotisahasrANi hemakanyA sahasrakam |

dattam syAtten yenoktam harirityaksharadvayam ||     (5)

rugvedotha yajurveda: sAmavedopyatharvaNa: |

adhItastena yenoktam harirityaksharadvayam ||             (6)

ashvamedhair mahAyajnai: naramedhaistathaiva ca |

iShtam syAtthena yenoktam harirityaksharadvayam ||  (7)

prANa prayANa pAtheyam samsAra vyAdhinAShanam |

du:khAtyanta paritrANam harirityaksharadvayam ||       (8)

baddha: parikarastena mokshAya gamanam prati |

sakruduccAritam yena harirityaksharadvayam ||              (9)

haryashtakamidam puNyam prAtarutthAya ya: paTet |

Ayushyam balamArogyam yasho vruddhim ca vidanti ||         (10)

prahlAdena krutam stotram du:khasAgara shoShanam |

ya: paTetsa naro yAti tadviShNo: paramam padam ||     (11)

हरिर्हरति पापानि दुष्टचित्तैरपि स्मृत: ।

अनिच्छयाऽपि संस्पृष्टो दहत्येवहि पावक: ॥           (१)

स गङ्गा स गया सेतु: स काशी स च पुष्करम् ।

जिह्वाग्रे वर्तते यस्य हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥              (२)

वाराणस्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे नैमिशारण्य एव च ।

यत्कृतं तेन येनोक्तं हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥      (३)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ।

तानि सर्वाण्यशेषानि हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥            (४)

गवां कोटिसहस्राणि हेमकन्या सहस्रकम् ।

दत्तं स्यात्तेन् येनोक्तं  हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥        (५)

ऋग्वेदोऽथ यजुर्वेद: सामवेदोऽप्यथर्वण: ।

अधीतस्तेन येनोक्तं  हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥             (६)

अश्वमेधैर्महायज्ञै: नरमेधैस्तथैव च ।

इष्टं स्यात्तेन येनोक्तं  हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥  (७)

प्राण प्रयाण पाथेयं संसार व्याधिनाषनम् ।

दु:खात्यन्त परित्राणं हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥       (८)

बद्ध: परिकरस्तेन मोक्षाय गमनं प्रति ।

सकृदुच्चारितं येन हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥              (९)

हर्यष्टकमिदं पुण्यं प्रातरुत्थाय य: पठेत् ।

आयुष्यं बलमारोग्यं यशो व्रुद्धिं च विदन्ति ॥                (१०)

प्रह्लादेन कृतं स्तोत्रं दु:खसागर शोषणम् ।

य: पठेत्स नरो याति तद्विष्णो: परमं पदम् ॥     (११)

Meaning:

The name  Hari,  even  when recited with a bad mind will destroy all our sins just like the fire which burns the hand even when touched inadvertently.

Lord’s  name  is  so  powerful that if we recite it even unwillingly, our sins gets destroyed. Such being the case, what about those who lovingly chant this name?        (1)

If  the  two  syllables  Hari  is  in  our  tongue always, then it is equal to having bath at Ganga, performing Sraaddha at Gaya, visiting sacred places like Kashi, Puskara etc.,

No pilgrimage is required if we remember Hari always.      (2)

The  good deeds performed  at Varanasi, Kurukshetra  and Naimisharanya  are  equal  to the chanting of two syllables Hari everyday. Again here, it is said  that the chanting of the word Hari will bestow all good results that would be obtained by performing sacred karmas at various pilgrim centers.      (3)

By  reciting  the two syllables Hari one gets all the punya (good results) that is being got  by visiting all the pilgrimage centers in the entire world.           (4)

Kanyadaana  (performing   daughter’s   marriage) and  Godaana  (offering  the cow) are considered very sacred. If  we  chant  the  name  of  Hari,  it  is  equal  to  donating  thousands  of  cows  and performing  thousands of marriages.          (5)

The chanting  of  Harinama  is  equal  to  systematic  recital  of  Rik Veda, Yajur Veda,  Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. Veda  paaraayana bestows utmost benefits. Such benefits are obtained by mere recital of Harinama.       (6)

Harinama   is   equal   to  performing  Ashwamedha  Yajna  and  other similar sacrifices. One can get the benefits they desire by chanting such Harinama.     (7)

The  chanting of Harinama is like carrying the food towards the last journey, which also destroys the pain of samsaara. It is  saviour  from  many dire  troubles of  life. The chanting  of  Harinama at the time of last journey of a man will relieve him of all pains of samsaara.         (8)

Even if the Harinama is chanted only once, it will lead to salvation by removing bondage. No other means to salvation is required if one recites Harinama.       (9)

The  recital  of  this  Hariasthakam  every  day  morning  will  confer long life, strength, health, wealth and glory.

This is the phalasruti.     (10)

One who recites this stotra told  by Sri prahlada, attains the abode the Lord Vishnu namely Paramapada, besides all benefits in this world.                (11)

For Tamil Script click here

For Telugu Script click here

For Kannada Script click here

Can listen this stotram here

Meanings Courtesy : srivaishnavan.com