Indha page innum Tanglish-la ezhudhala, adhanaala English-la irukku.
108 names of Vishnu with meaning
The Shri Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanamavali gives 108 names of Vishnu, each an epithet that recalls a quality, a deed or a form. Every name below comes with its transliteration and a short meaning written for this site.
All 108 names of Vishnu with meaning
Numbered in the order they are recited. The first column gives the name and the line it is offered with; the second, its transliteration.
| # | Name (Sanskrit) | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | विष्णु ॐ विष्णवे नमः | Vishnu Om Vishnave Namah | The all-pervading one |
| 2 | जिष्णु ॐ जिष्णवे नमः | Jishnu Om Jishnave Namah | The ever-victorious one |
| 3 | वषट्कार ॐ वषट्काराय नमः | Vashatkara Om Vashatkaraya Namah | The sacred call 'vashat' made at offerings |
| 4 | देवदेव ॐ देवदेवाय नमः | Devadeva Om Devadevaya Namah | God of the gods |
| 5 | वृषाकपि ॐ वृषाकपये नमः | Vrishakapi Om Vrishakapaye Namah | Vrishakapi, traditionally read as dharma and the boar |
| 6 | दामोदर ॐ दामोदराय नमः | Damodara Om Damodaraya Namah | Bound with a rope around the waist (as child Krishna) |
| 7 | दीनबन्धु ॐ दीनबन्धवे नमः | Dinabandhu Om Dinabandhave Namah | Friend of the helpless |
| 8 | आदिदेव ॐ आदिदेवाय नमः | Adideva Om Adidevaya Namah | The first, original god |
| 9 | अदितेः सुत ॐ अदितेस्सुताय नमः | Aditeh Suta Om Aditessutaya Namah | Son of Aditi (as Vamana) |
| 10 | पुण्डरीक ॐ पुण्डरीकाय नमः | Pundarika Om Pundarikaya Namah | Pure like the white lotus |
| 11 | परानन्द ॐ परानन्दाय नमः | Parananda Om Paranandaya Namah | Supreme bliss itself |
| 12 | परमात्मा ॐ परमात्मने नमः | Paramatma Om Paramatmane Namah | The Supreme Self |
| 13 | परात्पर ॐ परात्पराय नमः | Paratpara Om Paratparaya Namah | Higher than the highest |
| 14 | परशुधारी ॐ परशुधारिणे नमः | Parashudhari Om Parashudharine Namah | Bearer of the axe (as Parashurama) |
| 15 | विश्वात्मा ॐ विश्वात्मने नमः | Vishvatma Om Vishvatmane Namah | Soul of the universe |
| 16 | कृष्ण ॐ कृष्णाय नमः | Krishna Om Krishnaya Namah | Krishna, the dark one who draws all to him |
| 17 | कलिमलापहारी ॐ कलिमलापहारिणे नमः | Kalimalapahari Om Kalimalapaharine Namah | Remover of the impurity of the Kali age |
| 18 | कौस्तुभोद्भासितोरस्क ॐ कौस्तुभोद्भासितोरस्काय नमः | Kaustubhodbhasitoraska Om Kaustubhodbhasitoraskaya Namah | Whose chest shines with the Kaustubha gem |
| 19 | नर ॐ नराय नमः | Nara Om Naraya Namah | Nara, the sage-form paired with Narayana |
| 20 | नारायण ॐ नारायणाय नमः | Narayana Om Narayanaya Namah | Narayana, the refuge of all beings |
| 21 | हरि ॐ हरये नमः | Hari Om Haraye Namah | Who takes away sins |
| 22 | हर ॐ हराय नमः | Hara Om Haraya Namah | Hara, the remover of sorrow |
| 23 | हरप्रिय ॐ हरप्रियाय नमः | Harapriya Om Harapriyaya Namah | Dear to Hara (Shiva) |
| 24 | स्वामी ॐ स्वामिने नमः | Svami Om Svamine Namah | The master of all |
| 25 | वैकुण्ठ ॐ वैकुण्ठाय नमः | Vaikuntha Om Vaikunthaya Namah | Vaikuntha, lord of the unhindered realm |
| 26 | विश्वतोमुख ॐ विश्वतोमुखाय नमः | Vishvatomukha Om Vishvatomukhaya Namah | Whose faces turn in every direction |
| 27 | हृषीकेश ॐ हृषीकेशाय नमः | Hrishikesha Om Hrishikeshaya Namah | Lord of the senses |
| 28 | अप्रमेयात्मा ॐ अप्रमेयात्मने नमः | Aprameyatma Om Aprameyatmane Namah | Whose nature is beyond all measure |
| 29 | वराह ॐ वराहाय नमः | Varaha Om Varahaya Namah | The boar incarnation |
| 30 | धरणीधर ॐ धरणीधराय नमः | Dharanidhara Om Dharanidharaya Namah | Upholder of the earth |
| 31 | वामन ॐ वामनाय नमः | Vamana Om Vamanaya Namah | The dwarf incarnation |
| 32 | वेदवक्ता ॐ वेदवक्ताय नमः | Vedavakta Om Vedavaktaya Namah | Expounder of the Vedas |
| 33 | वासुदेव ॐ वासुदेवाय नमः | Vasudeva Om Vasudevaya Namah | Son of Vasudeva, who dwells in all |
| 34 | सनातन ॐ सनातनाय नमः | Sanatana Om Sanatanaya Namah | The eternal one |
| 35 | राम ॐ रामाय नमः | Rama Om Ramaya Namah | Rama, who delights all |
| 36 | विराम ॐ विरामाय नमः | Virama Om Viramaya Namah | In whom everything comes to rest |
| 37 | विरज ॐ विरजाय नमः | Viraja Om Virajaya Namah | Free from passion and stain |
| 38 | रावणारि ॐ रावणारये नमः | Ravanari Om Ravanaraye Namah | Enemy of Ravana |
| 39 | रमापति ॐ रमापतये नमः | Ramapati Om Ramapataye Namah | Husband of Rama (Lakshmi) |
| 40 | वैकुण्ठवासी ॐ वैकुण्ठवासिने नमः | Vaikunthavasi Om Vaikunthavasine Namah | Dweller in Vaikuntha |
| 41 | वसुमान् ॐ वसुमते नमः | Vasuman Om Vasumate Namah | Possessor of riches |
| 42 | धनद ॐ धनदाय नमः | Dhanada Om Dhanadaya Namah | Giver of wealth |
| 43 | धरणीधर ॐ धरणीधराय नमः | Dharanidhara Om Dharanidharaya Namah | Bearer of the earth |
| 44 | धर्मेश ॐ धर्मेशाय नमः | Dharmesha Om Dharmeshaya Namah | Lord of dharma |
| 45 | धरणीनाथ ॐ धरणीनाथाय नमः | Dharaninatha Om Dharaninathaya Namah | Lord of the earth |
| 46 | ध्येय ॐ ध्येयाय नमः | Dhyeya Om Dhyeyaya Namah | The one worthy of meditation |
| 47 | धर्मभृतां वर ॐ धर्मभृतांवराय नमः | Dharmabhritam Vara Om Dharmabhritamvaraya Namah | Foremost among upholders of dharma |
| 48 | सहस्रशीर्ष ॐ सहस्रशीर्षाय नमः | Sahasrashirsha Om Sahasrashirshaya Namah | Who has a thousand heads |
| 49 | पुरुष ॐ पुरुषाय नमः | Purusha Om Purushaya Namah | The cosmic Person |
| 50 | सहस्राक्ष ॐ सहस्राक्षाय नमः | Sahasraksha Om Sahasrakshaya Namah | Who has a thousand eyes |
| 51 | सहस्रपात् ॐ सहस्रपादे नमः | Sahasrapat Om Sahasrapade Namah | Who has a thousand feet |
| 52 | सर्वग ॐ सर्वगाय नमः | Sarvaga Om Sarvagaya Namah | Who goes everywhere, all-pervading |
| 53 | सर्ववित् ॐ सर्वविदे नमः | Sarvavit Om Sarvavide Namah | The all-knowing one |
| 54 | सर्व ॐ सर्वाय नमः | Sarva Om Sarvaya Namah | Who is everything |
| 55 | शरण्य ॐ शरण्याय नमः | Sharanya Om Sharanyaya Namah | The refuge of all |
| 56 | साधुवल्लभ ॐ साधुवल्लभाय नमः | Sadhuvallabha Om Sadhuvallabhaya Namah | Beloved of the good |
| 57 | कौसल्यानन्दन ॐ कौसल्यानन्दनाय नमः | Kausalyanandana Om Kausalyanandanaya Namah | Son of Kausalya (Rama) |
| 58 | श्रीमान् ॐ श्रीमते नमः | Shriman Om Shrimate Namah | Possessed of Shri, the glorious one |
| 59 | रक्षःकुलविनाशक ॐ रक्षःकुलविनाशकाय नमः | Rakshahkulavinashaka Om Rakshahkulavinashakaya Namah | Destroyer of the rakshasa clan |
| 60 | जगत्कर्ता ॐ जगत्कर्त्रे नमः | Jagatkarta Om Jagatkartre Namah | Maker of the world |
| 61 | जगद्धर्ता ॐ जगद्धर्त्रे नमः | Jagaddharta Om Jagaddhartre Namah | Sustainer of the world |
| 62 | जगज्जेता ॐ जगज्जेत्रे नमः | Jagajjeta Om Jagajjetre Namah | Conqueror of the world |
| 63 | जनार्तिहा ॐ जनार्तिघ्ने नमः | Janartiha Om Janartighne Namah | Destroyer of people's suffering |
| 64 | जानकीवल्लभ ॐ जानकीवल्लभाय नमः | Janakivallabha Om Janakivallabhaya Namah | Beloved of Janaki (Sita) |
| 65 | देव ॐ देवाय नमः | Deva Om Devaya Namah | The shining, divine one |
| 66 | जयरूप ॐ जयरूपाय नमः | Jayarupa Om Jayarupaya Namah | Victory in person |
| 67 | जलेश्वर ॐ जलेश्वराय नमः | Jaleshvara Om Jaleshvaraya Namah | Lord of the waters |
| 68 | क्षीराब्धिवासी ॐ क्षीराब्धिवासिने नमः | Kshirabdhivasi Om Kshirabdhivasine Namah | Dweller in the ocean of milk |
| 69 | क्षीराब्धितनयावल्लभ ॐ क्षीराब्धितनयावल्लभाय नमः | Kshirabdhitanayavallabha Om Kshirabdhitanayavallabhaya Namah | Beloved of Lakshmi, daughter of the milk ocean |
| 70 | शेषशायी ॐ शेषशायिने नमः | Sheshashayi Om Sheshashayine Namah | Who reclines on the serpent Shesha |
| 71 | पन्नगारिवाहन ॐ पन्नगारिवाहनाय नमः | Pannagarivahana Om Pannagarivahanaya Namah | Whose mount is Garuda, foe of serpents |
| 72 | विष्टरश्रवाः ॐ विष्टरश्रवसे नमः | Vishtarashravah Om Vishtarashravase Namah | Vishtarashravas, whose renown spreads far |
| 73 | माधव ॐ माधवाय नमः | Madhava Om Madhavaya Namah | Consort of Ma (Lakshmi) |
| 74 | मथुरानाथ ॐ मथुरानाथाय नमः | Mathuranatha Om Mathuranathaya Namah | Lord of Mathura |
| 75 | मुकुन्द ॐ मुकुन्दाय नमः | Mukunda Om Mukundaya Namah | Giver of liberation |
| 76 | मोहनाशन ॐ मोहनाशनाय नमः | Mohanashana Om Mohanashanaya Namah | Destroyer of delusion |
| 77 | दैत्यारि ॐ दैत्यारिणे नमः | Daityari Om Daityarine Namah | Enemy of the daityas |
| 78 | पुण्डरीकाक्ष ॐ पुण्डरीकाक्षाय नमः | Pundarikaksha Om Pundarikakshaya Namah | Whose eyes are like lotuses |
| 79 | अच्युत ॐ अच्युताय नमः | Achyuta Om Achyutaya Namah | Who never falls or slips |
| 80 | मधुसूदन ॐ मधुसूदनाय नमः | Madhusudana Om Madhusudanaya Namah | Slayer of the demon Madhu |
| 81 | सोमसूर्याग्निनयन ॐ सोमसूर्याग्निनयनाय नमः | Somasuryagninayana Om Somasuryagninayanaya Namah | Whose eyes are moon, sun and fire |
| 82 | नृसिंह ॐ नृसिंहाय नमः | Nrisimha Om Nrisimhaya Namah | The man-lion incarnation |
| 83 | भक्तवत्सल ॐ भक्तवत्सलाय नमः | Bhaktavatsala Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namah | Tender and loving towards devotees |
| 84 | नित्य ॐ नित्याय नमः | Nitya Om Nityaya Namah | The eternal one |
| 85 | निरामय ॐ निरामयाय नमः | Niramaya Om Niramayaya Namah | Free from every affliction |
| 86 | शुद्ध ॐ शुद्धाय नमः | Shuddha Om Shuddhaya Namah | The pure one |
| 87 | नरदेव ॐ नरदेवाय नमः | Naradeva Om Naradevaya Namah | God among men; the king |
| 88 | जगत्प्रभु ॐ जगत्प्रभवे नमः | Jagatprabhu Om Jagatprabhave Namah | Lord of the world |
| 89 | हयग्रीव ॐ हयग्रीवाय नमः | Hayagriva Om Hayagrivaya Namah | The horse-headed form, Hayagriva |
| 90 | जितरिपु ॐ जितरिपवे नमः | Jitaripu Om Jitaripave Namah | Who has conquered his foes |
| 91 | उपेन्द्र ॐ उपेन्द्राय नमः | Upendra Om Upendraya Namah | Younger brother of Indra (as Vamana) |
| 92 | रुक्मिणीपति ॐ रुक्मिणीपतये नमः | Rukminipati Om Rukminipataye Namah | Husband of Rukmini |
| 93 | सर्वदेवमय ॐ सर्वदेवमयाय नमः | Sarvadevamaya Om Sarvadevamayaya Namah | Who contains all the gods |
| 94 | श्रीश ॐ श्रीशाय नमः | Shrisha Om Shrishaya Namah | Lord of Shri (Lakshmi) |
| 95 | सर्वाधार ॐ सर्वाधाराय नमः | Sarvadhara Om Sarvadharaya Namah | Support of everything |
| 96 | सनातन ॐ सनातनाय नमः | Sanatana Om Sanatanaya Namah | The everlasting one |
| 97 | सौम्य ॐ सौम्याय नमः | Saumya Om Saumyaya Namah | Gentle and serene |
| 98 | सौम्यप्रद ॐ सौम्यप्रदाय नमः | Saumyaprada Om Saumyapradaya Namah | Bestower of gentleness and calm |
| 99 | स्रष्टा ॐ स्रष्ट्रे नमः | Srashta Om Srashtre Namah | The creator of all |
| 100 | विष्वक्सेन ॐ विष्वक्सेनाय नमः | Vishvaksena Om Vishvaksenaya Namah | Whose hosts spread in every direction |
| 101 | जनार्दन ॐ जनार्दनाय नमः | Janardana Om Janardanaya Namah | Who subdues the wicked; to whom people pray |
| 102 | यशोदातनय ॐ यशोदातनयाय नमः | Yashodatanaya Om Yashodatanayaya Namah | Son of Yashoda |
| 103 | योगी ॐ योगिने नमः | Yogi Om Yogine Namah | The master of yoga |
| 104 | योगशास्त्रपरायण ॐ योगशास्त्रपरायणाय नमः | Yogashastraparayana Om Yogashastraparayanaya Namah | Devoted to the science of yoga |
| 105 | रुद्रात्मक ॐ रुद्रात्मकाय नमः | Rudratmaka Om Rudratmakaya Namah | Whose very self includes Rudra |
| 106 | रुद्रमूर्ति ॐ रुद्रमूर्तये नमः | Rudramurti Om Rudramurtaye Namah | Who takes the form of Rudra |
| 107 | राघव ॐ राघवाय नमः | Raghava Om Raghavaya Namah | Descendant of Raghu (Rama) |
| 108 | मधुसूदन ॐ मधुसूदनाय नमः | Madhusudana Om Madhusudanaya Namah | Slayer of the demon Madhu |
How the 108 names of Vishnu are recited
- Sit before an image of Vishnu, or simply face east, after a bath if you can.
- Say each line in turn — Om, the name, namah — and if you are doing an archana, offer a flower, a leaf or a few grains of rice with each name.
- Keep an even pace. A name said with attention is the point of the practice; speed is not.
- Close with a moment of silence, and with aarti if it is part of your worship.
Source of this list of Vishnu's 108 names
श्रीविष्ण्वष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः — Follows the 108 names of the Vishnu Ashtottarashatanama Stotram, whose sanskritdocuments.org edition states it is taken from the Shakta Pramoda (a compilation of hymns); no older source is named by the sites consulted.
The Sanskrit is traditional and in the public domain. We compared two independently published editions name by name and settled every difference against a third; the editions are listed below. The meanings are written for this site.
- vignanam.org — श्री विष्णु अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि
- stotranidhi.com — श्री विष्णु अष्टोत्तरशतनामावली
- sanskritdocuments.org — श्रीविष्ण्वष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः (file 4)
Where editions differ, this page follows the reading most sources give; the other reading is noted:
- 5. वृषाकपये — also read as वृषापतये
- 9. अदितेस्सुताय — also read as अदितेस्तुताय
- 28. अप्रमेयात्मने — also read as अप्रमेयाय, आत्मने
- 59. रक्षःकुलविनाशकाय — also read as रक्षसःकुलनाशकाय
- 60. जगत्कर्त्रे — also read as जगत्कर्ताय
- 61. जगद्धर्त्रे — also read as जगद्धर्ताय
- 62. जगज्जेत्रे — also read as जगज्जेताय, जगज्ञेत्रे
- 63. जनार्तिघ्ने — also read as जनार्तिहराय
- 74. मथुरानाथाय — also read as मधुरानाथाय
- 75. मुकुन्दाय — also read as मोहदाय
- 87. नरदेवाय — also read as वरदेवाय
- 97. सौम्याय — also read as साम्याय
- 99. स्रष्ट्रे — also read as स्रष्टे
- 108. मधुसूदनाय — also read as रुद्रसूदनाय
A short meaning cannot hold everything an epithet carries; where a name has several senses, the commonest is given.
108 names of Vishnu: common questions
What is the Shri Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanamavali?
A traditional list of 108 names of Vishnu. In worship each is offered as 'Om … namah' — 'Om, salutation to …' — often with a flower or a few grains of rice for each name.
How often are the 108 names of Vishnu recited?
There is no fixed rule. Many recite them every morning in daily worship; others keep them for the deity's weekly day or festival.
What are the first and last of the 108 names of Vishnu?
The list opens with Vishnu and closes with Madhusudana.