Lord Shiva

kāśī pañcakaṃ

(Kashi Panchakam in English (IAST))

Adi Shankaracharya

Kashi Panchakam is a profound stotra composed by Adi Shankaracharya that transcends the physical geography of Varanasi, elevating the concept of Kashi to a state of internal consciousness. In these five verses, the author equates the sacred geography—such as the Ganges and Manikarnika—to the states of self-realization and eternal bliss. By chanting these verses, a devotee shifts their focus from external rituals to the inner light of the Self, fostering detachment, deep tranquility, and the ultimate realization of one's identity as pure, infinite consciousness, synonymous with the nature of Lord Shiva.

mano nivṛttiḥ paramopaśāntiḥ sā tīrthavaryā maṇikarṇikā ca
jñānapravāhā vimalādigaṅgā sā kāśikāhaṃ nijabodharūpā || 1 ||
yasyāmidaṃ kalpitamindrajālaṃ carācaraṃ bhāti manovilāsaṃ
saccitsukhaikā paramātmarūpā sā kāśikāhaṃ nijabodharūpā || 2 ||
kośeṣu pañcasvadhirājamānā buddhirbhavānī pratidehagehaṃ
sākṣī śivaḥ sarvagato'ntarātmā sā kāśikāhaṃ nijabodharūpā || 3 ||
kāśyā hi kāśata kāśī kāśī sarvaprakāśikā
sā kāśī viditā yena tena prāptā hi kāśikā || 4 ||
kāśīkṣetraṃ śarīraṃ tribhuvanajananī vyāpinī jñānagaṅgā
bhakti śraddhā gayeyaṃ nijagurucaraṇadhyānayogaḥ prayāgaḥ
viśveśo'yaṃ turīyaḥ sakalajanamanaḥ sākṣibhūto'ntarātmā
dehe sarvaṃ madīye yadi vasati punastīrthamanyatkimasti || 5 ||
|| iti śrīmacchaṅkarācāryaviracitā kāśī pañcakaṃ prayātāṣṭakam ||

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