ayyappashastabhutanathadharma-shasta

Bhutanatha Stotram (Bhutanatha Sadananda)

भूतनाथ स्तोत्रम् (भूतनाथ सदानन्द) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Daily morning and evening; especially during the 41-day Ayyappa vratam and Mandala-Makaravilakku season·📜 Traditional Ayyappa / Sri Dharma Shasta dhyana sloka

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Bhutanatha Stotram, 'Bhutanatha Sadananda', is the classic dhyana sloka of Lord Ayyappa (Sri Dharma Shasta) of Sabarimala, used to open his worship. In a single heartfelt verse it salutes him as Bhutanatha — Lord of all beings, ever-blissful and compassionate to every creature — and twice cries 'raksha raksha', 'protect, protect'. Sealed with 'Om Sri Maha-Shastre Namah', it is among the most beloved short prayers of surrender to Ayyappa.

Origin & Story

Traditional Ayyappa / Sri Dharma Shasta dhyana sloka · Traditional

'Bhutanatha Sadananda' is the dhyana sloka by which devotees open the worship of Lord Ayyappa, the deity of Sabarimala, revered as Bhutanatha — the Lord of all beings. Ayyappa is worshipped as Hariharaputra, the son born of Hari (Vishnu, as Mohini) and Hara (Shiva), and as Manikanta, raised in the Pandya royal household. This single verse gathers the heart of his devotees' prayer: it hails him as ever-blissful (sadananda) and compassionate to every creature (sarva-bhuta-dayapara), and twice cries 'raksha raksha' — 'protect, protect, O mighty-armed one'. It is sealed with his salutation 'Om Sri Maha-Shastre Namah' and resounds through the pilgrimage season with the cry 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa'.

✦ As told in scripture

Ayyappa devotees hold that to begin worship with this verse is to place oneself in the arms of Bhutanatha himself — and that the twofold cry 'raksha raksha', uttered in faith through the 41-day vratam, draws the Lord's protecting grace upon the pilgrim as he climbs the eighteen sacred steps of Sabarimala.

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Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

bhūtanātha sadānanda sarvabhūtadayāpara | rakṣa rakṣa mahābāho śāstre tubhyaṃ namo namaḥ ||

Meaning:O Bhutanatha, Lord of all beings, ever-blissful, full of compassion towards every creature; protect me, protect me, O mighty-armed one — O Shasta, to you be salutations again and again.

Verse 2

oṃ śrīmahāśāstre namaḥ |

Meaning:Om, salutations to the great Lord Shasta.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

bhūtanātha🔊O Lord of all beings (Bhutanatha) — a name of Ayyappa / Shasta

sadānanda🔊O ever-blissful one, eternally joyous

sarva-bhūta-dayāpara🔊O you who are full of compassion towards all beings

rakṣa rakṣa🔊protect, protect (me) — the plea repeated for emphasis

mahābāho🔊O mighty-armed one, O great hero

śāstre🔊O Shasta (the Lord and ruler) — vocative of Shasta, a name of Ayyappa

tubhyaṃ namo namaḥ🔊to you, salutations again and again

oṃ śrī-mahā-śāstre namaḥ🔊Om, salutations to the great Lord Shasta — the sealing mula-mantra

Benefits of Chanting भूतनाथ स्तोत्रम् (भूतनाथ सदानन्द)

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The classic dhyana (meditation) sloka of Lord Ayyappa / Sri Dharma Shasta — used to open his worship

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A single, easily-memorised verse of total surrender, crying 'raksha raksha' — 'protect, protect'

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Salutes Ayyappa as Bhutanatha, the Lord of all beings, ever-blissful and compassionate to every creature

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Invoked for protection, peace of mind and the Lord's compassionate grace

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Recited daily by Ayyappa devotees and especially during the 41-day vratam and the Sabarimala pilgrimage

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Sealed with the mula-mantra 'Om Sri Maha-Shastre Namah', joining meditation and salutation in one prayer

How to Chant भूतनाथ स्तोत्रम् (भूतनाथ सदानन्द)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeDaily morning and evening; especially during the 41-day Ayyappa vratam and Mandala-Makaravilakku season

Bathe and sit before an image of Lord Ayyappa, after lighting a lamp. Recite the dhyana sloka 'Bhutanatha Sadananda' with feeling, dwelling on the cry 'raksha raksha' as an act of complete surrender, and seal with 'Om Sri Maha-Shastre Namah'. It is most often used as the opening meditation before a longer Ayyappa worship or bhajan, or chanted on its own, followed by 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa'.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete भूतनाथ स्तोत्रम् (भूतनाथ सदानन्द) 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 the classic dhyana sloka of Lord Ayyappa (Sri Dharma Shasta), beginning 'Bhutanatha Sadananda'. In one verse it salutes him as Bhutanatha — the Lord of all beings, ever-blissful and compassionate — and prays 'raksha raksha', 'protect, protect', ending 'Shastre tubhyam namo namah'.

'Bhutanatha' means 'Lord of all beings (bhutas)'. It is a name of Ayyappa / Dharma Shasta, the deity of Sabarimala, worshipped as Hariharaputra (son of Vishnu and Shiva) and as Manikanta. As Bhutanatha he is the compassionate protector and ruler of all creatures.

It is the dhyana (meditation) verse most often recited at the very start of Ayyappa worship, to fix the mind on the Lord and to surrender oneself for his protection. Many also chant it on its own as a short daily prayer, followed by 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa'.

It is recited daily by Ayyappa devotees, and especially during the 41-day vratam and the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, when devotees observe austerity before the journey to Sabarimala.