Bhoothnath Ashtakam

This hymn is a poetic and devotional composition that praises Lord Shiva in his form as Bhuthnath, the Lord of all beings, including spirits and elements. Each stanza vividly describes Shivas attributes, his cosmic dance Tandava, his form.

भूतनाथ अष्टकम्

शिव शिव शक्तिनाथं संहारं शं स्वरूपम्
नव नव नित्यनृत्यं ताण्डवं तं तन्नादम्
घन घन घूर्णिमेघं घंघोरं घंन्निनादम्
भज भज भस्मलेपं भजामि भूतनाथम् ||1||

कळकळकाळरूपं कल्लोळंकंकराळम्
डम डम डमनादं डम्बुरुं डंकनादम्
सम सम शक्तग्रिवं सर्वभूतं सुरेशम्
भज भज भस्मलेपं भजामि भूतनाथम् ||2||

रम रम रामभक्तं रमेशं रां रारावम्
मम मम मुक्तहस्तं महेशं मं मधुरम्
बम बम ब्रह्मरूपं बामेशं बं विनाशम्
भज भज भस्मलेपं भजामि भूतनाथम् ||3||

हर हर हरिप्रियं त्रितापं हं संहारम्
खमखम क्षमाशीळं सपापं खं क्षमणम्
द्दग द्दग ध्यानमूर्त्तिं सगुणं धं धारणम्
भज भज भस्मलेपं भजामि भूतनाथम् ||4||

पम पम पापनाशं प्रज्वलं पं प्रकाशम्
गम गम गुह्यतत्त्वं गिरीशं गं गणानाम्
दम दम दानहस्तं धुन्दरं दं दारुणम्
भज भज भस्मलेपं भजामि भूतनाथम् ||5||

गम गम गीतनाथं दूर्गमं गं गंतव्यम्
टम टम रूंडमाळं टंकारं टंकनादम्
भम भम भ्रम् भ्रमरं भैरवं क्षेत्रपाळम्
भज भज भस्मलेपं भजामि भूतनाथम् ||6||

त्रिशुळधारी संहारकारी गिरिजानाथम् ईश्वरम्
पार्वतीपति त्वम्मायापति शुभ्रवर्णम्महेश्वरम्
कैळाशनाथ सतीप्राणनाथ महाकालम्कालेश्वरम्
अर्धचंद्रम् शिरकिरीटम्भूतनाथं शिवम्भजे ||7||

नीलकंठाय सत्स्वरूपाय सदा शिवाय नमो नमः
यक्षरूपाय जटाधराय नागदेवाय नमो नमः
इंद्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय गंगाधराय नमो नमः
अर्धचंद्रम् शिरकिरीटम्भूतनाथं शिवम्भजे ||8||

तव कृपा कृष्णदासः भजति भूतनाथम्
तव कृपा कृष्णदासः स्मरति भूतनाथम्
तव कृपा कृष्णदासः पश्यति भूतनाथम्
तव कृपा कृष्णदासः पिबति भूतनाथम् ||0||

|| अथ श्रीकृष्णदासः विरचित 'भूतनाथ अष्टकम्' यः पठति निस्कामभावेन सः शिवलोकं सगच्छति ||

Explanation of Bhūtanātha Aṣṭakam (Hymn of Lord Shiva as Bhūtanātha)

Verse 1

Shiva, the Supreme Power, the Destroyer
The hymn begins by describing Shiva as the embodiment of destruction (Saṃhāra), energy (Śakti), and eternal cosmic dance (Nāda). His form is compared to thunderous dark clouds, and he is adorned with sacred ashes.
Translation:
“I worship Bhūtanātha, who is adorned with sacred ashes, whose dance resonates with the rhythm of creation and destruction, and who is like a roaring, swirling storm cloud.”

Verse 2

The Fierce Cosmic Lord
Shiva is described as fierce and terrifying, with a fearsome roar resembling the beat of the Damru. He is the Lord of all beings and protector of gods.
Translation:
“I worship Bhūtanātha, who is smeared with sacred ashes, fierce in form, the protector of all beings, and who resonates with the sound of the Damru.”

Verse 3

The Eternal and Sweet Lord
Shiva is portrayed as a compassionate deity who grants liberation. He is the essence of sweetness and destruction, embodying both creation and annihilation.
Translation:
“I worship Bhūtanātha, who is the embodiment of Brahman, sweet and compassionate, and the destroyer of ignorance.”

Verse 4

The Merciful and Meditative Lord
This stanza highlights Shiva’s role as the remover of sorrows, the one who grants forgiveness, and the focus of deep meditation.
Translation:
“I worship Bhūtanātha, who is smeared with sacred ashes, who is merciful, destroys the threefold miseries, and is the object of profound meditation.”

Verse 5

The Illuminator and Giver of Knowledge
Shiva is described as the destroyer of sins and the light of wisdom. He is the Lord of all elements, granting knowledge and liberation.
Translation:
“I worship Bhūtanātha, who shines with divine light, destroys sins, and bestows knowledge to seekers.”

Verse 6

The Guardian of the Sacred Places
Here, Shiva is depicted as the protector of holy grounds, adorned with garlands of skulls, embodying the primal energy of creation and destruction.
Translation:
“I worship Bhūtanātha, the guardian of sacred places, adorned with garlands of skulls, and the controller of cosmic energy.”

Verse 7

The Supreme Lord of Kailasa
This stanza glorifies Shiva as the consort of Parvati, the Lord of Mount Kailasa, the wielder of the trident, and the destroyer of time. He is adorned with the crescent moon and radiates supreme divinity.
Translation:
“I worship Shiva, the consort of Girija, adorned with the crescent moon, residing on Mount Kailasa, and the Lord of cosmic time.”

Verse 8

The Blue-Throated Lord (Neelakantha)
The hymn salutes Shiva as the eternal truth, the holder of the Ganges, and the Lord with matted locks. He is the one who drinks poison to save the universe.
Translation:
“I worship Shiva, the blue-throated, ever-auspicious one, adorned with the crescent moon and protector of the universe.”

Concluding Verse

Blessings of Bhūtanātha
The composer, Krishna Dasa, offers complete devotion to Bhūtanātha, stating that those who recite this hymn selflessly attain liberation and reside in Shiva’s abode.
Translation:
“By the grace of Shiva, Krishna Dasa worships, remembers, sees, and drinks the nectar of devotion to Bhūtanātha. Those who recite this hymn with a selfless heart will attain Shiva’s divine realm.”