shivaparvatiardhanarishwarashankaracharya

Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram

अर्धनारीनटेश्वर स्तोत्रम्

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Mondays, Fridays, Pradosha Kaal, and Maha Shivaratri·📜 Shaiva-Shakta stotra corpus attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Also known as: ardhanari nateshwara stotram · champeya gaura ardha sharira kayai · ardhanarishwara nateshwara stotra · namah shivayai cha namah shivaya · ardha nareeswara ashtakam

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, is an eight-verse hymn to Ardhanarishvara — the form that is half Shiva and half Parvati. Each verse pairs an attribute of the Goddess with the corresponding attribute of the Lord, ending with the famous refrain 'Namah Shivayai cha Namah Shivaya' (salutations to Her and to Him), celebrating the inseparable union of consciousness and energy. The ninth verse is the phalashruti, promising honour, long life and lasting fortune to its reciter.

Origin & Story

Shaiva-Shakta stotra corpus attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya (traditionally) · c. 8th century CE

Adi Shankaracharya, who harmonised the worship of Shiva and Shakti within Advaita, composed this hymn to the Ardhanarishvara — the half-male, half-female form of the Divine. Each verse is a deliberate juxtaposition: the Goddess decked in saffron, jewels and silk on one side; the Lord smeared with ash, garlanded with skulls and sky-clad on the other — yet one single body, declaring that the cosmic Father and Mother, the dancer of creation (Lasya) and the dancer of dissolution (Tandava), are forever one.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally told that meditation on the Ardhanarishvara form dissolves the seeker's sense of duality and inner conflict; couples who recite this stotra together are said to be blessed with deep harmony, and devotees report that worship of this united form brings both worldly fortune (the Devi's grace) and liberation (Shiva's grace) together.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

चाम्पेयगौरार्धशरीरकायै कर्पूरगौरार्धशरीरकाय। धम्मिल्लकायै च जटाधराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥१॥

Champeya-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-Kayai Karpura-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-Kaya Dhammilla-Kayai Cha Jata-Dharaya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (1)

Meaning:Salutations to the Goddess and to the Lord — to Her whose half-body glows golden like the champaka flower and to Him whose half-body is white like camphor; to Her of the braided tresses and to Him of the matted locks.

Verse 2

कस्तूरिकाकुङ्कुमचर्चितायै चितारजःपुञ्जविचर्चिताय। कृतस्मरायै विकृतस्मराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥२॥

Kasturika-Kunkuma-Charchitayai Chita-Rajah-Punja-Vicharchitaya Krita-Smarayai Vikrita-Smaraya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (2)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her anointed with musk and saffron and to Him smeared with the ash of the cremation ground; to Her who awakens love and to Him who once disfigured the god of love.

Verse 3

झणत्क्वणत्कङ्कणनूपुरायै पादाब्जराजत्फणिनूपुराय। हेमाङ्गदायै भुजगाङ्गदाय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥३॥

Jhanat-Kvanat-Kankana-Nupurayai Pada-Abja-Rajat-Phani-Nupuraya Hema-Angadayai Bhujaga-Angadaya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (3)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her with tinkling bangles and anklets and to Him whose lotus feet wear serpents as anklets; to Her with golden armlets and to Him with serpent armlets.

Verse 4

विशालनीलोत्पललोचनायै विकासिपङ्केरुहलोचनाय। समेक्षणायै विषमेक्षणाय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥४॥

Vishala-Nila-Utpala-Lochanayai Vikasi-Pankeruha-Lochanaya Samekshanayai Vishamekshanaya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (4)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her with wide eyes like blue lotuses and to Him with eyes like the blooming lotus; to Her with two even eyes and to Him with three uneven eyes.

Verse 5

मन्दारमालाकलितालकायै कपालमालाङ्कितकन्धराय। दिव्याम्बरायै च दिगम्बराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥५॥

Mandara-Mala-Kalita-Alakayai Kapala-Mala-Ankita-Kandharaya Divya-Ambarayai Cha Digambaraya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (5)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her whose locks are decked with mandara garlands and to Him whose neck bears a garland of skulls; to Her robed in heavenly garments and to Him who is clad in the directions.

Verse 6

अम्भोधरश्यामलकुन्तलायै तडित्प्रभाताम्रजटाधराय। निरीश्वरायै निखिलेश्वराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥६॥

Ambhodhara-Shyamala-Kuntalayai Tadit-Prabha-Tamra-Jata-Dharaya Nir-Ishvarayai Nikhila-Ishvaraya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (6)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her with tresses dark as rain-clouds and to Him with copper-red matted locks bright as lightning; to Her who is without a lord (being Herself supreme) and to Him who is the Lord of all.

Verse 7

प्रपञ्चसृष्ट्युन्मुखलास्यकायै समस्तसंहारकताण्डवाय। जगज्जनन्यै जगदेकपित्रे नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥७॥

Prapancha-Srishti-Unmukha-Lasya-Kayai Samasta-Samhara-Kata-Tandavaya Jagaj-Jananyai Jagad-Eka-Pitre Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (7)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her whose graceful Lasya dance brings forth the creation of the world and to Him whose fierce Tandava dance dissolves it all; to Her the Mother of the universe and to Him the one Father of the universe.

Verse 8

प्रदीप्तरत्नोज्ज्वलकुण्डलायै स्फुरन्महापन्नगभूषणाय। शिवान्वितायै च शिवान्विताय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥८॥

Pradipta-Ratna-Ujjvala-Kundalayai Sphuran-Maha-Pannaga-Bhushanaya Shiva-Anvitayai Cha Shiva-Anvitaya Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya (8)

Meaning:Salutations — to Her with brilliant gem-studded earrings and to Him adorned with the great gleaming serpent; to Her ever united with Shiva and to Him ever united with Shiva (Shakti).

Verse 9

एतत्पठेदष्टकमिष्टदं यो भक्त्या स मान्यो भुवि दीर्घजीवी। प्राप्नोति सौभाग्यमनन्तकालं भूयात्सदा तस्य समस्तसिद्धिः॥९॥

Etat-Pathed-Ashtakam-Ishtadam Yo Bhaktya Sa Manyo Bhuvi Dirgha-Jivi Prapnoti Saubhagyam-Ananta-Kalam Bhuyat-Sada Tasya Samasta-Siddhih (9)

Meaning:Whoever devotedly recites this wish-fulfilling octad becomes honoured upon the earth and long-lived; he attains everlasting good fortune, and may all accomplishments forever be his.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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चाम्पेयगौर-अर्ध-शरीरकायै🔊Champeya-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-KayaiTo Her, half of whose body shines golden like the champaka flower (Parvati)

कर्पूरगौर-अर्ध-शरीरकाय🔊Karpura-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-KayaTo Him, half of whose body is white like camphor (Shiva)

धम्मिल्लकायै🔊Dhammilla-KayaiTo Her with a beautifully braided coiffure

जटाधराय🔊Jata-DharayaTo Him who bears matted locks

नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय🔊Namah Shivayai Cha Namah ShivayaSalutations to Shiva (the Goddess) and salutations to Shiva (the Lord)

कस्तूरिकाकुङ्कुमचर्चितायै🔊Kasturika-Kunkuma-CharchitayaiTo Her anointed with musk and saffron

चितारजःपुञ्जविचर्चिताय🔊Chita-Rajah-Punja-VicharchitayaTo Him smeared with heaps of ash from the cremation ground

कृतस्मरायै🔊Krita-SmarayaiTo Her who creates love (Kama)

विकृतस्मराय🔊Vikrita-SmarayaTo Him who destroyed (disfigured) Kama, the god of love

झणत्क्वणत्कङ्कणनूपुरायै🔊Jhanat-Kvanat-Kankana-NupurayaiTo Her with tinkling, jingling bangles and anklets

पादाब्जराजत्फणिनूपुराय🔊Pada-Abja-Rajat-Phani-NupurayaTo Him whose lotus feet are adorned with serpents as anklets

विशालनीलोत्पललोचनायै🔊Vishala-Nila-Utpala-LochanayaiTo Her with large eyes like the blue lotus

समेक्षणायै🔊SamekshanayaiTo Her with an even number of eyes (two)

विषमेक्षणाय🔊VishamekshanayaTo Him with an odd number of eyes (three)

दिव्याम्बरायै🔊Divya-AmbarayaiTo Her clothed in divine, splendid garments

दिगम्बराय🔊DigambarayaTo Him who is sky-clad (clothed in the directions)

जगज्जनन्यै🔊Jagaj-JananyaiTo Her, the Mother of the universe

जगदेकपित्रे🔊Jagad-Eka-PitreTo Him, the one Father of the universe

शिवान्वितायै च शिवान्विताय🔊Shiva-Anvitayai Cha Shiva-AnvitayaTo Her united with Shiva, and to Him united with Shiva (Shakti)

एतत्पठेदष्टकम् इष्टदं यः🔊Etat-Pathed-Ashtakam Ishtadam YahWhoever recites this wish-granting octad

Benefits of Chanting Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram

✦

Honours the inseparable union of Shiva and Shakti (consciousness and energy)

✦

Considered highly auspicious for married couples and for marital harmony

✦

The phalashruti promises honour on earth, long life and everlasting good fortune

✦

Balances the masculine and feminine energies within the seeker

✦

Cultivates devotion to the integrated Divine — neither Shiva alone nor Devi alone

✦

Its rhythmic paired structure makes it a beautiful, memorable daily prayer

How to Chant Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram

Repetitions9times

Best TimeMondays, Fridays, Pradosha Kaal, and Maha Shivaratri

Recite all eight verses with devotion, dwelling on the paired imagery of the Goddess and the Lord in each line, and complete with the ninth phalashruti verse. It may be chanted before an Ardhanarishvara image or a Shiva Lingam. Because every verse closes with 'Namah Shivayai cha Namah Shivaya', let that refrain settle the mind into the awareness that Shiva and Shakti are one. Daily recitation, or weekly on Mondays and Fridays, is traditional, and it is especially recited by couples for harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ardhanarishvara is the composite form of Shiva and Parvati shown as a single body split down the middle — the right half Shiva and the left half Parvati. It expresses the truth that the Absolute (Shiva) and its creative power (Shakti) are inseparable, two aspects of one reality.

This eight-verse hymn beginning 'Champeya-gaura-ardha-sharira-kayai' is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. It is one of the most popular Sanskrit hymns on the Ardhanarishvara form.

It means 'Salutations to Shiva the Goddess (Shivaa) and salutations to Shiva the Lord (Shiva)'. The feminine 'Shivayai' salutes Parvati and the masculine 'Shivaya' salutes Shiva — bowing to both halves of the one divine form.

Because the hymn celebrates the perfect, harmonious union of the divine couple, it is traditionally chanted by married couples and those seeking marital harmony, mutual understanding and lasting togetherness, in addition to the long life and good fortune promised in its final verse.