shivanilakanthaparvati-vallabhaashtakam

Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam

Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Shravan month, or during morning/evening Shiva worship·📜 Traditional Shaiva stotra (Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn to Lord Shiva as Nilakantha, the blue-throated one who swallowed the world-destroying halahala poison. Every verse heaps loving epithets upon him — Bhutanatha, Kalakala (Death of death), the ash-smeared dweller of the cremation ground, holder of the trident and destroyer of suffering — and closes with the refrain 'Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham', 'I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati'. It is cherished for devotion and for the removal of great troubles (maha-kashta-nasham).

Origin & Story

Traditional Shaiva stotra (Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam) · Traditional (attributed to the Shaiva devotional tradition) · Classical / medieval

This ashtakam celebrates Shiva in his Nilakantha aspect — the supreme compassion by which he held in his throat the halahala poison that arose from the churning of the cosmic ocean, saving gods and demons alike. Built as a garland of his names and forms, it pictures him as the ash-smeared, serpent-wreathed, trident-bearing lord of the cremation ground who is at once the fierce Bhutanatha and the gracious beloved of Parvati.

✦ As told in scripture

When the churning of the milk-ocean released the halahala, a poison fierce enough to consume the universe, Shiva alone could bear it; he drank it down and Parvati pressed his throat, holding the venom there, where it shone forever blue. This hymn holds that the Lord who could swallow the world's deadliest poison can surely consume the lesser poisons of his devotees' troubles — hence his name here, Maha-Kashta-Nasham, the destroyer of great suffering.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Namo Bhutanatham Namo Devadevam Namah Kalakalam Namo Divyatejah। Namah Kamabhasmam Namashshanta-Shilam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥1॥

Meaning:Salutations to the Lord of beings, salutations to the God of gods, salutations to the Death of death, salutations to the divinely effulgent; salutations to him who burnt Kama to ashes, salutations to the serene of nature — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 2

Sada Tirtha-Siddham Sada Bhakta-Raksham Sada Shaiva-Pujyam Sada Shubhra-Bhasmam। Sada Dhyana-Yuktam Sada Jnana-Talpam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥2॥

Meaning:Ever perfected at the holy fords, ever the protector of devotees, ever worthy of Shaiva worship, ever bright with white ash, ever absorbed in meditation, ever reposing upon knowledge — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 3

Shmashane Shayanam Mahasthana-Vasam Sharire Gajanam Sada Charma-Veshtam। Pishachadi-Natham Pashunam Pratishtham Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥3॥

Meaning:Reclining in the cremation ground, dwelling in that great abode, ever wrapped in an elephant's hide, lord of the goblins and spirits, the support of all creatures — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 4

Phani-Naga-Kanthe Bhujangady-Anekam Gale Runda-Malam Maha-Vira-Shuram। Kati-Vyaghra-Charmam Chita-Bhasma-Lepam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥4॥

Meaning:With cobras and many serpents about his throat, a garland of skulls upon his neck, the great heroic warrior, a tiger-skin at his waist, his body smeared with pyre-ash — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 5

Shirash-Shuddha-Ganga Shiva-Vama-Bhagam Brihad-Dirgha-Kesham Sada Mam Trinetram। Phani-Naga-Karnam Sada Bhala-Chandram Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥5॥

Meaning:The pure Ganga upon his head, Parvati on his left, with long flowing locks, ever the three-eyed protector of me, serpents for ear-ornaments, ever bearing the moon on his brow — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 6

Kare Shula-Dharam Maha-Kashta-Nasham Suresham Paresham Mahesham Janesham। Dhanesham-Aresham Dhvajesham Girisham Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥6॥

Meaning:Holding the trident in his hand, the destroyer of great suffering, Lord of the gods, supreme Lord, great Lord, Lord of beings, Lord of wealth and of the immortals, Lord of the banner, Lord of the mountains — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 7

Udasam Sudasam Su-Kailasa-Vasam Dhara-Nirdharam Samsthitam Hy-Adidevam। Aja-Hema-Kalpadrumam Kalpa-Sevyam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥7॥

Meaning:Detached yet the gracious giver, dwelling on blessed Kailasa, the unwavering support of the earth, the primordial God established in himself, the unborn one who is a golden wish-fulfilling tree, worthy of worship through all ages — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 8

Muninam Varenyam Gunam Rupavarnam Dvijaih Pujaniyam Shivam Veda-Vedyam। Mahadeva-Devam Sada Sevyamanam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥8॥

Meaning:The most excellent among sages, embodiment of virtue, beauty and radiance, worthy of worship by the twice-born, the auspicious one known through the Vedas, the God of the great gods, ever served and adored — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Namo Bhutanatham🔊Salutations to the Lord of all beings (and of the bhuta-ganas, the spirit hosts)

Namo Devadevam🔊Salutations to the God of gods

Namah Kalakalam🔊Salutations to the Death of death (the Time of Time)

Namo Divyatejah🔊Salutations to the one of divine effulgence

Namah Kamabhasmam🔊Salutations to him who reduced Kama (desire) to ashes

Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham🔊I worship Nilakantha, the beloved (vallabha) of Parvati — the refrain ending every verse

Sada Bhakta-Raksham🔊Ever the protector of devotees

Sada Shubhra-Bhasmam🔊Ever smeared with bright white ash

Sada Dhyana-Yuktam🔊Ever absorbed in meditation

Shmashane Shayanam🔊Reclining in the cremation ground

Pashunam Pratishtham🔊The support and refuge of all creatures (pashus)

Gale Runda-Malam🔊Wearing a garland of skulls around the neck

Maha-Vira-Shuram🔊The great hero, the valiant warrior

Kati-Vyaghra-Charmam🔊Wearing a tiger-skin around the waist

Chita-Bhasma-Lepam🔊His body anointed with the ash of the funeral pyre

Shirash-Shuddha-Ganga🔊Bearing the pure Ganga upon his head

Shiva-Vama-Bhagam🔊With Shiva (Parvati) on his left half

Sada Bhala-Chandram🔊Ever bearing the moon upon his brow

Kare Shula-Dharam🔊Holding the trident in his hand

Maha-Kashta-Nasham🔊The destroyer of great troubles and sufferings

Suresham Paresham Mahesham🔊Lord of the gods, supreme Lord, the great Lord (Mahesha)

Su-Kailasa-Vasam🔊Dwelling in the blessed Mount Kailasa

Hy-Adidevam🔊Indeed the primordial God (Adideva), the first of all deities

Aja-Hema-Kalpadrumam🔊The unborn one who is like a golden wish-fulfilling tree (kalpadruma)

Kalpa-Sevyam🔊Worthy to be served and worshipped through all the ages (kalpas)

Veda-Vedyam🔊He who is to be known through the Vedas

Benefits of Chanting Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam

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Deepens loving devotion to Shiva as Nilakantha, who drank poison to save creation

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Invoked as Maha-Kashta-Nasham — destroyer of great troubles and hardships

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The repeated refrain 'Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham' cultivates one-pointed remembrance of Shiva

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A vivid meditation on Shiva's form — trident, serpents, crescent moon, ash and tiger-skin

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Calls upon Shiva as Bhutanatha and lord of spirits, traditionally for protection from negative influences

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Honours Shiva together with Parvati on his left (Ardhanarishvara aspect), invoking harmony and grace

How to Chant Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam

Repetitions8times

Best TimeMondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Shravan month, or during morning/evening Shiva worship

Sit facing east or north before an image or Lingam of Shiva. Recite the eight verses with devotion, letting the refrain 'Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham' settle the mind on the form of Nilakantha. Meditate on Shiva drinking the halahala poison out of compassion for the worlds. It may be chanted once daily or 8 times on Shiva festivals. Offering bilva (bel) leaves while chanting is especially auspicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a Sanskrit hymn of eight verses praising Lord Shiva as Nilakantha, the blue-throated one. Each verse offers a string of his names and attributes and ends with the refrain 'Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham' — 'I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati'.

During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthana), the deadly halahala poison emerged and threatened to destroy all creation. Shiva drank it to save the worlds, and Parvati held his throat so it would not pass further; the poison stained his throat blue, earning him the name Nilakantha — 'the blue-throated one'.

'Parvati Vallabha' means 'the beloved of Parvati'. The hymn lovingly addresses Shiva as the consort of Goddess Parvati, and the fifth verse even pictures her seated on his left half, evoking the Ardhanarishvara (half-male, half-female) form.

It is recited to deepen devotion to Shiva and especially to remove great troubles and sufferings (the sixth verse calls him Maha-Kashta-Nasham, destroyer of great hardship). As a hymn to Bhutanatha, lord of spirits, it is also chanted for protection and inner peace.