Shri Kartikeya Ashtakam श्री कार्तिकेय अष्टकम्

Composed by Shri Adi Shankaracharya Shri Kartikeya is said to be the destroyer of demons, and the general of the army of the Devas. Listening to Shri Kartikeya Ashtakam improves the right mooladhaar chakra and destroys all that is evil and perverse within us. Shri Kartikeya Ashtakam is also known as Subrahmanya Ashtakam or Swaminath Karaavalamba Stotram हे स्वामिनाथ करुणाकर दीनबन्धो, श्रीपार्वतीशमुखपङ्कज पद्मबन्धो । श्रीशादिदेवगणपूजितपादपद्म, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥१॥ देवादिदेवनुत देवगणाधिनाथ, देवेन्द्रवन्द्य मृदुपङ्कजमञ्जुपाद । देवर्षिनारदमुनीन्द्रसुगीतकीर्ते, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥२॥ नित्यान्नदान निरताखिल रोगहारिन्, तस्मात्प्रदान परिपूरितभक्तकाम । शृत्यागमप्रणववाच्यनिजस्वरूप, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥३॥ क्रौञ्चासुरेन्द्र परिखण्डन शक्तिशूल, पाशादिशस्त्रपरिमण्डितदिव्यपाणे । श्रीकुण्डलीश धृततुण्ड शिखीन्द्रवाह, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥४॥ देवादिदेव रथमण्डल मध्य वेद्य, देवेन्द्र पीठनगरं दृढचापहस्तम् । शूरं निहत्य सुरकोटिभिरीड्यमान, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥५॥ हारादिरत्नमणियुक्तकिरीटहार, केयूरकुण्डललसत्कवचाभिराम । हे वीर तारक जयाsमरवृन्दवन्द्य, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥६॥ पञ्चाक्षरादिमनुमन्त्रित गाङ्गतोयैः, पञ्चामृतैः प्रमुदितेन्द्रमुखैर्मुनीन्द्रैः । पट्टाभिषिक्त हरियुक्त परासनाथ, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥७॥ श्रीकार्तिकेय करुणामृतपूर्णदृष्ट्या, कामादिरोगकलुषीकृतदुष्टचित्तम् । भक्त्वा तु मामवकलाधर कान्तिकान्त्या, वल्लीशनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥८॥ फलश्रुतिः सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकं पुण्यं ये पठन्ति द्विजोत्तमाः । ते सर्वे मुक्ति मायान्ति सुब्रह्मण्य प्रसादतः । सुब्रह्मण्याष्टकमिदं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं तत्‍क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥ Meaning : The one who is the protector of the virtuous, who is merciful and the companion of the oppressed The one who is the son of the Lord of the lotus faced Goddess Parvati The one whose Lotus like feet is worshipped by Lord Vishnu and several deva ganas O Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support The one who is the son of the God of the gods (Shiva), and the Commander of the Gods The one’s whose soft lotus like feet is worshipped by God Devendra The one whose greatness is sung and praised by Devarshi Narada, and several sages The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support The one who always feeds the needy and who always cures the prevailing diseases The one who bestows fortune and fulfils all the desires of his devotes The one who is the real form of the pranava as given in the Vedas The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support The Lord of Mountains, who has powerful weapons like Shakti and Shula The one who carries several weapons in his divine hands The one who wears the ear ornaments, and who rides swiftly on his peacock The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support O God of all the Devas, the one who rides the chariot in the centre of the several chariots (signifying the spirit of war) The one who removes the suffering of the Indra’s citadel and brings cheer with his protection The one who eliminated the enemies, and was praised and admired by all the devas The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support The one who wears the crown and jewels that were bedecked by precious gems The one who wears armlets, earrings and a radiant armour The one who was victorious on demon Taraka and is worshipped by victorious devas The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support The one to whom the holy panchakshara mantra is chanted along with the offerings of Ganges water The one who is anointed by Indra and best of holy sages with the panchamruthas The one whose coronation and status is revered by all The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support O Lord Kartikeya, the nectar of compassion, please reveal your merciful sight Please remove my diseases, bad desires and wicked thoughts that set me in the wrong path The one who takes care of his devotees, and the one who is the treasure of all the arts, shining with great radiance The Lord of Goddess Valli, please provide us the handful support. The one who recites this Subrahmanya Ashtakam stotram with devotion in the morning all the sins they made in their previous births will be wiped out in no time. They will attain the liberation (Moksha) by the grace of God Subrahmanya. ------------------------------ sahajayogaculture21@gmail.com