108 Names of Vishnu (Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanamavali)
श्री विष्णु अष्टोत्तरशतनामावली
What is the Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanamavali?
The Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a devotional garland of 108 names of Lord Vishnu, each offered as a short mantra in the form Om [name] Namah. It comes down from the Padma Purana, where the sage Kunjala teaches it as a hymn that purifies all sins, and a full recitation takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
Long before it was ever printed on a page, this hundred-and-eight-name hymn was something a household kept for daily use: short enough to say each morning, complete enough to touch nearly every side of Vishnu at once. The Padma Purana frames it as Brahma’s own composition, meant for anyone, of any background, who wants to steady the mind before a busy day or close a fast on Ekadashi with something more than silence. Moving through it, you meet Vishnu the preserver and Vishnu the boar who lifted the earth, Vishnu enthroned in Vaikuntha and Vishnu at play among the cowherds of Vrindavan, the same one wearing every name lightly. This page gives each name in easy Roman script, the original Devanagari mantra, and a plain-English meaning, so you can chant with understanding. Hide the meanings for a distraction-free chant, enlarge the text, or print the whole hymn for your puja.
All 108 Names of Vishnu with Meaning
Chant each line as it appears: Om, the name, then Namah. The Devanagari mantra sits under every English line, with its meaning below.
Om Hrishikeshaya Namah
ॐ हृषीकेशाय नमः।
Lord and master of the senses
Om Keshavaya Namah
ॐ केशवाय नमः।
He of the radiant locks, slayer of the demon Keshi
Om Madhusudanaya Namah
ॐ मधुसूदनाय नमः।
Slayer of the demon Madhu
Om Sarvadaityasudanaya Namah
ॐ सर्वदैत्यसूदनाय नमः।
Destroyer of every demon without exception
Om Narayanaya Namah
ॐ नारायणाय नमः।
He who rests upon the cosmic waters, refuge of all beings
Om Anamayaya Namah
ॐ अनामयाय नमः।
Free from every disease and affliction
Om Jayantaya Namah
ॐ जयन्ताय नमः।
The ever-victorious one
Om Vijayaya Namah
ॐ विजयाय नमः।
Bestower of victory upon his devotees
Om Krishnaya Namah
ॐ कृष्णाय नमः।
The dark-hued lord, ever drawing hearts to him
Om Anantaya Namah
ॐ अनन्ताय नमः।
The endless one, without beginning or end
Om Vamanaya Namah
ॐ वामनाय नमः।
The dwarf form who reclaimed the three worlds in three steps
Om Vishnave Namah
ॐ विष्णवे नमः।
He who pervades the whole of creation
Om Vishveshvaraya Namah
ॐ विश्वेश्वराय नमः।
Lord and ruler of the universe
Om Punyaya Namah
ॐ पुण्याय नमः।
The sacred and meritorious one
Om Vishvatmane Namah
ॐ विश्वात्मने नमः।
The soul dwelling within the universe
Om Surarchitaya Namah
ॐ सुरार्चिताय नमः।
He who is worshipped by all the gods
Om Anaghaya Namah
ॐ अनघाय नमः।
The sinless one, untouched by any fault
Om Aghahartre Namah
ॐ अघहर्त्रे नमः।
Remover of sin and misfortune
Om Narasimhaya Namah
ॐ नारसिंहाय नमः।
The man-lion who came to protect his devotee Prahlada
Om Shriyahpriyaya Namah
ॐ श्रियःप्रियाय नमः।
Beloved of Goddess Shri, Lakshmi
Om Shripataye Namah
ॐ श्रीपतये नमः।
Lord and husband of Shri
Om Shridharaya Namah
ॐ श्रीधराय नमः।
Bearer of Lakshmi, holder of all prosperity
Om Shridaya Namah
ॐ श्रीदाय नमः।
Bestower of wealth and good fortune
Om Shrinivasaya Namah
ॐ श्रीनिवासाय नमः।
The abode where Lakshmi dwells
Om Mahodayaya Namah
ॐ महोदयाय नमः।
He of great and rising glory
Om Shriramaya Namah
ॐ श्रीरामाय नमः।
The gracious and delightful one, as Lord Rama
Om Madhavaya Namah
ॐ माधवाय नमः।
Lord of Lakshmi, and source of all sweetness and knowledge
Om Mokshakshamarupaya Namah
ॐ मोक्षक्षमारूपाय नमः।
Embodiment of both liberation and forgiveness
Om Janardanaya Namah
ॐ जनार्दनाय नमः।
He who is invoked by all people, remover of their afflictions
Om Sarvajnaya Namah
ॐ सर्वज्ञाय नमः।
The all-knowing one
Om Sarvavettre Namah
ॐ सर्ववेत्त्रे नमः।
Knower of all things
Om Sarveshaya Namah
ॐ सर्वेशाय नमः।
Lord and ruler of all
Om Sarvadayakaya Namah
ॐ सर्वदायकाय नमः।
Giver of everything to those who seek him
Om Haraye Namah
ॐ हरये नमः।
He who takes away sin and sorrow
Om Muraraye Namah
ॐ मुरारये नमः।
Slayer of the demon Mura
Om Govindaya Namah
ॐ गोविन्दाय नमः।
Protector and finder of the cows and the earth
Om Padmanabhaya Namah
ॐ पद्मनाभाय नमः।
He from whose navel the lotus of creation unfolds
Om Prajapataye Namah
ॐ प्रजापतये नमः।
Lord and protector of all creatures
Om Anandajnanasampannaya Namah
ॐ आनन्दज्ञानसम्पन्नाय नमः।
Full of bliss and complete divine knowledge
Om Jnanadaya Namah
ॐ ज्ञानदाय नमः।
Bestower of sacred knowledge
Om Jnanadayakaya Namah
ॐ ज्ञानदायकाय नमः।
Giver of wisdom to every sincere seeker
Om Achyutaya Namah
ॐ अच्युताय नमः।
The imperishable one, who never falls from his own nature
Om Sabalaya Namah
ॐ सबलाय नमः।
Possessor of boundless strength
Om Chandravaktraya Namah
ॐ चन्द्रवक्त्राय नमः।
He whose face is as cooling and radiant as the moon
Om Vyaptaparavaraya Namah
ॐ व्याप्तपरावराय नमः।
He who pervades both the highest and the lowest realms
Om Yogeshvaraya Namah
ॐ योगेश्वराय नमः।
Lord and master of yoga
Om Jagadyonaye Namah
ॐ जगद्योनये नमः।
Womb and source of the universe
Om Brahmarupaya Namah
ॐ ब्रह्मरूपाय नमः।
He whose very form is the absolute, Brahman
Om Maheshvaraya Namah
ॐ महेश्वराय नमः।
The great lord, supreme ruler over all
Om Mukundaya Namah
ॐ मुकुन्दाय नमः।
Bestower of liberation
Om Vaikunthaya Namah
ॐ वैकुण्ठाय नमः।
Lord who dwells in Vaikuntha, the eternal abode
Om Ekarupaya Namah
ॐ एकरूपाय नमः।
He who is one, undivided in essence
Om Kavaye Namah
ॐ कवये नमः।
The wise seer, poet among the gods
Om Dhruvaya Namah
ॐ ध्रुवाय नमः।
The fixed and unchanging one
Om Vasudevaya Namah
ॐ वासुदेवाय नमः।
He who dwells within and pervades all beings
Om Mahadevaya Namah
ॐ महादेवाय नमः।
The great god, an epithet honouring his oneness with Shiva
Om Brahmanyaya Namah
ॐ ब्रह्मण्याय नमः।
Friend and protector of Brahman and of Brahmins
Om Brahmanapriyaya Namah
ॐ ब्राह्मणप्रियाय नमः।
Beloved of Brahmins and seekers of truth
Om Gopriyaya Namah
ॐ गोप्रियाय नमः।
Dear friend and lover of the cows
Om Gohitaya Namah
ॐ गोहिताय नमः।
He who works for the welfare of the cows
Om Yajnaya Namah
ॐ यज्ञाय नमः।
The sacrifice itself, personified
Om Yajnangaya Namah
ॐ यज्ञाङ्गाय नमः।
He who forms every part of the sacred rite
Om Yajnavardhanaya Namah
ॐ यज्ञवर्धनाय नमः।
He who causes sacrifice to flourish
Om Yajnasyabhoktre Namah
ॐ यज्ञस्य भोक्त्रे नमः।
The true enjoyer of every sacrifice offered
Om Vedavedangaparagaya Namah
ॐ वेदवेदाङ्गपारगाय नमः।
Master of the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences
Om Vedajnaya Namah
ॐ वेदज्ञाय नमः।
Knower of the Vedas
Om Vedarupaya Namah
ॐ वेदरूपाय नमः।
He whose form is the Veda itself
Om Vidyavasaya Namah
ॐ विद्यावासाय नमः।
Abode of all true knowledge
Om Sureshvaraya Namah
ॐ सुरेश्वराय नमः।
Lord and ruler of the gods
Om Pratyakshaya Namah
ॐ प्रत्यक्षाय नमः।
He who becomes directly perceivable to a devoted heart
Om Mahahamsaya Namah
ॐ महाहंसाय नमः।
The great swan, symbol of supreme discernment
Om Shankhapanaye Namah
ॐ शङ्खपाणये नमः।
He who holds the conch in his hand
Om Puratanaya Namah
ॐ पुरातनाय नमः।
The ancient one, older than time itself
Om Pushkaraya Namah
ॐ पुष्कराय नमः।
He who is linked with the sacred lotus and its waters
Om Pushkarakshaya Namah
ॐ पुष्कराक्षाय नमः।
The lotus-eyed lord
Om Varahaya Namah
ॐ वराहाय नमः।
The boar who lifted the earth from the cosmic deep
Om Dharanidharaya Namah
ॐ धरणीधराय नमः।
Bearer and sustainer of the earth
Om Pradyumnaya Namah
ॐ प्रद्युम्नाय नमः।
He of radiant, overflowing might
Om Kamapalaya Namah
ॐ कामपालाय नमः।
Protector and fulfiller of righteous desire
Om Vyasadhyataya Namah
ॐ व्यासध्याताय नमः।
He who is meditated upon by the sage Vyasa
Om Maheshvaraya Namah
ॐ महेश्वराय नमः।
The great lord, supreme ruler – named again to underscore his all-pervading majesty
Om Sarvasaukhyaya Namah
ॐ सर्वसौख्याय नमः।
Source of all comfort and ease
Om Mahasaukhyaya Namah
ॐ महासौख्याय नमः।
Giver of the very greatest bliss
Om Sankhyapurushottamaya Namah
ॐ साङ्ख्यपुरुषोत्तमाय नमः।
The Supreme Being described in Sankhya philosophy, highest among all souls
Om Yogarupaya Namah
ॐ योगरूपाय नमः।
He whose very form is yoga, union itself
Om Mahajnanaya Namah
ॐ महाज्ञानाय नमः।
Embodiment of supreme knowledge
Om Yogishaya Namah
ॐ योगीशाय नमः।
Lord of all yogis
Om Ajitapriyaya Namah
ॐ अजितप्रियाय नमः।
Beloved of the unconquerable, dear to Ajita
Om Asuraraye Namah
ॐ असुरारये नमः।
Enemy and vanquisher of the demons
Om Lokanathaya Namah
ॐ लोकनाथाय नमः।
Lord and protector of all the worlds
Om Padmahastaya Namah
ॐ पद्महस्ताय नमः।
He who holds the lotus in his hand
Om Gadadharaya Namah
ॐ गदाधराय नमः।
Wielder of the mace, Kaumodaki
Om Guhavasaya Namah
ॐ गुहावासाय नमः।
He who dwells in caves and hidden places, the one within the heart
Om Sarvavasaya Namah
ॐ सर्ववासाय नमः।
He who resides in all things and all beings
Om Punyavasaya Namah
ॐ पुण्यवासाय नमः।
Dweller in sacred and virtuous places
Om Mahajanaya Namah
ॐ महाजनाय नमः।
He who is honoured among the great and the noble
Om Vrindanathaya Namah
ॐ वृन्दानाथाय नमः।
Lord of Vrinda (Tulsi) and the groves of Vrindavan
Om Brihatkayaya Namah
ॐ बृहत्कायाय नमः।
He of a vast, cosmic form
Om Pavanaya Namah
ॐ पावनाय नमः।
The purifier, who cleanses all who take his name
Om Papanashanaya Namah
ॐ पापनाशनाय नमः।
Destroyer of sin
Om Gopinathaya Namah
ॐ गोपीनाथाय नमः।
Lord and beloved of the gopis
Om Gopasakhaya Namah
ॐ गोपसखाय नमः।
Friend and companion of the cowherds
Om Gopalaya Namah
ॐ गोपालाय नमः।
Protector and nurturer of the cows
Om Ganashrayaya Namah
ॐ गणाश्रयाय नमः।
Refuge and shelter of every group of beings
Om Paratmane Namah
ॐ परात्मने नमः।
The supreme soul, beyond all else
Om Paradhishaya Namah
ॐ पराधीशाय नमः।
The highest ruler, above even the highest
Om Kapilaya Namah
ॐ कपिलाय नमः।
He who appeared on earth as the sage Kapila
Om Karyamanushaya Namah
ॐ कार्यमानुषाय नमः।
He who takes on human form and human action for the sake of righteous deeds
About the Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanamavali
The idea of praising a deity through a fixed set of names, whether 32, 108, or a full thousand, runs right through Hindu devotional literature, and the 108-name form has always been the most practical: short enough for daily use, complete enough to feel whole. This particular Ashtottara Shatanamavali comes from the Bhumi-khanda of the Padma Purana, where the sage Kunjala teaches it as the Shatanama hymn of Krishna-Vishnu, composed by Brahma himself, set in the anushtubh metre, and said to be capable of destroying a heap of sins.
Unlike a chalisa or a single continuous hymn, a namavali does not tell a story from beginning to end. It moves in short, deliberate steps, one name, one bow, one Namah, so that a single sitting touches Vishnu as preserver of the cosmos, as the boar who rescued the earth, as the man-lion who broke a tyrant’s pride, as the cowherd among cowherds in Vrindavan, and as the quiet philosopher-sage within all things. The Purana itself promises rewards to match nearly every walk of life: knowledge for the Brahmin who recites it, prosperity for the merchant, protection for the ruler, and simple happiness for anyone who takes it up with a steady mind.
What makes this namavali distinct is its sheer reach in so few words. In barely fifteen minutes a devotee moves from Vishnu’s cosmic form to his most intimate, human ones, which is very much the point of a hymn built to be said every single day, not saved for a special occasion.
How to Chant the 108 Names
- Prepare a clean space. Sit facing east or north with an image or murti of Vishnu before you; a diya or a stick of incense is a welcome addition if that is part of your practice.
- Set aside 10 to 15 minutes. The full list moves quickly compared to a sahasranama, so it fits easily into a morning routine, an Ekadashi vigil, or a few quiet minutes before sleep.
- Begin with a short invocation. A single verse to Vishnu, or simply Om Namo Narayanaya a few times, settles the mind before the names begin.
- Chant each name clearly. Say every Om [name] Namah at an even, unhurried pace, aloud or silently, letting each meaning land rather than rushing to the next line.
- Close with a moment of stillness. A short closing prayer, or simply sitting quietly for a minute, rounds off the recitation; if you offered flowers, tulsi leaves, or rice with each name, gather them respectfully afterward.
Benefits of Chanting
The Padma Purana ties a string of rewards to this short hymn, but most devotees keep it up for the same reason it was written: a few honest minutes with Vishnu every day. The most commonly cited benefits are these:
- Turns the mind from sin toward steadiness, echoing the Purana’s own claim that the hymn destroys a heap of sins for anyone who recites it with attention.
- Carries special merit on Ekadashi, where tradition holds that a recitation during the fast brings the reward of the Pundarika sacrifice, deepening an already sincere day of restraint.
- Links a simple daily habit to a larger act of devotion, since reciting it beside a tulsi plant is said to yield the merit of the Rajasuya sacrifice within a year.
- Gathers Vishnu’s cosmic and intimate forms in one sitting, which many devotees find grounding when a longer sahasranama is not practical.
- Is realistic to keep up every single day, and the Purana itself treats that daily consistency, not occasional grand recitation, as the real source of its merit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to chant all 108 names of Vishnu?
At a steady, unhurried pace the full namavali takes about 10 to 15 minutes, considerably shorter than a sahasranama, which makes it realistic to include in a daily routine.
What is the best day or time to chant it?
Ekadashi is the day most closely tied to this hymn in the Padma Purana itself, though it is also recited during Kartika and Magha, the holy bathing months, and in daily morning worship at any time of year.
Can I chant the names in English instead of Sanskrit?
Yes. A transliterated version is entirely acceptable if Sanskrit pronunciation feels unfamiliar; sincerity and attention matter far more than exact phonetics, and many devotees move toward the Sanskrit sounds gradually.
How is this different from the Vishnu Sahasranama?
The Vishnu Sahasranama lists 1000 names and typically takes 45 minutes to an hour to recite in full. This Ashtottara Shatanamavali offers 108 names in a fraction of the time, making it a lighter daily practice rather than a longer, more elaborate one.
Do I need any special preparation before starting?
No initiation or formal ritual is required, just a clean space, a calm mind, and about fifteen minutes without interruption. Bathing beforehand or keeping a simple offering of tulsi leaves or flowers is a supportive custom for many devotees, not a strict requirement.
Can anyone recite this namavali, regardless of background?
Yes. The Padma Purana explicitly describes benefits for people across different walks of life who recite it, treating it as a personal devotional practice open to anyone with sincere devotion, not a priest-led ritual.
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय · May Lord Vishnu preserve, protect and guide you always.