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The young sage Markandeya’s hymn to Shiva the moon-crowned, sung as death approached him — eight verses that each end, “I take refuge in Chandrashekhara — what can death do to me?”
Traditionally composed by the sage Markandeya
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Chandrashekhara Ashtakam
Son of Kali · Sacred Shiva Chants
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर पाहि माम् ।
Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Pahi Mam
candraśekhara candraśekhara candraśekhara pāhi mām
O moon-crowned Shiva, moon-crowned Shiva, moon-crowned Shiva — protect me.
चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर चन्द्रशेखर रक्ष माम् ॥
Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Chandrashekhara Raksha Mam
candraśekhara candraśekhara candraśekhara rakṣa mām
O moon-crowned Shiva, moon-crowned Shiva, moon-crowned Shiva — save me.
रत्नसानुशरासनं रजताद्रिशृङ्गनिकेतनं
Ratnasanu Sharasanam Rajatadri Shringa Niketanam
ratnasānuśarāsanaṃ rajatādriśṛṅganiketanaṃ
His bow is the jewelled mountain Meru, his home the peak of the silver mountain,
शिञ्जिनीकृतपन्नगेश्वरमच्युतानलसायकम् ।
Shinjini Krita Pannageshvaram Achyutanala Sayakam
śiñjinīkṛtapannageśvaramacyutānalasāyakam
the king of serpents is his bowstring, and Vishnu, blazing with fire, his arrow;
क्षिप्रदग्धपुरत्रयं त्रिदिवालयैरभिवन्दितं
Kshipra Dagdha Puratrayam Tridivalayair Abhivanditam
kṣipradagdhapuratrayaṃ tridivālayairabhivanditaṃ
he swiftly burned the three demon cities and is worshipped by the dwellers of heaven —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ १ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
पञ्चपादपपुष्पगन्धपदाम्बुजद्वयशोभितं
Pancha Padapa Pushpa Gandha Padambuja Dvaya Shobhitam
pañcapādapapuṣpagandhapadāmbujadvayaśobhitaṃ
His two lotus feet are fragrant with flowers from the five celestial trees;
भाललोचनजातपावकदग्धमन्मथविग्रहम् ।
Bhala Lochana Jata Pavaka Dagdha Manmatha Vigraham
bhālalocanajātapāvakadagdhamanmathavigraham
the fire born of the eye on his brow burned the body of Kama, god of love;
भस्मदिग्धकलेवरं भवनाशनं भवमव्ययं
Bhasma Digdha Kalevaram Bhava Nashanam Bhavam Avyayam
bhasmadigdhakalevaraṃ bhavanāśanaṃ bhavamavyayaṃ
his body is smeared with ash; he ends worldly bondage, the imperishable Bhava —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ २ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
मत्तवारणमुख्यचर्मकृतोत्तरीयमनोहरं
Matta Varana Mukhya Charma Kritottariya Manoharam
mattavāraṇamukhyacarmakṛtottarīyamanoharaṃ
Handsome in a shawl made from the hide of a great maddened elephant,
पङ्कजासनपद्मलोचनपूजिताङ्घ्रिसरोरुहम् ।
Pankajasana Padmalochana Pujitanghri Saroruham
paṅkajāsanapadmalocanapūjitāṅghrisaroruham
his lotus feet worshipped by Brahma, seated on the lotus, and lotus-eyed Vishnu,
देवसिन्धुतरङ्गसीकरसिक्तशुभ्रजटाधरं
Deva Sindhu Taranga Sikara Sikta Shubhra Jatadharam
devasindhutaraṅgasīkarasiktaśubhrajaṭādharaṃ
his bright matted locks sprinkled with spray from the waves of the heavenly river —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ३ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
यक्षराजसखं भगाक्षहरं भुजङ्गविभूषणं
Yaksharaja Sakham Bhagaksha Haram Bhujanga Vibhushanam
yakṣarājasakhaṃ bhagākṣaharaṃ bhujaṅgavibhūṣaṇaṃ
Friend of Kubera, king of the yakshas, adorned with serpents,
शैलराजसुतापरिष्कृतचारुवामकलेवरम् ।
Shailaraja Suta Parishkrita Charu Vama Kalevaram
śailarājasutāpariṣkṛtacāruvāmakalevaram
the lovely left half of his body graced by Parvati, daughter of the mountain king,
क्ष्वेडनीलगलं परश्वधधारिणं मृगधारिणं
Kshveda Nila Galam Parashvadha Dharinam Mriga Dharinam
kṣveḍanīlagalaṃ paraśvadhadhāriṇaṃ mṛgadhāriṇaṃ
his throat blue with poison, holding an axe and a deer —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ४ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
कुण्डलीकृतकुण्डलेश्वरकुण्डलं वृषवाहनं
Kundali Krita Kundaleshvara Kundalam Vrishavahanam
kuṇḍalīkṛtakuṇḍaleśvarakuṇḍalaṃ vṛṣavāhanaṃ
The king of serpents coiled as his earrings, riding on the bull,
नारदादिमुनीश्वरस्तुतवैभवं भुवनेश्वरम् ।
Naradadi Munishvara Stuta Vaibhavam Bhuvaneshvaram
nāradādimunīśvarastutavaibhavaṃ bhuvaneśvaram
his glory praised by Narada and the great sages, lord of the worlds,
अन्धकान्तकमाश्रितामरपादपं शमनान्तकं
Andhakantakam Ashritamara Padapam Shamanantakam
andhakāntakamāśritāmarapādapaṃ śamanāntakaṃ
slayer of the demon Andhaka, a wish-fulfilling tree for those who seek him, ender of death —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ५ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
भेषजं भवरोगिणामखिलापदामपहारिणं
Bheshajam Bhava Roginam Akhilapadam Apaharinam
bheṣajaṃ bhavarogiṇāmakhilāpadāmapahāriṇaṃ
Medicine for those sick with worldly life, remover of every calamity,
दक्षयज्ञविनाशनं त्रिगुणात्मकं त्रिविलोचनम् ।
Daksha Yagya Vinashanam Trigunatmakam Trivilochanam
dakṣayajñavināśanaṃ triguṇātmakaṃ trivilocanam
destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice, embodiment of the three qualities, the three-eyed one,
भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदं सकलाघसङ्घनिबर्हणं
Bhukti Mukti Phala Pradam Sakalagha Sangha Nibarhanam
bhuktimuktiphalapradaṃ sakalāghasaṅghanibarhaṇaṃ
giver of both worldly joy and liberation, destroyer of every mass of sin —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ६ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
भक्तवत्सलमर्चितं निधिमक्षयं हरिदम्बरं
Bhakta Vatsalam Architam Nidhim Akshayam Haridambaram
bhaktavatsalamarcitaṃ nidhimakṣayaṃ haridambaraṃ
Loving to his devotees, worshipped by all, an inexhaustible treasure, clothed in the directions,
सर्वभूतपतिं परात्परमप्रमेयमनुत्तमम् ।
Sarva Bhuta Patim Paratparam Aprameyam Anuttamam
sarvabhūtapatiṃ parātparamaprameyamanuttamam
lord of all beings, beyond the highest, immeasurable, unsurpassed,
सोमवारिनभोहुताशनसोमपानिलखाकृतिं
Soma Vari Nabho Hutashana Somapanila Khakritim
somavārinabhohutāśanasomapānilakhākṛtiṃ
whose forms are the moon, water, the sky, fire, the sacrificer, wind and space —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ७ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
विश्वसृष्टिविधायिनं पुनरेव पालनतत्परं
Vishva Srishti Vidhayinam Punareva Palana Tatparam
viśvasṛṣṭividhāyinaṃ punareva pālanatatparaṃ
Creator of the universe, and again devoted to protecting it,
संहरन्तमपि प्रपञ्चमशेषलोकनिवासिनम् ।
Samharantam Api Prapancham Ashesha Loka Nivasinam
saṃharantamapi prapañcamaśeṣalokanivāsinam
who also dissolves the whole manifest world, and dwells in every world,
क्रीडयन्तमहर्निशं गणनाथयूथसमन्वितं
Kridayantam Aharnisham Gananatha Yutha Samanvitam
krīḍayantamaharniśaṃ gaṇanāthayūthasamanvitaṃ
playing day and night, surrounded by the hosts of his attendants —
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ८ ॥
Chandrashekharam Ashraye Mama Kim Karishyati Vai Yamah
candraśekharamāśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
I take refuge in the moon-crowned Shiva — what can death do to me?
मृत्युभीतमृकण्डुसूनुकृतस्तवं शिवसन्निधौ
Mrityu Bhita Mrikandu Sunu Krita Stavam Shiva Sannidhau
mṛtyubhītamṛkaṇḍusūnukṛtastavaṃ śivasannidhau
This hymn, composed in Shiva’s presence by the son of Mrikandu, afraid of death —
यत्र कुत्र च यः पठेन्न हि तस्य मृत्युभयं भवेत् ।
Yatra Kutra Cha Yah Pathen Na Hi Tasya Mrityu Bhayam Bhavet
yatra kutra ca yaḥ paṭhenna hi tasya mṛtyubhayaṃ bhavet
whoever recites it, wherever they may be, will have no fear of death;
पूर्णमायुररोगितामखिलार्थसम्पदमादरं
Purnam Ayur Arogitam Akhilartha Sampadam Adaram
pūrṇamāyurarogitāmakhilārthasampadamādaraṃ
a full life, freedom from illness, every kind of wealth and honour —
चन्द्रशेखर एव तस्य ददाति मुक्तिमयत्नतः ॥
Chandrashekhara Eva Tasya Dadati Muktim Ayatnatah
candraśekhara eva tasya dadāti muktimayatnataḥ
the moon-crowned Shiva himself grants them these, and liberation without effort.
Chandraśekhara means “the one who wears the moon on his crest” — Shiva, with the crescent moon in his matted hair. This ashtakam is traditionally credited to the boy-sage Markandeya, who was destined to die at sixteen and was saved by Shiva from Yama, the lord of death.
It opens with a beloved refrain — candraśekhara candraśekhara candraśekhara pāhi mām, “Chandrashekhara, Chandrashekhara, protect me” — and every verse ends with the same fearless declaration: candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ — “I take refuge in Chandrashekhara; what can Yama do to me?”
Between those lines the hymn paints Shiva as the cosmic archer who destroyed the three demon cities, the burner of Kama, the wearer of serpents and ash, the healer of the disease of worldly existence, and the creator, protector and dissolver of the universe. It is chanted for courage, health and freedom from the fear of death.
Markandeya was born as a gift from Shiva to his parents, but with only sixteen years to live. On his last day he went to a Shiva temple and embraced the Linga, singing hymns. When Yama threw his noose, it caught the Linga as well — and Shiva burst out in fury and drove death away.
Markandeya was granted eternal youth. This ashtakam is remembered as his song of total trust, and the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is linked to the same story.
Verse 1 describes the destruction of Tripura, three flying cities of the demons. Shiva used Mount Meru as his bow, the serpent king Vasuki as its string, and Vishnu himself as the arrow tipped with fire.
With one shot he burned all three cities as they aligned — an image of awareness destroying the three bodies of ignorance in a single moment.
When to chant
How many times
Once through daily, or 11 times on Mondays.
Begin with the refrain “Chandrashekhara… pahi mam” three times.
Chant each verse with the recording, joining strongly on the closing line.
Picture the calm, moon-crowned Shiva standing between you and every fear.
End with the closing verse about Markandeya.
Sit quietly for a moment, unafraid.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
candraśekhara
chun-dra-shay-kha-ra — “moon-crowned.”
pāhi mām
paa-hi maam — “protect me.”
āśraye
aash-ra-yay — “I take refuge.”
kariṣyati vai yamaḥ
ka-rish-ya-ti vai ya-mah — “will Yama do.”
The music
by Son of Kali
What does Chandrashekhara mean?
“The one who wears the moon on his crest” — a name of Shiva, who wears the crescent moon in his matted hair.
Who wrote Chandrashekhara Ashtakam?
It is traditionally credited to the sage Markandeya, who was saved from death by Shiva.
What are the benefits of chanting it?
The closing verse says whoever recites it will have no fear of death, and that Shiva grants a full life, health, prosperity and liberation. It is traditionally chanted for courage and well-being.
How is it related to the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra?
Both are linked to the story of Markandeya and Shiva’s victory over death.