Diya Prayer & mantra guide
Shivashtakam Lyrics in English, With Meaning
Shivashtakam lyrics in English with the meaning of each passage, the original script, and the recording Diya plays to listen along.
The short answer
Shivashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn to Shiva.
Shivashtakam is an eight-verse devotional hymn dedicated to Shiva. In the Shrividya Foundation Trust's presentation, this Shivashtakam is traditionally attributed to Agastya. This page has all 12 passages of Shivashtakam as sung in the recording Diya plays: the words in English letters, the original script where Diya's record has it, and the meaning of each passage in English, with the recording to listen along.
Shivashtakam lyrics and meaning
Below are the 12 passages of Shivashtakam as sung in the recording Diya plays, in the order they are sung. Each row gives the words in English letters under the original script, and their meaning in English.
| Words (original script and transliteration) | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| अथ शिवाष्टकम् Atha Shivaashtakam | Now begins the hymn of eight verses to Shiva. |
| प्रभुं प्राणनाथं विभुं विश्वनाथं Prabhum praananaatham vibhum vishwanaatham | I praise the Lord, master of life, the all-pervading Lord of the universe. |
| जगन्नाथनाथं सदानन्दभाजम् भवद्भव्यभूतेश्वरं भूतनाथं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Jagannaathanaatham sadaanandabhaajam Bhavadbhavyabhooteswaram bhootanaatham Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | I praise Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, Ishana: master of the world's lord, forever sharing in bliss, Lord of the present, future and past, and Lord of beings. |
| गले रुण्डमालं तनौ सर्पजालं महाकालकालं गणेशाधिपालम् जटाजूटगङ्गोत्तरङ्गैर्विशालं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Gale rundamaalam tanau sarpajaalam Mahaakaalakaalam ganeshaadhipaalam Jataajootagangottarangairvishaalam Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | I praise Shiva, garlanded with skulls and wrapped in serpents, guardian of Ganesha and death to great Death, his matted hair spreading with Ganga's waves. |
| मुदामाकरं मण्डनं मण्डयन्तं महामण्डलं भस्मभूषाधरं तम् अनादिं ह्यपारं महामोहमारम् शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Mudaamakaram mandanam mandayantam Mahaamandalam bhasmabhooshaadharam tam Anaadim hyapaaram mahaamohamaaram Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | I praise Shiva, source of joy and adornment of the universe, adorned with ash, beginningless and boundless, who destroys profound delusion. |
| तटाधो निवासं महाट्टाट्टहासं Tataadho nivaasam mahaattaattahaasam | He dwells below the bank and gives mighty, resounding laughter. |
| महापापनाशं सदा सुप्रकाशम् गिरीशं गणेशं सुरेशं महेशम् शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Mahaapaapanaasham sadaa suprakaasham Gireesham ganesham suresham mahesham Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | He destroys great sins and is forever radiant: Giresha, Lord of the mountains; Ganesha, Lord of the hosts; Suresha, Lord of the gods; Mahesha, the Great Lord. I praise Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, Ishana. |
| गिरीन्द्रात्मजा सङ्गृहीतार्धदेहं गिरौ संस्थितं सर्वदा सन्नगेहम् परब्रह्म ब्रह्मादिभिर्वन्द्यमानं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Gireendraatmajaa sangriheetaardhadeham Girau samsthitam sarvadaa sannageham Parabrahma brahmaadibhirvandyamaanam Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | I praise Shiva, sharing his body with Parvati, dwelling on the mountain and sheltering the downcast: supreme Brahman, honored by Brahma and others. |
| कपालं त्रिशूलं कराभ्यां दधानं पदाम्भोजनम्राय कामं ददानं बलीवर्दयानं सुराणां प्रधानं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Kapaalam trishoolam karaabhyaam dadhaanam Padaambhojanamraaya kaamam dadaanam Baleevardayaanam suraanaam pradhaanam Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | Holding a skull and trident in his two hands, he grants the wish of the one who bows at his lotus feet. He rides a bull and is foremost among the gods. I praise Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, Ishana. |
| शरच्चन्द्रगात्रं गुणानन्दपात्रं त्रिनेत्रं पवित्रं धनेशस्य मित्रम् अपर्णाकलत्रं चरित्रं विचित्रं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Sharachchandragaatram gunaanandapaatram Trinetram pavitram dhaneshasya mitram Aparnaakalatram charitram vichitram Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | I praise Shiva, bright as the autumn moon, full of virtues and bliss, three-eyed and pure, friend of Dhanesha and husband of Aparna, whose deeds are wondrous. |
| हरं सर्पहारं चिताभूविहारं भवं वेदसारं सदा निर्विकारम् श्मशाने वसन्तं मनोजं दहन्तं शिवं शङ्करं शम्भुमीशानमीडे Haram sarpahaaram chitaabhoovihaaram Bhavam vedasaaram sadaa nirvikaaram Shmashaane vasantam manojam dahantam Shivam shankaram shambhumeeshaanameede | I praise Shiva, wearing snakes, roaming and dwelling in the cremation ground, the unchanging essence of the Vedas, who burns Manoja, the god of love. |
| स्तवं यः प्रभाते नरः शूलपाणेः पठेत् सर्वदा भर्गभावानुरक्तः स पुत्रं धनं धान्यमित्रं कलत्रं विचित्रं समासाद्य मोक्षं प्रयाति Stavam yah prabhaate narah shoolapaaneh Pathet sarvadaa bhargabhaavaanuraktah Sa putram dhanam dhaanyamitram kalatram Vichitram samaasaadya moksham prayaati | The man who regularly recites this praise of the trident-bearing Lord at dawn, with loving devotion to contemplating Bharga, Shiva, gains a son, wealth, grain, friends and a splendid wife, and reaches liberation. |
Diya's English explains each passage in plain language; it is not a word-for-word translation.
About Shivashtakam
Shivashtakam is an eight-verse devotional hymn dedicated to Shiva. In the Shrividya Foundation Trust's presentation, this Shivashtakam is traditionally attributed to Agastya.
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Related reading
Questions people ask
What is Shivashtakam?
Shivashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn to Shiva. Shivashtakam is an eight-verse devotional hymn dedicated to Shiva.
Can I listen to Shivashtakam while reading the words?
Yes. The recording Diya plays is on this page, above the words. In Diya you can listen to mantras, prayers, aartis, bhajans, and devotional recordings.
Is the English a word-for-word translation?
No. Diya's English gives the meaning of each passage in plain language, not a word-for-word translation.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- Shivashtakam: words and English meanings (Diya listening library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
- Shivastkam with lyrics - Pujya Rameshbhai Oza
ॐ नमः शिवायPublished by YouTube
- Shivashtakam
Shrividya Foundation Trust
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