śiva sahasranāma stotram

Then, O dear Yudhishthira, that royal sage (Upamanyu), becoming pure and with folded hands, began to speak the collection of names from the beginning.

Upamanyu said: I shall praise the Praiseworthy One with those names declared by Brahma and the Rishis, born of the Vedas and Vedangas, and famous in all the worlds.

With great, prescribed, true, and perfected names that accomplish all goals, which were devoutly composed by the sage Tandi, whose soul was established in the Vedas.

Names declared by holy men, famous, and realized by seers of truth. This hymn is foremost, primordial, heavenly, beneficial to all beings, and auspicious.

These names are heard everywhere in the world and were brought down from Brahmaloka. They are true, represent the Supreme Brahman, were spoken by Brahma, and are eternal. I will recite them, O best of the Yadu race (Krishna); listen to me attentively.

You are a devotee, so choose this Lord Bhava, the Supreme Lord. Therefore, I will make you hear that which is the eternal Brahman.

It is not possible for anyone to describe His glories fully in detail, even for a Yogi, even in hundreds of years.

Whose beginning, middle, and end are not comprehended even by the gods, who can describe His qualities in their entirety, O Madhava?

However, with concise words and meanings, I will describe the deeds of the Great God according to my ability, by the grace of that intelligent Lord.

Without obtaining His permission, it is impossible to praise the Lord. When I was permitted by Him, only then was He praised by me.

I shall state a brief description of the names of that Great Soul who is without beginning or end, the source of the universe, and the unmanifest origin.

Listen, O Krishna, to the collection of names of the boon-giver, the most excellent, the all-formed, intelligent Lord, as declared by the lotus-born Brahma.

The great-grandfather (Brahma) spoke ten thousand names. Having churned them with the mind, these thousand were extracted like butter from curd.

Just as gold is the essence of a mountain, honey the essence of flowers, and clarified essence from ghee, so this essence (thousand names) was extracted.

This destroys all sins and is equal to the four Vedas. It should be learned with effort and held by a pure mind.

It is auspicious, nourishing, a destroyer of demons, supremely purifying, and great.

This should be given to a devotee, one who has faith and believes in God. It should not be given to one who lacks faith, an atheist, or one with an uncontrolled mind.

He who finds faults with the Lord, the cause of all, goes to hell along with his ancestors and descendants, O Krishna.

This is meditation, this is Yoga, this is the supreme object of meditation. This is the supreme Japa, this is knowledge, this is the highest secret.

Knowing which, even at the time of death, one attains the highest goal. This is pure, auspicious, holy, and the supreme welfare.

In ancient times, Brahma, the grandfather of all worlds, created this and appointed it as the king of all divine hymns.

Since then, this hymn of the Great Lord is known as the 'Stavaraja' (King of Hymns), worshipped by the immortals in the world.

This king of hymns was brought down from Brahmaloka to heaven. Since Tandi obtained it in ancient times, it is known as composed by Tandi.

And from heaven it was brought down to the earthly realm by Tandi. It is the most auspicious of all auspicious things and the destroyer of all sins.

I shall recite, O mighty-armed one, the best of hymns. That which is the Brahman of all brahmans, the highest of the high.

The light of all lights, the austerity of all austerities. The peace of all peaces, the brilliance of all brilliances.

The most self-controlled of the controlled, the intelligence of the intelligent. The God of gods, the Rishi of rishis.

The sacrifice of all sacrifices, the auspiciousness of all auspicious things. The Rudra among Rudras, the power of the powerful.

The Yogi among yogis, the cause of all causes. From whom the worlds are born, and in whom they cease to exist.

Listen to me recite the one thousand and eight names of Sharva (Shiva), the Soul of all beings, Hara of infinite energy. Hearing which, O tiger among men, you will attain all desires.

Om. The Steady, the Firm, the Lord, the Formidable, the Foremost, the Boon-giver, the Excellent. The Soul of all, Famous everywhere, the All, the Creator of all, the Source of existence.

The one with matted hair, wearing animal skin, having a tuft of hair, armed with a sword, comprising all limbs, the creator of all. The Destroyer, the deer-eyed, the destroyer of all beings, the Supreme Lord.

Activity and Inactivity, the Restrained, the Eternal, the Unchanging. The dweller of the cremation ground, the Divine Lord, the sky-walker, the object of senses, the tormentor (of the wicked).

Worthy of salutation, of great deeds, the ascetic, the creator of beings. Hidden under the guise of a madman, the Lord of creatures of all worlds.

Of great form, of huge body, having the form of a bull, of great fame. The Great Soul, the soul of all beings, having the universe as His form, of great jaw.

The protector of the world, of hidden soul, the personification of grace, whose chariot is drawn by horses and mules. The pure, the great, the rule, the refuge of rules.

The doer of all actions, the self-born, the beginning, the creator of the beginning, the treasure. Thousand-eyed, large-eyed, the moon (Soma), the master of the stars.

The Moon, the Sun, Saturn, Ketu, the planet, the Lord of planets, the excellent one. Atri, the worshipper of Atri's wife, the shooter of the deer, the sinless one.

Of great austerity, of fierce austerity, not miserable, the uplifter of the miserable. The creator of the year, the Mantra, the authority, the supreme austerity.

The Yogi, the object of union, the great seed, of great seminal energy, of great strength. Of golden seed, the all-knowing, of good seed, the carrier of the seed.

Ten-armed, unwinking, blue-throated, the Lord of Uma. Of universal form, self-excellent, the hero of strength, strength, the host.

The creator of Ganas, the Lord of Ganas, the naked one (clothed in space), the God of love himself. The knower of Mantras, the supreme Mantra, the creator of all states, Hara.

Holding a water pot, armed with a bow, holding arrows in hand, carrying a skull. Wielding a thunderbolt, a hundred-killer weapon, a sword, a spear, the armed Great One.

Holding a sacrificial ladle, of beautiful form, the light, the creator of light, the treasure. Wearing a turban, of beautiful face, exalted, and humble.

Tall, golden-haired, the excellent pilgrimage, the dark one. Taking the form of a jackal, whose goals are achieved, the bald one, the doer of all good.

Unborn, of many forms, bearing fragrance, having matted hair. Of upward seed, having an upward Linga, sleeping on high, residing in the sky.

Having three braids, wearing bark garments, Rudra, the commander of the army, the all-pervading. Roaming by day, roaming by night, of fierce anger, of great brilliance.

The killer of the elephant demon, the killer of Daityas, Time, the supporter of the world, the mine of virtues. Having the form of a lion and a tiger, covered in wet skin garments.

The Yogi of Time, of great sound, fulfilling all desires, the crossroad. The night-walker, walking with ghosts, walking with spirits, the Great Lord.

Of many beings, bearing many things, Rahu (Svarbhanu), infinite, the goal. Loving the dance, the eternal dancer, the dancer, the desirer of all.

Fierce, of great austerity, the noose, eternal, the mountain-dweller, the sky. Thousand-handed, victorious, resolute, tireless.

Unassailable, the soul of assault, the destroyer of sacrifices, the destroyer of Kama. The destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, easily enduring, the middle one.

The taker of energy, the destroyer of strength, joyful, wealth, invincible, the best. Of deep sound, deep, having deep strength and vehicles.

Taking the form of the banyan tree, the banyan tree, residing in tree leaves, the all-pervading. Having very sharp teeth, of huge body, of huge face.

Whose army is everywhere, the remover, the sacrifice, having a vehicle adorned in battle. Of fierce heat, having green horses, the helper, the knower of time for actions.

Propitiated by Vishnu, the sacrifice, the ocean, the submarine fire. Helped by fire, of peaceful soul, the fire itself.

Of fierce energy, of great energy, the father of men, the knower of the time of victory. The path of the stars, perfection, the embodiment of all.

Having a tuft, bald, matted-haired, flaming, born of form, going to the head, strong. Playing the flute, playing the drum, clapping hands, holding a threshing floor, the fierce Lord of Time.

Having the form of stars, having the intellect of gunas, the dissolution, the destination. The lord of creatures, universal-armed, the division, facing everywhere.

The liberator, the good refuge, born in golden armor. Born of the phallus, moving with strength, moving on earth, the flowing one.

Sounding all trumpets, accepting all musical instruments. Taking the form of a serpent, living in caves, Guha (Skanda), wearing garlands, knowing the waves.

The thirty gods, the supporter of the three times, the liberator from all bonds of Karma. The binder of the lords of Asuras, the destroyer of enemies in battle.

Grace to the Sankhyas, Durvasa, served by all good people. The leaper, the knower of divisions, the incomparable, the knower of sacrificial shares.

The abode of all, roaming everywhere, Durvasa, Indra, the immortal. Golden, the maker of gold, the sacrifice, the supporter of all, the best of supporters.

Red-eyed, large-eyed, having victorious eyes, the expert. The accumulator, the restrainer, the doer, wearing snake skins.

The principal and the non-principal, the body, having a drum, the giver of all desires. The grace for all diseases, very strong, bearing the form of strength.

The bestower of all desired boons, the giver of all, facing all directions. Formless like space, falling down, independent, moving in the sky.

Of fierce form, the ray, the sun, having many rays, of great brilliance. Fast as wind, very fast, fast as mind, the night-walker.

Dwelling in all, dwelling in prosperity, the teacher, the non-doer. The sage, viewing the self, the broken one, the giver of thousands.

The bird, having the form of wings, very radiant, the lord of people. Madness, the intoxicator, love, the Peepal tree, the creator of wealth, fame.

Vamadeva, the beautiful, facing front and south, the dwarf. The perfected yogi, the great sage, the one whose goals are achieved, the accomplisher for the perfected.

The beggar, taking the form of a beggar, without trade, soft, imperishable. The commander of the great army, Vishakha, the sixtieth part, the lord of cows.

Holding the thunderbolt, the obstructer, the paralyzer of armies. Doing the proper and improper, the Palmyra tree, honey, having honey-colored eyes.

Lord of speech, the Vajasana, eternally worshipped in hermitages. Celibate, roaming the worlds, roaming everywhere, knower of reasoning.

Ishana (the ruler), Ishwara (the Lord), Time, the night-walker, armed with the Pinaka bow. Standing in causes, the cause, the joyful, the creator of joy, the remover of sorrow.

The lord of Nandi, Nandi, the gladdener, the increaser of joy. The taker of Bhaga's eye, the slayer, Time, Brahma, the Grandfather.

Four-faced, the Great Linga, the beautiful Linga. The Lord of Lingas, the Lord of gods, the Lord of Yoga, the bringer of Yugas.

The Lord of seeds, the creator of seeds, the unmanifest soul, the followed one, strength. History, accompanied by kalpas, Gautama, the Moon.

Pride, devoid of pride, subduer of pride, submissive, the subduer, strife. The creator of the world, the Lord of beasts, the great creator, without medicine.

The imperishable, the supreme Brahman, the powerful Indra. Policy, absence of policy, the pure soul, pure, respectable, the coming and going.

Highly graceful, good dream, the mirror, the conqueror of enemies. The maker of Vedas, the maker of Mantras, the scholar, the crusher in battle.

Dwelling in great clouds, very fierce, the subduer. Fire, the flame, the great flame, emitting great smoke, the offering, the oblation.

The showerer of boons, Shankara, eternal, radiant, the fire. Blue, desirous of body, beautiful, unrestrained.

Giver of welfare, the state of welfare, the sharer, the maker of shares, the swift. The lap, of great limbs, the ultimate refuge of the great womb.

Dark-colored, golden-colored, the senses of all embodied beings. Of great feet, of great hands, of great body, of great fame.

Of great head, of great measure, of great eyes, the abode of night. The great destroyer, of great ears, of great lips, of great jaw.

Of great nose, of great neck-lines, of great neck, dweller of cremation grounds. Of great chest, of broad chest, the inner soul, the abode of deer.

Hanging down, with hanging lips, of great illusion, the ocean. Of great teeth, of great fangs, of great tongue, of great mouth.

Of great nails, of great body hair, of great hair, of great matted locks. Pleased, grace, the conviction, the achiever through the mountain.

Affectionate, non-affectionate, invincible, the great sage. Taking the form of a tree, whose banner is a tree, fire, whose vehicle is the wind.

Wearing a rosary, whose abode is Meru, the Lord of gods. Whose head is Atharva Veda, whose face is Sama Veda, whose infinite eyes are the thousands of Rig Veda mantras.

Whose feet and arms are the Yajur Veda, the hidden one, the light, the moving one. Of unfailing purpose, grace, approachable, of beautiful appearance.

The helper, the beloved, the All, gold, of golden complexion. The navel, the gladdener, the existence, the architect of the lotus, the steady one.

The twelve (Adityas), the terrifier, the primal, the sacrifice, absorbed in sacrifice. Night, strife, Time, the Makara (crocodile), worshipped by Time.

With Ganas, the maker of Ganas, whose charioteer is the vehicle of ghosts. Resting in ash, the protector of ash, made of ash, the tree, the host.

The protector of the world, the world, the Great Soul, worshipped by all. White, thrice white, endowed, pure, served by beings.

Dwelling in hermitages, engaged in action, having the intellect of Vishwakarma, the excellent. Having wide branches, red-lipped, the net of waters, completely motionless.

Tawny, reddish-brown, white, the lifespan, the higher and the lower. The Gandharva, Aditi, Garuda, easily knowable, the excellent autumn.

Armed with an axe, the Lord, the imitator, the good relative. Playing the Tumba Veena, of great anger, of upward seed, resting in water.

Fierce, the creator of the lineage, the lineage, the sound of the flute, blameless. The form of all limbs, the master of illusion, the good-hearted, wind, fire.

The binder, the maker of bonds, the liberator from strong bonds. He is the enemy of Daksha's sacrifice, the enemy of Kama, having great fangs, having great weapons.

Praised in many ways, Sharva, Shankara, Shankara the penniless. The Lord of immortals, the Great God, the God of the universe, the slayer of the enemies of gods.

Ahirbudhnya, shining like wind, all-knowing, the oblation. Ajaikapad, bearing a skull, Trishanku, invincible, Shiva.

Dhanvantari, the comet, Skanda, Kubera. Dhata, Indra, Vishnu, Mitra, Tvashta, Dhruva, Dharana.

The glory, the all-pervading wind, Aryama, Savita, the Sun. Ushangu, the dispenser, Mandhata, the creator of beings.

The Lord, the manifestor of colors, the bringer of all desired qualities. Having a lotus in navel, the great womb, moon-faced, wind, fire.

Strong, utterly peaceful, ancient, famous for merit. The creator of Kurus, dwelling in Kurus, the soul of Kurus, the medicine of virtues.

The resting place of all, walking on Darbha grass, the Lord of all living beings. The God of gods, attached to happiness, the real and unreal, knower of all gems.

Dwelling on mount Kailash, taking refuge in the Himalayas. The destroyer of shores, the maker of shores, having much knowledge, the great giver.

The merchant, the carpenter, the tree, the Bakula tree, the sandalwood, the cover. With a strong neck, with a great collarbone, unsteady, the great medicine.

The accomplisher of goals, whose goals are achieved, beyond meter and grammar. Having a lion's roar, having lion's fangs, riding a lion, whose vehicle is a lion.

The soul of glory, the container of world's time, the benefactor of the world, the tree. The Saranga bird, having the body of a new swan, wearing a garland of banners, the protector of the assembly.

The abode of beings, the Lord of beings, Day and Night, blameless.

The carrier, the resting place of all beings, the Lord, the existence. Unfailing, restrained, the horse, food, the sustainer of life.

Patient, intelligent, skillful, honored, the Lord of Yugas. The protector of cows, the Lord of cows, the village, wearing cow-skin, the remover of sorrow.

Golden-armed, the protector of the cave for those entering. Having excellent enemies, of great joy, conqueror of desire, conqueror of senses.

Gandhara (a musical note), well-dressed, devoted to austerity, pleasure, the man. Great song, great dance, served by the host of Apsaras.

Having a great banner, the great element, roaming on many peaks, moving. Knowable, the command, bringer of the happiness of all fragrances.

The arch, the savior, wind, the boundary, the lord flying in the sky. Union, increaser, old, very old, abundant in virtues.

Eternal, having self as helper, the Lord of gods and demons, the Lord. United, of united arms, the God, in heaven among the well-jointed gods.

The month of Ashadha, the good bull, the steady, the deer, the destroyer. The body for those returning, the best of Vasus, the great path.

The remover of the head (of Brahma), the deliberation, characterized by all auspicious marks. The axle, the yogi of the chariot, the yogi of all, of great strength.

The Vedas, the non-Vedas, the God of pilgrimages, the great chariot. Lifeless, life-giving, the mantra, of beautiful eyes, very hard.

The source of gems, having a body of gems, knowing the reservoir of the great ocean. The root, wide, immortal, manifest and unmanifest, the treasure of austerity.

Ascending, the climber, possessing good character, of great fame. Having armies like kalpas, the great kalpa, Yoga, the creator of yugas, the remover.

The form of yuga, the great form, the killer of the great elephant, the execution. The offerer of justice, the foot, the scholar, comparable to a mountain.

Wearing many garlands, wearing a great garland, the moon, the destroyer with beautiful eyes. Expansion, salt, the well, having three yugas, of fruitful rise.

Three-eyed, with distressed limbs, pierced by gems, wearing matted hair. The dot (Anusvara), the Visarga, of beautiful face, the arrow, holding all weapons, enduring.

The offering, born of happiness, of good fragrance, holding a great bow. The protector of fragrance, the Divine Lord, the rise of all actions.

The churning rod, manifold, wind, complete, having eyes everywhere. The base, the rhythm, holding a plate in hand, having an upward striking body, the Great.

The umbrella, the good umbrella, famous, the world, the refuge of all, the sequence. Bald, ugly, deformed, holding a staff, holding a pot, undergoing modifications.

Lion-eyed, the direction, the thunderbolt, hundred-tongued, thousand-footed. Thousand-headed, the Lord of gods, containing all gods, the Guru.

Thousand-armed, the all-limbed, the refuge, the creator of all worlds. Pure, having three peaks, the mantra, the youngest, dark and tawny.

The creator of the staff of Brahma, armed with the hundred-killer, noose, and spear. Lotus-wombed, of great womb, Brahman-wombed, born of water.

The ray of light, the creator of Vedas, the reciter of Vedas, the knower of Vedas, the Brahmana, the goal. Of infinite forms, not a single soul (but all souls), of fierce energy, self-born.

The upward-going soul, the Lord of beasts, fast as wind, fast as mind. Smeared with sandalwood paste, the tip of the lotus stalk, fragrant, the crosser, the man.

Wearing a great garland of Karnikara flowers, with a blue crown, holding the Pinaka bow. The Lord of Uma, the beloved of Uma, the holder of Ganga, Uma's husband (Madhava).

The excellent, the boar, the boon-giver, the most adorable, of very great sound. Of great grace, the subduer, the slayer of enemies, white and tawny.

The yellow soul, the Supreme Soul, the pure soul, the supporter of nature (Pradhana). Having faces on all sides, three-eyed, common to Dharma, the excellent.

The soul of the moving and unmoving, the subtle soul, immortal, the Lord of the bull. The sage among Sadhyas, Vasu, Aditya, Vivasvan, Savita, nectar.

Vyasa, creation, good abbreviation, expansion, revolution, the man. The season, the year, the month, the fortnight, the ender of calculation.

Kala, Kashta, Lava, Matra, Muhurta, Day, Night, Kshana (units of time). The field of the universe, the seed of creatures, the Linga, the primal, the exit.

The real and unreal, the manifest and unmanifest, Father, Mother, Grandfather. The door to heaven, the door to progeny, the door to liberation, the heavenly realm.

Nirvana, the gladdener, the realm of Brahma, the supreme goal. The creator of gods and demons, the ultimate refuge of gods and demons.

The Guru of gods and demons, the God, worshipped by gods and demons. The great official of gods and demons, the refuge of the hosts of gods and demons.

The presiding Lord of gods and demons, the leader of gods and demons. The God of gods, the divine sage, the bestower of boons to gods and demons.

The Lord of gods and demons, the Universe, the Great Lord of gods and demons. Comprising all gods, inconceivable, the soul of gods, self-born.

The sprout, the one who took three strides, the physician, free from dust (passion), free from darkness, immortal. Praiseworthy, the Lord of elephants, the tiger, the lion among gods, the foremost among men.

The awakened (god), the foremost excellent, subtle, all-god, consisting of austerity. Well-united, beautiful, holding the thunderbolt, the source of weapons, imperishable.

The hidden one, the beloved, one's own, the creation, pure, the purifier of all. Horned, loving peaks, reddish-brown, the King of kings (Kubera), free from disease.

Pleasing, the host of gods, the cessation, the accomplisher of all. Having an eye on the forehead, the universal god, the deer, the brilliance of Brahman.

The Lord of unmoving things, the increaser of restraint and senses. Whose goals are achieved, the meaning of perfected beings, inconceivable, devoted to truth, pure.

The Lord of vows, the Supreme Brahman, the supreme goal of devotees. Completely liberated, of liberated energy, glorious, the increaser of prosperity, the Universe.

(Here ends the Sahasranama Stotram). Thus the foremost Lord has been praised by me with devotion. That which even Brahma, other gods, and sages do not know in truth. Who can adequately praise the Lord of the Universe, who is worthy of praise, worship, and salutation?

However, placing devotion at the forefront, I have praised the all-pervading Lord of sacrifices. Having obtained His permission, the best of the intelligent ones was praised.

A pure devotee, constantly engaged, who praises Lord Shiva with these names that increase nourishment, realizes the Self by the self.

This indeed is the Supreme Brahman; one attains the Supreme Brahman.

Sages and gods praise the Supreme with this hymn.

The Great God is pleased when praised by people of controlled minds. The all-pervading Lord, who establishes the self, is compassionate to His devotees.

Similarly among men, those men who are preeminent, who believe in God and have faith, through many births and hymns...

...worship the Lord, the Supreme Eternal God of infinite energy, with undivided devotion, through action, mind, speech, and emotion.

While sleeping, waking, walking, sitting, opening or closing the eyes, thinking of Him again and again.

Hearing, making others hear, talking about Bhava (Shiva), praising and being praised, they become satisfied and rejoice.

After thousands of crores of births in various wombs of the world, a creature whose sins are destroyed develops devotion for Bhava.

When undivided devotion arises in Bhava with all one's heart, one becomes united with Him who is the cause of everything, in every way.

This is difficult to obtain among gods, and is not found among men: unobstructed, unshakable, and unswerving devotion to Rudra.

Only by His grace does devotion arise in men, by which those with minds devoted to the Lord attain the supreme perfection.

Those who follow Him with all their heart and take refuge in Maheshwara, the Lord who loves those who surrender, rescues them from the cycle of worldly existence.

Thus other gods cannot bring about liberation from the world. For humans, without the Lord, there is no other power or strength of austerity.

Thus, O Krishna, the Lord, the master of real and unreal, wearing skin garments, was praised by Tandi of pure intellect, who was equal to Indra.

Brahma himself held this hymn of the Lord. It is sung, and one should know that Brahma sings it in the presence of Shankara.

This is meritorious, pure, and always destroys sins. It grants Yoga, grants liberation, grants heaven, and grants satisfaction.

Those who thus recite this with single-minded devotion to Shankara, attain the very same goal that is reached by the followers of Sankhya and Yoga.

A devotee who constantly recites this hymn with effort in the presence of Rudra for one year, attains his desired fruit.

This supreme secret is situated in the heart of Brahma. Brahma declared it to Indra, and Indra declared it to Mrityu (Death).

Mrityu declared it to the Rudras, and from the Rudras it came to Tandi. Tandi obtained it in the abode of Brahma through great austerity.

Tandi declared it to Shukra, and the descendant of Bhrigu to Gautama. Gautama spoke it to Vaivasvata Manu, O Madhava.

To Narayana, the Sadhya, who was established in Samadhi and intelligent. The divine Narayana, the infallible Sadhya, spoke it to Yama.

The divine Vaivasvata Yama spoke it to Nachiketa. O descendant of Vrishni (Krishna), Nachiketa declared it to Markandeya.

From Markandeya, it was obtained by me (Upamanyu) through discipline, O Janardana. And to you too, O slayer of foes, I give this unheard hymn.

It leads to heaven, health, long life, is blessed, and equal to the Vedas. Danavas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas cannot create obstacles for it.

Neither Pishachas, Yatudhanas, Guhyakas, nor serpents can hinder it. O Partha (Yudhishthira), he who reads it, being pure, celibate, with controlled senses, in unbroken yoga for a year, obtains the merit of a horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha).