Rudrashtakam

The Rudrashtakam is a revered Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, composed by Goswami Tulsidas. This hymn praises the different forms and attributes of Lord Shiva, invoking his blessings and protection.

रुद्राष्टकम् एक प्रसिद्ध स्तोत्र है जो भगवान शिव को समर्पित है। इसे गोस्वामी तुलसीदास जी ने रचित किया था। इस स्तोत्र का पाठ शिवजी के भक्तों द्वारा अत्यधिक श्रद्धा के साथ किया जाता है। इसमें भगवान शिव के विभिन्न रूपों और गुणों का वर्णन किया गया है। यहां रुद्राष्टकम् का पूरा पाठ दिया गया है:

॥ रुद्राष्टकम् ॥

नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम्॥१॥

निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम्।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम्॥२॥

तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभीरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्रीशरीरम्।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगंगा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजंगा॥३॥

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूकटीकृततीं च
प्रसादावलम्बेन्निदं ध्यायमीनम्।
विलोलपदं क्षेत्रिशून्यं वृषाङ्कं
भजे भक्तिवाशं समन्येवमीशम्॥४॥

धनं मे विहायानपण्यप्रचारं
समाधिं निधायासनं तिष्ठधीयः।
नितान्तं नितान्ते नितान्तं महान्तं
भजे ध्यानमुक्तं सदा शर्वमेकम्॥५॥

सुवर्णाभदान्तास्वदुग्धप्रवाहं
स्फुरत्कुण्डलाकल्पमूलं शिवेशम्।
नकारं विसर्ज्याक्षरं शुद्धमेतं
भजे शंकरं सर्ववन्द्यं धनञ्जयम्॥६॥

सुप्रसिद्धं भजे वैद्यनाथं
महाकालभक्तप्रियं शंकरस्य।
कृपापारवारं तथानन्दकन्दं
भजे नीलकण्ठं सदा शर्वमेकम्॥७॥

जगद्व्यापिकं विश्ववन्द्यं सुरेशं
परब्रह्मलिङ्गं भजे पञ्चवक्त्रम्।
गिरीशं समाराध्य शम्भो प्रसन्नं
भजे शंकरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम्॥८॥

॥ इति श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

रुद्राष्टकम् का पाठ करने से शिवजी की कृपा प्राप्त होती है और भक्त के सभी दुख, कष्ट और भय दूर हो जाते हैं।

Meaning Of Each Verse Of The Rudrashtakam

Verse 1:
I bow to the Supreme Lord, the ruler of the universe, who is beyond worldly attributes, who is the essence of Brahman and Vedas, and whose form is infinite and formless. I meditate on that supreme consciousness which is beyond qualities, free from illusions, and who resides in the sky of consciousness.

Verse 2:
I bow to the formless, eternal, and transcendent Lord, who is beyond speech and thought, the ruler of the mountains (Kailash), the terrible destroyer of time, and the compassionate one. He is the abode of all virtues and the one who liberates from the cycle of birth and death.

Verse 3:
I worship the Lord who is as radiant as the snow-capped mountains, deep and profound, whose body shines with the brilliance of millions of cupids, whose crown is adorned with the sacred river Ganga, whose forehead is beautified by the crescent moon, and who has a snake around his neck.

Verse 4:
I meditate on the Lord who wears moving earrings, whose eyebrows are curved, who grants boons to his devotees, and who is deeply meditated upon by sages. He carries the bull insignia on his banner, and he is the ruler of the universe, the one who resides in the hearts of his devotees.

Verse 5:
I bow to the Lord who has renounced all material possessions, who is deeply absorbed in meditation, and who is the eternal and supreme being. He is the sole object of meditation for the wise, and he remains detached from the world while being the one true reality.

Verse 6:
I bow to the Lord who is adorned with a garland of gold and is bathed in the flow of pure milk. He wears shining earrings, is the root cause of everything, and is the Lord of all beings. I worship Shankara, who is pure, eternal, and worshipped by all.

Verse 7:
I worship the renowned Vaidyanath (Lord of Physicians) who is dear to his devotees and the one who fulfills their desires. He is the ocean of compassion and the source of eternal bliss. I worship Neelkantha (the one with a blue throat), who is the supreme and the one ruler of the universe.

Verse 8:
I worship the Lord who pervades the entire universe, who is worshipped by all beings and gods, and who is the ultimate Brahman in the form of a linga. I adore Shambhu, the lord of the mountains, who is ever compassionate and the sole master of all worlds.

Conclusion:
Thus ends the Rudrashtakam, composed by Goswami Tulsidas.

This hymn glorifies the attributes, form, and essence of Lord Shiva, offering deep devotion and reverence. Reciting the Rudrashtakam is believed to bring peace, remove obstacles, and grant the blessings of Lord Shiva.