Rudrashtakam is a revered Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Rudra, a form of Lord Shiva. Composed by the great Hindu philosopher and saint Goswami Tulsidas, Rudrashtakam is a set of eight verses that praise the various aspects and attributes of Lord Rudra. Tulsidas is best known for his epic poem “Ramcharitmanas,” which narrates the life of Lord Rama.
The hymn Rudrashtakam consists of eight stanzas, each praising different facets of Lord Rudra. It describes Lord Shiva’s various manifestations, such as Neelakantha (the one with a blue throat), Bhagwan (the divine one), and Girisha (the lord of mountains). The verses also highlight Lord Shiva’s benevolent and fierce aspects.
श्रीरुद्राष्टकम्
१
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेहम्
Nama misha mishana-nirvana rupam
vibhum vyapakam brahma-veda-svaroopam
nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham
chidakasha makasha-vasam bhaje ham
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| Nama misha mishana-nirvana rupam | Salutations to the one whose form is a blend of the mixed and the unmixed, who is the embodiment of liberation |
| vibhum vyapakam brahma-veda-svaroopam | Salutations to the one who is all-pervading, omnipresent, and the embodiment of the knowledge of the ultimate reality (Brahman). |
| nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham | Salutations to the one who is self-existent, without qualities, without distinctions, and without ego or desire. |
| chidakasha makasha-vasam bhaje ham | I worship the one who resides in the space of consciousness and in all spaces |
These lines express reverence and salutations to the divine, formless, omnipresent, and transcendent aspect of the ultimate reality, often associated with Lord Shiva. The lyrics convey the seeker’s devotion and recognition of the divine qualities beyond material existence.
२
निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोहम्
nirakara monkara-moolam turiyam
gira gnana gotita misham girisham
karalam maha-kala-kalam krpalam
gunagara samsara param nato ham
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| nirakara monkara-moolam turiyam | I bow to the formless and soundless, the root and source of all, the fourth state of consciousness. |
| gira gnana gotita misham girisham | Through the flow of wisdom in speech, I seek the blessings of the Lord of the mountains (Shiva). |
| karalam maha-kala-kalam krpalam | Fierce, the great Lord of Time, yet compassionate. |
| gunagara samsara param nato ham | I bow to the one who is the repository of virtues, beyond the cycle of birth and death |
These lines express deep reverence and devotion to Lord Shiva, recognizing him as the formless source of all, the bestower of wisdom, the compassionate Lord of Time, and the one beyond the cycle of worldly existence. The lyrics convey the seeker’s surrender and acknowledgment of the divine qualities embodied by Lord Shiva.
३
तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा
tusha radri-sankasha-gauram gabhiram
manobhuta-koti prabha sri sariram
sphuran mauli-kallolini-charu-ganga
lasad-bhala-balendu kanthe bhujanga
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| tusha radri-sankasha-gauram gabhiram | Resembling the deep white snow-clad mountain. |
| manobhuta-koti prabha sri sariram | Having a divine body radiating the auspiciousness beyond the reach of the mind, like millions of suns. |
| sphuran mauli-kallolini-charu-ganga | With the shining crescent moon on the head and the beautiful waves of the Ganga flowing gracefully. |
| lasad-bhala-balendu kanthe bhujanga | With a shining forehead, a youthful moon on the neck, and a serpent around the neck. |
This verse describes the majestic and divine form of Lord Shiva, comparing him to a snow-clad mountain, radiating a divine glow beyond the comprehension of the mind. The verses also highlight symbolic elements like the crescent moon, the Ganga, and the snake, all associated with Lord Shiva’s divine attributes.
४
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं
प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं
प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि
chalatkundalam bhru sunetram visalam
prasanna-nanam nila-kantham dayalam
mrgadhisa charmambaram mundamalam
priyam sankaram sarvanatham bhajami
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| chalatkundalam bhru sunetram visalam | With moving earrings, broad beautiful eyebrows, and expansive, graceful eyes |
| prasanna-nanam nila-kantham dayalam | With a cheerful face, a blue throat (Shiva), and compassionate in nature. |
| mrgadhisa charmambaram mundamalam | The Lord of deer, wearing deer skin, and adorned with a garland of skulls. |
| priyam sankaram sarvanatham bhajami | I worship the beloved, auspicious Sankara, the Lord of all beings. |
This verse depicts the divine and compassionate form of Lord Shiva, describing his physical attributes such as moving earrings, beautiful eyes, a cheerful face, a blue throat, and symbolic elements like wearing deer skin and a garland of skulls. The verse expresses the devotee’s reverence and worship of Lord Shiva.
५
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं
अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं
भजेहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्
pracandam prakrstam pragalbham paresham
akhandam ajam bhanukoti-prakasam
trayah-shula-nirmulanam shula-panim
bhaje ham bhavani-patim bhava-gamyam
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| pracandam prakrstam pragalbham paresham | Fierce, excellent, extremely bold, and the Supreme Lord. |
| akhandam ajam bhanukoti-prakasam | Indivisible, unborn, and radiant like billions of suns. |
| trayah-shula-nirmulanam shula-panim | The uprooter of the three-fold suffering, holding the trident. |
| bhaje ham bhavani-patim bhava-gamyam | I worship the Lord of Bhavani (i.e. Shiva), the one who is attainable through devotion. |
These lines describe Lord Shiva as the fierce and supreme deity, indivisible, unborn, radiant like billions of suns, and the uprooter of the three-fold suffering. The verse expresses the devotee’s worship and recognition of Shiva’s divine qualities.
६
कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी
प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी
kalatitata-kalyana-kalpanta-kari
sada sajjana-nanda-data purarih
chidananda-sandoha-mohapahari
prasida praslda prabho manmatharih
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| kalatitata-kalyana-kalpanta-kari | Beyond the limits of time, the auspicious one who brings about the end of the cosmic cycle. |
| sada sajjana-nanda-data purarih | Always the giver of joy to the virtuous, and the destroyer of cities (demon Tripura). |
| chidananda-sandoha-mohapahari | The blissful consciousness, the blissful one, and the remover of delusion. |
| prasida praslda prabho manmatharih | The destroyer of Cupid (Lord of Love, referring to Shiva’s burning of Kama, the god of love). |
These lines describe Lord Shiva as the timeless and auspicious one who brings about the end of cosmic cycles, the giver of joy to the virtuous, the blissful consciousness, and the remover of delusion. The verse also acknowledges Shiva as the destroyer of cities and Cupid. The devotee seeks Lord Shiva’s grace and blessings.
७
न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं
भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं
प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं
na yavad umanatha-padaravindam
bhajantiha loke pareva naranam
na tavat-sukham shanti-santapa-nasham
praslda prabho sarva bhuta-dhivasam
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| na yavad umanatha-padaravindam | Not as long as the lotus feet of Umanatha (husband of Uma, i.e., Shiva). |
| bhajantiha loke pareva naranam | People in this world worship other things. |
| na tavat-sukham shanti-santapa-nasham | Not so much happiness, peace, or the destruction of agony. |
| praslda prabho sarva bhuta-dhivasam | O Lord, be pleased, the divine abode of all beings |
These lines express the devotee’s devotion towards Lord Shiva, stating that true happiness, peace, and the end of agony are not attained until one worships the lotus feet of Umanatha (Shiva). The devotee seeks the grace of Lord Shiva, the divine abode of all beings.
८
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां
नतोहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं
प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो
na janami yogam japam naiva pujam
nato ham sada sarvada sambhu tubhyam
jara janma-duhkhaugha tatapya manam
prabho pahi apan-namamisha shambho
Meaning
| Sanskrit Verse | Meaning in English |
| na janami yogam japam naiva pujam | I do not know yoga, chanting, or worship. |
| nato ham sada sarvada sambhu tubhyam | I bow down to you always, everywhere, O Shambhu. |
| jara janma-duhkhaugha tatapya manam | Tormented by the mind due to the ocean of sorrows caused by old age and birth. |
| prabho pahi apan-namamisha shambho | O Lord Shambhu, protect me with a humble heart. |
These lines express the devotee’s humility, acknowledging a lack of knowledge in various spiritual practices. The devotee seeks the protection of Lord Shambhu, recognizing the challenges and sorrows associated with old age and birth. The emphasis is on surrendering to the divine and seeking the grace of Lord Shiva.
Purpose and Significance:
Devotees often recite Rudrashtakam to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings, particularly for removing obstacles, spiritual growth, and liberation (moksha). The hymn is commonly chanted during the auspicious month of Shravan and Maha Shivaratri, a major festival dedicated to Lord Shiva.