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Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

अर्धनारीनटेश्वर स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Champeya-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-Kayai
  2. Verse 2. Kasturika-Kunkuma-Charchitayai
  3. Verse 3. Jhanat-Kvanat-Kankana-Nupurayai
  4. Verse 4. Vishala-Nila-Utpala-Lochanayai
  5. Verse 5. Mandara-Mala-Kalita-Alakayai
  6. Verse 6. Ambhodhara-Shyamala-Kuntalayai
  7. Verse 7. Prapancha-Srishti-Unmukha-Lasya-Kayai
  8. Verse 8. Pradipta-Ratna-Ujjvala-Kundalayai
  9. Verse 9. Etat-Pathed-Ashtakam-Ishtadam Yo
Verse 1#

Champeya-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-Kayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations 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#

Kasturika-Kunkuma-Charchitayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Jhanat-Kvanat-Kankana-Nupurayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Vishala-Nila-Utpala-Lochanayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Mandara-Mala-Kalita-Alakayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Ambhodhara-Shyamala-Kuntalayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Prapancha-Srishti-Unmukha-Lasya-Kayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Pradipta-Ratna-Ujjvala-Kundalayai

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

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

MeaningSalutations — 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#

Etat-Pathed-Ashtakam-Ishtadam Yo

एतत्पठेदष्टकमिष्टदं यो भक्त्या 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)

MeaningWhoever 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 Breakdown

चाम्पेयगौर-अर्ध-शरीरकायै
Champeya-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-Kayai
To Her, half of whose body shines golden like the champaka flower (Parvati)
कर्पूरगौर-अर्ध-शरीरकाय
Karpura-Gaura-Ardha-Sharira-Kaya
To Him, half of whose body is white like camphor (Shiva)
धम्मिल्लकायै
Dhammilla-Kayai
To Her with a beautifully braided coiffure
जटाधराय
Jata-Dharaya
To Him who bears matted locks
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय
Namah Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya
Salutations to Shiva (the Goddess) and salutations to Shiva (the Lord)
कस्तूरिकाकुङ्कुमचर्चितायै
Kasturika-Kunkuma-Charchitayai
To Her anointed with musk and saffron
चितारजःपुञ्जविचर्चिताय
Chita-Rajah-Punja-Vicharchitaya
To Him smeared with heaps of ash from the cremation ground
कृतस्मरायै
Krita-Smarayai
To Her who creates love (Kama)
विकृतस्मराय
Vikrita-Smaraya
To Him who destroyed (disfigured) Kama, the god of love
झणत्क्वणत्कङ्कणनूपुरायै
Jhanat-Kvanat-Kankana-Nupurayai
To Her with tinkling, jingling bangles and anklets
पादाब्जराजत्फणिनूपुराय
Pada-Abja-Rajat-Phani-Nupuraya
To Him whose lotus feet are adorned with serpents as anklets
विशालनीलोत्पललोचनायै
Vishala-Nila-Utpala-Lochanayai
To Her with large eyes like the blue lotus
समेक्षणायै
Samekshanayai
To Her with an even number of eyes (two)
विषमेक्षणाय
Vishamekshanaya
To Him with an odd number of eyes (three)
दिव्याम्बरायै
Divya-Ambarayai
To Her clothed in divine, splendid garments
दिगम्बराय
Digambaraya
To Him who is sky-clad (clothed in the directions)
जगज्जनन्यै
Jagaj-Jananyai
To Her, the Mother of the universe
जगदेकपित्रे
Jagad-Eka-Pitre
To Him, the one Father of the universe
शिवान्वितायै च शिवान्विताय
Shiva-Anvitayai Cha Shiva-Anvitaya
To Her united with Shiva, and to Him united with Shiva (Shakti)
एतत्पठेदष्टकम् इष्टदं यः
Etat-Pathed-Ashtakam Ishtadam Yah
Whoever recites this wish-granting octad

Origin & History

Source: Shaiva-Shakta stotra corpus attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Adi Shankaracharya (traditionally)

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ardhanarishvara?
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.
Who composed the Ardhanari Nateshwara Stotram?
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.
What does the refrain 'Namah Shivayai cha Namah Shivaya' mean?
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.
Why is it recommended for couples?
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.

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