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Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Swayambho Meaning — Line by Line

भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Swayambho with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho
  2. Verse 2. Gangadhara Shankara Karunakara
  3. Verse 3. Nirguna Para-Brahma-Svarupa
  4. Verse 4. Nitya Niramaya Nishkala-Rupa
  5. Verse 5. Kaivalya-Pate Parama-Shiv-Eshvara
Verse 1#

Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो॥

Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

MeaningO Shambhu, auspicious Shiva, self-existent Lord!

Verse 2#

Gangadhara Shankara Karunakara

गङ्गाधर शङ्कर करुणाकर मामव भवसागरतारक॥ भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो॥

Gangadhara Shankara Karunakara Mam-Ava Bhava-Sagara-Taraka Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

MeaningO bearer of the Ganga, O Shankara, O mine of compassion — protect me, O ferryman across the ocean of worldly existence! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Verse 3#

Nirguna Para-Brahma-Svarupa

निर्गुण परब्रह्मस्वरूप गगनाकार अखण्ड अमेय॥ भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो॥

Nirguna Para-Brahma-Svarupa Gagana-Akara Akhanda Ameya Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

MeaningO one whose nature is the attributeless Supreme Brahman, formless and all-pervading like the sky, undivided and immeasurable! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Verse 4#

Nitya Niramaya Nishkala-Rupa

नित्य निरामय निष्कलरूप निजगुहनिहित नितान्त अनन्त॥ भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो॥

Nitya Niramaya Nishkala-Rupa Nija-Guha-Nihita Nitanta Ananta Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

MeaningO eternal, affliction-free, partless one, hidden within the cave of one's own heart, utterly infinite and endless! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Verse 5#

Kaivalya-Pate Parama-Shiv-Eshvara

कैवल्यपते परमशिवेश्वर परमानन्दतनो प्रणतार्तिहर॥ भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो॥

Kaivalya-Pate Parama-Shiv-Eshvara Parama-Ananda-Tano Pranata-Arti-Hara Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

MeaningO Lord of liberation, Supreme Lord Shiva, O one whose very form is the highest bliss, remover of the suffering of all who bow to you! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

भो शम्भो
Bho Shambho
O Shambhu (Shiva, the source of auspiciousness and joy)
शिव शम्भो
Shiva Shambho
O auspicious Shiva, O Shambhu
स्वयम्भो
Svayambho
O self-existent one (the self-born, uncreated Reality)
गङ्गाधर
Gangadhara
O bearer of the river Ganga (in your matted locks)
शङ्कर
Shankara
O doer of good, giver of peace
करुणाकर
Karunakara
O mine (source) of compassion
मामव
Mam-Ava
Protect me / save me
भवसागरतारक
Bhava-Sagara-Taraka
O one who ferries (us) across the ocean of worldly existence
निर्गुण
Nirguna
Without attributes (beyond the three gunas)
परब्रह्मस्वरूप
Para-Brahma-Svarupa
Whose nature is the Supreme Brahman
गगनाकार
Gagana-Akara
Formless and all-pervading like the sky
अखण्ड अमेय
Akhanda Ameya
Undivided (whole) and immeasurable
नित्य निरामय
Nitya Niramaya
Eternal and free from all affliction (disease)
निष्कलरूप
Nishkala-Rupa
Of partless (indivisible) form
निजगुहनिहित
Nija-Guha-Nihita
Hidden within one's own heart-cave (the inner Self)
नितान्त अनन्त
Nitanta Ananta
Utterly infinite, endless
कैवल्यपते
Kaivalya-Pate
O Lord of Kaivalya (final liberation, absolute aloneness)
परमशिवेश्वर
Parama-Shiva-Ishvara
O Supreme Lord Shiva
परमानन्दतनो
Parama-Ananda-Tano
O one whose very body is supreme bliss
प्रणतार्तिहर
Pranata-Arti-Hara
O remover of the suffering of those who bow to you

Origin & History

Source: Devotional composition of Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra

Author: Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra Saraswati

Period: 18th century CE

Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra was a celebrated Avadhuta and Advaita master who lived as a wandering, often silent, God-intoxicated sage near Nerur in Tamil Nadu. His Sanskrit compositions, sung to this day in the Carnatic tradition, pour out the bliss of Self-realisation. In 'Bho Shambho' he calls upon Shiva at once as the tender, Ganga-bearing saviour who carries the devotee across the sea of birth and death, and as the attributeless Supreme Self shining within the cave of the heart — the goal of his own Advaitic realisation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who composed 'Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho'?▼
It is traditionally attributed to Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra (18th century CE), a great Avadhuta saint, Advaita Vedantin and composer from Tamil Nadu, renowned for his ecstatic, deeply philosophical Sanskrit songs such as 'Manasa Sancharare' and 'Khelati Mama Hridaye'.
What does 'Swayambho' mean?▼
'Svayambhu' means 'self-existent' or 'self-born' — that which exists by its own nature, uncreated and dependent on nothing else. It points to Shiva as the ultimate, self-existent Reality (Brahman).
Is this a bhajan or a philosophical hymn?▼
It is beautifully both. The opening verse is full of loving devotion to the Ganga-bearing, compassionate Shiva, while the later verses describe him as Nirguna Brahman — attributeless, sky-like, infinite and blissful — making it a perfect union of bhakti and Advaita jnana.
How is it usually performed?▼
It is widely sung as a Carnatic music kriti, with the refrain 'Bho Shambho' recurring between verses. It is equally suited to group bhajan singing and to quiet personal meditation on Shiva.

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