The Rudrashtakam is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiv, composed by the great saint Tulsidas. It is a powerful prayer that praises the attributes and qualities of Lord Shiv, invoking his blessings and grace.
The Rudrashtakam holds significant spiritual and devotional importance in Hinduism, particularly within the Shaivite tradition. Composed by the revered saint Tulsidas, this hymn comprises eight verses dedicated to Lord Shiv, praising his various attributes, forms, and qualities. Its significance lies in several aspects:
Firstly, the Rudrashtakam is a powerful expression of devotion and reverence towards Lord Shiv. Each verse eloquently describes different facets of Shiv’s divine nature, such as his formlessness, omnipresence, compassion, and supreme power. Reciting or listening to these verses is a way for devotees to connect deeply with the essence of Shiv and express their heartfelt adoration for the deity.
Secondly, the hymn serves as a means of seeking blessings, protection, and grace from Lord Shiv. Through the recitation of the Rudrashtakam with sincerity and devotion, devotees invoke Shiv’s divine presence in their lives and pray for the removal of obstacles, the attainment of spiritual liberation, and the alleviation of worldly sufferings.
Furthermore, the Rudrashtakam holds philosophical significance as it reflects the core principles of Shaivism and the Vedantic understanding of the ultimate reality. It portrays Shiv as the Supreme Brahman, beyond attributes and forms, yet manifesting in various divine forms for the benefit of devotees. This philosophical underpinning enriches the spiritual depth of the hymn and deepens the devotee’s understanding of Shiv’s transcendental nature.
Additionally, the Rudrashtakam is often recited or sung during religious rituals, festivals, and prayers dedicated to Lord Shiv. It is believed that the vibrations generated by the chanting of these sacred verses purify the environment, uplift the mind, and create a conducive atmosphere for spiritual contemplation and communion with the divine.
In summary, the Rudrashtakam holds immense significance as a devotional hymn that venerates Lord Shiv, seeks his blessings, and embodies the profound philosophical insights of Shaivism. It serves as a timeless spiritual tool for devotees to deepen their connection with Shiv and experience his divine presence in their lives.
श्रीरुद्राष्टकम्
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥ १ ॥
निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥ २ ॥
तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥ ३ ॥
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥ ४ ॥
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥ ५ ॥
कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥ ६ ॥
न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥ ७ ॥
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो ॥ ८ ॥
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥ ९ ॥
इति श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
Shree Rudrashtakam
namāmīśamīśāna nirvāṇarūpaṃ vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahmavēdasvarūpam ।
nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīhaṃ chidākāśamākāśavāsaṃ bhajē’ham ॥ 1 ॥
nirākāramōṅkāramūlaṃ turīyaṃ girājñānagōtītamīśaṃ girīśam ।
karālaṃ mahākālakālaṃ kṛpāluṃ guṇāgārasaṃsārapāraṃ natō’ham ॥ 2 ॥
tuṣārādrisaṅkāśagauraṃ gabhīraṃ manōbhūtakōṭiprabhāsī śarīram ।
sphuranmaulikallōlinī chārugaṅgā lasadbhālabālēndu kaṇṭhē bhujaṅgam ॥ 3 ॥
chalatkuṇḍalaṃ śubhranētraṃ viśālaṃ prasannānanaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ dayālum ।
mṛgādhīśacharmāmbaraṃ muṇḍamālaṃ priyaṃ śaṅkaraṃ sarvanāthaṃ bhajāmi ॥ 4 ॥
prachaṇḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ parēśaṃ akhaṇḍaṃ bhajē bhānukōṭiprakāśam ।
trayīśūlanirmūlanaṃ śūlapāṇiṃ bhajē’haṃ bhavānīpatiṃ bhāvagamyam ॥ 5 ॥
kalātītakalyāṇakalpāntakārī sadāsajjanānandadātā purārī ।
chidānandasandōhamōhāpahārī prasīda prasīda prabhō manmathārī ॥ 6 ॥
na yāvadumānāthapādāravindaṃ bhajantīha lōkē parē vā narāṇām ।
na tāvatsukhaṃ śānti santāpanāśaṃ prasīda prabhō sarvabhūtādhivāsam ॥ 7 ॥
na jānāmi yōgaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ natō’haṃ sadā sarvadā dēva tubhyam ।
jarājanmaduḥkhaughatātapyamānaṃ prabhō pāhi śāpānnamāmīśa śambhō ॥ 8 ॥
rudrāṣṭakamidaṃ prōktaṃ viprēṇa haratuṣṭayē ।
yē paṭhanti narā bhaktyā tēṣāṃ śambhuḥ prasīdati ॥ 9 ॥
॥ iti śrīrāmacharitamānasē uttarakāṇḍē śrīgōsvāmitulasīdāsakṛtaṃ
śrīrudrāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ॥