Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali: 108 Names & Meaning

Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a devotional sequence of names praising Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, known to devotees as Rayaru. Yet printed and online versions do not always agree on how to divide the names. This edition-aware guide gives a numbered reading list, explains its counting choice and separates traditional faith from verifiable textual facts.

Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali devotional book beside a brass oil lamp and tulasi leaves
A traditional devotional reading setting for the 108 names of Sri Raghavendra Swamy.

Independent guide: Srsmatha.org.in is not the official Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha website and is not affiliated with the Matha. We accept no bookings, donations or payments. For official information, use srsmatha.org.

Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali at a Glance

  • Subject: Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, the revered Dvaita Vedanta teacher of Mantralaya.
  • Reading text: A 108-entry editorial arrangement on this page. Compare the accessible but different namavalis at Stotra Nidhi and Vaidhika Dharma.
  • External counting claim: The earlier statement that a Sanskrit Documents transcription has 109 invocations remains unverified through a reliably accessible copy.
  • This site’s arrangement: 108 numbered recitations, with one explicitly combined salutation at number 46.
  • Authorship: The earlier claim about a colophon naming Vedavyasa, son of Ramarya, remains unverified here; Appanacharya’s connection with a separate stotra does not prove authorship of this text.
  • Meanings: Short interpretive English glosses, not a scholarly word-for-word translation.

Which Sanskrit Text Edition Does This Guide Follow?

This Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali page offers a practical, editorially numbered recitation rather than a certified manuscript edition. An earlier draft cited the Sanskrit Documents transcription titled Shri Raghavendra Ashtottarashatanamavali. Since that link can return HTTP 406, it is not treated here as a reliably accessible basis for checking either the reported invocation total or a closing authorship claim.

For accessible comparison, see Stotra Nidhi’s Sri Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali and Vaidhika Dharma’s transliterated list. These are different presentations, not independently confirmed copies of the disputed Sanskrit Documents transcription. Neither establishes the claimed 109-line total or the disputed colophon for this page.

Spellings below preserve familiar devotional forms for English-language readers. However, compounds, sandhi and inflected Sanskrit endings deserve specialist review before formal liturgical use. Because the accessible lists differ in wording, selection and final invocation, this arrangement should not be described as the universally established 108-name edition.

Why the 108-Name Count Needs an Editorial Note

The 108 names on this page can be counted directly from the six numbered lists below. The earlier draft claimed that a Sanskrit Documents transcription contained 109 invocations despite a final printed marker of 108. That external count is unverified for readers unable to access the source, so it is not presented as a settled discrepancy.

For a usable 108-count home reading, this page joins two related phrases about prayer at three times and blessings in this life and beyond under number 46. This is an editorial grouping, not a verified correction to a manuscript or a rule shared by all namavali traditions. Devotees who use a family or Matha-approved copy should follow its wording and numbering.

Accessible lists also illustrate textual variation. Vaidhika Dharma labels its Raghavendra page as a 108-name namavali yet visibly numbers 105 items. Stotra Nidhi provides another reading that ends differently. These examples demonstrate variation, but they do not verify the earlier Sanskrit Documents counting or authorship claims.

Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali: 108 Numbered Names

The list below contains exactly 108 numbered devotional salutations. Each begins with Om and ends with namah. Roman spelling aims to help reading rather than teach rigorous Sanskrit pronunciation. The glosses are brief explanations of praise-language and should not be treated as literal translations of every compound.

Names 1–18: Reverence, Patience and Wisdom

  1. Om Svavagdevata-sarisadbhakta-vimalikartre namah — A purifier of devotion when worshippers turn toward the guru.
  2. Om Sri Raghavendraya namah — Sri Raghavendra, the revered guru.
  3. Om Sakalapradatre namah — Giver of every good gift in devotional praise.
  4. Om Bhaktagha-sanchhedana-vrishti-vajraya Kshamasurendraya namah — A firm guide against wrongdoing, yet a model of patience.
  5. Om Haripada-kanja-nishevanal-labdha-samasta-sampade namah — One enriched through service at Hari’s feet.
  6. Om Devasvabhavaya namah — One whose nature devotees call divine.
  7. Om Divijadrumaya namah — A heavenly wish-tree, as devotees also describe the guru.
  8. Om Ishtapradatre namah — Granter of cherished wishes in prayer.
  9. Om Bhavasvarupaya namah — Embodiment of auspicious character.
  10. Om Bhavaduhkha-tula-sanghagnicharyaya namah — A fire against worldly sorrow when suffering feels overwhelming.
  11. Om Sukhadhairyashaline namah — Rich in calmness and courage.
  12. Om Samasta-dushta-graha-nigrahesaya namah — Protector against feared planetary troubles.
  13. Om Duratyayopaplava-sindhu-setave namah — A bridge of refuge when hardship seems overwhelming.
  14. Om Nirastadoshaya namah — Free from fault in the language of praise.
  15. Om Niravadyaveshaya namah — Of a spotless ascetic appearance.
  16. Om Pratyarthi-mukatva-nidana-bhashaya namah — A learned speaker whose words prevail when opponents fall silent.
  17. Om Vidvat-parijneya-mahavisheshaya namah — Whose distinction scholars can recognise.
  18. Om Vagvaikhari-nirjita-bhavyasheshaya namah — Celebrated for compelling eloquence.

The first group of the Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali introduces Rayaru through images of patience, wisdom and help. Notice the fourth salutation. This editorial reading keeps its two descriptive phrases together as one recitation.

Names 19–36: Compassion and Teaching

  1. Om Santana-sampat-parishuddha-bhakti-vijnana-vag-deha-supatavadi-datre namah — Invoked for family welfare and learning when people pray.
  2. Om Sharirottha-samasta-dosha-hantre namah — Praised as a remover of bodily distress.
  3. Om Sri Gurave Raghavendraya namah — Salutations to Guru Raghavendra.
  4. Om Tiraskrita-suranadi-jala-padodaka-mahimavate namah — Whose foot-water also carries sacred meaning in worship.
  5. Om Dustapa-traya-nashanaya namah — Remover of the three kinds of suffering in tradition.
  6. Om Mahavandhya-suputra-pradaya namah — Invoked in prayers for children.
  7. Om Vyanga-svanga-samriddhidaya namah — Invoked for physical well-being when families offer prayers.
  8. Om Graha-mahapapaghahaya namah — Dispeller of grave faults and feared influences.
  9. Om Durita-kanana-davabhuta-svabhakta-darshanaya namah — Whose sight is compared to fire against wrongdoing.
  10. Om Sarvatantra-svatantraya namah — An independent thinker who also mastered diverse fields.
  11. Om Sri Madhvamata-vardhanaya namah — One who strengthened Madhva’s school.
  12. Om Vijayindra-karabjottha-sudhindra-varaputrakaya namah — Honoured within the Vijayindra–Sudhindra teacher line.
  13. Om Yatiraje namah — A monastic leader who also guided disciples.
  14. Om Gurave namah — The spiritual teacher.
  15. Om Bhayapahaya namah — Remover of fear in devotees’ prayer.
  16. Om Jnana-bhakti-suputra-ayur-yashah-sri-punya-vardhanaya namah — Invoked for wisdom and devotion as well as family welfare.
  17. Om Prativadi-jaya-svanta-bheda-chihnadaraya namah — Renowned for debate and argument.
  18. Om Sarvavidya-pravinaya namah — Skilled in many fields of knowledge.

Names 37–54: Learning, Prayer and Tradition

  1. Om Aparokshikrita-srisaya namah — Described as meeting the Lord directly when devotees praise realisation.
  2. Om Samupekshikrita-bhavajaya namah — One who overcame attachment and desire.
  3. Om Apekshitapradatre namah — Giver of what devotees seek.
  4. Om Daya-dakshinya-vairagya-vakpatava-mukhankitaya namah — Marked by kindness and detachment as well as eloquence.
  5. Om Shapanugraha-shaktaya namah — Traditionally praised for rebuke and blessing.
  6. Om Ajnana-vismriti-bhranti-samshaya-apasmriti-kshayadi-dosha-nashakaya namah — Invoked against ignorance, doubt and confusion.
  7. Om Ashtakshara-japeshtartha-pradatre namah — Honoured when devotees recite an eight-syllable prayer.
  8. Om Atmatmiya-samudbhava-kayaja-dosha-hantre namah — Invoked for relief from bodily troubles.
  9. Om Sarva-pumartha-pradatre namah — Praised in relation to life’s four aims.
  10. Om Kalatraya-prarthanakartri-aihika-amushmika-sarveshta-pradatre namah — Praised when followers pray at various times of day.
  11. Om Agamya-mahimne namah — Of greatness beyond easy measure.
  12. Om Mahayashase namah — Of enduring renown.
  13. Om Madhvamata-dugdhabdhi-chandraya namah — The moon over Madhva thought, as devotional poets portray him.
  14. Om Anaghaya namah — Praised as free of fault, while devotion keeps that ideal in view.
  15. Om Yathashakti-pradakshinakartri-sarvayatra-phaladatre namah — Linked with the merit of devotional circumambulation.
  16. Om Shirodharana-sarvatirtha-snana-phaladatri-svavrindavanagata-jalaya namah — Brindavana water whose meaning devotees also cherish.
  17. Om Karana-sarvabhishtadatre namah — Praised as the giver of sought blessings.
  18. Om Sankirtanena-vedadyartha-jnanadatre namah — Associated with learning through praise.

Number 46: This Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali arrangement combines the three-times-daily prayer phrase with the this-world-and-next phrase in one salutation. This editorial choice keeps the visible list at 108 entries. It does not establish how those phrases appear in an independently authenticated Sanskrit manuscript.

Names 55–72: Refuge and Devotional Hope

  1. Om Samsara-magna-janoddhara-kartre namah — A helper when worldly burdens feel overwhelming.
  2. Om Kushtadi-roga-nivartakaya namah — Invoked by devotees facing illness.
  3. Om Andha-divyadrishti-datre namah — Praised in traditional accounts of restored sight.
  4. Om Edamuka-vakpatitva-pradatre namah — Praised for the gift of speech, although the claim belongs to tradition.
  5. Om Purnayuh-pradatre namah — Invoked for a full span of life.
  6. Om Purnasampatti-datre namah — Praised for full prosperity when families seek blessings.
  7. Om Kukshigata-sarva-doshaghne namah — An object of prayer when bodily distress arises.
  8. Om Pangu-khanja-samichina-vayuvada-datre namah — Invoked in prayers about ease of movement.
  9. Om Bhuta-preta-pishachadi-pidaghne namah — Protector against feared unseen afflictions.
  10. Om Dipa-samyojanaj-jnana-putra-datre namah — Linked with lamp offerings when devotees seek insight.
  11. Om Divyajnana-bhaktyadi-vardhanaya namah — Nurturer of spiritual knowledge and devotion.
  12. Om Sarvabhishtadaya namah — Giver of desired blessings.
  13. Om Raja-chora-mahavyaghra-sarpa-nakradi-pidaghne namah — A protector when the traditional stories speak of danger.
  14. Om Svastotra-pathaneshtartha-samriddhidaya namah — Praised by those who recite his hymn.
  15. Om Udyat-pradyotana-dyota-dharma-kurmasanasthitaya namah — Radiant upon a sacred seat.
  16. Om Khadya-khadyotana-dyota-pratapaya namah — Radiance that seems brighter when lesser lights fade.
  17. Om Sri Rama-manasaya namah — Whose mind remains on Sri Rama.
  18. Om Dhrita-kashaya-vasanaya namah — Wearing saffron robes.

Several names here describe health, safety and extraordinary help in the language of devotion. They express a community’s beliefs. They do not promise a cure or replace diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation or emergency care.

Names 73–90: Renunciation and Character

  1. Om Tulasi-hara-vakshase namah — Wearing a tulasi garland upon his chest during worship.
  2. Om Dordanda-vilasad-danda-kamandalu-virajitaya namah — Adorned with the staff and water vessel of a monk.
  3. Om Abhaya-jnanamudra-akshamala-shila-karambujaya namah — Holding symbols of fearlessness, learning and prayer.
  4. Om Yogindra-vandya-padabjaya namah — Whose feet receive reverence when yogis honour the guru.
  5. Om Papadri-patana-vajraya namah — A thunderbolt against wrongdoing when faults feel immense.
  6. Om Kshamasuraganadhishaya namah — Leader among patient sages.
  7. Om Hariseva-labdha-sarvasampade namah — Fulfilled through service to Hari, since devotion is central.
  8. Om Tattva-pradarshakaya namah — Teacher of philosophical truth.
  9. Om Ishtapradana-kalpadrumaya namah — Wish-tree in the imagery of devotion.
  10. Om Shrutyartha-bodhakaya namah — A teacher of sacred meaning as well as philosophy.
  11. Om Bhavyakrite namah — One who brings about the auspicious.
  12. Om Bahuvadi-vijayine namah — Victorious in learned discussion.
  13. Om Punyavardhana-padabja-abhisheka-jala-sanchayaya namah — Whose worship-water devotees also honour in ritual praise.
  14. Om Dyunadi-tulya-sadgunaya namah — Whose virtues resemble a sacred river.
  15. Om Bhaktagha-vidhvamsakara-nijamurti-pradarshakaya namah — Praised for dispelling devotees’ faults.
  16. Om Jagadgurave namah — Revered as a teacher across the world, also called Jagadguru.
  17. Om Kripanidhaye namah — Treasure of compassion.
  18. Om Sarvashastra-visharadaya namah — Well versed in scriptural learning.

Names 91–108: Texts, Stories and the Closing Salutation

  1. Om Nikhilendriya-doshaghne namah — Invoked when the senses cause spiritual difficulty.
  2. Om Ashtakshara-manuditaya namah — Honoured in connection with the eight-syllable mantra.
  3. Om Sarva-saukhya-krite namah — Bringer of happiness in devotional praise.
  4. Om Mritapota-pranadatre namah — A child-revival story devotees recount when praising the guru.
  5. Om Vedistha-purush-ujjivine namah — Linked with a traditional altar-revival account.
  6. Om Vahnistha-malikoddhartre namah — Linked with a story about a garland and fire.
  7. Om Samagra-tika-vyakhyatre namah — One who also interprets extensive scholarly commentaries.
  8. Om Bhattasangraha-krite namah — Associated with the Bhatta Sangraha.
  9. Om Sudha-parimaloddhartre namah — Associated with the celebrated Parimala.
  10. Om Apasmara-apahartre namah — Invoked when families pray about seizures, not a medical treatment.
  11. Om Upanishat-khandartha-krite namah — Author associated with Upanishad glosses.
  12. Om Rigvyakhyana-kridacharyaya namah — Teacher associated with Rig Veda exposition.
  13. Om Mantralaya-nivasine namah — A presence devotees honour when praying at Mantralaya.
  14. Om Nyayamuktavali-kartre namah — Associated with the Nyaya Muktavali.
  15. Om Chandrika-vyakhya-kartre namah — Associated with Chandrika commentary.
  16. Om Sutantra-dipika-kartre namah — Linked with Tantra Dipika, while printed title spellings differ.
  17. Om Gitartha-sangraha-krite namah — Associated with a summary of Gita meaning.
  18. Om Sri Raghavendra Sadgurave namah — Salutation to the true guru after the closing titles of his works.

In this Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali arrangement, the closing group recalls works associated with Sri Raghavendra Tirtha. The official Matha’s literary works reference offers further context. This page ends with Sri Raghavendra Sadgurave, while accessible alternative namavalis may close differently; readers should not assume a universal final name.

Who Composed the Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali?

The author of this particular 108-entry arrangement is not established by the accessible comparison sources. An earlier draft attributed its closing Sanskrit colophon to Vedavyasa, son of Ramarya, but that attribution remains unverified here because the cited transcription is not reliably accessible and no independent matching colophon has been established. It would therefore be misleading to present Vedavyasa as a confirmed author.

The official Matha’s Rayaru story associates Appanacharya with the separate Raghavendra Stotra. That tradition does not establish that he wrote this namavali either. Our Appanacharya Stotra guide explains that distinction. Until a verifiable edition gives secure attribution, the safest description is traditional devotional namavali; author unconfirmed.

How to Read the English Meanings Responsibly

The Sanskrit compounds often compress several ideas into a single name. Therefore, a one-line gloss can explain its main devotional sense but cannot capture every grammatical shade. For example, a title describing Sri Raghavendra’s command of learning does not by itself prove a literal historical event. Likewise, names that mention illness or danger express praise and prayer, not verified treatment results.

The list’s references to Parimala, Nyaya Muktavali and other works offer a different kind of evidence. Readers can compare those titles with the Matha’s literary catalogue and our guide to Raghavendra Swamy’s works. Some transliterations vary across languages, while the underlying name may remain recognisable.

How to Chant the Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali

You can chant the Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali at home with a clean reading copy and a quiet setting. No payment, booking or special website access is necessary for private recitation. Families may follow their own guru’s or household’s customs, especially when an established edition uses different divisions.

  1. Place the reading copy near a photograph or devotional image of Rayaru.
  2. Begin with a brief prayer, then recite each numbered salutation slowly.
  3. Keep count against the printed numbers; pause after each group of eighteen.
  4. If your custom includes flowers or akshata, offer them respectfully with each name.
  5. End with a short silent prayer rather than rushing the final salutation.

Some devotees prefer Thursdays or annual Aradhana observances, while others recite the names daily. Neither preference requires a promised spiritual result. If you follow a temple-led rite, use that temple’s own approved recitation version.

What Readers Commonly Miss About This Text

The Raghavendra Stotra and the namavali are different literary forms. A stotra proceeds in praise-verses, whereas a namavali presents names for individual salutations. Confusing the two also confuses the attribution evidence. Another common error is to assume every item has a simple English equivalent, even when Sanskrit compounds are much richer.

Count the printed Om openings when checking any version, rather than trusting a heading that says 108. Compare its first and last salutations with an accessible copy, since even named online collections differ. Most importantly, record which source you used if you share a digital text.

Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali: Final Reading Notes

The best approach to the Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali is to preserve devotion and textual honesty together. This page transparently gives 108 editorially numbered recitations but does not certify a manuscript count or composer. Read the short meanings as aids to reflection, not definitive scholarly translations. Before formal publication or liturgy, ask a qualified Sanskrit reader to review the wording against an accessible authoritative edition.

Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali: Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali contain exactly 108 names?

This page contains exactly 108 numbered salutations across its six lists. The previous claim that Sanskrit Documents shows 109 Om invocations is unverified through an accessible source and should not be quoted as fact. Number 46 joins two related phrases as an explicitly editorial choice.

Which edition is the numbering compared against?

The current page is an editorial reading arrangement, not a verified critical edition. Readers can compare Stotra Nidhi and Vaidhika Dharma, both accessible alternatives. They do not establish the previously claimed Sanskrit Documents count or colophon.

Did Appanacharya write these 108 names?

No confirmed composer can be named from the accessible comparison texts cited here. The earlier claim that a colophon names Vedavyasa, son of Ramarya, is unverified for this guide. Appanacharya’s traditional link to the separate Raghavendra Stotra should not be taken as proof of authorship of the namavali.

What is the last name in this 108-count version?

The last entry in this editorial arrangement is Om Sri Raghavendra Sadgurave namah, honouring the revered teacher. Other accessible collections may use different closing invocations, so this should not be presented as the universally authenticated final name.

Are the English meanings literal translations?

No. They are concise editorial interpretations designed to help general readers. A Sanskrit specialist may unpack a compound differently, while some names also express imagery specific to the Dvaita devotional tradition. For word-by-word study, consult the Sanskrit text alongside a qualified teacher.

Can I chant the names in Telugu, Kannada or English letters?

Yes, devotees commonly use a script they can read comfortably. Script conversion alone cannot resolve variant Sanskrit readings, however. When precision matters, compare a chosen reading against its Sanskrit base and follow your household or teacher’s pronunciation practice.

Does chanting promise healing or guaranteed wishes?

No outcome can be guaranteed. Names about illness, children, protection and blessings reflect devotional faith and traditional praise. Prayer may hold personal meaning, but it is not a substitute for medical care or professional advice when those are needed.

Is Raghavendra Ashtottara Shatanamavali the same as the Raghavendra Stotra?

No. The namavali arranges names as salutations, while the Raghavendra Stotra forms a praise hymn in verses. The distinction matters for correct recitation and authorship. Check the opening and closing lines before naming a source or attributing a composer.

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