Viswanathashtakam ( Ganga Tharanga Ramaneeya) | Lyrical Video
: According to Hindu mythology, when the river Ganga descended from the heavens to Earth, her force was so powerful it would have destroyed the world. Shiva trapped her in his matted locks ( Jata ) to break her fall and released her gently, earning him the name Gangadhara . The hymn continues to describe Shiva as: Adorned with Goddess Gauri on his left side. The dear friend of Lord Narayana (Vishnu). The destroyer of the pride of Manmadha (the God of Love). The eternal Lord of Varanasi. Significance and Benefits The dear friend of Lord Narayana (Vishnu)
Chanting or listening to this stotram is believed to bring profound spiritual and material benefits: Significance and Benefits Chanting or listening to this
: This translates to "the one whose matted hair is made beautiful by the waves of the river Ganga". The dear friend of Lord Narayana (Vishnu)
The song is the opening verse of the Vishwanathashtakam (also known as the Kashi Vishwanathashtakam), a powerful 8-verse hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya . It is a devotional prayer dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Vishwanath , the "Lord of the Universe" and the presiding deity of the sacred city of Varanasi (Kashi) . The Story and Meaning The opening lines describe the iconic image of Lord Shiva: