Nirvana Shatkam
Nirvana Shatkam
Nirvana Shatkam
nirvANa ShaTkam
OM OM om ...
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
mano budhyaha~NkAra chittAni nAhaM
na cha shrotra jihve na cha ghrANanetre |
na cha vyoma bhUmirna tejo na vAyuH
chidAnanda rUpaH shivo.ahaM shivo.aham || 1 ||
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
na cha prANa sanjno na vaipa~nchavAyuH
na vA saptadhAturna vA pa~nchakoshAH |
navAkpANi pAdau na chopastha pAyU
chidAnanda rUpaH shivo.ahaM shivo.aham || 2 ||
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
na me dveSharAgau na me lobhamoho
mado naiva me naiva mAtsaryabhAvaH |
na dharmo na chArdho na kAmo na mokShaH
chidAnanda rUpaH shivo.ahaM shivo.aham || 3 ||
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
na puNyaM na pApaM na saukhyaM na duHkhaM
na mantro na tIrthaM na vedA na yaj~naH |
ahaM bhojanaM naiva bhojyaM na bhoktA
chidAnanda rUpaH shivo.ahaM shivo.aham || 4 ||
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
na mRRityurna sha~NkA na me jAti bhedaH
pitA naiva me naiva mAtA na janmaH |
na bandhurna mitraM gururnaiva shiShyaH
chidAnandarUpaH shivo.ahaM shivo.aham || 5 ||
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
ahaM nirvikalpo nirAkAra rUpo
vibhUtvAchcha sarvatra sarvendriyANAm |
na chAsa~NgataM naiva muktirna meyaH [na vA bandhanaM naiva muktirna bandhaH]
chidAnandarUpaH shivo.ahaM shivo.aham || 6 ||
shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM, shivo.ahaM shivo.ahaM
About This Stotram
Overview
The Nirvana Shatkam, also known as the Atma Shatkam, is a Sanskrit philosophical hymn of 6 verses attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (c. 8th century CE). The text systematically negates identification of the self with the body, mind, senses, and emotions, concluding each verse with the refrain "chidanandarupah shivoham shivoham" — "I am of the nature of consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva." It is a foundational text of Advaita Vedanta and is widely used in meditation and self-inquiry practice.
What are the benefits of chanting Nirvana Shatkam?
- Supports the practice of self-inquiry (atma vichara) by articulating the nature of the true self
- Aids in loosening identification with the body, mind, and ego
- Cultivates equanimity through repeated contemplation of the text's core assertions
- Used as a meditation anchor in Advaita Vedanta practice and teaching
When is the best time to recite this?
The Nirvana Shatkam is recited in the morning and evening, and is particularly appropriate during meditation sessions. It can be recited at any time as a support for contemplative practice.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Adi Shankaracharya (c. 788–820 CE) composed the Nirvana Shatkam as an independent philosophical work articulating the core insight of Advaita Vedanta: the identity of the individual self (atman) with Brahman. Tradition holds that he composed it spontaneously in response to a question about his identity, addressing it to his future guru Govindapada. The text follows the neti neti ("not this, not this") method of negation found in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. It is taught in Advaita monastic traditions across India and has been widely commented upon and translated.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Bhaja Govindam — another well-known Sanskrit text attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that addresses liberation and the nature of the self in a devotional register
- Viveka Chudamani — a philosophical treatise by Adi Shankaracharya that expands at length on the Advaita Vedanta teachings summarized in the Nirvana Shatkam