๐ถ๐ฟ๐ต๐พ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐
Shivananda Lahari in Grantha ยท ๐๐๐ฐ๐จ๐๐ฅ
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Origin & Story
Shivananda Lahari, composed by Adi Shankaracharya ยท Adi Shankaracharya ยท 8th century CE
The Shivananda Lahari was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, as an outpouring of personal devotion to Lord Shiva. Tradition holds that he composed it at Srisailam, one of the most sacred Shiva shrines. Where his Soundarya Lahari sings of the Divine Mother's beauty, the Shivananda Lahari sings of the bliss of Shiva, presenting the path of loving surrender (bhakti) as inseparable from the highest knowledge. Its 100 verses overflow with images of grace as a river, the heart as its resting lake, and the devotee asking for nothing but Shiva's feet.
โฆ As told in scripture
Tradition tells that Adi Shankaracharya sang the Shivananda Lahari at the holy hill of Srisailam, and that Lord Shiva, moved by the depth of his devotion, granted him a vision of his presence. The poem itself answers the seeker in Shiva's own voice โ 'Tell me, what do you seek?' โ and the devotee asks for nothing but the endless worship of his feet.
Complete Text with Meaning
Tap any line โ or the โถ button โ to hear it recited
๐๐ฒ๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐พ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ค๐ถ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ ๐จ๐ฟ๐๐ค๐ช๐- ๐ซ๐ฒ๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ค๐๐ท๐ ๐ช๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ค๐ซ๐ฒ๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐เฅค ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ต๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฎ๐ธ๐๐ค๐๐๐ค๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ญ๐๐ต๐จ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ต๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ ๐น๐๐ฆ๐ฟ ๐ช๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฎ๐พ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ธ๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ญ๐ต๐พ๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐เฅฅ
Kalabhyam Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam Nija-tapah- phalabhyam Bhakteshu Prakatita-phalabhyam Bhavatu Me Shivabhyam-astoka-tribhuvana-shivabhyam Hridi Punar Bhavabhyam-ananda-sphurad-anubhavabhyam Natir-iyam
Meaning:May this salutation of mine be offered again and again, in my heart, to the two โ Shiva and Shivaa โ who are adorned with the crescent moon upon their crest, who are the very fruit of each other's penance, who reveal their grace to devotees, who bring boundless auspiciousness to the three worlds, and who shine forth as the experience of bliss.
๐๐ฒ๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ค๐๐ต๐๐๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ค๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฌ๐ฟ๐ท๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ท๐ ๐ช๐ค๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐ต๐ฟ๐๐ฏ๐ค๐พ๐ฎ๐เฅค ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐ธ๐๐ธ๐พ๐ฐ๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ค๐พ๐ช๐๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ๐จ๐ ๐ต๐ธ๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐น๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐๐ต๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ต๐พ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐เฅฅ
Galanti Shambho Tvach-charita-saritah Kilbisha-rajo Dalanti Dhi-kulyaa-saranishu Patanti Vijayataam Dishanti Samsara-bhramana-paritapopashamanam Vasanti Mach-cheto-hrida-bhuvi Shivananda-lahari
Meaning:May the Wave of Shiva's Bliss be ever victorious โ flowing as the river of your sacred deeds, O Shambhu, washing away the dust of sins, coursing through the channels of the intellect, granting relief from the torment of wandering in worldly existence, and coming to dwell in the lake-bed of my heart.
๐ค๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐๐ต๐๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐น๐๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ช๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฐ๐ฎ๐พ๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐จ๐ฏ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐พ๐ญ๐พ๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐พ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐๐น๐พ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ฐ๐ฎ๐เฅค ๐ฎ๐น๐พ๐ฆ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฟ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ญ๐พ๐ต๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ช๐ค๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฆ๐พ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ธ๐พ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ต๐ฎ๐ค๐ฟ๐ต๐ฟ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐น๐๐ฆ๐ฟ ๐ญ๐๐เฅฅ
Trayee-vedyam Hridyam Tripura-haram-aadyam Trinayanam Jata-bharodaram Chalad-uraga-haram Mriga-dharam Mahadevam Devam Mayi Sadaya-bhavam Pashupatim Chidalambam Saambam Shivam-ati-vidambam Hridi Bhaje
Meaning:In my heart I worship that Mahadeva โ knowable through the three Vedas, delightful, the primordial destroyer of Tripura, the three-eyed Lord with a glorious mass of matted hair, wearing a moving serpent as a garland and holding a deer; the great God, ever compassionate to me, the Lord of beings, the support of consciousness, who is with Mother Amba, the auspicious one beyond all mimicry.
๐ธ๐น๐ธ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐ต๐ฐ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฟ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ท๐๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐พ ๐จ ๐ฎ๐จ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ธ๐๐ต๐ช๐๐จ๐ ๐ต๐พ ๐ค๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ค๐๐๐๐ค๐ซ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐เฅค ๐น๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฌ๐๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฎ๐พ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐พ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฟ ๐จ๐ฟ๐๐๐ญ๐พ๐๐พ๐ฎ๐ธ๐๐ฒ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฏ๐พ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ต ๐ค๐ต ๐ช๐ฆ๐พ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐เฅฅ
Sahasram Vartante Jagati Vibudhaah Kshudra-phaladaa Na Manye Svapne Va Tad-anusaranam Tat-krita-phalam Hari-brahmadinaam-api Nikata-bhajaam-asulabham Chiram Yache Shambho Shiva Tava Padambhoja-bhajanam
Meaning:There are a thousand lesser gods in this world who grant only petty rewards; even in a dream I do not think of following them or of the fruit they give. What is hard to attain even for Hari, Brahma and others who stand near you โ that I beg of you forever, O Shambhu, O Shiva: the worship of your lotus feet.
๐ค๐๐ต๐ค๐๐ช๐พ๐ฆ๐พ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ ๐ค๐๐ต๐พ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฏ๐พ๐ฎ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐ต๐น๐ ๐ค๐๐ต๐พ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ ๐ต๐๐ฐ๐๐พ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ต๐๐ธ๐พ ๐ค๐๐ต๐พ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฏ๐พ๐๐ ๐ต๐ฟ๐ญ๐เฅค ๐ต๐๐๐๐ท๐ ๐ค๐๐ต๐พ๐ ๐ธ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐จ๐๐ค๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐๐ต๐ค๐๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐พ๐ต๐ฏ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐พ๐ต๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ค๐ฟ๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ช๐๐ฐ๐ค๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐พ๐๐ธ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐พ๐ฎ๐เฅฅ
Tvat-padambujam-archayami Paramam Tvam Chintayamy-anvaham Tvam-isham Sharanam Vrajami Vachasa Tvam-eva Yache Vibho Veekshe Tvam Sakalam Bhavantam-asamam Sarvatra Sambhavayan Bhavo Bhakti-bharena Cha Pratidinam Kim Yachase Broohi Maam
Meaning:I worship your lotus feet, I ever contemplate you as the Supreme, I take refuge in you as my Lord, with my words I beg of you alone, O all-pervading One; I behold you everywhere, the incomparable One present in all, with a heart full of devotion each day. (And you ask me) 'Tell me, what is it you seek?'
๐๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฏ๐พ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ค๐ค๐๐๐ธ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐ค๐ฟ๐ช๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐๐ต๐๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฏ ๐ธ๐พ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฏ ๐ค๐ ๐ต๐ฟ๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐พ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐จ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ธ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ท๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐๐๐ฟ๐จ๐เฅค ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฏ๐พ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฟ๐ญ๐ฟ๐ ๐ธ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐พ๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐พ๐ฏ๐พ๐ต๐ฟ๐จ๐ ๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ค๐พ๐๐ก๐ต๐ธ๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐พ๐ฏ ๐๐๐ฟ๐จ๐ ๐ธ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ต๐เฅฅ
Aadyaayaamita-tejase Shruti-padair-vedyaaya Saadhyaaya Te Vidyaananda-mayaatmane Tri-jagatah Samrakshanodyogine Dhyeyaayaakhila-yogibhih Sura-ganair-geyaaya Maayaavine Samyak Tandava-sambhramaaya Jatine Seyam Natih Shambhave
Meaning:This my salutation is to Shambhu โ the Primordial One of measureless splendour, knowable through the words of the Vedas, the goal to be attained, whose nature is the bliss of knowledge, ever striving to protect the three worlds, meditated upon by all yogis, sung by the hosts of gods, the wielder of Maya, intent upon the rapture of the cosmic dance, the one with matted locks.
๐จ๐พ๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐พ ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ช๐๐พ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ ๐ค๐๐ต๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐จ๐พ๐ ๐ช๐ค๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ท๐ฟ๐๐ค๐พ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐พ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ธ๐พ๐๐๐ท๐พ๐ค๐ ๐ธ๐น๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ฝ๐ช๐ฟ ๐ต๐พเฅค ๐ช๐๐ค๐๐ต๐พ ๐ฏ๐ค๐๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐๐พ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐จ๐พ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐๐ต๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐๐ต๐พ๐ธ๐จ๐พ๐ ๐๐พ๐ฒ๐๐๐ท๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ฎ๐พ๐ฎ๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฟ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ท๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฐ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ต๐ช๐๐เฅฅ
Naalam Va Paramopakaarakam-idam Tv-ekam Pashoonam Pate Pashyan Kukshi-gataan Charaachara-jagat Saakshaat Sahante'pi Va Peetva Yatra Vilola-kala-kalanaam Matvaiva Durvaasanaam Kaala-kshepanamaamananti Vibudhaah Kshemankaram Te Vapuh
Meaning:Is this not your one supremely benevolent act, O Lord of beings โ that you behold within yourself the whole moving and unmoving universe, and even bear it? Having drunk and held back the surging poison that men deem the cause of dread, the wise declare that your form, which thus spends time, is the very giver of universal welfare.
๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ช๐ค๐ฟ๐ ๐ธ๐๐ฅ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐พ๐ช๐ค๐ฟ๐ฎ๐เฅค ๐จ๐ฎ๐พ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ธ๐พ ๐ฆ๐๐ต๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ค๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ท๐๐ฏ๐ค๐ฟเฅฅ
Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum Neelakantham Umaapatim Namaami Shirasaa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati
Meaning:I bow with my head to that God โ Rudra, the Lord of beings, the immovable Sthanu, the blue-throated one, the Lord of Uma. What then can death do to us?
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Shivananda Lahari
Kindles intense, melting devotion (bhakti) toward Lord Shiva
Fills the heart with the 'wave of bliss' that washes away sin and sorrow
Teaches the seeker to ask for nothing but the worship of Shiva's feet
Calms the torment of worldly wandering and brings inner peace
Recited for spiritual wisdom, surrender, and freedom from fear of death
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya โ carries the grace of the great Acharya
Deepens the understanding of Shiva as both the personal Lord and the Absolute
How to Chant Shivananda Lahari
Sit calmly before an image or Lingam of Shiva and recite the verses slowly, savouring their meaning rather than hurrying. Shivananda Lahari is a poem of feeling, so chant it as an offering of love, letting the heart soften into the 'wave of Shiva's bliss.' Those who learn the full 100-verse work often recite it daily; reciting even these verses with devotion is greatly blessed.
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