Front side of lord Shiva the Adiyogi statue in black and white.

Shiva Ashtakam

An ashtakam is a poetic composition in Sanskrit of eight stanzas or verses, typically arranged as sets of rhyming quartets.

Enjoy this collection of verses dedicated to Shiva, the Adiyogi.

Chandrashekara Ashtakam

Chandrashekara Ashtakam is said to have been written by Sage Markandeya. It is said that at the age of sixteen, Markandeya was saved by Shiva from the God of Death (Kala or Yama). In these verses, Markandeya seeks refuge in Shiva, referred to here as Chandrashekara (the one who wears the crescent moon on his head). “When He is by my side, what can Yama do to me?” he proclaims.

Guruvashtakam

In the Indian tradition, great importance is attached to having a Guru in one’s life. The Gurvashtakam exemplifies this cultural tenet. In this octet, Adi Shankara lists the various aspects of life that human beings generally prize: fame, power, riches, beauty, intelligence, talent, possessions, a wonderful family. Then he dismisses it all, saying, “If one’s mind does not surrender before the feet of the Guru, what is the point?”

Guruvashtakam English Lyrics

shariram surupam tatha va kalatram
yashascharu chitram dhanam merutulyam
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

kalatram dhanam putrapautradi sarvam
gruham bandhavah sarvametaddhi jatam
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

shadangadivedo mukhe shastravidya
kavitvadi gadyam supadyam karoti
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

videsheshu manyah svadesheshu dhanyah
sadacharavrutteshu matto na chanyah
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

kshamamandale bhupabhupalavrudaih
sadasevitam yasya padaravindam
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

yasho me gatam dikshu danapratapa
jagaddhastu sarvam kare yatprasadat
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

na bhoge na yoge na va vajirajau
na kantamukhe naiva vitteshu chittam
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

aranye na va svasya gehe na karye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

anarghani rathnani mukthani samyak
samalingitha kamini yamineeshu
guroranghripadme manaschena lagnam
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim

Guruvashtakam Meaning

Even if you have a superb physique, a beautiful wife,
Great fame and wealth as large as Mount Meru,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Even if you have a wife, wealth, children, grandchildren,
A house, relations and are born in a great family,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Even if you are an expert in the six angas and the four Vedas,
And an expert in writing good prose and poems,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Even if you are honored in other lands and prosperous in your homeland,
And greatly regarded in virtues and life,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Your feet may be worshipped constantly even by the great kings
And emperors of the world because of your greatness and scholarship
But if your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Even if your fame has spread all over,
And the entire world is with you because of charity and fame,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

The mind may have turned away from external delights, possessions, and the Enchanting face of the beloved through dispassion and yogic attainments.
But if your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Even if your mind stays away in the forest,
Or in the house, or in duties or in great thoughts,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Even if you have a priceless jewel collection,
Even if you have an embracing passionate wife,
If your mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
What then, what then, what then?

Parvati Vallabha Ashtakam

This Ashtakam is a chant of salutations to Shiva, “the consort of Parvati”. It describes the various attributes of Shiva who is exhorted by the sages and the Vedas and who is also known as the Lord of Blessings, who is attributed contradicting descriptions likening him to devils and ghosts as well as the most beautiful being. Embodying all the qualities of existence, he is all-embracing and inclusive – as life naturally is.

Kalabhairava ashtakam

This ashtakam is hymn to Kalabhairava, a fearsome aspect of Shiva, who is known as the Lord of Kashi. Sadhguru speaks about the Bhairavi Yatana in Kashi, an intense process of obliterating lifetimes of karma in a moment, “Kalabhairava is a deadly form of Shiva. It was guaranteed if you come to Kashi, you will attain to mukti, it doesn't matter what kind of a lousy creature you have been all your life."

Kalabhairava ashtakam English Lyrics

Devaraja sevyamana pavananghri pankajam
Vyala yagna sutramindu shekharam kripakaram
Naradadi yogivrinda vanditam digambaram
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Bhanu koti bhasvaram bhavabdhi tarakam param
Neelakantham ipsitartha dayakam trilochanam
Kalakalam ambujaksham akshashulam aksharam
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Shula tanga pasha danda panim adikaranan
Shyama kayam adidevam aksharan niramayam
Bheemavikramam prabhum vichitra tandava priyam
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Bhukti mukti dayakam prashasta charu vigraham
Bhakta vatsalam sthitam samasta loka vigraham
Vinikvanan manojnya hema kinkini lasatkatim
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Dharma setu palakam tvadharma marga nashanam
Karma pasha mochakam susharma dhayakam vibhum
Svarna varna sheshha pasha shobhitanga nirmalam
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Ratna paduka prabhabhi ramapada yugmakam
Nityam adviteeyam ishtadaivatam niramayam
Mrityu darpa nashanam karala damshhtra bhushanam
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Atta hasa bhinna padmajanda kosha santatim
Drishti patta nashtapapa jalam ugra shasanam
Ashta siddhi dayakam kapala malikam dharam
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Bhuta sangha nayakam vishala keerti dayakam
Kashi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam vibhum
Neetimarga kovidam puratanam jagatpatim
Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje

Kalabhairava ashtakam Meaning

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Whose lotus like feet are being served by Devendra, Who is merciful and wears the moon on his forehead, Who wears a snake as his sacred thread, Who wears the different directions as his cloth, And who is worshipped by sages like Narada.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Who shines like billions of suns, Who helps us cross the ocean of life, Who is supreme and has a blue throat, Who has three eyes and grants us our desires, Who is the death to the God of death, Who has eyes like lotus flowers, and who has the undefeatable trident.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Who has a spear, a noose and a stick as weapons, Who is black in color and is the primeval cause, Who is deathless and the first God, Who is free from decay and ill health, Who is the Lord, who is a great hero, And who revels in the Tandava.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Who fulfills desires and also grants salvation, Who is well known for his glorious face, Who is a form of Shiva, Who loves his devotees, Who is the God of the entire world, Who assumes various forms, And who has a golden waist thread, on which jingling bells are tied.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Who maintains the bridge of dharma in life, Who destroys paths which are not right, Who saves us from the ties of karma, Who has a shining body because of a golden rope with bells tied in various places.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Who has feet adorned by the shine of gem studded sandals, Who is eternal, Who is our favorite God who bestows everything, Who takes away the fear of death, And who grants them salvation by his terrible teeth.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Whose loud roar is enough to destroy all those created by Brahma, Whose sight is sufficient to destroy all wrongdoings, Who is crafty and strict ruler, Who can grant the eight occult powers, And who wears a garland of skulls.

I salute Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kasi, Who is the chief of the society of Bhutas, Who grants broad based fame, Who is the lord who judges good and bad of those who live in Varanasi, Who is an expert in the way of righteousness, And who is eternally old and lord of the universe.

Shivashtakam mp3

This song is a descriptive salutation of the different attributes of Shiva. The great yogi who is referred to as Ardhanarishwara (the one who has included the feminine as a part of himself), the fair-bodied one, and who beats a steady rhythm on his damaru.