Hanuman Ashtakam
हनुमान अष्टकम् • हनुमदष्टकम्
About
Hanuman Ashtakam is a powerful hymn of eight verses glorifying Lord Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Lord Rama and embodiment of strength, devotion, and selfless service. This stotra praises the mighty Vanara's divine qualities, heroic deeds, and unwavering devotion, invoking his blessings for courage, protection, and success.
हनुमान अष्टकम् भगवान हनुमान की महिमा का वर्णन करने वाला आठ श्लोकों का शक्तिशाली स्तोत्र है, जो श्री राम के परम भक्त और शक्ति, भक्ति तथा निःस्वार्थ सेवा के अवतार हैं। यह स्तोत्र महान वानर के दिव्य गुणों, वीरतापूर्ण कार्यों और अटल भक्ति की स्तुति करता है, साहस, सुरक्षा और सफलता के लिए उनका आशीर्वाद प्राप्त करता है।
Quick Reference
Benefits
- Grants courage and physical strength
- Removes fear and negative energies
- Provides protection from evil spirits
- Bestows success in difficult endeavors
- Destroys obstacles and enemies
- Grants wisdom and devotion to Lord Rama
- Cures diseases and mental disturbances
When to Recite
| Days | Tuesday, Saturday, Hanuman Jayanti |
| Times | Early morning (Brahma Muhurta), Evening during sandhya, During Hanuman Puja |
| Occasions | Hanuman Jayanti, Tuesday fasting, Saturday puja, During difficulties, Before starting important work |
Verses
श्रीहनुमान् महावीरो वीरभद्रो महाबलः। आञ्जनेयो महातेजा रामदूतो नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Shri-hanuman maha-viro vira-bhadro maha-balah | Anjanayo maha-teja rama-duto namo'stu te ||
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये। गोष्पदीकृतवारीशं मशकीकृतराक्षसम्॥
Vatatmajam vanara-yutha-mukhyam shri-rama-dutam sharanam prapadye | Goshpadikrita-varisham mashakikrita-rakshasam ||
उल्लङ्घ्य सिन्धोः सलिलं सलीलं यः शोकवह्निं जनकात्मजायाः। आदाय तेनैव ददाह लङ्कां नमामि तं प्राञ्जलिराञ्जनेयम्॥
Ullangya sindhoh salilam salilam yah shoka-vahnim janaka-atmajayah | Adaya tenaiva dadaha lankam namami tam pranjali-ranjneyam ||
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम्। वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥
Mano-javam maruta-tulya-vegam jitendriyam buddhimatam varishtham | Vatatmajam vanara-yutha-mukhyam shri-rama-dutam sharanam prapadye ||
अञ्जनानन्दनं वीरं जानकीशोकनाशनम्। कपीशमक्षहन्तारं वन्दे लङ्काभयङ्करम्॥
Anjana-nandanam viram janaki-shoka-nashanam | Kapisham-aksha-hantaram vande lanka-bhayankaram ||
महावीरं महावेगं महाबलपराक्रमम्। महादुःखप्रशमनं रामस्य प्रियसेवकम्॥
Maha-viram maha-vegam maha-bala-parakramam | Maha-duhkha-prashamanam ramasya priya-sevakam ||
कामरूपं पिङ्गलाक्षं दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपनम्। सर्वलक्ष्मणहस्तं च दैत्यकार्यविघातकम्॥
Kamarupam pingalaksham divya-malya-anulepanam | Sarva-lakshmana-hastam cha daitya-karya-vighatakam ||
भक्तवत्सलमव्यक्तं भक्तप्राणप्रदायकम्। भजे हनूमतं वीरं भक्तकल्याणसाधकम्॥
Bhakta-vatsalam-avyaktam bhakta-prana-pradayakam | Bhaje hanumatam viram bhakta-kalyana-sadhakam ||
About Hanuman Ashtak — The Eight Verses of Power
Hanuman Ashtak (हनुमान अष्टक) — also written as Hanuman Ashtakam — is a concise yet immensely powerful Sanskrit hymn consisting of eight verses (ashta = eight) glorifying Lord Hanuman. The Ashtakam format is a classical Sanskrit devotional structure: eight verses that distill the essence of a deity's qualities, stories, and blessings into a compact, rhythmically perfect prayer. Where the Hanuman Chalisa offers 40 verses of detailed devotion and the Bajrang Baan delivers fierce invocation, the Hanuman Ashtak strikes a middle path — dense, scholarly, and meditative.
Each of the eight verses concentrates on a specific dimension of Hanuman's divinity. The verses praise him as the son of Vayu (the wind god) — born with the power to fly across oceans and move mountains. They recall his childhood exploit of leaping toward the sun, mistaking it for a ripe fruit — an act that earned him the name Hanuman (one with a broken jaw, after Indra struck him with his thunderbolt). They celebrate his Panchamukhi (five-faced) form — Hanuman, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha, and Hayagriva — each face representing mastery over a different cosmic element.
The Hanuman Ashtak holds a distinctive position in Hanuman worship because of its Sanskrit purity and mantric potency. While the Chalisa is in Awadhi Hindi (accessible to the masses) and the Aarti is a congregational song, the Ashtak is a classical Sanskrit stotra designed for focused, meditative recitation. Each verse follows precise meter (chhandas), making the recitation itself a form of mantra sadhana. Scholars consider it especially effective when recited 108 times as a focused practice — though even a single recitation with devotion is considered powerful.
The Hanuman Ashtak is recited on Tuesdays and Saturdays, during Hanuman Jayanti, and as part of a comprehensive Hanuman worship session that typically follows the sequence: Om Hanumate Namah (108 times) → Hanuman Chalisa → Hanuman Ashtak → Hanuman Ji Ki Aarti. It is particularly recommended for those undergoing Sade Sati, facing legal battles, or dealing with persistent fear and anxiety. The complete Hanuman Ashtak lyrics with Hindi and English meaning are provided above.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hanuman Ashtak
What is Hanuman Ashtak and how is it different from Hanuman Chalisa?
Hanuman Ashtak is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn — concise, mantric, and meditative. Hanuman Chalisa is a 40-verse Awadhi Hindi prayer — detailed, narrative, and devotional. The Chalisa tells Hanuman's stories in accessible language; the Ashtak distills his divine essence into dense Sanskrit verses with mantric power. The Chalisa is for daily devotion; the Ashtak is for focused spiritual practice. Serious Hanuman devotees recite both — the Chalisa for breadth and the Ashtak for depth.
What are the benefits of reciting Hanuman Ashtak?
The Hanuman Ashtak is believed to: grant extraordinary courage and mental fortitude, provide protection from evil spirits, black magic, and psychic attacks (Hanuman is the supreme guardian against supernatural threats), remove obstacles in career and legal matters, strengthen Mars (Mangal) in the birth chart, reduce Saturn's Sade Sati effects, and bestow physical health and vitality. The Sanskrit mantric structure gives it an additional dimension — the sound vibrations themselves are considered healing and protective. Check your birth chart for Mars and Saturn positions.
When and how should I recite Hanuman Ashtak?
Recite on Tuesdays and Saturdays, ideally in the morning after bath, facing east or south. The recommended worship sequence is: chant Om Hanumate Namah 108 times → recite Hanuman Chalisa → recite Hanuman Ashtak → perform Hanuman Aarti. For a focused practice (sadhana), recite the Ashtak alone 108 times over a 40-day period. Light a mustard oil lamp and offer sindoor before starting. It is especially powerful during Hanuman Jayanti and during Sade Sati periods.
What is the Panchamukhi (five-faced) form of Hanuman?
The Panchamukhi Hanuman is Hanuman's most powerful form, manifested during the battle against Ahiravana in the Ramayana. The five faces are: Hanuman (facing east — courage), Narasimha (facing south — fearlessness), Garuda (facing west — protection from poison and serpents), Varaha (facing north — prosperity and earth's blessings), and Hayagriva (facing upward — knowledge and wisdom). This form is invoked in the Ashtak for complete protection across all five elements and directions. Panchamukhi Hanuman temples are found across South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
What is the meaning of "Ashtakam" in Hindu prayers?
Ashtakam (अष्टकम्) means "a composition of eight" — from ashta (eight). It is a classical Sanskrit devotional format where a deity is praised in exactly eight verses, each following a specific meter. The eight-verse structure is considered sacred because the number 8 represents completeness in Vedic numerology — the Ashta Dikpalas (8 directions), Ashta Siddhis (8 supernatural powers), and Ashta Lakshmi (8 forms of wealth). Other famous Ashtakams include Achyutashtakam (to Vishnu) and Shiva Ashtakam.
Which is more powerful — Hanuman Chalisa, Bajrang Baan, or Hanuman Ashtak?
Each serves a different purpose and all three are powerful in their own domain. Hanuman Chalisa is the foundation — comprehensive, accessible, ideal for daily devotion and general blessings. Bajrang Baan is the emergency weapon — fierce, commanding, used during acute crises and danger. Hanuman Ashtak is the meditative depth — Sanskrit mantric potency for focused spiritual practice and long-term sadhana. The "most powerful" depends on your need: daily devotion → Chalisa, crisis protection → Bajrang Baan, deep spiritual practice → Ashtak.
Related Hanuman Prayers & Scriptures
The 40-verse foundation of Hanuman worship
The fierce emergency prayer — Hanuman's thunderbolt arrow
Concluding lamp ceremony — sing after the Ashtak
Pair with Hanuman prayers for complete Saturn relief
Another powerful Ashtakam — eight verses to Lord Vishnu
Check your Saturn transit — Hanuman Ashtak is the remedy