𑌤𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌲𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑍍
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
Read in your language / script
Origin & Story
Lingashtakam, verse 1 (traditional Shaiva hymn) · Unknown (attributed to the ancient Shaiva tradition) · Ancient
This is the opening stanza of the Lingashtakam, the most widely sung hymn to the Shiva Linga, ending with its refrain 'Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam'. According to the Shiva Purana, when Brahma and Vishnu disputed who was supreme, an infinite pillar of light (Jyotirlinga) appeared between them; neither could find its beginning or end, and Shiva revealed himself from it. The verse 'Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingam' captures this truth — that the Linga is revered even by Brahma and Vishnu — and opens the eight-verse adoration of Sadashiva.
✦ As told in scripture
The Shiva Purana relates that even unlettered devotees who simply bowed before the self-manifested Jyotirlingas, uttering Shiva's name, had lifetimes of karma dissolved. This first verse of the Lingashtakam enshrines that promise — that bowing to the Linga worshipped by Brahma and Vishnu destroys the sorrows born of birth itself.
The Mantra
Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited
𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌲𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌲𑌭𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌤𑌲𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑍍। 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌕𑌲𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌲𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑍍॥
Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingam Nirmala Bhasita Shobhita Lingam Janmaja Duhkha Vinashaka Lingam Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam
Meaning:ब्रह्मा, मुरारि (विष्णु) और देवताओं से अर्चित, निर्मल कान्ति से सुशोभित, जन्म-जनित दुःखों का नाश करने वाले — उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Word-by-Word Meaning
Click any word to hear its pronunciation
Benefits of Chanting तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्
The most beloved opening verse of the Lingashtakam — establishes Shiva's supremacy as worshipped even by Brahma and Vishnu
Invokes the formless (Nirguna) aspect of Lord Shiva through the sacred Linga
Believed to destroy the sorrows and sufferings born of worldly existence (janmaja duhkha)
Ideal short verse to chant while performing abhishekam of a Shiva Linga, bowing at the refrain
Especially powerful on Mondays, Pradosh and Maha Shivaratri
Easy to memorise and chant, making it perfect for daily Shiva worship
How to Chant तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्
Chant this verse while performing abhishekam (ritual bathing) of a Shiva Linga with water, milk or Ganga water, bowing at the refrain 'Tat Pranamami Sadashiva Lingam'. If no Linga is available, meditate on the formless divine light. It may be recited on its own or as the opening of the full Lingashtakam. Finish with 'Om Namah Shivaya'.
Frequently Asked Questions
You May Also Like
ॐ
Read the full तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts