Introduction: Shiva's Wisdom in Sanskrit — The Original Language of the Divine
Sanskrit is called Devavani — the language of the gods. And of all the gods, none is more intimately associated with Sanskrit than Shiva. The 14 sounds of Shiva's damaru drum at the moment of creation are said to be the seed-syllables from which all Sanskrit arose. The Maheshwara Sutras — these 14 primordial sounds — are the foundation of Panini's Sanskrit grammar. When you chant Shiva's names in Sanskrit, you are using the language that Shiva himself produced. Here are 108 of the most powerful Sanskrit shlokas, mantras and verses in praise of and from the Shaiva tradition.
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The Core Mantras — Mula Mantra Sangrah
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Salutations to the auspicious one. The five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya represent the five elements and the five faces of Sadashiva. The most complete mantra in the Shaiva tradition.
Shri Rudram, Yajurveda
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्।।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्।।
Om Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam | Urvarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor mukshiya maamritat ||
We worship Shiva, the three-eyed one, who is fragrant and nourishes all beings. As a ripe cucumber is freed from the vine, may we be freed from death — but never from immortality. The Maha Mrityunjaya — the great mantra of liberation from death.
Yajurveda 3.60 — Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
नमस्ते रुद्र मन्यव उतो त इषवे नमः।
नमस्ते अस्तु धन्वने बाहुभ्यामुत ते नमः।।
नमस्ते अस्तु धन्वने बाहुभ्यामुत ते नमः।।
Namaste Rudra manyava uto ta ishave namah | Namaste astu dhanvane bahubhyamuta te namah ||
Salutations to your wrath, O Rudra. Salutations also to your arrow. Salutations to your bow. Salutations to your two arms.
Shri Rudram, Yajurveda — Namakam, Anuvaka 1
शिवं शान्तं जगन्नाथं लोकानुग्रहकारकम्।
शिवमेकपदं ब्रह्म व्यापकं ब्रह्म विद्यते।।
शिवमेकपदं ब्रह्म व्यापकं ब्रह्म विद्यते।।
Shivam shantam jagannатham lokanugrahakarakam | Shivameka-padam brahma vyapakam brahma vidyate ||
Shiva is peace, the lord of the universe, the one who bestows grace on all worlds. Shiva is the single word for Brahman — the all-pervading Brahman is Shiva.
Shiva Purana
From the Shiva Purana — Shiva Puranam Shlokani
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यमनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्।
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम्।।
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम्।।
Anaadi-madhya-antam ananta-veeryam ananta-baahum shashi-surya-netram | Pashyami tvam deepta-hutaasha-vaktram sva-tejasa vishvam-idam tapantam ||
I behold you — without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power, of infinite arms, with the sun and moon as eyes, with blazing fire as your mouth, illuminating this entire universe with your own radiance.
Shiva Purana — Vidyeshwara Samhita
यो देवानां प्रभवश्चोद्भवश्च विश्वाधिपो रुद्रो महर्षिः।
हिरण्यगर्भं पश्यत जायमानं स नो बुद्ध्या शुभया संयुनक्तु।।
हिरण्यगर्भं पश्यत जायमानं स नो बुद्ध्या शुभया संयुनक्तु।।
Yo devaanam prabhavashchodbhavash-cha vishvadhipo Rudro maharsih | Hiranyagarbham pashyata jayamanam sa no buddhya shubhaya samyunaktu ||
May Rudra — who is the origin and dissolution of the gods, the lord of the universe, the great sage — who sees the golden womb (Hiranyagarbha) taking birth — unite us with an auspicious mind.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.4
सर्वव्यापी शिवः साक्षी चेतनाचेतनात्मकः।
नमामि शिवमीशानं सर्वयोगेश्वरेश्वरम्।।
नमामि शिवमीशानं सर्वयोगेश्वरेश्वरम्।।
Sarva-vyapi Shivah sakshi chetana-achetana-atmakah | Namami Shivam-Ishanam sarva-yogeshwareshwaram ||
Shiva is all-pervading, the witness of all, the soul of both the conscious and unconscious. I bow to Shiva the lord, the master of all lords of yoga.
Shiva Purana
The Bilvashtakam — Bilva Leaf Offering Verses
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रिधायुधम्।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्।।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्।।
Tridalam tri-gunaakaram tri-netram cha tri-dhaayudham | Tri-janma-paapa-samhaaram eka-bilvam Shivaarpanam ||
Three-leafed, shaped like the three gunas, the three eyes and the three weapons — destroyer of the sins of three births. I offer one bilva leaf to Shiva.
Bilvashtakam — Verse 1
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम्।
अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्।।
अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्।।
Darshanam bilva-vrikshasya sparshanam paapa-naashanam | Aghora-paapa-samhaaram eka-bilvam Shivaarpanam ||
Seeing the bilva tree destroys sin. Touching it destroys severe sins. One who offers a single bilva leaf to Shiva destroys even the most terrible karma.
Bilvashtakam — Verse 3
From the Shiva Ashtakam
प्रभुं प्राणनाथं विभुं विश्वनाथं जगन्नाथ नाथं सदानन्दभाजम्।
भवद्भव्यभूतेश्वरं भूतनाथं शिवं शंकरं शंभुमीशानमीडे।।
भवद्भव्यभूतेश्वरं भूतनाथं शिवं शंकरं शंभुमीशानमीडे।।
Prabhum praana-naatham vibhum vishwa-naatham jagannatha naatham sadaananda-bhaajam | Bhavadbhavya-bhooteshwaram bhoota-naatham Shivam Shankaram Shambhum-Ishanam-Ide ||
I praise the Lord — master of prana, all-pervading, lord of the universe, lord of the lord of all worlds, ever-blissful, lord of all glorious and noble beings, lord of all creatures — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, Ishana.
Shiva Ashtakam — Verse 1
From the Shvetashvatara Upanishad
एको हि रुद्रो न द्वितीयाय तस्थे य इमान् लोकान् ईशत ईशनीभिः।
प्रत्यङ् जनांस्तिष्ठति संचुकोचान्तकाले संसृज्य विश्वा भुवनानि गोपाः।।
प्रत्यङ् जनांस्तिष्ठति संचुकोचान्तकाले संसृज्य विश्वा भुवनानि गोपाः।।
Eko hi Rudro na dviteeyaya tasthe ya imaan lokaan ishata eeshanibhih | Pratyang janaams-tishtati sanchukochaanta-kaale samsrijya vishwa bhuvanani gopah ||
Rudra is one — he does not permit a second. He alone rules all these worlds with his sovereign powers. He stands within all people, bringing creation to its end at the time of dissolution. He creates the entire cosmos and is its guardian.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.2
तमीश्वरं परमं महेश्वरं तं देवतानां परमं च दैवतम्।
पतिं पतीनां परमं परास्तात् विदाम देवं भुवनेशमीड्यम्।।
पतिं पतीनां परमं परास्तात् विदाम देवं भुवनेशमीड्यम्।।
Tam-eeshwaram paramam Maheshwaram tam devataanaam paramam cha daivatam | Patim pateenaam paramam paraastaat vidaama devam bhuvanesh-am-idyam ||
That Ishvara — the supreme Maheshvara — the highest of all gods, the lord of all lords, supreme above all — we know him as the divine, the lord of the world, the adorable one.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.7
From the Shiva Sahasranama — Names with Their Meanings
शिवः शान्तः शाश्वतः शम्भुः शरण्यः शिवदः शुचिः।
शर्मदः शम्भवः शिष्टः शूलपाणिः शिवप्रियः।।
शर्मदः शम्भवः शिष्टः शूलपाणिः शिवप्रियः।।
Shivah Shaantah Shaashvatah Shambhuh Sharanyah Shivadah Shuchih | Sharmadah Shambhavah Shisthah Shulapanih Shivapriyah ||
Shiva (the auspicious), Shanta (peaceful), Shashvata (eternal), Shambhu (source of bliss), Sharanya (refuge), Shivada (giver of auspiciousness), Shuchi (pure), Sharmada (giver of joy), Shambhava (born of auspiciousness), Shishta (restrained), Shulapani (trident-bearer), Shivapriya (beloved of Shiva devotees).
Shiva Sahasranama — selection of Sha-names
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