Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Sri Krishna Ashtottara Shatanamavali - 108 Names of Krishna With Meanings

In this post, I am providing the 108 names of Sri Krishna in English text along with their meanings.



The word 'Shatanamavali' stands for "a garland of 100 names". 
Avali (just like in the word Deepavali) literally refers to a row or a line of something and 'shata namam' means 100 names. 

In the above title of this post, there is a prefix of Ashtottara to the word of Shatanamavali. Ashta means eight and uttara means an addition after that. So, "ashtottara shata" translates into 108 (eight after hundred).


While reciting the 108 names, please prefix each name with "Om" (the primordial sound) and suffix with "namaha" (salutations to God) after the name.

For example, the first name is 'Sri Krishnaya'. 
So, it is to be recited as 'Om Srikrishnaya namah'. 

Now, I am providing the 108 names.

  1. Sri Krishnaaya = Krishna word refers to dark hue (his skin is dark/blue, hence the name)
  2. Kamalaanaathaaya = Consort of Sri Lakshmi (kamalaa refers to Sri Lakshmi)
  3. Vaasudevaaya = Lord of Vasus, Lord of Universe
  4. Sanaatanaaya = The Primordial One , The Eternal One
  5. Vasudevaatmajaaya = Son of Vasudeva
  6. Punyaya = The Virtuous, The Pure & Holi Being 
  7. Leelaamaanusha vigrahaaya = The Divine Player assuming  human form
  8. Srivatsa kaustubha dharaaya = One who wears Srivatsa mark and Kaustubha gem
  9. Yasodaa vatsalaaya = Dearest child of Yasoda
  10. Haraye = The Lord of Nature
  11. Chaturbhujaatta chakraasigadaa shankhashaarnga ayudhaaya = Bearer of the weapons of Divine Wheel, Sword, Mace, Conch, and Bow in his four hands
  12. Devaki nandanaaya = Son of Devaki
  13. Srishaaya = Lord of Sri (Goddess Lakshmi's Consort)
  14. Nandagopa priyaatmajaaya = Dearest son of Nandagopan
  15. Yamunaavega samhaarine = Destroyer or Defender of the speed of River Yamuna
  16. Balabhadra priyaanujaaya = Dearest brother of Balarama
  17. Putanaa jeevitaharaaya = Taker of demoness Putana's life
  18. Shakataasura bhanjanaaya = Slayer of  demon Shakata (Cart shaped demon)
  19. Nandavraja janaaanandaaya = Provider of Joy to Nanda and the people of Braj Region 
  20. Sachchidaananda vigrahaaya = Embodiment of Sat, Chit, and Ananda (Eternity, Awareness,  and Bliss)
  21. Navaneeta viliptaangaaya = One whose body is smeared with fresh butter
  22. navaneeta nataaya =  One Who dances for butter or makes Others Dance for Butter
  23. Anaghaaya = The Blemishless
  24. Navaneeta navaahaaraaya = One who wears freshly made garlands
  25. Muchikunda prasaadakaaya = Bestower of grace to Muchikunda (A king who saved Indra from demons)
  26. Shodasha stree sahasreshaaya = The Lord of 16000 gopikas (women attached to Sri Krishna in Brindavan)
  27. Tribhangine = One who is three-fold-bent while playing flute
  28. Madhuraakrutaye = Sweet-looking One
  29. Suka vaagamrutaabdeendave = Ocean of Nector in the words of Suka yogi
  30. Govindaaya = Protector or Caretaker of Cows (also humans)
  31. Yogiinaampataye = Lord of sages
  32. Vatsavaatiicharaaya = One wandering around caring for the calves
  33. Dhenukaasura mardanaaya = One who beat up the Ass-demon Dhenuka
  34. Truniikruta trunaavartaaya = Who killed the Whirlwind demon Trunavarta by throwing him like a grass
  35. Yamalaarjuna bhanjanaaya = Who uprooted the trees known asYamala and Arjuna (two angels)
  36. Uttalataalabhetrey = Who broke all the big Taala trees while killing the Dhenuka demon
  37. Tamaala shyamalaakrutaye = One whose hue is dark similar to Tamala (Cinnamomum tree)
  38. Gopagopeeswaraaya = Lord of Gopas and Gopis (the cowherds & cowherdesses)
  39. Yogine = One who himself is a great yogi (Sage)
  40. Kotisurya samaprabhaaya = Whose Glow is as lustrous as one crore Suns
  41. Ilaapataye = Lord of Ila (Mother Earth's Lord) Ila also refers to the supreme sacred knowledge.
  42. Paramjyotaye = The Supreme Light
  43. Yaadavendraaya = Lord of Yadava clan
  44. Yadoodvahaaya = It refers to Krishna ( one of the Two Yadus- Krishna & Balarama)
  45. Vanamaaliney = One who wears Vanamaala (a garland of wild flowers of the forest)
  46. Peetavaasasey = One wearing the Silk dhoti
  47. Paarijaata apahaarakaaya = One who stole Paarijata tree from heaven to please Satyabhama
  48. Govardhanaachalodhartrey = One who uprooted Govardhan mountain to save people & cattle
  49. Gopaalaaya = Caretaker of Cows and cattle
  50. Sarvapaalakaaya = Caretaker of all beings
  51. Ajaaya = The unborn eternal being
  52. Niranjanaaya =  The blemishless being
  53. Kaamajanakaaya = The instigator of desires
  54. Kanjalochanaaya = Dark beautiful-eyed One
  55. Madhughney =  Slayer of demon Madhu
  56. Mathuraanaathaaya = Lord of Mathura
  57. Dwaarakaa naayakaaya = The hero of Dwaraka
  58. Baliney = Strong person
  59. Brindaavanaanta samchaariney = One who loiters around Brindavan
  60. Tulasiidhaama bhooshanaaya = One who wears the Tulasi-leaves garland
  61. Shamantakamanir hartrey = Stealer of the Shamantaka jewel
  62. Naranaaraayanaatmakaaya = The Self-Same Nara and Narayan
  63. Kubjaa krishnaambara dharaaya = One who made Kubja apply the ointment (that she was taking for Kansa) to his own body
  64. Maayiney = Deceiver and Enchanter
  65. Paramapurushaaya = The Supreme Being
  66. Mushtikaasura chaanoora mallayuddha Vishaaradaaya = One who excelled in the dual fight with two wrestlers named Mushtikaasur and Chanoora
  67. Samsaara vairiney = Enemy of the Material world
  68. Kamsaaraye = Slayer and enemy of the devil king Kamsa
  69. Muraaraye = Enemy of demon Mura
  70. Narakaantakaaya = Destroyer of demon Naraka
  71. Anaadi brahmachaariney = The eternal Brahman himself
  72. Krishnaavyasana karshakarmanaaya = Remover of Draupadi's distress
  73. Sisupaala shirachhetrey = One who chopped out the head of Sishupala
  74. Duryodhana kulaantakrutaaya = One who destroyed Duryodhana's clan (community)
  75. Viduraakroora varadaaya = One who granted boons to Vidura and Akrura
  76. Viswaroopa pradarshakaaya = Who exhibited his Universal Form
  77. Satyavaachey = Truth speaking One
  78. Satyasamkalpaaya = One with True Determination
  79. Satyabhaamaarataaya = The Lover of Satyabhama
  80. Jayiney = Who is Victorious
  81. Subhadraapoorvajaaya = Born prior to Subhadra
  82. Jishnavey = Who is known as Jishnu (or Vishnu)
  83. Bhishma muktipradaayakaaya = Who granted salvation to Bhishma
  84. Jagadguravey = Teacher of the World
  85. Jagannaathaaya = Lord of the World
  86. Venunaada vishaaradaaya = Expert in playing Flute
  87. Vrishabhaasura vidhvansiney = The destroyer of Vrishabha (the Bull demon)
  88. Baanaasuraamtakaaya = Slayer of demon Banasura
  89. Yudhistira pratishtaatrey = One who established Yudhistir as King
  90. Barhibarhaavatamsakaaya = One who wears Peacock feathers in his head
  91. Paarthasaarathaye = The charioter of Partha (Arjuna)
  92. Avyaktaaya = The Unmanifested One
  93. Giitaamruta mahodadhaye = The Ocean of the Nectar of Gita (Essence of Bhagavadgita)
  94. Kaaliiyaphani maanikyaramjita sripadaambujaaya = One whose lotus feet are adorned with Gems of the Kali serphant's hood
  95. Daamodaraaya = One whose waist got tied with a rope by Yashoda
  96. Yajnabhoktrey = One who consumes the sacrificial offerings
  97. Daanavendra vinaashakaaya = Destroyer of Lord of demons
  98. Naaraayanaaya = The All Pervasive One
  99. Parasmai brahmaney = The Ultimate Brahman (Supreme Being)
  100. Pannagaashana vaahanaaya = One whose Carrier is Garuda, the devour of snakes
  101. Jalakriidaasamaasakta gopiivastraapahaarakaaya = Who stole and hid the robes of gopis while they were playing in Yamuna waters
  102. Punyaslokaaya = One whose praise is meritorious
  103. Tiirthapaadaaya = Whose feet are Holy Places
  104. Vedavedyaaya = The Source of Vedas
  105. Dayaanidhaye = The Ocean of Kindness
  106. Sarvatiirthaatmakaaya = The Soul of all Holiness
  107. Sarvagraha roopiney = The Ultimate Form of All Elements
  108. Paraatparaaya = Greater than the Greatest
Om itihi Srikrishna ashttottara shatanaamaavali samaaptaah:
This is the completion (end) of Sri Krishna's 108-names list

Om Namo Sri Krishnaaya namah:

Om Namo Narayanaaya namah: