Sri Jagannatha Ashtaka
Eight prayers glorifying Lord Jagannatha
Free printable PDF — share with your Rath Yatra 2026 satsang group.
Sri Jagannatha Ashtaka — Chant Along
Jagannatha Ashtaka and Rath Yatra 2026
The Sri Jagannatha Ashtaka holds a unique place among devotional prayers — it is a living prayer that gets answered every year during Rath Yatra. Each of the eight verses ends with the heartfelt plea "Jagannathah Svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me" — "May that Lord Jagannatha be the object of my vision." On Rath Yatra 2026 — Thursday, July 16, 2026 — millions of devotees will witness Lord Jagannatha emerge from His temple in Puri, Odisha, and ride His towering chariot Nandighosa down the Grand Road, literally fulfilling the prayer of the Ashtaka.
Why is the Jagannatha Ashtaka sung during Rath Yatra?
Across ISKCON temples worldwide, the Jagannatha Ashtaka is a standard part of the Rath Yatra kirtan. Srila Prabhupada first introduced Rath Yatra outside India in 1967 in San Francisco, and the Jagannatha Ashtaka has been an integral part of ISKCON's Rath Yatra ever since. The prayer is sung as the chariot begins its procession and continues throughout the parade, punctuated by call-and-response chanting of the refrain. According to the Skanda Purana, simply witnessing the Rath Yatra — or even hearing about it — grants immense spiritual merit.
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
May that Lord Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
Rath Yatra 2026 — Key Dates
| Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival), Puri | Thursday, July 16, 2026 |
| Deities arrive at Gundicha Temple | July 16, 2026 (evening) |
| Deities stay at Gundicha Temple | July 16 – 23, 2026 (7 days) |
| Bahuda Yatra (Return Chariot Festival) | Friday, July 24, 2026 |
The Three Sacred Chariots of Rath Yatra
The Ashtaka's third verse describes the very scene Rath Yatra recreates — Lord Jagannatha with His powerful brother Balabhadra and His sister Subhadra. During Rath Yatra, each deity rides Their own chariot:
- Lord Jagannatha — Nandighosa (also called Chakradhwaja). 45 feet tall, 16 wheels, draped in red and yellow cloth.
- Lord Balabhadra — Taladhwaja. 45.6 feet tall, 14 wheels, draped in red and green cloth.
- Goddess Subhadra — Devadalana (Darpadalana). 44.6 feet tall, 12 wheels, draped in red and black cloth.
How to chant the Jagannatha Ashtaka at Rath Yatra
- Lead-and-response: one devotee leads each verse and the congregation responds with the refrain "Jagannathah Svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me."
- Accompany with mridanga and kartals at a gentle, meditative tempo suited to glorification.
- Chant all 8 verses in order, then repeat the refrain several times as the kirtan concludes.
- Best times: as the chariot begins to move, midway through the procession, and on arrival at the Gundicha Temple (or the destination of your local Rath Yatra).
Observe Rath Yatra 2026 at home
If you cannot attend the Puri Rath Yatra in person, you can still observe this sacred festival from home on the morning of Thursday, July 16, 2026:
- Set up a small altar with a picture or deity of Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
- Offer fresh flowers, incense and a ghee lamp.
- Chant the Sri Jagannatha Ashtaka (all 8 verses) with full attention and devotion.
- Follow with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra kirtan.
- Offer prasadam and distribute it to family and neighbours.
With heartfelt gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, by whose causeless mercy this prayer and the worldwide Rath Yatra movement reach devotees everywhere.
Verses
Verse 1
kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅgīta-taralo mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāśvāda-madhupaḥ ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: kadācit – sometimes | kālindī – Yamuna | taṭa – bank | vipina – grove | saṅgīta – concert | taralaḥ – agile | mudā – with joy | abhīrī-nārī – cowherd damsels | vadana – face | kamalā – lotus | āsvāda – taste | madhupaḥ – bumblebee | ramā – Lakshmi | śambhu – Shiva | brahmā – Brahma | amarapati – Indra | gaṇeśa – Ganesha | arcita – worshiped | padaḥ – feet
Sometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannatha makes a loud concert with His flute in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna. He is like a bumblebee tasting the beautiful lotus-like faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and great personalities such as Lakshmi, Siva, Brahma, Indra, and Ganesa worship His lotus feet. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
Verse 2
bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-picchaṁ kaṭitaṭe dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ vidadhate sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: bhuje – in the arm | savye – left | veṇuṃ – flute | śirasi – on the head | śikhi-picchaṃ – peacock feathers | kaṭitaṭe – on the hips | dukūlaṃ – silken cloth | netrānte – corners of eyes | sahacara-kaṭākṣaṃ – sidelong glances to companions | vidadhat – bestowing | sadā – always | śrīmad-vṛndāvana – glorious Vrindavana | vasati – residence | līlā – pastimes | paricayaḥ – known for
In His left hand Lord Jagannatha holds a flute, on His head He wears peacock feathers, and on His hips He wears fine yellow silken cloth. From the corners of His eyes He bestows sidelong glances upon His loving devotees, and He always reveals Himself through His pastimes in His divine abode of Vrindavana. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
Verse 3
mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: mahāmbhodheḥ – of the great ocean | tīre – on the shore | kanaka – golden | rucire – brilliant | nīla – blue | śikhare – on the crest | vasan – residing | prāsādāntaḥ – within the palace | sahaja – natural | balabhadreṇa – with Balabhadra | balinā – powerful | subhadrā – Subhadra | madhyasthaḥ – standing in the middle | sakala-sura – all godly souls | sevāvasaradaḥ – bestower of opportunity for service
On the shore of the great ocean, within a large palace atop the brilliant, golden Nilacala Hill, Lord Jagannatha resides with His powerful brother Balabhadra and His sister Subhadra, who sits between Them. May that Jagannatha Svami, who bestows the opportunity for devotional service upon all godly souls, be the object of my vision.
Verse 4
kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅkeruha-mukhaḥ surendrair ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: kṛpā – mercy | pārāvāraḥ – ocean | sajala-jalada – rain-filled clouds | śreṇi – row | ruciraḥ – beautiful | ramā – Lakshmi | vāṇī – Saraswati | rāmaḥ – storehouse of bliss | sphurat – shining | amala – spotless | paṅkeruha – lotus | mukhaḥ – face | surendraiḥ – by the best of demigods | ārādhyaḥ – worshiped | śruti-gaṇa – the Upanishads | śikhā-gīta – sung at their peak | caritaḥ – glories
Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy and as beautiful as a row of blackish rain clouds. He is the storehouse of bliss for Lakshmi and Sarasvati, and His face resembles a spotless full-blown lotus. The best of demigods and sages worship Him, and the Upanishads sing His glories. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
Verse 5
rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala-jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: rathārūḍhaḥ – mounted on chariot | gacchan – going | pathi – on the path | milita – assembled | bhūdeva – brahmanas | paṭalaiḥ – by groups | stuti – praise | prādurbhāvam – arising | pratipadam – at every step | upākarṇya – hearing | sadayaḥ – compassionate | dayā-sindhuḥ – ocean of mercy | bandhuḥ – friend | sakala-jagatām – of all the worlds | sindhu-sutayā – with the daughter of the ocean (Lakshmi)
When Lord Jagannatha moves along the road on His Rathayatra car, at every step large assemblies of brahmanas loudly chant prayers and sing songs for His pleasure. Hearing their hymns, Lord Jagannatha becomes very favorably disposed toward them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May that Jagannatha Svami, along with His consort Lakshmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.
Verse 6
paraṁ-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo 'nanta-śirasi rasānando rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅgana-sukho jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: param-brahmāpīḍaḥ – crown jewel of the Supreme Brahman | kuvalaya-dala – lotus petal | utphulla – fully bloomed | nayanaḥ – eyes | nivāsī – resident | nīlādrau – on Nilacala Hill | nihita-caraṇaḥ – feet placed | ananta-śirasi – on Ananta's head | rasānandī – overwhelmed by transcendental bliss | rādhā – Radha | sarasa – with cool sweetness | vapuḥ – body | āliṅgana – embrace | sukhaḥ – joyful
Lord Jagannatha, whose eyes resemble full-blown lotus petals, is the ornament on Lord Brahma's head. He resides on Nilacala Hill with His lotus feet placed on the heads of Anantadeva. Overwhelmed by the mellows of love, He joyfully embraces Srimati Radharani's body, which is like a cool pond. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
Verse 7
na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ na yāce 'haṁ ramyāṁ sakala-jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Word Meanings: na – not | vai – indeed | yāce – I pray for | rājyaṃ – kingdom | kanaka – gold | māṇikya – rubies | vibhavaṃ – wealth | ramyāṃ – beautiful | sakala-jana-kāmyāṃ – desired by all people | vara-vadhūm – excellent wife | sadā – always | kāle kāle – at every time | pramatha-patinā – by Lord Shiva | gīta – sung | caritaḥ – whose glories
I do not pray for a kingdom, nor for gold, rubies, or wealth. I do not ask for a beautiful wife as desired by all men. I simply pray that Jagannatha Svami, whose glories Lord Siva always sings, may be the constant object of my vision.
Verse 8
hara tvaṁ saṁsāraṁ druta-taram asāraṁ sura-pate hara tvaṁ pāpānāṁ vitatiṁ aparāṁ yādava-pate aho dīne 'nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam idaṁ jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me jagannathashtakam punyam yah pathet prayatah sucih sarva-papa-visuddhatma vishnu-lokam sa gacchati
Word Meanings: hara – remove | tvaṃ – you | saṃsāraṃ – material existence | drutataram – very quickly | asāraṃ – without essence | surapate – O Lord of demigods | pāpānāṃ – of sins | vitatim – vast expanse | aparāṃ – boundless | yādavapate – O Lord of the Yadus | aho – alas | dīne – fallen | anāthe – shelterless | nihita-caraṇaḥ – feet bestowed | niścitam idam – this is certain
O Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast, shoreless ocean of sins. Alas, this is certain: Lord Jagannatha bestows His lotus feet upon those who feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
The self-restrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord Jagannatha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Vishnu's abode.
About Lord Jagannatha
Lord Jagannatha is a form of Lord Krishna worshiped in Puri, Odisha. He appears with His brother Balarama and sister Subhadra. The famous Ratha Yatra (chariot festival) celebrates Lord Jagannatha's journey. These eight verses glorify His transcendental form, pastimes, and His causeless mercy upon devotees.
Spiritual Significance
Scriptural Source & Tradition
Commentary from the Acharyas
When to Sing / Chant
Benefits for the Devotee
Gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
We offer our humble obeisances at the lotus feet of our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, without whose causeless mercy the priceless prayers, bhajans and sacred literature of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition would have remained inaccessible to most of the world. By his herculean preaching efforts, his unparalleled translations and his founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the holy names, pastimes and instructions of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are today chanted in every town and village.
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to the Vaishnava acharyas in the disciplic succession.
