shivashivananda-lahariadi-shankaracharyabhakti

ශිවානන්දලහරී

शिवानन्दलहरी in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ 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 Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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

කලාභ්යාං චූඩාලංකෘතශශිකලාභ්යාං නිජතපඃ- ඵලාභ්යාං භක්තේෂු ප්රකටිතඵලාභ්යාං භවතු මේ. ශිවාභ්යාමස්තෝකත්රිභුවනශිවාභ්යාං හෘදි පුනර් භවාභ්යාමානන්දස්ඵුරදනුභවාභ්යාං නතිරියම්..

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

ගලන්තී ශම්භෝ ත්වච්චරිතසරිතඃ කිල්බිෂරජෝ දලන්තී ධීකුල්යාසරණිෂු පතන්තී විජයතාම්. දිශන්තී සංසාරභ්රමණපරිතාපෝපශමනං වසන්තී මච්චේතෝහෘදභුවි ශිවානන්දලහරී..

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

ත්රයීවේද්යං හෘද්යං ත්රිපුරහරමාද්යං ත්රිනයනං ජටාභාරෝදාරං චලදුරගහාරං මෘගධරම්. මහාදේවං දේවං මයි සදයභාවං පශුපතිං චිදාලම්බං සාම්බං ශිවමතිවිඩම්බං හෘදි භජේ..

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

සහස්රං වර්තන්තේ ජගති විබුධාඃ ක්ෂුද්රඵලදා න මන්යේ ස්වප්නේ වා තදනුසරණං තත්කෘතඵලම්. හරිබ්රහ්මාදීනාමපි නිකටභාජාමසුලභං චිරං යාචේ ශම්භෝ ශිව තව පදාම්භෝජභජනම්..

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

ත්වත්පාදාම්බුජමර්චයාමි පරමං ත්වාං චින්තයාම්යන්වහං ත්වාමීශං ශරණං ව්රජාමි වචසා ත්වාමේව යාචේ විභෝ. වීක්ෂේ ත්වාං සකලං භවන්තමසමං සර්වත්ර සම්භාවයන් භාවෝ භක්තිභරේණ ච ප්රතිදිනං කිං යාචසේ බ්රූහි මාම්..

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

ආද්යායාමිතතේජසේ ශ්රුතිපදෛර්වේද්යාය සාධ්යාය තේ විද්යානන්දමයාත්මනේ ත්රිජගතඃ සංරක්ෂණෝද්යෝගිනේ. ධ්යේයායාඛිලයෝගිභිඃ සුරගණෛර්ගේයාය මායාවිනේ සම්යක් තාංඩවසංභ්රමාය ජටිනේ සේයං නතිඃ ශම්භවේ..

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

නාලං වා පරමෝපකාරකමිදං ත්වේකං පශූනාං පතේ පශ්යන් කුක්ෂිගතාන් චරාචරජගත් සාක්ෂාත් සහන්තේ(අ)පි වා. පීත්වා යත්ර විලෝලකාලකලනාං මත්වෛව දුර්වාසනාං කාලක්ෂේපණමාමනන්ති විබුධාඃ ක්ෂේමංකරං තේ වපුඃ..

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

රුද්රං පශුපතිං ස්ථාණුං නීලකණ්ඨමුමාපතිම්. නමාමි ශිරසා දේවං කිං නෝ මෘත්යුඃ කරිෂ්යති..

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

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

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

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

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

නතිරියම්🔊Natir-iyamThis my salutation / prostration

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

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

කිල්බිෂරජෝ දලන්තී🔊Kilbisha-rajo DalantiCrushing the dust of sins

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

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

ත්රයීවේද්යං🔊Trayee-vedyamKnowable through the three Vedas

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

ත්රිනයනං🔊TrinayanamThe three-eyed one

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

හෘදි භජේ🔊Hridi BhajeI worship within my heart

තව පදාම්භෝජභජනම්🔊Tava Padambhoja-bhajanamThe worship of your lotus feet

ශරණං ව්රජාමි🔊Sharanam VrajamiI take refuge, I surrender

භක්තිභරේණ🔊Bhakti-bharenaWith the fullness / weight of devotion

කිං යාචසේ බ්රූහි මාම්🔊Kim Yachase Broohi Maam(O Lord, you ask:) Tell me, what do you seek?

රුද්රං පශුපතිං ස්ථාණුං🔊Rudram Pashupatim SthaanumRudra, the Lord of beings, the immovable pillar (Sthanu)

කිං නෝ මෘත්යුඃ කරිෂ්යති🔊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 Sinhala 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.