108 names of Krishna, with meanings

How to chant the 108 names

The Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a litany of 108 names. Each name is chanted in the form "Om ... namah" ("Om, I bow to..."), often while offering a flower, a tulsi leaf or a grain of rice for each name. Many families chant it on Janmashtami, on Ekadashi, or every morning. Lists differ slightly between traditions; this is a widely used version.

1. ॐ श्रीकृष्णाय नमःOm Shri Krishnaya namahThe all-attractive one, dark as a rain cloud
2. ॐ कमलानाथाय नमःOm Kamalanathaya namahLord of Kamala, the goddess Lakshmi
3. ॐ वासुदेवाय नमःOm Vasudevaya namahSon of Vasudeva; the one who dwells in all
4. ॐ सनातनाय नमःOm Sanatanaya namahThe eternal one
5. ॐ वसुदेवात्मजाय नमःOm Vasudevatmajaya namahBorn of Vasudeva
6. ॐ पुण्याय नमःOm Punyaya namahThe supremely pure
7. ॐ लीलामानुषविग्रहाय नमःOm Lilamanusha-vigrahaya namahWho takes a human form for his play
8. ॐ श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधराय नमःOm Shrivatsa-kaustubha-dharaya namahWho bears the Shrivatsa mark and the Kaustubha jewel
9. ॐ यशोदावत्सलाय नमःOm Yashoda-vatsalaya namahYashoda’s darling
10. ॐ हरये नमःOm Haraye namahHari, who takes away sorrow
11. ॐ चतुर्भुजात्तचक्रासिगदाशङ्खाम्बुजायुधाय नमःOm Chaturbhujatta-chakrasi-gada-shankhambuja-yudhaya namahFour-armed, holding disc, sword, mace, conch and lotus
12. ॐ देवकीनन्दनाय नमःOm Devaki-nandanaya namahThe joy of Devaki
13. ॐ श्रीशाय नमःOm Shrishaya namahLord of Shri
14. ॐ नन्दगोपप्रियात्मजाय नमःOm Nandagopa-priyatmajaya namahBeloved son of Nanda the cowherd
15. ॐ यमुनावेगसंहारिणे नमःOm Yamuna-vega-samharine namahWho stilled the rushing Yamuna
16. ॐ बलभद्रप्रियानुजाय नमःOm Balabhadra-priyanujaya namahBalaram’s beloved younger brother
17. ॐ पूतनाजीवितहराय नमःOm Putana-jivita-haraya namahWho took the life of Putana
18. ॐ शकटासुरभञ्जनाय नमःOm Shakatasura-bhanjanaya namahWho broke the cart demon Shakatasura
19. ॐ नन्दव्रजजनानन्दिने नमःOm Nanda-vraja-jananandine namahThe delight of the people of Nanda’s Vraj
20. ॐ सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहाय नमःOm Sachchidananda-vigrahaya namahWhose form is eternity, knowledge and bliss
21. ॐ नवनीतविलिप्ताङ्गाय नमःOm Navanita-viliptangaya namahWhose body is smeared with fresh butter
22. ॐ नवनीतनटाय नमःOm Navanita-nataya namahWho dances for butter
23. ॐ अनघाय नमःOm Anaghaya namahThe sinless one
24. ॐ नवनीतनवाहाराय नमःOm Navanita-navaharaya namahWho eats fresh butter
25. ॐ मुचुकुन्दप्रसादकाय नमःOm Muchukunda-prasadakaya namahWho blessed King Muchukunda
26. ॐ षोडशस्त्रीसहस्रेशाय नमःOm Shodasha-stri-sahasreshaya namahLord of sixteen thousand queens
27. ॐ त्रिभङ्गिने नमःOm Tribhangine namahWho stands bent in three graceful curves
28. ॐ मधुराकृतये नमःOm Madhurakritaye namahWhose form is sweetness itself
29. ॐ शुकवागमृताब्धीन्दवे नमःOm Shukavag-amritabdhindave namahThe moon risen from the nectar-ocean of Shuka’s words
30. ॐ गोविन्दाय नमःOm Govindaya namahProtector of the cows; delight of the senses
31. ॐ योगिनां पतये नमःOm Yoginam pataye namahLord of yogis
32. ॐ वत्सवाटचराय नमःOm Vatsavata-charaya namahWho wanders the calves’ pastures
33. ॐ अनन्ताय नमःOm Anantaya namahThe infinite
34. ॐ धेनुकासुरभञ्जनाय नमःOm Dhenukasura-bhanjanaya namahDestroyer of the demon Dhenuka
35. ॐ तृणीकृततृणावर्ताय नमःOm Trinikrita-trinavartaya namahWho made the whirlwind demon Trinavarta as light as straw
36. ॐ यमलार्जुनभञ्जनाय नमःOm Yamalarjuna-bhanjanaya namahWho felled the twin arjuna trees
37. ॐ उत्तालतालभेत्रे नमःOm Uttala-tala-bhetre namahWho shook down the tall palm trees of Talavan
38. ॐ तमालश्यामलाकृतये नमःOm Tamala-shyamala-kritaye namahDark as the tamala tree
39. ॐ गोपगोपीश्वराय नमःOm Gopa-gopishvaraya namahLord of the cowherd boys and girls
40. ॐ योगिने नमःOm Yogine namahThe supreme yogi
41. ॐ कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभाय नमःOm Koti-surya-sama-prabhaya namahBright as ten million suns
42. ॐ इलापतये नमःOm Ilapataye namahLord of the earth
43. ॐ परस्मै ज्योतिषे नमःOm Parasmai jyotishe namahThe supreme light
44. ॐ यादवेन्द्राय नमःOm Yadavendraya namahKing of the Yadavas
45. ॐ यदूद्वहाय नमःOm Yadudvahaya namahLeader of the Yadu clan
46. ॐ वनमालिने नमःOm Vanamaline namahWho wears a garland of forest flowers
47. ॐ पीतवाससे नमःOm Pitavasase namahDressed in yellow
48. ॐ पारिजातापहारकाय नमःOm Parijatapaharakaya namahWho brought the Parijata tree from heaven
49. ॐ गोवर्धनाचलोद्धर्त्रे नमःOm Govardhanachaloddhartre namahLifter of Govardhan hill
50. ॐ गोपालाय नमःOm Gopalaya namahProtector of the cows
51. ॐ सर्वपालकाय नमःOm Sarvapalakaya namahProtector of all
52. ॐ अजाय नमःOm Ajaya namahThe unborn
53. ॐ निरञ्जनाय नमःOm Niranjanaya namahThe spotless
54. ॐ कामजनकाय नमःOm Kamajanakaya namahFather of Kama, the god of love
55. ॐ कञ्जलोचनाय नमःOm Kanjalochanaya namahLotus-eyed
56. ॐ मधुघ्ने नमःOm Madhughne namahSlayer of the demon Madhu
57. ॐ मथुरानाथाय नमःOm Mathuranathaya namahLord of Mathura
58. ॐ द्वारकानायकाय नमःOm Dvarakanayakaya namahLeader of Dwarka
59. ॐ बलिने नमःOm Baline namahThe mighty
60. ॐ वृन्दावनान्तसञ्चारिणे नमःOm Vrindavananta-sancharine namahWho roams the depths of Vrindavan
61. ॐ तुलसीदामभूषणाय नमःOm Tulasidama-bhushanaya namahAdorned with a garland of tulsi
62. ॐ स्यमन्तकमणेर्हर्त्रे नमःOm Syamantaka-manerhartre namahWho recovered the Syamantaka jewel
63. ॐ नरनारायणात्मकाय नमःOm Nara-narayanatmakaya namahOne with the sages Nara and Narayana
64. ॐ कुब्जाकृष्णाम्बरधराय नमःOm Kubja-krishnambara-dharaya namahWho accepted Kubja’s offering and blessed her
65. ॐ मायिने नमःOm Mayine namahMaster of maya, the divine illusion
66. ॐ परमपूरुषाय नमःOm Paramapurushaya namahThe supreme person
67. ॐ मुष्टिकासुरचाणूरमल्लयुद्धविशारदाय नमःOm Mushtikasura-chanura-mallayuddha-visharadaya namahWho out-wrestled Mushtika and Chanura
68. ॐ संसारवैरिणे नमःOm Samsaravairine namahEnemy of the cycle of birth and death
69. ॐ कंसारये नमःOm Kamsaraye namahFoe of Kansa
70. ॐ मुरारये नमःOm Muraraye namahFoe of the demon Mura
71. ॐ नरकान्तकाय नमःOm Narakantakaya namahDestroyer of Narakasura
72. ॐ अनादिब्रह्मचारिणे नमःOm Anadibrahmacharine namahThe beginningless one, ever pure
73. ॐ कृष्णाव्यसनकर्षकाय नमःOm Krishna-vyasana-karshakaya namahWho took away Draupadi’s distress
74. ॐ शिशुपालशिरश्छेत्रे नमःOm Shishupala-shirashchhetre namahWho beheaded Shishupala
75. ॐ दुर्योधनकुलान्तकाय नमःOm Duryodhana-kulantakaya namahWho brought Duryodhana’s line to its end
76. ॐ विदुराक्रूरवरदाय नमःOm Vidurakrura-varadaya namahWho blessed Vidura and Akrura
77. ॐ विश्वरूपप्रदर्शकाय नमःOm Vishvarupa-pradarshakaya namahWho revealed his universal form
78. ॐ सत्यवाचे नमःOm Satyavache namahWhose every word is true
79. ॐ सत्यसङ्कल्पाय नमःOm Satyasankalpaya namahWhose resolve is always fulfilled
80. ॐ सत्यभामारताय नमःOm Satyabhamarataya namahBeloved of Satyabhama
81. ॐ जयिने नमःOm Jayine namahThe ever-victorious
82. ॐ सुभद्रापूर्वजाय नमःOm Subhadra-purvajaya namahSubhadra’s elder brother
83. ॐ भीष्ममुक्तिप्रदायकाय नमःOm Bhishma-mukti-pradayakaya namahWho granted liberation to Bhishma
84. ॐ जगद्गुरवे नमःOm Jagadgurave namahTeacher of the world
85. ॐ जगन्नाथाय नमःOm Jagannathaya namahLord of the universe
86. ॐ वेणुनादविशारदाय नमःOm Venunada-visharadaya namahMaster of the flute’s music
87. ॐ वृषभासुरविध्वंसिने नमःOm Vrishabhasura-vidhvamsine namahDestroyer of the bull demon Arishta
88. ॐ बाणासुरकरान्तकाय नमःOm Banasura-karantakaya namahWho cut off Banasura’s thousand arms
89. ॐ युधिष्ठिरप्रतिष्ठात्रे नमःOm Yudhishthira-pratishthatre namahWho established Yudhishthira on the throne
90. ॐ बर्हिबर्हावतंसकाय नमःOm Barhibarhavatamsakaya namahCrowned with a peacock feather
91. ॐ पार्थसारथये नमःOm Parthasarathaye namahCharioteer of Arjuna
92. ॐ अव्यक्ताय नमःOm Avyaktaya namahThe unmanifest
93. ॐ गीतामृतमहोदधये नमःOm Gitamrita-mahodadhaye namahOcean of the nectar of the Gita
94. ॐ कालीयफणिमाणिक्यरञ्जितश्रीपदाम्बुजाय नमःOm Kaliya-phani-manikya-ranjita-shri-padambujaya namahWhose lotus feet glow with the jewels of Kaliya’s hoods
95. ॐ दामोदराय नमःOm Damodaraya namahBound at the waist by Yashoda’s rope
96. ॐ यज्ञभोक्त्रे नमःOm Yajnabhoktre namahEnjoyer of every sacrifice
97. ॐ दानवेन्द्रविनाशकाय नमःOm Danavendra-vinashakaya namahDestroyer of demon kings
98. ॐ नारायणाय नमःOm Narayanaya namahNarayana, refuge of all beings
99. ॐ परब्रह्मणे नमःOm Parabrahmane namahThe supreme Brahman
100. ॐ पन्नगाशनवाहनाय नमःOm Pannagashana-vahanaya namahWho rides Garuda, eater of serpents
101. ॐ जलक्रीडासमासक्तगोपीवस्त्रापहारकाय नमःOm Jalakrida-samasakta-gopi-vastrapaharakaya namahWho hid the clothes of the gopis bathing in the Yamuna
102. ॐ पुण्यश्लोकाय नमःOm Punyashlokaya namahWhose praise purifies
103. ॐ तीर्थकराय नमःOm Tirthakaraya namahMaker of holy places
104. ॐ वेदवेद्याय नमःOm Vedavedyaya namahKnown through the Vedas
105. ॐ दयानिधये नमःOm Dayanidhaye namahTreasure-house of compassion
106. ॐ सर्वतीर्थात्मकाय नमःOm Sarvatirthatmakaya namahEmbodiment of every holy place
107. ॐ सर्वग्रहरूपिणे नमःOm Sarvagraharupine namahPresent in all the planets
108. ॐ परात्पराय नमःOm Paratparaya namahHigher than the highest

Why 108?

The number 108 runs through Indian devotion: a japa mala has 108 beads, and many deities have a litany of 108 names. Explanations vary: 108 is 1 × 2² × 3³; there are 27 lunar mansions with 4 quarters each; and 108 is said to be the number of principal gopis or Upanishads, depending on whom you ask. To a devotee, the simplest answer is that it is one full round of the mala.

Questions people ask

Sources

• Drik Panchang: 108 names of Krishna

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