Vedic Tithi
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Stotram - Sacred Scripture

Shivashtakam

Shivashtakam

Stotram
Shiva
8 Verses
110%

zivASTakam

prabhuM prANanAthaM vibhuM vizvanAthaM jagannAtha nAthaM sadAnanda bhAjAm |

bhavadbhavya bhUtezvaraM bhUtanAthaM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 1 ||

gale ruNDamAlaM tanau sarpajAlaM mahAkAla kAlaM gaNezAdi pAlam |

jaTAjUTa gaGgottaraGgairvizAlaM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 2||

mudAmAkaraM maNDanaM maNDayantaM mahA maNDalaM bhasma bhUSAdharaM tam |

anAdiM hyapAraM mahA mohamAraM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 3 ||

vaTAdho nivAsaM mahATTATTahAsaM mahApApa nAzaM sadA suprakAzam |

girIzaM gaNezaM surezaM mahezaM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 4 ||

girIndrAtmajA saGgRhItArdhadehaM girau saMsthitaM sarvadApanna geham |

parabrahma brahmAdibhir-vandyamAnaM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 5 ||

kapAlaM trizUlaM karAbhyAM dadhAnaM padAmbhoja namrAya kAmaM dadAnam |

balIvardhayAnaM surANAM pradhAnaM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 6 ||

zaraccandra gAtraM gaNAnandapAtraM trinetraM pavitraM dhanezasya mitram |

aparNA kalatraM sadA saccaritraM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 7 ||

haraM sarpahAraM citA bhUvihAraM bhavaM vedasAraM sadA nirvikAraM|

zmazAne vasantaM manojaM dahantaM, zivaM zaGkaraM zambhu mIzAnamIDe || 8 ||

svayaM yaH prabhAte narazzUla pANe paThet stotraratnaM tvihaprApyaratnam |

suputraM sudhAnyaM sumitraM kalatraM vicitraissamArAdhya mokSaM prayAti ||

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