108 Names of Shri Krishna – Ashtottara Shatanamavali

The 108 holy names of Lord Krishna with their meanings — for worship, archana and chanting.

"Ashtottara shata" means one hundred and eight. Each name in this list recalls a quality, form or pastime of Shri Krishna — from His birth and childhood in Vraja to Mathura, Dwarka and Kurukshetra.

In worship each name is recited with "Om" before it and "namah" after it, for example "Om Krishnaya Namah", "Om Govindaya Namah". With each name a tulsi leaf, a flower or a few grains of rice are offered at the Lord's feet. This is called archana.

The names may be recited on Janmashtami, on Ekadashi or on any auspicious day. If time is short, read a few names with their meanings each day and reflect on them.

1. कृष्णाय (Krishnaya) – The all-attractive one
2. कमलानाथाय (Kamalanathaya) – Lord of Kamala (Lakshmi)
3. वासुदेवाय (Vasudevaya) – Son of Vasudeva; who dwells in all
4. सनातनाय (Sanatanaya) – The eternal one
5. वसुदेवात्मजाय (Vasudevatmajaya) – Son of Vasudeva
6. पुण्याय (Punyaya) – The supremely pure
7. लीलामानुषविग्रहाय (Lilamanusha-vigrahaya) – Who took a human form for His divine play
8. श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधराय (Shrivatsa-kaustubha-dharaya) – Who bears the Shrivatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem
9. यशोदावत्सलाय (Yashoda-vatsalaya) – Darling of mother Yashoda
10. हरये (Haraye) – Hari, remover of sorrow and sin
11. चतुर्भुजात्तचक्रासिगदाशङ्खाद्युदायुधाय (Chaturbhujatta-chakrasi-gada-shankhadyudayudhaya) – Four-armed, holding discus, sword, mace, conch and other weapons
12. देवकीनन्दनाय (Devakinandanaya) – The son who delights mother Devaki
13. श्रीशाय (Shrishaya) – Lord of Shri (Lakshmi)
14. नन्दगोपप्रियात्मजाय (Nandagopa-priyatmajaya) – Beloved son of Nanda the cowherd
15. यमुनावेगसंहारिणे (Yamuna-vega-samharine) – Who calmed the fierce current of the Yamuna
16. बलभद्रप्रियानुजाय (Balabhadra-priyanujaya) – Dear younger brother of Balabhadra (Balarama)
17. पूतनाजीवितहराय (Putana-jivita-haraya) – Who took the life of Putana
18. शकटासुरभञ्जनाय (Shakatasura-bhanjanaya) – Destroyer of the cart-demon Shakatasura
19. नन्दव्रजजनानन्दिने (Nanda-vraja-jananandine) – Who delights the people of Nanda's Vraja
20. सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहाय (Sachchidananda-vigrahaya) – Whose form is eternity, knowledge and bliss
21. नवनीतविलिप्ताङ्गाय (Navanita-viliptangaya) – Whose limbs are smeared with butter
22. नवनीतनटाय (Navanita-nataya) – Who dances for butter
23. अनघाय (Anaghaya) – The sinless, faultless one
24. नवनीतनवाहाराय (Navanita-navaharaya) – Whose favourite food is fresh butter
25. मुचुकुन्दप्रसादकाय (Muchukunda-prasadakaya) – Who blessed King Muchukunda
26. षोडशस्त्रीसहस्रेशाय (Shodasha-stri-sahasreshaya) – Lord of sixteen thousand queens
27. त्रिभङ्गिमधुराकृतये (Tribhangi-madhurakritaye) – Whose sweet form stands in the graceful three-bend pose
28. शुकवागमृताब्धीन्दवे (Shuka-vagamritabdhindave) – The moon risen from the nectar-ocean of Shukadeva's words
29. गोविन्दाय (Govindaya) – Who delights the cows, the earth and the senses
30. योगिनां पतये (Yoginam Pataye) – Lord of the yogis
31. वत्सवाटचराय (Vatsavata-charaya) – Who roams the pastures with the calves
32. अनन्ताय (Anantaya) – The endless one
33. धेनुकासुरभञ्जनाय (Dhenukasura-bhanjanaya) – Destroyer of the donkey-demon Dhenukasura
34. तृणीकृततृणावर्ताय (Trinikrita-trinavartaya) – Who made the whirlwind demon Trinavarta as light as a blade of grass
35. यमलार्जुनभञ्जनाय (Yamalarjuna-bhanjanaya) – Who felled the twin Arjuna trees and freed Nalakuvara and Manigriva
36. उत्तालतालभेत्रे (Uttala-tala-bhetre) – Who brought down the tall palm trees (Talavana leela)
37. तमालश्यामलाकृतये (Tamala-shyamalakritaye) – Dark and lovely like the tamala tree
38. गोपगोपीश्वराय (Gopa-gopishvaraya) – Lord of the gopas and gopis
39. योगिने (Yogine) – The supreme yogi
40. कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभाय (Koti-surya-samaprabhaya) – Radiant as millions of suns
41. इलापतये (Ilapataye) – Lord of the earth
42. परस्मै ज्योतिषे (Parasmai Jyotishe) – The supreme light
43. यादवेन्द्राय (Yadavendraya) – King of the Yadavas
44. यदूद्वहाय (Yadudvahaya) – Leader and upholder of the Yadu dynasty
45. वनमालिने (Vanamaline) – Who wears a garland of forest flowers
46. पीतवाससे (Pitavasase) – Who wears yellow garments (pitambara)
47. पारिजातापहारकाय (Parijatapaharakaya) – Who brought the Parijata tree from heaven
48. गोवर्धनाचलोद्धर्त्रे (Govardhanachaloddhartre) – Lifter of Mount Govardhan
49. गोपालाय (Gopalaya) – Protector of the cows
50. सर्वपालकाय (Sarvapalakaya) – Protector of all
51. अजाय (Ajaya) – The unborn
52. निरञ्जनाय (Niranjanaya) – The spotless one
53. कामजनकाय (Kamajanakaya) – Father of Kamadeva (as Pradyumna)
54. कञ्जलोचनाय (Kanjalochanaya) – Lotus-eyed
55. मधुघ्ने (Madhughne) – Slayer of the demon Madhu
56. मधुरानाथाय (Madhuranathaya) – Lord of Mathura
57. द्वारकानायकाय (Dvarakanayakaya) – Lord of Dwarka
58. बलिने (Baline) – The all-powerful
59. वृन्दावनान्तसञ्चारिणे (Vrindavananta-sancharine) – Who wanders through the groves of Vrindavan
60. तुलसीदामभूषणाय (Tulasidama-bhushanaya) – Adorned with a garland of tulsi
61. स्यमन्तकमणेर्हर्त्रे (Syamantaka-maner-hartre) – Who recovered the Syamantaka jewel
62. नरनारायणात्मकाय (Nara-narayanatmakaya) – Who is one with Nara and Narayana
63. कुब्जाकृष्णाम्बरधराय (Kubja-krishnambara-dharaya) – Who accepted Kubja's loving offering and blessed her
64. मायिने (Mayine) – Master of divine illusion (maya)
65. परमपूरुषाय (Paramapurushaya) – The Supreme Person
66. मुष्टिकासुरचाणूरमल्लयुद्धविशारदाय (Mushtikasura-chanura-mallayuddha-visharadaya) – Expert in wrestling, who defeated Mushtika and Chanura
67. संसारवैरिणे (Samsaravairine) – Enemy of the bondage of worldly life
68. कंसारये (Kamsaraye) – Enemy of Kansa
69. मुरारये (Muraraye) – Enemy of the demon Mura
70. नरकान्तकाय (Narakantakaya) – Slayer of Narakasura
71. अनादिब्रह्मचारिणे (Anadi-brahmacharine) – The beginningless brahmachari, ever established in Brahman
72. कृष्णाव्यसनकर्शकाय (Krishna-vyasana-karshakaya) – Who removed the distress of Krishnaa (Draupadi)
73. शिशुपालशिरश्छेत्रे (Shishupala-shirashchhetre) – Who severed the head of Shishupala
74. दुर्योधनकुलान्तकाय (Duryodhana-kulantakaya) – Who brought Duryodhana's clan to its end
75. विदुराक्रूरवरदाय (Vidurakrura-varadaya) – Who granted boons to Vidura and Akrura
76. विश्वरूपप्रदर्शकाय (Vishvarupa-pradarshakaya) – Who revealed the universal form to Arjuna
77. सत्यवाचे (Satyavache) – Whose word is always true
78. सत्यसङ्कल्पाय (Satyasankalpaya) – Whose resolve always comes true
79. सत्यभामारताय (Satyabhama-rataya) – Beloved of Satyabhama
80. जयिने (Jayine) – The ever-victorious
81. सुभद्रापूर्वजाय (Subhadra-purvajaya) – Elder brother of Subhadra
82. जिष्णवे (Jishnave) – The conqueror, ever triumphant
83. भीष्ममुक्तिप्रदायकाय (Bhishma-mukti-pradayakaya) – Who granted liberation to Bhishma
84. जगद्गुरवे (Jagadgurave) – Teacher of the whole world
85. जगन्नाथाय (Jagannathaya) – Lord of the universe
86. वेणुनादविशारदाय (Venunada-visharadaya) – Master of the flute
87. वृषभासुरविध्वंसिने (Vrishabhasura-vidhvamsine) – Destroyer of the bull-demon Vrishabhasura (Arishta)
88. बाणासुरकरान्तकाय (Banasura-karantakaya) – Who cut off the many arms of Banasura
89. युधिष्ठिरप्रतिष्ठात्रे (Yudhishthira-pratishthatre) – Who established Yudhishthira on the throne
90. बर्हिबर्हावतंसकाय (Barhi-barhavatamsakaya) – Crowned with a peacock feather
91. पार्थसारथये (Parthasarathaye) – Charioteer of Partha (Arjuna)
92. अव्यक्ताय (Avyaktaya) – The unmanifest, beyond the senses
93. गीतामृतमहोदधये (Gitamrita-mahodadhaye) – The great ocean of the nectar of the Gita
94. कालीयफणिमाणिक्यरञ्जितश्रीपदाम्बुजाय (Kaliya-phani-manikya-ranjita-shripadambujaya) – Whose lotus feet were reddened by the gems on Kaliya's hoods
95. दामोदराय (Damodaraya) – Whose waist was bound with a rope by mother Yashoda
96. यज्ञभोक्त्रे (Yajnabhoktre) – The enjoyer of all sacrifices
97. दानवेन्द्रविनाशकाय (Danavendra-vinashakaya) – Destroyer of the demon kings
98. नारायणाय (Narayanaya) – Narayana, refuge of all beings
99. परस्मै ब्रह्मणे (Parasmai Brahmane) – The Supreme Brahman
100. पन्नगाशनवाहनाय (Pannagashana-vahanaya) – Whose carrier is Garuda, the eater of serpents
101. जलक्रीडासमासक्तगोपीवस्त्रापहारकाय (Jalakrida-samasakta-gopi-vastrapaharakaya) – Who took the garments of the gopis bathing in the Yamuna, teaching complete surrender (Chira-harana leela)
102. पुण्यश्लोकाय (Punyashlokaya) – Whose praise purifies
103. तीर्थपादाय (Tirthapadaya) – Whose feet are themselves a holy place
104. वेदवेद्याय (Vedavedyaya) – Who is known through the Vedas
105. दयानिधये (Dayanidhaye) – Treasure-house of compassion
106. सर्वतीर्थात्मकाय (Sarvatirthatmakaya) – The essence of all holy places
107. सर्वग्रहरूपिणे (Sarvagraharupine) – Present in the form of all the planets
108. परात्पराय (Paratparaya) – Higher than the highest

Format

Om [name] Namah

Count

108

Source

Shri Krishna Ashtottara Shatanamavali (widely recited namavali; text and order checked against the commonly printed Sanskrit version