shivashivananda-lahariadi-shankaracharyabhakti

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌹𑌰𑍀

शिवानन्दलहरी in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Monday mornings, Pradosh Kaal, Maha Shivaratri, or any quiet hour of devotion·📜 Shivananda Lahari, composed by Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Shivananda Lahari, composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 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.

✦ 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 — 'Tell me, what do you seek?' — and the devotee asks for nothing but the endless worship of his feet.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌲𑌂𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌤𑌪𑌃- 𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌤𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑍇। 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌕𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍॥

Kalabhyam Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam Nija-tapah- phalabhyam Bhakteshu Prakatita-phalabhyam Bhavatu Me Shivabhyam-astoka-tribhuvana-shivabhyam Hridi Punar Bhavabhyam-ananda-sphurad-anubhavabhyam Natir-iyam

Meaning:मस्तक पर चन्द्रकला से अलंकृत, एक-दूसरे की तपस्या के फलस्वरूप, भक्तों पर अपना फल (कृपा) प्रकट करने वाले, तीनों लोकों में अपार कल्याण करने वाले, तथा आनन्द के अनुभव रूप में प्रस्फुटित होने वाले — उन शिव और शिवा (युगल) को मेरा यह नमस्कार बार-बार हृदय में अर्पित हो।

Verse 2

𑌗𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌷𑌰𑌜𑍋 𑌦𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌧𑍀𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑌰𑌣𑌿𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌦𑌿𑌶𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌣𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌪𑍋𑌪𑌶𑌮𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌚𑍇𑌤𑍋𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌹𑌰𑍀॥

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:हे शम्भो! आपके चरित्र की नदी रूप में बहती हुई, पापों की धूल को नष्ट करती, बुद्धि की नालियों में प्रवाहित होती, संसार-भ्रमण के सन्ताप को शान्त करती, तथा मेरे चित्तरूपी हृदय-सरोवर में निवास करती हुई — यह 'शिवानन्दलहरी' विजयी हो।

Verse 3

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌹𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌂 𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌚𑌲𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌗𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑍃𑌗𑌧𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌸𑌦𑌯𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌡𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌭𑌜𑍇॥

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:मैं अपने हृदय में उन महादेव का भजन करता हूँ — जो तीनों वेदों से ज्ञेय, हृदयंगम, त्रिपुर के संहारक, आदि, त्रिनयन हैं; जिनकी जटाएँ उदार हैं, जो चलते हुए सर्प को हार रूप में तथा मृग को धारण करते हैं; जो महादेव, मुझ पर सदय, पशुपति, चिदालम्ब, अम्बा सहित (साम्ब), और सब अनुकरण से परे शिव हैं।

Verse 4

𑌸𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌜𑌗𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌫𑌲𑌦𑌾 𑌨 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍇 𑌵𑌾 𑌤𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌸𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌫𑌲𑌮𑍍। 𑌹𑌰𑌿𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌟𑌭𑌾𑌜𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌲𑌭𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑍇 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋 𑌶𑌿𑌵 𑌤𑌵 𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌭𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍॥

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:इस जगत में सहस्रों क्षुद्र फल देने वाले देवता हैं; स्वप्न में भी मैं उनका अनुसरण या उनके फल की कामना नहीं करता। हे शम्भो, हे शिव! जो हरि-ब्रह्मा आदि समीपवर्ती देवों के लिए भी दुर्लभ है, उस आपके चरणकमलों के भजन को मैं चिरकाल तक माँगता हूँ।

Verse 5

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌹𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌵𑌚𑌸𑌾 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍋। 𑌵𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌕𑌲𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌸𑌮𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌨𑍍 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑍋 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌚 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍇 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍍॥

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:हे विभो! मैं आपके चरणकमलों की अर्चना करता हूँ, प्रतिदिन आपका परम चिन्तन करता हूँ, आप ईश की शरण में जाता हूँ, वाणी से केवल आपसे ही याचना करता हूँ; मैं आपको सर्वत्र, असम, सबमें विद्यमान देखता हूँ, प्रतिदिन भक्ति से परिपूर्ण भाव से — (और आप पूछते हैं) 'मुझे बताओ, तुम क्या माँगते हो?'

Verse 6

𑌆𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌤𑍇𑌜𑌸𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌦𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌸𑌾𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌗𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌂𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌨𑍇। 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌗𑌣𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍇𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍 𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌡𑌵𑌸𑌂𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌯 𑌜𑌟𑌿𑌨𑍇 𑌸𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌵𑍇॥

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:यह मेरा नमस्कार उन शम्भु को है — जो आदि, अपरिमित तेजवाले, वेदवाक्यों से ज्ञेय, साध्य, विद्या और आनन्दमय स्वरूप वाले, तीनों लोकों की रक्षा में उद्यत, समस्त योगियों द्वारा ध्येय, देवगणों द्वारा गेय, मायावी, सम्यक् तांडव के उल्लास में लीन, तथा जटाधारी हैं।

Verse 7

𑌨𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌵𑌾 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍋𑌪𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌕𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍂𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌚𑌰𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍 𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌤𑍍 𑌸𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌾। 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍈𑌵 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌪𑌣𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌮𑌂𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌪𑍁𑌃॥

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:हे पशुपति! क्या यह आपका एक ही परम उपकार पर्याप्त नहीं — कि आप अपने उदर में स्थित समस्त चराचर जगत को साक्षात् देखते और सहन भी करते हैं? जहाँ उस उमड़ते कालकूट विष को, जिसे लोग भय का कारण मानते हैं, पीकर — विद्वान कहते हैं कि समय व्यतीत करने वाला आपका वह शरीर ही सबका कल्याणकारी है।

Verse 8

𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌣𑍁𑌂 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌮𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥

Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum Neelakantham Umaapatim Namaami Shirasaa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati

Meaning:रुद्र, पशुपति, स्थाणु, नीलकण्ठ, उमापति — उन देव को मैं शीश झुकाकर नमन करता हूँ। फिर मृत्यु हमारा क्या कर सकती है?

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂🔊KalabhyamTo the two (Shiva and Shakti) who are art / the digits of skill

𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌲𑌂𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂🔊Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyamTo the two who are adorned on the crest with a digit of the moon

𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌤𑌪𑌃𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂🔊Nija-tapah-phalabhyamTo the two who are the fruit of each other's penance

𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌤𑌫𑌲𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂🔊Bhakteshu Prakatita-phalabhyamTo the two who reveal their fruit (grace) to devotees

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊ShivabhyamTo the two who are Shiva and Shivaa (the auspicious pair)

𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊Natir-iyamThis my salutation / prostration

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌹𑌰𑍀🔊Shivananda-lahariThe wave (lahari) of the bliss (ananda) of Shiva

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌃🔊Tvach-charita-saritahThe river of your divine deeds and stories

𑌕𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌷𑌰𑌜𑍋 𑌦𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀🔊Kilbisha-rajo DalantiCrushing the dust of sins

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌣𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌪𑍋𑌪𑌶𑌮𑌨𑌂🔊Samsara-bhramana-paritapopashamanamQuelling the torment of wandering through worldly existence

𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌚𑍇𑌤𑍋𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌿 𑌵𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀🔊Mach-cheto-hrida-bhuvi VasantiDwelling in the lake-bed of my heart and mind

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍀𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂🔊Trayee-vedyamKnowable through the three Vedas

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌹𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Tripura-haramThe destroyer of the three cities (Tripura)

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌂🔊TrinayanamThe three-eyed one

𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌂🔊SaambamShiva together with Amba (the Mother, Parvati)

𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌭𑌜𑍇🔊Hridi BhajeI worship within my heart

𑌤𑌵 𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌜𑌭𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Tava Padambhoja-bhajanamThe worship of your lotus feet

𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌮𑌿🔊Sharanam VrajamiI take refuge, I surrender

𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌰𑍇𑌣🔊Bhakti-bharenaWith the fullness / weight of devotion

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍇 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Kim Yachase Broohi Maam(O Lord, you ask:) Tell me, what do you seek?

𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌣𑍁𑌂🔊Rudram Pashupatim SthaanumRudra, the Lord of beings, the immovable pillar (Sthanu)

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿🔊Kim No Mrityuh KarishyatiWhat then can death do to us?

Benefits of Chanting शिवानन्दलहरी

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Kindles intense, melting devotion (bhakti) toward Lord Shiva

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Fills the heart with the 'wave of bliss' that washes away sin and sorrow

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Teaches the seeker to ask for nothing but the worship of Shiva's feet

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Calms the torment of worldly wandering and brings inner peace

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Recited for spiritual wisdom, surrender, and freedom from fear of death

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Composed by Adi Shankaracharya — carries the grace of the great Acharya

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Deepens the understanding of Shiva as both the personal Lord and the Absolute

How to Chant शिवानन्दलहरी

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMonday mornings, Pradosh Kaal, Maha Shivaratri, or any quiet hour of devotion

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete शिवानन्दलहरी written in the Grantha 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.

Shivananda Lahari means 'the wave (lahari) of the bliss (ananda) of Shiva.' The whole poem is imagined as a surging wave of devotional bliss flowing from the heart toward Lord Shiva.

It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century master of Advaita Vedanta. While he is famed as a philosopher, this work reveals his depth of personal devotion to Shiva. It is regarded as a companion to his Soundarya Lahari, the 'Wave of Beauty' addressed to the Goddess.

The complete work has 100 verses (shlokas) in rich Sanskrit metres. The verses presented here are among its most beloved and frequently recited, capturing the heart of the poem's devotion.

Its heart is pure surrender: the devotee desires nothing from the countless lesser gods, but only the worship of Shiva's lotus feet. It teaches that devotion itself is the highest reward, and that one who bows to Shiva, the conqueror of death, has nothing left to fear.