shivasadashiva-brahmendrastotrakirtan

Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Swayambho

भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning meditation, evening bhajan, Mondays and Pradosha Kaal·📜 Devotional composition of Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

'Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Swayambho' is a beloved devotional composition by the 18th-century Avadhuta saint Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra. Set as a flowing refrain followed by short verses, it adores Shiva both as the loving, Ganga-bearing Lord who saves us from the ocean of samsara and as the attributeless Supreme Brahman — formless like the sky, hidden in the cave of the heart, the very form of bliss. It is widely sung as a Carnatic kriti and as an Advaitic prayer for liberation.

Origin & Story

Devotional composition of Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra · Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra Saraswati · 18th century CE

Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra was a celebrated Avadhuta and Advaita master who lived as a wandering, often silent, God-intoxicated sage near Nerur in Tamil Nadu. His Sanskrit compositions, sung to this day in the Carnatic tradition, pour out the bliss of Self-realisation. In 'Bho Shambho' he calls upon Shiva at once as the tender, Ganga-bearing saviour who carries the devotee across the sea of birth and death, and as the attributeless Supreme Self shining within the cave of the heart — the goal of his own Advaitic realisation.

✦ As told in scripture

Many stories surround Sadashiva Brahmendra's miraculous life as a silent avadhuta — it is said his hands, severed by a soldier when he wandered naked in samadhi, were restored when the king begged his forgiveness. Devotees believe that singing his Shiva songs like 'Bho Shambho' carries something of that saint's liberated bliss, calming the mind and turning it toward the Self.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

Meaning:O Shambhu, auspicious Shiva, self-existent Lord!

Verse 2

Gangadhara Shankara Karunakara Mam-Ava Bhava-Sagara-Taraka Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

Meaning:O bearer of the Ganga, O Shankara, O mine of compassion — protect me, O ferryman across the ocean of worldly existence! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Verse 3

Nirguna Para-Brahma-Svarupa Gagana-Akara Akhanda Ameya Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

Meaning:O one whose nature is the attributeless Supreme Brahman, formless and all-pervading like the sky, undivided and immeasurable! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Verse 4

Nitya Niramaya Nishkala-Rupa Nija-Guha-Nihita Nitanta Ananta Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

Meaning:O eternal, affliction-free, partless one, hidden within the cave of one's own heart, utterly infinite and endless! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Verse 5

Kaivalya-Pate Parama-Shiv-Eshvara Parama-Ananda-Tano Pranata-Arti-Hara Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho

Meaning:O Lord of liberation, Supreme Lord Shiva, O one whose very form is the highest bliss, remover of the suffering of all who bow to you! O Shambhu, Shiva, Swayambhu!

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Bho Shambho🔊O Shambhu (Shiva, the source of auspiciousness and joy)

Shiva Shambho🔊O auspicious Shiva, O Shambhu

Svayambho🔊O self-existent one (the self-born, uncreated Reality)

Gangadhara🔊O bearer of the river Ganga (in your matted locks)

Shankara🔊O doer of good, giver of peace

Karunakara🔊O mine (source) of compassion

Mam-Ava🔊Protect me / save me

Bhava-Sagara-Taraka🔊O one who ferries (us) across the ocean of worldly existence

Nirguna🔊Without attributes (beyond the three gunas)

Para-Brahma-Svarupa🔊Whose nature is the Supreme Brahman

Gagana-Akara🔊Formless and all-pervading like the sky

Akhanda Ameya🔊Undivided (whole) and immeasurable

Nitya Niramaya🔊Eternal and free from all affliction (disease)

Nishkala-Rupa🔊Of partless (indivisible) form

Nija-Guha-Nihita🔊Hidden within one's own heart-cave (the inner Self)

Nitanta Ananta🔊Utterly infinite, endless

Kaivalya-Pate🔊O Lord of Kaivalya (final liberation, absolute aloneness)

Parama-Shiva-Ishvara🔊O Supreme Lord Shiva

Parama-Ananda-Tano🔊O one whose very body is supreme bliss

Pranata-Arti-Hara🔊O remover of the suffering of those who bow to you

Benefits of Chanting भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो

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Blends loving devotion (bhakti) with the highest Advaitic vision of Shiva as Nirguna Brahman

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Its simple, repetitive refrain 'Bho Shambho' makes it easy and joyful to sing as kirtan

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Cultivates surrender — 'protect me and ferry me across the ocean of samsara'

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Turns the mind inward toward the Self 'hidden in the cave of the heart'

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A favourite Carnatic music composition, soothing and meditative to listen to and chant

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Invokes Shiva as Kaivalya-pati, the Lord of liberation, for spiritual freedom

How to Chant भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning meditation, evening bhajan, Mondays and Pradosha Kaal

Sing or chant the refrain 'Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Svayambho' between each verse, letting it become a steady, joyful repetition. Reflect on the two moods of the hymn: first the loving cry to the compassionate Lord who saves us, then the contemplation of Shiva as the formless, blissful Self within the heart. It may be sung melodically as a kirtan or recited softly as a meditation. There is no fixed count — repeat with devotion as long as the heart wishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयम्भो 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 traditionally attributed to Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra (18th century CE), a great Avadhuta saint, Advaita Vedantin and composer from Tamil Nadu, renowned for his ecstatic, deeply philosophical Sanskrit songs such as 'Manasa Sancharare' and 'Khelati Mama Hridaye'.

'Svayambhu' means 'self-existent' or 'self-born' — that which exists by its own nature, uncreated and dependent on nothing else. It points to Shiva as the ultimate, self-existent Reality (Brahman).

It is beautifully both. The opening verse is full of loving devotion to the Ganga-bearing, compassionate Shiva, while the later verses describe him as Nirguna Brahman — attributeless, sky-like, infinite and blissful — making it a perfect union of bhakti and Advaita jnana.

It is widely sung as a Carnatic music kriti, with the refrain 'Bho Shambho' recurring between verses. It is equally suited to group bhajan singing and to quiet personal meditation on Shiva.