Ramashtakam Mantra

The Ramashtakam is a deeply devotional hymn celebrating Lord Rama as the source of virtue, wisdom, and liberation.

With eight verses that praise his beauty, compassion, and divinity, this ashtakam fills the heart with calm devotion and clarity.

Chanting it is said to remove confusion and fear, instilling a quiet strength that arises from love and surrender. In its rhythm and simplicity, it draws the devotee closer to the serene joy of Rama’s presence.

The Ramashtakam Mantra is the latest addition to our library of mantras that also includes Hanuman, Krishna, Vishnu, and Rama mantras.

While this Ramashtakam is attributed to Sage Vyasa, there exists another well-known version ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya, beginning with the line “Bhaje viśeṣa-sundaraṃ samasta-pāpa-khaṇḍanam.”

The Vyasa Ramashtakam emphasizes devotional merit - the tangible rewards of remembrance, including peace, abundance, and moksha. Its verses are gentle in tone and direct in devotion, focusing on Rama’s grace as the destroyer of sin and giver of joy.

In contrast, the Shankaracharya Ramashtakam reflects a more Advaitic vision — seeing Rama not only as the compassionate prince but also as the formless supreme consciousness (advaya). There, Rama becomes a symbol of truth and non-dual awareness. The verses blend philosophy and devotion, turning praise into meditation.

Despite these differences, both hymns share a single essence - Rama as the ultimate refuge, the still center of love and wisdom.

The Ramashtakam Mantra holds several benefits for the mind of both the chanter and the listener.

Listening to this mind-expanding Rama mantra along with meditation helps you in the following ways.

Helps awaken a sense of pure devotion and surrender

Helps you achieve clarity of mind and spirit, leading to the right decisions for yourself

You can handle the daily challenges with grace and courage

This version of the Ramashtakam is traditionally attributed to Sage Vyasa, the divine seer who compiled the Mahabharata and the Puranas.

It describes the immense benefits of chanting or even listening to the hymn - wisdom, prosperity, joy, fame, and finally moksha : liberation at the end of life.

The tone of this Ramashtakam is that of bhakti in its purest form - devotion as the gateway to liberation. Vyasa’s composition captures the heart’s yearning for the divine through simple yet potent praise, reminding devotees that surrender to Rama’s name and form is itself the path to transcendence.

A story from the Ramayana beautifully mirrors this idea. When Hanuman brings the news of Rama’s victory over Ravana to Sita, he bows before her, not as a messenger but as a devotee overwhelmed by divine love.

In that moment, Sita blesses him with eternal life, saying his devotion has made him deathless. This reflects the very spirit of the Ramashtakam - that through devotion (bhakti), one attains what even austerity and knowledge strive for: peace that outlasts the body.

Thus, in Vyasa’s hands, the Ramashtakam becomes a bridge between devotion and liberation, an invitation to find stillness through love.