Shiva Bhujanga Prayata Stotram
श्री शिव भुजङ्गप्रयात स्तोत्रम्
Also known as: shiva bhujanga prayata stotram · shiva bhujangam · shiv bhujang prayat stotra · kripasagaraya ashukavyapradaya · shiva bhujanga prayata stotra lyrics
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✦ Meaning
The Shiva Bhujanga Prayata Stotram is a devotional hymn by Adi Shankaracharya, composed in the graceful, serpentine Bhujanga-prayata metre, praising Shiva as Shankara — the gracious Guru who bestows poetry, fulfils all wishes, and grants Self-knowledge. Its verses adore Shiva's matted locks bearing the Ganga, his Ardhanarishvara form, and his presence with Bhavani. The closing verse promises that whoever recites it with a focused mind conquers death and attains union with the Lord.
Origin & Story
Shaiva stotra corpus attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya (traditionally) · c. 8th century CE
Adi Shankaracharya, the founder of the Advaita Vedanta tradition and establisher of the four mathas, composed numerous lyrical stotras during his travels across India. Several of these — to Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Subrahmanya — were set in the elegant Bhujanga-prayata metre. This hymn celebrates Shiva as 'Shankara', the auspicious Guru who, like Dakshinamurti, silently bestows Self-knowledge upon seekers, while also adoring his Ardhanarishvara form united with Bhavani.
✦ As told in scripture
Devotees hold that because the hymn invokes Shiva as Mrityunjaya — the conqueror of death — and ends with the promise that its reciter 'conquers death by Shambhu's grace', earnest recitation during illness or danger is believed to grant protection, fearlessness, and a peaceful, liberated end.
Complete Text with Meaning
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कृपासागरायाशुकाव्यप्रदाय प्रणम्राखिलाभीष्टसन्दायकाय। यतीन्द्रैरुपास्याङ्घ्रिपाथोरुहाय प्रबोधप्रदात्रे नमः शङ्कराय॥१॥
Kripa-Sagaraya-Ashu-Kavya-Pradaya Pranamra-Akhila-Abhishta-Sandayakaya Yatindrair-Upasya-Anghri-Pathoruhaya Prabodha-Pradatre Namah Shankaraya (1)
Meaning:Salutations to Shankara, the ocean of compassion, who swiftly grants the gift of poetry, who fulfils every wish of those who bow to him, whose lotus feet are worshipped by the greatest of sages, and who bestows the awakening of Self-knowledge.
चिदानन्दरूपाय चिन्मुद्रिकोद्य- त्करायेशपर्यायरूपाय तुभ्यम्। मुदा गीयमानाय वेदोत्तमाङ्गैः श्रितानन्ददात्रे नमः शङ्कराय॥२॥
Chidananda-Rupaya Chinmudrik-Odyat- Karaya-Isha-Paryaya-Rupaya Tubhyam Muda Giyamanaya Vedottamangaih Shrita-Ananda-Datre Namah Shankaraya (2)
Meaning:Salutations to Shankara, whose very form is consciousness and bliss, whose hand is raised in the Chin-mudra of knowledge, who is another name for the Supreme Lord, and who is joyfully sung by the Upanishads, the bestower of bliss upon his devotees.
जटाजूटमध्ये पुरा या सुराणां धुनी साद्य कर्मन्दिरूपस्य शम्भोः। गले मल्लिकामालिकाव्याजतस्ते विभातीति मन्ये नमः शङ्कराय॥३॥
Jata-Juta-Madhye Pura Ya Suranam Dhuni Sadya Karmandi-Rupasya Shambhoh Gale Mallika-Malika-Vyajatas-Te Vibhati-Iti Manye Namah Shankaraya (3)
Meaning:In the midst of his matted locks once flowed the celestial river of the gods; now, on the throat of Shambhu in his ascetic form, that same Ganga seems to shine in the guise of a garland of jasmine — salutations to Shankara.
तटिल्लोलकेशप्रवालप्रभाङ्गं लसच्चन्द्रकोटिप्रकाशाधिकाङ्गम्। सुधासारसौख्यानुकूलं स्मरामि प्रसन्नं सदा शङ्करं लोकनाथम्॥४॥
Tatil-Lola-Kesha-Pravala-Prabha-Angam Lasach-Chandra-Koti-Prakasha-Adhika-Angam Sudha-Sara-Saukhya-Anukulam Smarami Prasannam Sada Shankaram Loka-Natham (4)
Meaning:I remember the ever-gracious Shankara, Lord of the worlds, whose limbs glow like coral amid hair that flashes like lightning, whose body outshines a crore of moons, and who is the very source of nectarine bliss.
प्रवालप्रवाहप्रभाशोणमर्धं मरुत्वन्मणिश्रीमहःश्याममर्धम्। गुणस्यूतमेतद्वपुः शैवमन्तः स्मरामि स्मरापत्तिसम्पत्तिहेतोः॥५॥
Pravala-Pravaha-Prabha-Shona-Mardham Marutvan-Mani-Shri-Mahah-Shyama-Mardham Gunasyutam-Etad-Vapuh Shaivam-Antah Smarami Smara-Apatti-Sampatti-Hetoh (5)
Meaning:One half of his body is red like a flowing stream of coral, the other half dark like the lustre of a sapphire gem; I meditate upon this conjoined Shaiva form (Ardhanarishvara) for the attainment of the fortune that conquers desire.
महादेव शम्भो गिरीश त्रिशूलिन् त्वदीयं समस्तं विभातीति मन्ये। भवान्येति वर्णत्रयं ते समस्तं नमस्ते नमस्ते विभो शङ्कराय॥६॥
Mahadeva Shambho Girisha Trishulin Tvadiyam Samastam Vibhati-Iti Manye Bhavani-Eti Varna-Trayam Te Samastam Namaste Namaste Vibho Shankaraya (6)
Meaning:O Mahadeva, Shambhu, Lord of the mountain, wielder of the trident — I realise that all this universe shines as your own; the three syllables 'Bha-va-ni' too are wholly yours. Salutations, salutations to you, O all-pervading Shankara.
रुचं ते दधानस्य पादारविन्दे निमग्नस्य योगीन्द्रवृन्दैरजस्रम्। समुद्यत्कृपापूरपूर्णेक्षणस्य नमस्ते नमस्ते महेशाय तुभ्यम्॥७॥
Rucham Te Dadhanasya Pada-Aravinde Nimagnasya Yogindra-Vrindair-Ajasram Samudyat-Kripa-Pura-Purna-Ikshanasya Namaste Namaste Maheshaya Tubhyam (7)
Meaning:Salutations again and again to you, O Mahesha, whose lotus feet the hosts of supreme yogis are forever absorbed in, and whose eyes brim over with a flood of rising compassion.
भवाम्भोधिमग्नान् जनान् दुःखयुक्तान् जगन्मातरः पाहि देवेति केचित्। नमन्तीति मन्ये गिरीशाङ्कसंस्थां भवानीं नमस्ये नमः शङ्कराय॥८॥
Bhava-Ambhodhi-Magnan Janan Duhkha-Yuktan Jagan-Matarah Pahi Deva-Iti Kechit Namanti-Iti Manye Girisha-Anka-Samstham Bhavanim Namasye Namah Shankaraya (8)
Meaning:Some cry, 'O Divine Mother, save these afflicted beings drowning in the ocean of existence!' — and bowing thus, I worship Bhavani who is seated at the side of the Lord of the mountain. Salutations to Shankara.
इदं यो भुजङ्गप्रयातं पठेद्वा शृणोते समाधाय चित्तं मनुष्यः। स मृत्युं विजित्याशु शम्भोः प्रसादात् चिरं देवदेवस्य सायुज्यमेति॥९॥
Idam Yo Bhujanga-Prayatam Pathed-Va Shrinote Samadhaya Chittam Manushyah Sa Mrityum Vijitya-Ashu Shambhoh Prasadat Chiram Deva-Devasya Sayujyam-Eti (9)
Meaning:Whoever recites or listens to this hymn in the Bhujanga-prayata metre with a concentrated mind quickly conquers death by the grace of Shambhu and, in time, attains eternal union with the God of gods.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Shiva Bhujanga Prayata Stotram
Invokes Shiva as the supreme Guru (Dakshinamurti) who bestows Self-knowledge and awakening
Said to swiftly grant the gift of eloquence and poetry (ashu-kavya)
The phalashruti promises victory over death and eventual union (sayujya) with the Lord
Cultivates one-pointed devotion through its flowing, musical Bhujanga-prayata metre
Fulfils the heartfelt wishes of those who bow with surrender
Calms the mind and steadies it in the remembrance of Shiva and Bhavani
How to Chant Shiva Bhujanga Prayata Stotram
Recite all nine verses with a calm, concentrated mind, ideally before a Shiva Lingam or an image of Dakshinamurti. The hymn is set in the Bhujanga-prayata metre (four feet of laghu-guru-guru per line), so let the recitation flow smoothly and rhythmically. The final (ninth) verse is the phalashruti and is included in the recitation. Daily chanting, or weekly on Mondays, is traditional.
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