Shiva Ashtakam

The Shivaashtakam is an eight-verse hymn that venerates the divine qualities and powers of Lord Shiva.

प्रभुं प्राणनाथं विभुं विश्वनाथं जगन्नाथनाथं सदानन्दभाजाम्। भवद्भव्यभूतेश्वरं भूतनाथं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥१॥

गले रुण्डमालं तनौ सर्पजालं महाकालकालं गणेशादिपालम्। जटाजूटगङ्गोत्तरङ्गैर्विशालं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥२॥

मुदामाकरं मण्डनं मण्डयन्तं महामण्डलं भस्मभूषाधरं तम्। अनादिह्यपारं महावृत्रहारं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥३॥

तटादित्तिरीतड्डिदित्तानवन्द्यं द्वितीयं सुरारामभीतानभिन्यम्। समस्तान्तरं रञ्जितं बीजदानं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥४॥

हरं पङ्कजानां सहस्रास्यनं वा ततिर्यञ्चतिर्यङ्मुनेषूद्यमानम्। अनाक्रान्तलोकं त्रिलोकैकनाथं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥५॥

उदारामृतापारमायामकायं सुरैरर्हिदन्तं बृहद्राशिसंस्थम्। समस्तप्रपञ्चेऽधिपं चित्तरूपं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥६॥

अनाथस्य दीनस्य त्रिशूलत्रणस्य भवस्य प्रणस्याखिलस्यापि साक्षात्। निधेयं सदा शर्वयोगीन्द्रमीड्यं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥७॥

सुपर्णं सुरं वामनं भीमरूपं त्रिनेत्रं च वन्ध्या गले शूलिनं तम्। गिरिशं गिरासारमेकं वरेण्यं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे॥८॥

शिवाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं पठेत् शुद्धात् मनीषि। सर्वसिद्ध्यकरं नित्यं शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात्॥

Meaning:

Prabhum Prananatham Vibhum Vishwanatham Jagannathanatham Sadaanandabhaajam Bhavadbhavyabhuteshwaram Bhootanatham Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, the lord of the universe, the lord of all beings, who is eternal bliss, who is the lord of past, present, and future, and who is the lord of all creatures.

Gale Rundamalam Tanau Sarpajalam Mahakalakalam Ganeshadhipaalam JatajutaGangaUttarangairvishalam Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who wears a garland of skulls around his neck, who is adorned with a mesh of serpents, who is the death of death (Mahakala), who is the protector of Ganesha and other gods, and who is vast like the waves of the Ganges in his matted hair.

Mudamakaram Mandanam Mandayantam Mahamandalam Bhasmabhushadharam Tam Anadi Hyaparam Mahavritraharam Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who is ever blissful, who adorns himself with great garlands, who is covered with sacred ashes, who has no beginning or end, and who is the destroyer of the great demon Vritra.

Tatatittiriitaddittaanavandya Dvitiiyam Suraaraamabhiitaanabhinyam Samastantaram Ranjitam Bijadaanam Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who is worshipped with the sound of drums and other instruments, who is adored by all gods and sages, who pervades the entire universe, and who blesses with divine seeds.

Haram Pankajanaam Sahasraasyanam Vaa Tatiryanchatiryang Munesuudyamaanam Anaakrantalokam Trilokaikanatham Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who is worshipped by a thousand-petaled lotus, who is revered by sages and beings of all realms, who is unattainable by worldly beings, and who is the sole lord of the three worlds.

Udaaramrtaapaaramaayaamakaayam Surairarhidantam Brhadraashisamstham Samastaprapance’Dhipam Cittarupam Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who is the essence of supreme nectar, who is boundless, who is worshipped by gods, who dwells in great mountains, who is the lord of the entire universe, and who embodies pure consciousness.

Anaathasya Dinasya TrishoolatraNasya Bhavasya Pranasyaakhilasyapi Saakshaat Nidheyam Sadaa Sharvayogeendrameedyam Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who is the protector of the helpless and the distressed, who wields the trident (Trishula), who is the essence of life, and who is directly experienced by great yogis and sages.

Suparnam Suram Vamanan Bhiimarupam Trinetram Ca Vandhya Gale Shoolinam Tam Girisha Girasaara Mekam Varenyam Shivam Shankaram Shambhumeeshanam Eede

I praise Lord Shiva, who has a divine form, who is terrifying in appearance, who has three eyes, who wears a serpent around his neck, and who is the lord of mountains, the essence of speech, and the supreme being.

Phala Sruti (Benefits of Reciting Shivaashtakam):

Shivaashtakamidam Punyam Pathet Shuddhaat Manishi Sarvasiddhyakaram Nityam Shivalokam Avaapnuyaat

• This holy Shivaashtakam should be recited by those who seek purity of mind. It grants all types of successes and leads one to attain the abode of Lord Shiva.