Rama Raksha Stotra

The Rama Raksha Stotra (Sanskrit: रामरक्षास्तोत्रम्, romanized: rāma-rakṣā-stotram) is a Sanskrit stotra, a hymn of praise dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama.^[1] The poem is often recited by the Hindus as a prayer for protection.^[2]

Rama Raksha Stotra
रामरक्षास्तोत्रम्
Painting of Rama and Sita seated upon the Pushpaka Vimana
Information
Religion	Hinduism
Author	Budha Kaushika
Language	Sanskrit
Period	Vedic period
Rama Raksha Stotra at Sanskrit Wikisource

It is said to have been composed by Budha Kaushika, thought to be another name of the mythical sage Vishvamitra.^[3][4]

Hymn

The first three verses of the hymn are as follows:^[5]

Original Sanskrit verse चरितं रघुनाथस्य शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम् । एकैकमक्षरम् पुंसां महापातकनाशनम् ॥ ध्यात्वा नीलोत्पलश्यामं रामं राजीवलोचनम् । जानकीलक्ष्मणोपेतं जटामुकुटमण्डितम् ॥ सासितूणधनुर्बाणपाणिं नक्तंचरान्तकम् । स्वलीलया जगत्त्रातुं भाविर्भूतमजं विभुम् ॥

IAST transcription caritaṁ raghunāthasya śatakoṭipravistaram ekaikam akṣaram puṁsāṁ mahāpātakanāśanam dhyātvā nilotpalaśyāmaṁ rāmaṁ rājīvalocanam jānakīlakṣmaṇopetaṁ jaṭāmukuṭamaṇḍitam sāsitūṇadhanurbāṇapāṇiṁ naktaṁcarāntakam svalīlayā jagat trātum bhāvirbhūtam ajaṁ vibhum

English translation Let me visualise the story of Rama, a story composed of millions of letters, Each of which has the power to destroy the greatest sins of mankind. Of Rama, whose complexion resembles a stormy cloud and whose eyes are wide like lotus petals, Who is accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana and adorned by a crown of matted hair, Who, holding a sword, bow, and arrows, is an arch-enemy of daemons, And who, unborn and omnipresent, appeared on earth in order to save it through his play.

See also

• Ashtalakshmi Stotra
• Hayagriva Stotra
• Maruti Stotra

References

1. Stietencron, Heinrich von; Flamm, Peter (1992). Epic and Purāṇic bibliography: S-Z, Indexes. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 256. ISBN 978-3-447-03028-1. from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
2. Stainton, Hamsa (2019-08-05). Poetry as Prayer in the Sanskrit Hymns of Kashmir. Oxford University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-19-088982-1. from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
3. Carrigan, Brad (2010). 2012 Enlightened. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 9781426933240. [1] 2023-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
4. Brockington, John; Brockington, Mary (2016-05-20). The Other Ramayana Women: Regional Rejection and Response. Routledge. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-317-39063-3. from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
5. SUVRATSUT (2017-09-07). Rama Raksha Stotram Eng.