Shivashtakam
Shivashtakam
शिवाष्टकम्
प्रभुं प्राणनाथं विभुं विश्वनाथं जगन्नाथ नाथं सदानन्द भाजाम् ।
भवद्भव्य भूतेश्वरं भूतनाथं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 1 ॥
गले रुण्डमालं तनौ सर्पजालं महाकाल कालं गणेशादि पालम् ।
जटाजूट गङ्गोत्तरङ्गैर्विशालं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 2॥
मुदामाकरं मण्डनं मण्डयन्तं महा मण्डलं भस्म भूषाधरं तम् ।
अनादिं ह्यपारं महा मोहमारं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 3 ॥
वटाधो निवासं महाट्टाट्टहासं महापाप नाशं सदा सुप्रकाशम् ।
गिरीशं गणेशं सुरेशं महेशं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 4 ॥
गिरीन्द्रात्मजा सङ्गृहीतार्धदेहं गिरौ संस्थितं सर्वदापन्न गेहम् ।
परब्रह्म ब्रह्मादिभिर्-वन्द्यमानं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 5 ॥
कपालं त्रिशूलं कराभ्यां दधानं पदाम्भोज नम्राय कामं ददानम् ।
बलीवर्धयानं सुराणां प्रधानं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 6 ॥
शरच्चन्द्र गात्रं गणानन्दपात्रं त्रिनेत्रं पवित्रं धनेशस्य मित्रम् ।
अपर्णा कलत्रं सदा सच्चरित्रं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 7 ॥
हरं सर्पहारं चिता भूविहारं भवं वेदसारं सदा निर्विकारं।
श्मशाने वसन्तं मनोजं दहन्तं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडे ॥ 8 ॥
स्वयं यः प्रभाते नरश्शूल पाणे पठेत् स्तोत्ररत्नं त्विहप्राप्यरत्नम् ।
सुपुत्रं सुधान्यं सुमित्रं कलत्रं विचित्रैस्समाराध्य मोक्षं प्रयाति ॥
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About This Stotram
Overview
The Shivashtakam is a Sanskrit ashtakam of 8 verses dedicated to Lord Shiva, with each verse praising his divine qualities and forms including epithets such as Shankara, Shambhu, and Ishana. The refrain "Shiva Shankara Shambhu Ishana" unifies the verses and emphasizes Shiva's benevolent, auspicious, and supreme nature. The text belongs to the Shaiva devotional stotra tradition; the author is unknown.
What are the benefits of chanting Shivashtakam?
- Removes sins and negative karma through devotional recitation
- Cultivates peace of mind and mental clarity by focusing on Shiva's benevolent qualities
- Associated with prosperity and general well-being in traditional accounts
- Invokes Shiva's protection for the devotee and household
When is the best time to recite this?
The Shivashtakam is appropriate for morning and evening prayers. Shivaratri, Mondays, and any occasion of Shiva worship are considered fitting times. Its brevity makes it suitable as a daily recitation.
What is the historical and traditional background?
The Shivashtakam is not attributed to any named composer and does not appear within a canonical Vedic or Puranic scripture. Many ashtakams dedicated to Shiva are attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, but this particular text is not among his confirmed works. The meter and diction are consistent with classical Sanskrit devotional poetry, suggesting composition by a learned devotee whose identity is not recorded. The text has been in devotional circulation for a considerable period and appears in several collections of Shaiva stotras.
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
- Shiva Tandava Stotram — a longer and more elaborate Shiva hymn often recited alongside shorter ashtakams in Shaiva worship
- Shiva Mangalaashtakam — another 8-verse (plus invocation) ashtakam for Shiva focused on invoking auspiciousness