shivasharabhasharabheshvaraashtakam

𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Sharabha Ashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Tuesdays or Saturdays (for protection), or during fierce-form Shiva worship·📜 Shaiva-Shakta tantras (Sharabheshvara Ashtakam / Sharabhesha Ashtakam, traditionally associated with the Rudrayamala / Shiva-Shakti tantric tradition)

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

Origin & Story

Shaiva-Shakta tantras (Sharabheshvara Ashtakam / Sharabhesha Ashtakam, traditionally associated with the Rudrayamala / Shiva-Shakti tantric tradition) · Traditional (attributed to the tantric Shaiva tradition) · Classical / medieval

When Vishnu took the Narasimha (man-lion) form to slay the demon Hiranyakashipu, his terrible wrath did not subside even after the demon's death, and the worlds trembled. To restore balance, Shiva manifested as Sharabha — a colossal lion-bird being — and pacified Narasimha. The Sharabha Ashtakam celebrates this Sharabheshvara form, framed as a tantric stotra with ritual meditation (dhyana) preceding the eight verses of praise.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that the very form of Sharabha was able to absorb and calm a fury that the gods themselves could not approach — the unbearable rage of Narasimha. For this reason devotees hold that the Sharabha Ashtakam can quell even the most violent unseen forces, black magic and afflictions, transmuting fierce energy into the protective grace of Shiva.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌯 𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌕𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌯। 𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌯 𑌭𑍀𑌮𑌾𑌯 𑌶𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௧॥

Devadi-Devaya Jagan-Mayaya Shivaya Nalika-Nibhananaya। Sharvaya Bhimaya Sharadhipaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥1॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — God of gods, pervader of all the worlds, the auspicious Shiva of lotus-radiant face, the destroyer (Sharva), the terrible one, the lord of arrows.

Verse 2

𑌶𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍁𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌯 𑌦𑌿𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌾𑌯 𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌿𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌂𑌸𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌯। 𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌯 𑌜𑌿𑌤𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௨॥

Shitamshu-Chudaya Digambaraya Srishti-Sthiti-Dhvamsana-Karanaya। Jata-Kalapaya Jitendriyaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥2॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — bearer of the cool moon on your crest, sky-clad, the cause of creation, preservation and dissolution, with matted locks piled high, conqueror of the senses.

Verse 3

𑌕𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌾𑌯 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌯 𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌯। 𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌾𑌯 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௩॥

Kalanka-Kanthaya Bhavantakaya Kapala-Shulatta-Karambujaya। Bhujanga-Bhushaya Purantakaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥3॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — whose throat bears the dark mark (of the poison), the ender of worldly bondage, holding skull and trident in your lotus hands, adorned with serpents, the destroyer of the three cities.

Verse 4

𑌶𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌯 𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌯 𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯। 𑌉𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌾𑌯 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌨𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௪॥

Shamadi-Shatkaya Yamantakaya Yamadi-Yogashtaka-Siddhidaya। Umadhinathaya Puratanaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥4॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — endowed with the six virtues beginning with tranquillity, the conqueror of death, giver of the eight perfections of yoga from yama onward, the supreme lord of Uma, the ancient one.

Verse 5

𑌘𑍃𑌣𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌖𑌿𑌲𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌥𑌿 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌗𑌾𑌯। 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌯 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௫॥

Ghrinadi-Pashashtaka-Varjitaya Khili-Kritasmat-Pathi Purvagaya। Gunadi-Hinaya Gunatrayaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥5॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — free of the eight snares beginning with cruelty and pity, the foremost guide upon our barren path, devoid of qualities yet the source of the three gunas.

Verse 6

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌯 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌾𑌯 𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌕𑍗𑌤𑍂𑌹𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌯। 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑍂𑌲𑌾𑌯 𑌸𑍂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌯 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌗𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௬॥

Kalaya Vedamrita-Kandalaya Kalyana-Kautuhala-Karanaya। Sthulaya Sukshmaya Svarupa-Gaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥6॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — who are Time itself, the wellspring of the Vedas' nectar, the cause of the joyous wonder of auspiciousness, the gross and the subtle, abiding in your own true form.

Verse 7

𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌿𑌲𑌭𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌯 𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌶𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌯𑌾𑌯। 𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑍇𑌶𑌾𑌯 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௭॥

Panchananayanila-Bhaskaraya Panchashad-Arnady-Aparakshayaya। Panchaksharesaya Jagad-Dhitaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥7॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — the five-faced, the wind and the sun, imperishable beyond the fifty letters and all that is supreme, the Lord of the five-syllabled mantra, the benefactor of the world.

Verse 8

𑌹𑌰𑌾𑌯 𑌭𑍀𑌮𑌾𑌯 𑌹𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌯 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌯 𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌯 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌯। 𑌮𑍃𑌡𑌾𑌯 𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌯 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯॥௮॥

Haraya Bhimaya Hari-Priyaya Bhavaya Shantaya Paratparaya। Mridaya Rudraya Vilochanaya Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya॥8॥

Meaning:Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara — Hara, the terrible one, dear to Hari, Being itself, the peaceful, the supreme beyond the supreme, the gracious Mrida, the fierce Rudra, the three-eyed.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌯🔊Devadi-DevayaTo the God of gods (the first and foremost among the deities)

𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌯𑌾𑌯🔊Jagan-MayayaTo him who pervades and is the very substance of the universe

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌯🔊ShivayaTo the auspicious one, Shiva

𑌨𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌕𑌨𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌯🔊Nalika-NibhananayaTo him whose face is radiant like a lotus (nalika)

𑌶𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌯🔊SharadhipayaTo the lord of arrows (and lord of the Sharabha form)

𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌭𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌯🔊Namo'stu Tubhyam SharabheshvarayaSalutations be unto you, O Sharabheshvara! — the refrain ending every verse

𑌶𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍁𑌚𑍂𑌡𑌾𑌯🔊Shitamshu-ChudayaTo him who bears the cool-rayed moon as his crest

𑌦𑌿𑌗𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌾𑌯🔊DigambarayaTo the sky-clad one (clad in the directions)

𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌿𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌂𑌸𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌯🔊Srishti-Sthiti-Dhvamsana-KaranayaTo the cause of creation, preservation and destruction

𑌜𑌿𑌤𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌯🔊JitendriyayaTo him who has fully conquered the senses

𑌕𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌾𑌯🔊Kalanka-KanthayaTo him whose throat bears the dark mark (from drinking the halahala poison)

𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌯🔊BhavantakayaTo the ender of worldly existence (samsara)

𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌶𑍂𑌲𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌯🔊Kapala-Shulatta-KarambujayaTo him in whose lotus hands are held the skull and the trident

𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌯🔊PurantakayaTo the destroyer of the three cities (Tripura)

𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌯🔊YamantakayaTo the conqueror of Yama (death)

𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌯🔊Yamadi-Yogashtaka-SiddhidayaTo the giver of mastery over the eight limbs of yoga beginning with yama

𑌉𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌾𑌯🔊UmadhinathayaTo the supreme lord (and consort) of Uma

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌯🔊KalayaTo him who is Time itself

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌲𑌾𑌯🔊Vedamrita-KandalayaTo the wellspring of the nectar of the Vedas

𑌸𑍍𑌥𑍂𑌲𑌾𑌯 𑌸𑍂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌯🔊Sthulaya SukshmayaTo him who is both the gross and the subtle

𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌯🔊PanchananayaTo the five-faced one (and also: the lion-faced — fitting the Sharabha)

𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑍇𑌶𑌾𑌯🔊PanchaksharesayaTo the Lord of the five-syllabled mantra (Namah Shivaya)

𑌹𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌯🔊Hari-PriyayaTo him who is dear to Hari (Vishnu) — the Sharabha form pacified Narasimha yet remains his friend

𑌮𑍃𑌡𑌾𑌯 𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌯🔊Mridaya RudrayaTo the gracious Mrida and the fierce Rudra (the gentle and the terrible together)

Benefits of Chanting Sharabha Ashtakam

✦

Invokes the fierce protective Sharabha form of Shiva, traditionally for the strongest spiritual protection

✦

Believed to pacify and absorb intense, uncontrolled or destructive energies (as Sharabha calmed Narasimha)

✦

Removes deep-seated fear and grants the courage of the lion-bird god

✦

Each verse meditates on Shiva as both gross and subtle, fierce and gracious — uniting Rudra and Mrida

✦

Recited for protection from black magic, evil influences and unseen dangers

✦

Praises Shiva as Lord of the five-syllabled mantra and giver of the eight yogic perfections, supporting sadhana

How to Chant Sharabha Ashtakam

Repetitions8times

Best TimePradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Tuesdays or Saturdays (for protection), or during fierce-form Shiva worship

This is a tantric stotra; recite it with reverence and inner steadiness. After the customary nyasa and dhyana of Sharabheshvara given in the tantras, chant the eight verses, each sealed by 'Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya'. It is recited facing a Sharabha or Shiva image, ideally before a lamp. As a protective hymn it may be repeated 8 times. Those new to fierce-form worship may simply chant it devotionally as a Shiva stuti.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Sharabha 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.

Sharabha (Sharabheshvara) is a fierce form of Lord Shiva, described in the Shaiva tantras as an enormous being — part lion, part bird (sometimes eight-legged) — mightier than the lion or the elephant. Shiva assumed this form to calm Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu, whose fury after slaying Hiranyakashipu was endangering creation.

It is an eight-verse hymn (also called the Sharabheshvara Ashtakam) praising Shiva as Sharabheshvara. Each verse strings together names and attributes of the Lord and ends with the refrain 'Namo'stu Tubhyam Sharabheshvaraya' — 'Salutations to you, O Sharabheshvara'.

Because Sharabha is the form in which Shiva subdued the most overwhelming of fierce energies, devotees invoke him for the strongest protection — to absorb negativity, calm destructive forces, ward off black magic and evil influences, and dispel deep fear.

No. Although Sharabha pacified Narasimha, the eighth verse itself calls Shiva 'Hari-Priya' (dear to Hari). The episode is understood as the harmonising of two fierce divine energies, not enmity, and Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions both honour the deeper unity of Shiva and Vishnu.