Rahu Ashtakam
॥ श्री राहु पञ्चविंशति नाम स्तोत्रम् ॥
What is the Rahu Ashtakam?
Rahu Ashtakam is the popular name for the Rahu Panchavimshati Nama Stotram, a six-verse hymn from the Skanda Purana composed by Sage Vamadeva that lists twenty five sacred names of Rahu to calm his malefic influence and invite his blessings.
Rahu is the shadow planet of Vedic astrology, the severed head of the demon Svarbhanu that still swallows the Sun and Moon during an eclipse. This hymn, six verses drawn from the Skanda Purana, calls out twenty five of his names in one breath and is the text most astrologers actually mean when they say Rahu Ashtakam.
Rahu Ashtakam Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
Roman transliteration is shown first with the Devanagari beneath. Tap 'Meaning' under any verse for a plain-English explanation.
Rāhurdānavamantrī ca siṁhikācittavandanaḥ
Ardhakāyaḥ sadākrodhī candrādityavimardanaḥ
राहुर्दानवमन्त्री च सिंहिकाचित्तवन्दनः
अर्धकायः सदाक्रोधी चन्द्रादित्यविमर्दनः
Meaning
Rahu is the minister of the demons and dear to the heart of his mother Simhika. He has only half a body, the upper half, is perpetually wrathful, and torments the Sun and Moon, causing eclipses.
Raudro rudrapriyo daityaḥ svarbhānurbhānubhītidaḥ
Graharājaḥ sudhāpāyī rākātithyabhilāṣukaḥ
रौद्रो रुद्रप्रियो दैत्यः स्वर्भानुर्भानुभीतिदः
ग्रहराजः सुधापायी राकातिथ्यभिलाषुकः
Meaning
He is fierce, beloved of Lord Shiva, a demon originally named Svarbhanu, and one who strikes fear into the Sun. He is king among the planets, the one who drank the divine nectar, and he longs for the full moon.
Kāladṛṣṭiḥ kālarūpaḥ śrīkaṇṭhahṛdayāśrayaḥ
Vidhuntudaḥ saimhikeyo ghorarūpo mahābalaḥ
कालदृष्टिः कालरूपः श्रीकण्ठहृदयाश्रयः
विधुंतुदः सैंहिकेयो घोररूपो महाबलः
Meaning
His gaze governs time itself, his very form is time, and he dwells in the heart of Shrikantha, Lord Shiva. He torments the Moon, is the son of Simhika, and carries a terrifying form with immense strength.
Grahapīḍākaro daṁṣṭrī raktanetro mahodaraḥ
Pañcaviṁśatināmāni smṛtvā rāhuṁ sadā naraḥ
ग्रहपीडाकरो दंष्ट्री रक्तनेत्रो महोदरः
पञ्चविंशतिनामानि स्मृत्वा राहुं सदा नरः
Meaning
He brings affliction upon the planets, bears fearsome fangs, blood-red eyes, and a vast belly. Whoever always keeps these twenty five names of Rahu in memory turns toward relief from his hardships.
Phalashruti
Yaḥ paṭhenmahatī pīḍā tasya naśyati kevalam
Ārogyaṁ putramatulāṁ śriyaṁ dhānyaṁ paśūṁstathā
यः पठेन्महती पीडा तस्य नश्यति केवलम्
आरोग्यं पुत्रमतुलां श्रियं धान्यं पशूंस्तथा
Meaning
For the one who recites this hymn with faith, even great and persistent afflictions dissolve completely. Good health, worthy children, abundant prosperity, grain, and cattle all come to him.
Phalashruti
Dadāti rāhustasmai yaḥ paṭhate stotramuttamam
Satataṁ paṭhate yastu jīvedvarṣaśataṁ naraḥ
ददाति राहुस्तस्मै यः पठते स्तोत्रमुत्तमम्
सततं पठते यस्तु जीवेद्वर्षशतं नरः
Meaning
Rahu grants all this to whoever recites this excellent hymn. And the one who recites it continuously, with steady devotion, is said to live a full hundred years.
What Does the Rahu Ashtakam Mean?
The first four verses read almost like a description carved on stone. Rahu is called the demons’ minister, half a body without a lower half, the one who darkens the Sun and Moon, the king among planets who drank a stolen sip of Amrita. In Puranic thought, naming a fierce force by its many names is itself an act of worship, a way of meeting Rahu’s shadow directly instead of shrinking from it.
The final two verses shift from description to promise. Whoever holds these twenty five names in memory and recites them is said to be released from affliction, and to receive health, children, wealth, grain, and long life in return. Name first, fruit after, is exactly how the Puranas usually build a stotra meant for daily use rather than one-time ritual.
Read against the myth, the hymn makes sense as more than folklore. Rahu began as Svarbhanu, an asura who slipped in among the gods during the churning of the ocean and was caught mid sip of the nectar of immortality. Vishnu’s discus took his head, but the nectar had already worked, so the head lived on as Rahu while the body became Ketu. A being made of ambition, disguise, and an incomplete body is a fitting deity for a planet astrologers still associate with obsession, sudden gain, and the pull toward what has not been earned yet.
How Do You Chant the Rahu Ashtakam?
- Bathe and dress in dark clothing – black or dark blue is traditionally preferred before you sit down to recite
- Face the south-west – Rahu's direction in Vastu, seated on a clean mat
- Light a sesame oil lamp – and if you can, offer a few black sesame seeds, both considered dear to Rahu
- Use a rudraksha or hakik mala – black agate beads help you keep count if you are repeating the verses
- Recite with clear pronunciation – 1, 3, 11, or 108 times, whatever your time allows
- Consider a 40-day mandala – a continuous forty-day recitation is the traditional length for a focused Rahu remedy
What Are the Benefits of Chanting the Rahu Ashtakam?
The Phalashruti verses promise health, prosperity, and long life, and generations of practitioners have leaned on this hymn for the following as well.
- Eases Rahu dosha: Chanted during Rahu Mahadasha or Antardasha, it is used to soften the harder edges of a poorly placed Rahu in the birth chart.
- Clears mental fog: Rahu's influence is often blamed for confusion and free-floating anxiety, and steady recitation is said to settle the mind.
- Supports material stability: Practitioners associate it with smoother business dealings and fewer sudden setbacks at work.
- Guards against hidden threats: The hymn is recited for protection from concealed rivals, deceit, and conspiracies rather than open conflict.
- Backs health and longevity: The closing verses state this outright: good health and a full hundred years for the sincere reciter.
- Removes stubborn obstacles: Especially the kind tied to legal disputes, travel abroad, or unconventional careers in technology and new fields, areas astrologers link to Rahu.
Where Does the Rahu Ashtakam Come From?
Rahu’s story begins at the churning of the cosmic ocean. An asura named Svarbhanu slipped into the row of gods and drank a portion of the Amrita before Surya and Chandra spotted the disguise and alerted Vishnu. Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra struck him down, but the nectar had already reached his throat, so the severed head lived on as the planet Rahu while the body became Ketu, forever chasing the Sun and Moon that gave him away.
This particular hymn is preserved in the Skanda Purana and is attributed to Sage Vamadeva. Because it packs twenty five names into six compact verses, it has stayed in circulation as a quick daily recitation even though its length does not match the eight-verse ashtakam format the popular name suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can women chant the Rahu Stotram?
Yes. Anyone, regardless of gender, can recite this hymn with sincerity and respect.
Do I need Rahu dosha in my kundali to chant this?
No. It is often recommended as a remedy for Rahu dosha, but anyone looking for clarity, focus, or steady material growth can chant it to seek Rahu's more favorable side.
What if I do not know my local Rahu Kaal timing?
Rahu Kaal shifts daily and by location, so check a panchang app for your city. If you miss it, reciting after sunset is considered perfectly acceptable.
Should I avoid non-vegetarian food during a 40-day recitation?
Most practitioners keep a sattvic routine for the full 40 days, skipping meat, alcohol, and other habits they consider impure, to keep the practice focused.
Can I just listen to the stotram instead of reciting it myself?
Yes, though chanting aloud is generally considered stronger because of the sound vibration itself. Listening with full attention still carries real benefit.
Why is it called Ashtakam when it only has six verses?
Ashtakam usually means eight verses, but 'Rahu Ashtakam' is really a popular nickname. The Skanda Purana's canonical text, the one on this page, has six verses and twenty five names. A few regional traditions circulate longer eight-verse versions, but this six-verse text is the one most widely chanted.
॥ शुभम् भवतु ॥