Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam — Word-by-Word Meaning

तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

ब्रह्ममुरारि

Brahma Murari

Brahma and Vishnu (Murari = enemy of the demon Mura)

सुरार्चित

Surarchita

Worshipped by the gods (suras)

लिङ्गम्

Lingam

The sacred symbol of Shiva — the formless divine

निर्मल

Nirmala

Pure, immaculate, spotless

भासित

Bhasita

Shining, luminous, radiant

शोभित

Shobhita

Adorned, beautified, splendid

जन्मज

Janmaja

Born of birth / arising from worldly existence

दुःख

Duhkha

Sorrow, suffering, misery

विनाशक

Vinashaka

Destroyer, remover

तत्

Tat

That (the supreme reality)

प्रणमामि

Pranamami

I bow down, I offer obeisance

सदाशिव

Sadashiva

The ever-auspicious, eternal Shiva

Complete Translation

I bow to that Sadashiva Linga — worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and all the gods, shining with immaculate purity and splendour, the destroyer of all the sorrows born of worldly existence.

Origin & History

Source: Lingashtakam, verse 1 (traditional Shaiva hymn)

Author: Unknown (attributed to the ancient Shaiva tradition)

Period: Ancient

This is the opening stanza of the Lingashtakam, the most widely sung hymn to the Shiva Linga, ending with its refrain 'Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam'. According to the Shiva Purana, when Brahma and Vishnu disputed who was supreme, an infinite pillar of light (Jyotirlinga) appeared between them; neither could find its beginning or end, and Shiva revealed himself from it. The verse 'Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingam' captures this truth — that the Linga is revered even by Brahma and Vishnu — and opens the eight-verse adoration of Sadashiva.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam' mean?▼

It means 'I bow to that eternal (Sadashiva) Linga'. It is the refrain that ends every verse of the Lingashtakam, including this first verse 'Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingam', which describes the Linga worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and all the gods.

Which stotra is this verse from?▼

It is the first and most famous verse of the Lingashtakam, an eight-verse Shaiva hymn in praise of the Shiva Linga. Each of its eight verses ends with the refrain 'Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam'.

Who is Murari in this verse?▼

Murari is a name of Lord Vishnu, meaning 'the enemy (ari) of the demon Mura'. The verse pairs Brahma and Murari (Vishnu) to show that the creator and the preserver both worship the Shiva Linga.

When should I chant this verse?▼

It is chanted during Shiva Linga worship and abhishekam, and is especially auspicious on Mondays, during Pradosh, in the month of Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri.

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