Shiva Stotram: Shiva Tandava, Lingashtakam, Rudrashtakam & 60+ Shiva Stotras with Lyrics
Shiva stotras are hymns, Vedic chants and name lists addressed to Shiva, the destroyer and renewer in the Hindu trinity, worshipped as Mahadeva, Rudra and Shankara and in the form of the linga. This collection has more than sixty texts: Sanskrit stotras such as the Shiva Tandava Stotram, Lingashtakam and Rudrashtakam, the Vedic Sri Rudram, many works of Adi Shankaracharya, prayers to Kala Bhairava and Dakshinamurthy, the Shiva Chalisa, and the 12, 108 and 1000 names of Shiva. Shiva is prayed to for the removal of sins and fear, for health and long life, and above all for liberation and inner peace. Several of these hymns end with a line promising that whoever recites them before Shiva reaches Shiva's abode, and many are built around the five-syllable mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”.
Most popular Shiva stotras
- 1Shiva Tandava Stotram · शिव ताण्डव स्तोत्रम्The stotra attributed to Ravana, describing Shiva's cosmic dance in fast, rhythmic Sanskrit.Stotram · 15 verses
- 2Lingashtakam · लिङ्गाष्टकम्Eight verses in praise of the Shiva linga, opening “Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingam”, sung in evening worship.Stotram · 8 verses
- 3Rudrashtakam · रुद्राष्टकम्Tulsidas's Sanskrit hymn “Namami Shamishan Nirvana Rupam”, from the Uttara Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas.Stotram · 9 verses
- 4Shiva Panchakshari Stotram · शिव पञ्चाक्षरि स्तोत्रम्Adi Shankaracharya's five verses, one for each syllable of “Na-ma-shi-va-ya”.Stotram · 5 verses
- 5Shiva Mahimna Stotram · शिव महिम्ना स्तोत्रम्Pushpadanta's hymn on the greatness of Shiva, which no words can fully describe.Stotram · 43 verses
- 6Sri Rudram Namakam · श्री रुद्रं नमकम्The Vedic hymn to Rudra from the Krishna Yajurveda, chanted at abhishekam with the Chamakam.Stotram · 11 verses
- 7Kala Bhairava Ashtakam · कालभैरवाष्टकम्Adi Shankaracharya's eight verses to Kala Bhairava, the guardian form of Shiva.Ashtakam · Kala Bhairava · 9 verses
- 8Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotram · द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग स्तोत्रम्Names the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, from Somnath in Saurashtra to Mallikarjuna at Srisailam.Stotram · 12 verses
When to recite Shiva stotras
- Mondays: Somavar is Shiva's weekly day. Many people recite a stotra after offering water or milk to the linga.
- Pradosham: the evening twilight of the thirteenth lunar day (trayodashi), held to be the most auspicious time for Shiva worship. See the Pradosham dates.
- Masik Shivaratri and Maha Shivaratri: the fourteenth night of the waning moon every month, and the great Shivaratri in Phalguna (February or March), when devotees keep vigil and recite through the night. See the Masik Shivaratri dates.
- Shravan and Kartika: the months of Shravan (July to August) in the North and Kartika (October to November) in the South are dedicated to Shiva, especially their Mondays.
- During abhishekam: the Sri Rudram and Chamakam are chanted while the linga is bathed; the Bilvashtakam while bilva leaves are offered.
Which text to choose
- For daily recitation: the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, Lingashtakam or Bilvashtakam take a few minutes each.
- For devotion and reflection: Adi Shankaracharya's Shiva Manasa Puja (worship offered in the mind), Shivananda Lahari (100 verses) and Shiva Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram (asking forgiveness).
- For Vedic chanting: the Sri Rudram Namakam and Chamakam, Rudra Laghunyasam and Shiva Sankalpa Upanishad, traditionally learnt from a teacher.
- For protection: the Shiva Kavacham and Sri Rudra Kavacham, and the Kala Bhairava texts.
- For knowledge: the Dakshinamurthy Stotram, to Shiva as the silent teacher.
- For puja: the 108 names for archana with bilva leaves, and the 1000 names for longer pujas.
All 66 Shiva texts
Stotram (40)
Namavali (14)
Chalisa (4)
Ashtakam (3)
Kavacham (2)
Mantra (2)
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Shiva Tandava Stotram?
The Shiva Tandava Stotram is traditionally attributed to Ravana, the king of Lanka and a great devotee of Shiva. Its closing verses say that whoever recites it with devotion is blessed by Shiva with lasting prosperity.
What is the meaning of “Om Namah Shivaya”?
“Om Namah Shivaya” means “Om, salutations to Shiva”. Its five syllables, Na-ma-shi-va-ya, form the Panchakshara mantra, which comes from the Sri Rudram of the Yajurveda. Adi Shankaracharya's Shiva Panchakshara Stotram has one verse for each syllable.
Which Shiva stotra should be recited on Monday?
Any Shiva stotra can be recited on Monday. Short ones such as the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, Lingashtakam and Bilvashtakam are the most common, often followed by 108 repetitions of “Om Namah Shivaya”.
What is the difference between the Rudrashtakam and the Sri Rudram?
The Sri Rudram is a Vedic hymn from the Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya Samhita), chanted with Vedic accents, in two parts: Namakam and Chamakam. The Rudrashtakam is a much later eight-verse Sanskrit hymn by Tulsidas, part of his Ramcharitmanas, sung like any stotra.
Can women recite Shiva stotras?
Yes. Shiva stotras, the Shiva Chalisa and the names of Shiva are recited by everyone, at home and in temples. Some families follow the custom of learning the Vedic Sri Rudram from a teacher before chanting it.