shivashambhustutinamami

Shambhu Stuti

शम्भु स्तुति

🕉️ hindu·📿 12× repetitions·🕐 Early morning or evening, on Mondays, Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri, or before beginning an important task·📜 Shaiva stotra tradition; recited in the Rama–Rameshwaram devotional lore

Also known as: shambhu stuti · shambhu stuti namami shambhum · namami shambhum purusham puranam · shambhu stotram · shiva shambhu stuti

📜 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 Shambhu Stuti is a flowing hymn of salutation to Lord Shiva, in which nearly every line begins with 'namāmi' — 'I bow'. Across its verses it adores Shiva as Shambhu, Rudra, Somesha and Umapati: the ancient Spirit, the cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution, the remover of poverty, disease and sin, and the compassionate granter of every desire. By tradition this stuti was recited by Lord Rama before the ocean at Rameshwaram, and it is loved as a heartfelt litany of surrender to the all-merciful Lord.

Origin & Story

Shaiva stotra tradition; recited in the Rama–Rameshwaram devotional lore · Traditional (anonymous); associated by tradition with Lord Rama's worship of Shiva · Ancient

The Shambhu Stuti belongs to the rich devotional tradition surrounding the worship of Shiva as Shambhu and Somesha. Tradition connects it with the episode at Rameshwaram, where Lord Rama, before bridging the ocean to Lanka, established and worshipped a Shiva Lingam and praised the Lord with hymns of surrender. Whether sung by Rama or by later devotees in that spirit, the stuti's unbroken stream of 'namami' has made it a beloved litany for invoking Shiva's compassion at the start of any great or difficult endeavour.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told that when Lord Rama worshipped Shiva at Rameshwaram with such hymns of praise, the Lord, moved by devotion, blessed the building of the Setu (bridge) across the sea — so that the very ocean became passable. Devotees recall this whenever they recite the Shambhu Stuti before an undertaking that seems impossible.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

नमामि शम्भुं पुरुषं पुराणं नमामि सर्वज्ञमपारभावम्। नमामि रुद्रं प्रभुमक्षयं तं नमामि शर्वं शिरसा नमामि॥१॥

Namāmi śambhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ Namāmi sarvajñam-apāra-bhāvam। Namāmi rudraṁ prabhum-akṣayaṁ taṁ Namāmi śarvaṁ śirasā namāmi॥1॥

Meaning:I bow to Shambhu, the ancient Spirit; I bow to the all-knowing of boundless being; I bow to Rudra, the imperishable Lord; I bow to Sharva — with my head I bow.

Verse 2

नमामि देवं परमव्ययं तं उमापतिं लोकगुरुं नमामि। नमामि दारिद्रविदारणं तं नमामि रोगापहरं नमामि॥२॥

Namāmi devaṁ param-avyayaṁ taṁ Umā-patiṁ loka-guruṁ namāmi। Namāmi dāridra-vidāraṇaṁ taṁ Namāmi rogāpaharaṁ namāmi॥2॥

Meaning:I bow to the supreme, changeless God; I bow to the consort of Uma, the Guru of the worlds; I bow to him who tears away poverty; I bow to the remover of disease.

Verse 3

नमामि कल्याणमचिन्त्यरूपं नमामि विश्वोर्ध्वबीजरूपम्। नमामि विश्वस्थितिकारणं तं नमामि संहारकरं नमामि॥३॥

Namāmi kalyāṇam-acintya-rūpaṁ Namāmi viśvordhva-bīja-rūpam। Namāmi viśva-sthiti-kāraṇaṁ taṁ Namāmi saṁhāra-karaṁ namāmi॥3॥

Meaning:I bow to the auspicious one of inconceivable form; I bow to him who is the supreme seed of the universe; I bow to the cause of the universe's sustenance; I bow to the agent of its dissolution.

Verse 4

नमामि गौरीप्रियमव्ययं तं नमामि नित्यं क्षरमक्षरं तम्। नमामि चिद्रूपममेयभावं त्रिलोचनं तं शिरसा नमामि॥४॥

Namāmi gaurī-priyam-avyayaṁ taṁ Namāmi nityaṁ kṣaram-akṣaraṁ tam। Namāmi cid-rūpam-ameya-bhāvaṁ Trilocanaṁ taṁ śirasā namāmi॥4॥

Meaning:I bow to the changeless beloved of Gauri; I bow to the eternal, both perishable and imperishable; I bow to the form of consciousness, of immeasurable being; with my head I bow to the three-eyed one.

Verse 5

नमामि कारुण्यकरं भवस्य भयङ्करं वापि सदा नमामि। नमामि दातारमभीप्सितानां नमामि सोमेशमुमेशमादौ॥५॥

Namāmi kāruṇya-karaṁ bhavasya Bhayaṅkaraṁ vāpi sadā namāmi। Namāmi dātāram-abhīpsitānāṁ Namāmi someśam-umeśam-ādau॥5॥

Meaning:I bow to the compassionate one toward worldly existence, and ever I bow even to his fearsome form; I bow to the giver of all that is longed for; first of all I bow to Somesha, the Lord of Uma.

Verse 6

नमामि वेदत्रयलोचनं तं नमामि मूर्तित्रयवर्जितं तम्। नमामि पुण्यं सदसद्व्यतीतं नमामि तं पापहरं नमामि॥६॥

Namāmi veda-traya-locanaṁ taṁ Namāmi mūrti-traya-varjitaṁ tam। Namāmi puṇyaṁ sadasad-vyatītaṁ Namāmi taṁ pāpa-haraṁ namāmi॥6॥

Meaning:I bow to him whose three eyes are the three Vedas; I bow to him who is beyond the three forms (Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra as distinct); I bow to the meritorious one beyond being and non-being; I bow to the remover of sin.

Verse 7

नमामि विश्वस्य हिते रतं तं नमामि रूपाणि बहूनि धत्ते। यो विश्वगोप्ता सदसत्प्रणेता नमामि तं विश्वपतिं नमामि॥७॥

Namāmi viśvasya hite rataṁ taṁ Namāmi rūpāṇi bahūni dhatte। Yo viśva-goptā sadasat-praṇetā Namāmi taṁ viśva-patiṁ namāmi॥7॥

Meaning:I bow to him ever devoted to the welfare of the universe; I bow to him who assumes many forms; he who is the protector of the universe and the guide of all that is and is not — I bow to that Lord of the universe.

Verse 8

यज्ञेश्वरं सम्प्रति हव्यकव्यं तथागतिं लोकसदाशिवो यः। आराधितो यश्च ददाति सर्वं नमामि दानप्रियमिष्टदेवम्॥८॥

Yajñeśvaraṁ samprati havya-kavyaṁ Tathāgatiṁ loka-sadāśivo yaḥ। Ārādhito yaśca dadāti sarvaṁ Namāmi dāna-priyam-iṣṭa-devam॥8॥

Meaning:He is the Lord of sacrifice, the offerings to gods and ancestors, and the goal beyond; he, the ever-auspicious of the worlds, when worshipped, grants everything — I bow to that dearly-giving, cherished God.

Verse 9

नमामि सोमेश्वरं स्वतन्त्रं उमापतिं तं विजयं नमामि। नमामि विघ्नेश्वरनन्दिनाथं पुत्रप्रियं तं शिरसा नमामि॥९॥

Namāmi someśvaraṁ svatantraṁ Umā-patiṁ taṁ vijayaṁ namāmi। Namāmi vighneśvara-nandi-nāthaṁ Putra-priyaṁ taṁ śirasā namāmi॥9॥

Meaning:I bow to the independent Somesha; I bow to the victorious consort of Uma; I bow to the Lord of Vighnesha (Ganesha) and Nandi; with my head I bow to him who loves his sons.

Verse 10

नमामि देवं भवदुःखशोक- विनाशनं चन्द्रधरं नमामि। नमामि गङ्गाधरमीशमीड्यं उमाधवं देववरं नमामि॥१०॥

Namāmi devaṁ bhava-duḥkha-śoka- Vināśanaṁ candra-dharaṁ namāmi। Namāmi gaṅgā-dharam-īśam-īḍyaṁ Umā-dhavaṁ deva-varaṁ namāmi॥10॥

Meaning:I bow to the God who destroys the sorrow and grief of worldly life; I bow to the bearer of the moon; I bow to the praiseworthy Lord, the bearer of the Ganga; I bow to the husband of Uma, the best of the gods.

Verse 11

नमाम्यजादीशपुरन्दरादि- सुरासुरैरर्चितपादपद्मम्। नमामि देवीमुखवादनानां ईक्षार्थमक्षित्रितयं य ऐच्छत्॥११॥

Namāmy-ajādīśa-purandarādi- Surāsurair-arcita-pāda-padmam। Namāmi devī-mukha-vādanānāṁ Īkṣārtham-akṣi-tritayaṁ ya aicchat॥11॥

Meaning:I bow to him whose lotus-feet are worshipped by gods and demons led by Brahma, Vishnu and Indra; I bow to him who longed for a third eye to gaze upon the face of the Goddess.

Verse 12

पञ्चामृतैर्गन्धसुधूपदीपैः विचित्रपुष्पैर्विविधैश्च मन्त्रैः। अन्नप्रकारैः सकलोपचारैः सम्पूजितं सोममहं नमामि॥१२॥

Pañcāmṛtair-gandha-sudhūpa-dīpaiḥ Vicitra-puṣpair-vividhaiśca mantraiḥ। Anna-prakāraiḥ sakalopacāraiḥ Sampūjitaṁ somam-ahaṁ namāmi॥12॥

Meaning:I bow to Soma (Shiva), fully worshipped with the five nectars, with fragrance, fine incense and lamps, with varied and wondrous flowers, with manifold mantras, with offerings of food and every service of worship.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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नमामि🔊namāmiI bow / I salute

शम्भुं🔊śambhuṁShambhu — 'the source of bliss / well-being', a name of Shiva

पुरुषं पुराणं🔊puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁthe ancient / primeval Person (the eternal Spirit)

सर्वज्ञम्🔊sarvajñamthe all-knowing / omniscient one

अपारभावम्🔊apāra-bhāvamof boundless / infinite being

रुद्रं🔊rudraṁRudra — the fierce, the dispeller of suffering

अक्षयं🔊akṣayaṁthe imperishable / undecaying one

शर्वं🔊śarvaṁSharva — a name of Shiva (the destroyer / the auspicious)

उमापतिं🔊umā-patiṁthe consort of Uma (Parvati)

लोकगुरुं🔊loka-guruṁthe Guru / teacher of the worlds

दारिद्रविदारणं🔊dāridra-vidāraṇaṁthe destroyer of poverty

रोगापहरं🔊rogāpaharaṁthe remover of disease

कल्याणम्🔊kalyāṇamthe auspicious one / source of welfare

अचिन्त्यरूपं🔊acintya-rūpaṁof inconceivable form

विश्वस्थितिकारणं🔊viśva-sthiti-kāraṇaṁthe cause of the sustenance of the universe

संहारकरं🔊saṁhāra-karaṁthe doer of dissolution (cosmic destruction)

गौरीप्रियम्🔊gaurī-priyamthe beloved of Gauri (Parvati)

चिद्रूपम्🔊cid-rūpamof the form of pure consciousness

त्रिलोचनं🔊trilocanaṁthe three-eyed one

कारुण्यकरं🔊kāruṇya-karaṁthe bestower of compassion / the merciful one

सोमेशम्🔊someśamSomesha — Lord adorned with the moon (Soma)

वेदत्रयलोचनं🔊veda-traya-locanaṁwhose three eyes are the three Vedas

पापहरं🔊pāpa-haraṁthe remover of sin

गङ्गाधरम्🔊gaṅgā-dharamthe bearer of the Ganga (in his locks)

अक्षित्रितयं य ऐच्छत्🔊akṣi-tritayaṁ ya aicchatwho desired a third eye (the better) to behold the Goddess's face

Benefits of Chanting Shambhu Stuti

✦

A continuous 'namami' litany that fills the mind with surrender and remembrance of Shiva

✦

Praises Shiva as remover of poverty (daridra-vidarana) and disease (roga-apahara) — recited for relief from want and ill-health

✦

Invokes the compassionate, boon-granting nature of the Lord who 'gives everything when worshipped'

✦

Associated with Lord Rama's prayer at Rameshwaram, it is chanted for success in difficult undertakings

✦

Cultivates humility and steady devotion through its repeated act of bowing

✦

A complete contemplation of Shiva as creator, sustainer, dissolver and the Self beyond all

✦

Believed to ward off sorrow and grief (bhava-duhkha-shoka-vinashana) and to bring peace of mind

How to Chant Shambhu Stuti

Repetitions12times

Best TimeEarly morning or evening, on Mondays, Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri, or before beginning an important task

Sit calmly before a Shiva Lingam or image and recite all twelve verses, letting each 'namāmi' be an inward bow of the heart. The final verse mentally offers the sixteen services of worship (upachara) — the five nectars, fragrance, incense, lamps, flowers, mantras and food — so it is fitting to chant it while making or visualising these offerings. It may be recited daily as a litany of surrender, or before an arduous undertaking in the spirit of Lord Rama, who is said to have praised Shiva thus at Rameshwaram.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Shambhu Stuti is a Sanskrit hymn of praise to Lord Shiva beginning 'Namāmi śambhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ'. Almost every line opens with 'namāmi' ('I bow'), making it a flowing litany of salutation to Shiva as Shambhu, Rudra, Somesha and Umapati.

By tradition, Lord Rama recited this hymn of praise to Shiva at Rameshwaram while seeking a way to cross the ocean to Lanka. Pleased by the devotion, Shiva blessed the undertaking. Because of this story the stuti is linked with overcoming great obstacles.

'Namāmi' means 'I bow' or 'I salute'. Its constant repetition turns the whole hymn into an unbroken act of reverence, training the heart in humility and surrender as it offers obeisance to Shiva under name after name.

The verses themselves describe Shiva as the destroyer of poverty, disease, sin and worldly sorrow, and as the giver of everything desired when worshipped. Devotees chant it for relief from hardship and illness, for success in difficult tasks, and for peace and devotion.