shivarudraashtakamtulsidas

𑌶𑌿𑌵 𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Shiva Rudra Ashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Monday mornings, Maha Shivaratri, Pradosh Kaal·🎵 Audio included·📜 Composed by Goswami Tulsidas

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

Origin & Story

Composed by Goswami Tulsidas · Goswami Tulsidas · 16th century CE

Tulsidas composed this ashtakam as an expression of his deepest devotion to Lord Shiva. While Tulsidas is primarily known as a Ram devotee, he held Shiva in the highest reverence — in the Ramcharitmanas, he presents Shiva as the first devotee of Ram. This ashtakam moves from the most abstract philosophy (Nirguna Brahman) to the most personal surrender (a helpless devotee crying out), mirroring the complete spiritual journey in just 8 verses.

✦ As told in scripture

The final verse of this ashtakam — 'Na Janami Yogam Japam Naiva Poojam' (I know not yoga, japa or worship) — is considered one of the most powerful expressions of surrender in all of Hindu devotional literature. Saints and scholars teach that when a devotee truly means these words — admitting complete helplessness and dependence on God's grace alone — Shiva's protection becomes absolute. Tulsidas himself, despite being one of the greatest scholars of his age, chose to present himself as knowing nothing — because true wisdom begins with this humility.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑌮𑍀𑌶𑌾𑌨 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌣𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌪𑌕𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌹𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌮𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍍॥

Namamishamishan Nirvanarupam Vibhum Vyapakam Brahmavedasvarupam Nijam Nirgunam Nirvikalpam Nireeham Chidakashamakashvasam Bhajeham

Meaning:I bow to the Lord of lords, whose form is liberation itself. All-pervading, the essence of Brahman and the Vedas. Self-existent, beyond qualities, beyond thought, beyond desire. I worship him who dwells in the space of consciousness, who resides in the sky.

Verse 2

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍋𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌂 𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌾 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨 𑌗𑍋𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌮𑍀𑌶𑌂 𑌗𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌶𑌮𑍍। 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌲 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌰 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍍॥

Nirakaramonkaramulam Turiyam Gira Gyana Goteetameesha Girisham Karalam Mahakala Kalam Kripalam Gunagara Sansaraparam Natoham

Meaning:Formless, the root of Om, the fourth state of consciousness. Beyond speech, knowledge and the senses — the Lord of mountains. Fierce yet compassionate, great Time itself, the destroyer of Time. I bow to him, the abode of all virtues, who is beyond worldly existence.

Verse 3

𑌤𑍁𑌷𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌶 𑌗𑍗𑌰𑌂 𑌗𑌭𑍀𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌭𑍂𑌤 𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍍𑌫𑍁𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿 𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍋𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌚𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌲𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌲𑌬𑌾𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁 𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑍇 𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌂𑌗𑌾॥

Tusharadri Sankasha Gauram Gambhiram Manobhuta Kotiprabha Shri Shariram Sfuranmauli Kallolini Charuganga Lasat Bhalabaalendu Kanthe Bhujanga

Meaning:White as the snow mountain, profound and deep. His divine body shines with the radiance of millions of Kamadevas. The beautiful Ganga cascades from his crown. The crescent moon adorns his forehead, serpents adorn his neck.

Verse 4

𑌚𑌲𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑌂 𑌭𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌂 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌂 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑍃𑌗𑌾𑌧𑍀𑌶𑌚𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌂𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑌾𑌮𑌿॥

Chalakundalam Bhrusunetram Vishalam Prasannaananam Neelakantham Dayalam Mrigadhishcharmambaram Mundamalam Priyam Shankaram Sarvanatham Bhajami

Meaning:With swaying earrings, beautiful eyebrows and vast eyes. With a serene face, blue throat, and compassionate nature. Wearing a lion skin, a garland of skulls. I worship the beloved Shankara, Lord of all.

Verse 5

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌚𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌗𑌲𑍍𑌭𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌅𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌂 𑌅𑌜𑌂 𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌮𑍍। 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌃 𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌨𑌂 𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑍇𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍀𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍॥

Prachandam Prakrishtam Pragalbham Paresham Akhandam Ajam Bhanukotiprakasham Trayah Shulanirmoolanam Shulapanim Bhajeham Bhavanipatim Bhavagamyam

Meaning:Fierce, supreme, bold, the ultimate Lord. Undivided, unborn, blazing with the light of billions of suns. He who uproots the three afflictions with his trident in hand. I worship the Lord of Bhavani, attainable through devotion.

Verse 6

𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤 𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣 𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍀। 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑌂𑌦𑍋𑌹 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌾𑌪𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌦 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌦 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍋 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌥𑌾𑌰𑍀॥

Kalaateeta Kalyana Kalpantakari Sada Sajjanananddadata Purari Chidanandasandoha Mohaphari Praseeda Praseeda Prabho Manmathari

Meaning:Beyond time, auspicious, destroyer at the end of creation. Always giving bliss to the righteous, destroyer of Tripura. A mass of bliss-consciousness, remover of delusion. Be pleased, be pleased, O Lord, destroyer of desire.

Verse 7

𑌨 𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌦𑍍 𑌉𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌥 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍀𑌹 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 𑌪𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌾 𑌨𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌨 𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌦 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍋 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌮𑍍॥

Na Yavad Umanatha Padaaravindam Bhajantiha Loke Pare Va Naranaam Na Tavatsukham Shanti Santapanasham Praseeda Prabho Sarvabhutadhivasam

Meaning:As long as people do not worship the lotus feet of Uma's Lord in this world or the next, they cannot find happiness, peace, or end to suffering. Be pleased, O Lord who dwells in all beings.

Verse 8

𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌂 𑌜𑌪𑌂 𑌨𑍈𑌵 𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌾 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌜𑌰𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑍗𑌘 𑌤𑌾𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍋 𑌪𑌾𑌹𑌿 𑌆𑌪𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶 𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋॥

Na Janami Yogam Japam Naiva Poojam Natoham Sada Sarvada Shambhu Tubhyam Jara Janma Duhkhaugha Tatapyamanam Prabho Pahi Aapannamameesh Shambho

Meaning:I know not yoga, nor japa, nor even worship. I simply bow to you always and forever, O Shambhu. Burning with the sorrows of old age, birth and suffering — O Lord, protect this helpless one, O Isha, O Shambho!

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌈𑌶🔊IshaLord, supreme ruler

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌣𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌂🔊NirvanarupamWhose form is liberation itself

𑌵𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌂🔊VibhumAll-pervading

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌂🔊NirgunamBeyond all qualities

𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌶🔊ChidakashaSpace of consciousness

𑌓𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌂🔊OnkaramulamRoot of Om

𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌯𑌂🔊TuriyamThe fourth state (beyond waking, dream, sleep)

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌲🔊MahakalGreat Time / Lord of Death

𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌂🔊KripalamCompassionate

𑌤𑍁𑌷𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿🔊TusharadriSnow mountain (Kailash)

𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌂🔊NeelakanthamBlue-throated

𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌂🔊ShulapanimTrident in hand

𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊BhavagamyamAttainable through devotion

𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊KalpantakariDestroyer at the end of creation

𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌥𑌾𑌰𑍀🔊ManmathariEnemy of Kamadeva (desire)

𑌶𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋🔊ShambhoO auspicious one (Shiva)

Benefits of Chanting Shiva Rudra Ashtakam

✦

Written by Tulsidas — one of the most profound Shiva prayers ever composed

✦

The 8th verse is a complete surrender: 'I know nothing — just protect me'

✦

Describes Shiva from the highest philosophy (Nirguna) to the most personal (Shambho)

✦

Extremely powerful for Monday worship and Maha Shivaratri

✦

Each verse deepens the devotion — from awe to love to surrender

✦

The final plea 'Prabho Pahi' (Lord, protect) is heartbreakingly sincere

How to Chant Shiva Rudra Ashtakam

Repetitions3times

Best TimeMonday mornings, Maha Shivaratri, Pradosh Kaal

This ashtakam is best recited with deep feeling, especially the final verse where Tulsidas surrenders completely. Sit before a Shiva Lingam or image. Light a diya. Chant slowly, letting each verse's meaning penetrate. The progression from philosophical description to personal surrender mirrors the devotee's journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Shiva Rudra Ashtakam 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.

Goswami Tulsidas, the same saint who composed the Hanuman Chalisa and Ramcharitmanas. This is considered one of his most beautiful and philosophically profound compositions.

'I know not yoga, nor japa, nor worship — I simply bow to you always. Burning with the sorrows of old age and birth, O Lord, protect this helpless one.' It is a complete surrender, admitting ignorance and asking only for grace.

Turiya is the 'fourth state' of consciousness beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep — it is pure awareness itself, the nature of Shiva. The verse says Shiva IS this transcendent state.