śrī rudraṃ laghunyāsaḥ

Om. Now one should meditate upon the Self, the auspicious Self, the sacred form of Rudra.

He who shines like pure crystal, who possesses three eyes and five faces, who bears the sacred Ganga upon his head, who has ten mighty arms, and who is adorned with all manner of divine ornaments.

He whose throat is blue, who bears the crescent moon as His mark, who wears the serpent as His sacred thread, who is draped in tiger skin as His upper garment — that most excellent One, the bestower of fearlessness.

I meditate upon Him who holds the water-pot and the sacred thread of beads, who bears the trident in His hand, who blazes resplendently with the radiant crest of tawny matted locks.

He who is mounted upon the shoulder of the bull, who bears half of Uma's body as his own, who is bathed in immortal nectar, who is serene and peaceful, and who is endowed with divine enjoyments and splendors.

United with the deities of all directions, saluted by both gods and demons, eternal and everlasting, pure, fixed, imperishable, and immutable.

Having thus meditated upon Rudra, the all-pervading Lord, who possesses the universal form, the twice-born one should then properly commence the worship.

Now we shall expound the sacred procedure for the bathing, worship, and ablution of Rudra. Having first bathed in a holy tirtha and emerged, one should be pure and self-restrained — a brahmachari wearing white garments. Standing facing the deity, one should invoke and establish the divine presences within oneself.

Om. May Brahma abide in the generative center. May Vishnu abide in the feet. May Hara abide in the hands. May Indra abide in the arms. May Agni abide in the belly. May Shiva abide in the heart. May the Vasus abide in the throat. May Sarasvati abide in the mouth. May Vayu abide in the nostrils. May the Moon and Sun abide in the two eyes. May the Ashvins abide in the two ears. May the Rudras abide in the forehead. May the Adityas abide in the crown. May Mahadeva abide in the head. May Vamadeva abide in the topknot. May Pinaki, the bow-bearer, abide at the back. May Shuli, the trident-wielder, abide in front. May Shiva and Shankara abide on both sides. May Vayu abide all around. Then beyond, on all sides, may garlands of Agni's flames remain encircling. May all the deities abide in all the limbs, each in their proper place. May they protect me.

Om. Agni, the sacred fire, is established in my speech. Speech is rooted in my heart. My heart is established in me. I am established in the immortal. The immortal is established in Brahman, the Supreme Absolute.

The wind god Vayu is established in my life-breath. My life-breath is established in the heart. The heart is established in me. I am established in the immortal. The immortal is established in Brahman.

The Sun is established in my eyes. My eyes are established in my heart. My heart is established in me. I am established in the Immortal. The Immortal is established in Brahman.

The Moon is established in my mind. The mind is established in the heart. The heart is established in me. I am established in the Immortal. The Immortal is established in Brahman.

The directions are established in my ears. The ears are established in the heart. The heart is established in me. I am established in the Immortal. The Immortal is established in Brahman.

The waters are established in my essence. My essence is established in the heart. The heart is established in me. I am established in immortality. Immortality is established in Brahman.

The earth is established within my body. My body rests within my heart. My heart abides within me. I dwell within the immortal. The immortal rests in Brahman.

The herbs and forest lords find their refuge in my body's hair. The hairs are established in the heart. The heart is established in me. I am established in the immortal. The immortal is established in Brahman.

Indra, lord of strength, is established in my power. Power resides in my heart. My heart abides in me. I am rooted in immortality. Immortality is grounded in Brahman, the Absolute.

Parjanya, the rain-giving deity, is established in my head. The head is centered in the heart. The heart is centered in me. I am established in the immortal. The immortal is established in Brahman.

The Lord is established in my righteous wrath. That sacred wrath dwells in my heart. My heart is established in me. I am established in immortality. Immortality is established in Brahman.

The Self is established in my self. The Self resides in the heart, and the heart abides in me. I am established in immortality, and immortality is established in Brahman.

May my soul return to me again, may my life-force come back to me. May my vital breath return, may my will and intention come back to me once more.

Vaishvanara, the universal fire, ever increasing through his radiant beams, may he stand within as the guardian of immortality.

For this great mantra of the sacred Rudra chapter (Rudradhyaya Prashna), the seer is Aghora, the meter is Anushtup, and the deity is Rudra — who is that Supreme Person, the Sun (Aditya), manifest in the form of Sankarshana. The seed (bija) is 'Namah Shivaya', the power (shakti) is 'Shivataraaya', and the pin (kilaka) is 'Mahadevaaya'. This recitation is applied for the attainment of the grace of Sri Samba Sadashiva.

Oṁ. Salutations with the thumbs to the One whose essence is the Agnihotra sacrifice. Salutations with the index fingers to the One whose essence is the Darśa-Pūrṇamāsa (new and full moon) rites. Salutations with the middle fingers to the One whose essence is the Chāturmāsya (four-monthly seasonal) sacrifices. Salutations with the ring fingers to the One whose essence is the Nirūḍha-Paśubandha (advanced animal sacrifice). Salutations with the little fingers to the One whose essence is the Jyotiṣṭoma (soma sacrifice of luminaries). Salutations with the palms and backs of the hands to the One who is the essence of all sacred rites.

Salutations to the heart, which is the essence of the Agnihotra sacrifice. Svaha to the head, which is the essence of the Darsha and Purnimasa rites. Vashat to the tuft of hair, which is the essence of the Chaturmasya observances. Hum to the armor, which is the essence of the Nirudha Pashubandha animal sacrifice. Vaushat to the three eyes, which is the essence of the Jyotishtoma sacrifice. Phat to the weapon, which is the essence of all sacrificial rites. With the utterance of Bhur Bhuvas Suvar Om, the binding of the directions is performed.

One should meditate upon the one Lord Shiva, whose effulgence as a crystal Lingam pervades the entire cosmic sphere from the nethermost regions through the earth to the highest heavens, bathed abundantly in the nectar flowing from the full moon adorning His crown. Continuously chanting the Rudra hymns, the learned priest should consecrate Shiva with sacred abhisheka, meditating thus for the attainment of desired boons and the eternal, unshakeable state.

Those Rudras whose bodies pervade the entire universe, who shine resplendent with the luster of sacred ash white as snow, adorned with serpents, whose throats are dark, with matted locks bearing the crescent moon, wielding mighty bows in their hands — the three-eyed ones wearing garlands of rudraksha beads, of graceful forms, the various manifestations of Shambhu, whose glories are revealed through the sacred Sri Rudra Sukta — may those Rudras bestow upon us happiness and wellbeing.

Om. We invoke You, the Lord of the sacred assemblies, the Ganapati among all hosts of beings. You are the seer among seers, possessing the highest fame. You are the supreme sovereign among sacred utterances, the Lord of Brahman itself. Hearing our prayers, come to us with Your blessings and grace our seat of worship. Salutations to Maha Ganapati.

Om. May happiness be mine, and delight be mine. May that which is dear be mine, and the fulfillment of desires be mine. May desire itself be mine, and cheerfulness of mind be mine. May auspiciousness be mine, and excellence be mine. May prosperity be mine, and fame be mine. May good fortune be mine, and wealth be mine. May a guide be mine, and a supporter be mine. May security be mine, and steadfastness be mine. May the universe be mine, and greatness be mine. May true knowledge be mine, and wisdom be mine. May generative power be mine, and progeny be mine. May the plough be mine, and peaceful rest be mine. May cosmic order be mine, and immortality be mine. May freedom from disease be mine, and perfect health be mine. May vitality be mine, and long life be mine. May freedom from enemies be mine, and fearlessness be mine. May easy passage be mine, and restful sleep be mine. May a good dawn be mine, and an auspicious day be mine.

Om. Peace, peace, peace.