Shri Rudrashtakam

Shri Rudrashtakam is an eight-stanza Sanskrit hymn to Shiva (Rudra, Ishana) in the Uttarkand of Goswami Tulsidas''s Ramcharitmanas, in the Bhujangaprayat metre, with a closing shloka. It is told as the prayer of a guru for his pupil, which is the Kakbhushundi story. In his previous life Kakbhushundi was a pious but proud man of Ujjain who worshipped Shiva, but looked down on Vishnu devotees and once failed to stand in respect before his guru, who was a gentle devotee of Shiva. A voice from the sky, Shiva''s, cursed the pupil to be a serpent for a thousand births. The guru, shaken, recited this hymn and begged for his pupil, and Shiva softened the curse. In his lifetimes after, Kakbhushundi became a crow devoted to Ram.

Stanza 1: "Namamishamishan nirvanarupam, vibhum vyapakam Brahma Vedasvarupam." I bow to Ishana, lord of all, the form of liberation, all-pervading, Brahman, the Vedas themselves.

Stanza 2: "Nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nirihaṁ, chidakashamakashavasam bhajeham." I worship the self-existent one, beyond attributes (nirguna), beyond doubt, desireless, living in the sky of consciousness (chidakasha).

Stanza 3: "Nirakaramomkaramulam turiyam, gira gyan gotitamisham girisham." Formless, the root of Om, the fourth state (turiya) beyond waking, dream and sleep, beyond speech and knowledge, lord of the mountain (Girisha).

Stanza 4: "Karalam Mahakal kalam kripalam, gunagar sansarparam natoham." Fearsome, lord even of time (Mahakala), yet merciful, home of virtues, who takes one beyond the world: I bow.

Stanza 5: "Tusharadri sankash gauram gambhiram, manobhut koti prabha shri shariram." Fair as the snow mountain, deep, with the brightness of crores of Kamadevas.

Stanza 6: "Sphuranmauli kallolini charu Ganga, lasadbhalabalendu kanthe bhujanga." Ganga rippling in his hair, the young moon on his brow and a serpent at his neck.

Stanza 7: "Chalatkundalam bhru sunetram vishalam, prasannanana Nilakantha dayalam." Moving earrings, fine brows, wide eyes, a smiling face, blue throat (Neelakantha, from the poison he held) and mercy.

Stanza 8: "Mrigadhishacharmambaram mundamalam, priyam Shankar sarvanatham bhajami." Wearing a lion or tiger skin, a garland of skulls, dear Shankara, lord of all. The skulls are the Shaiva sign of the passing of the body.

Stanzas 9 to 15 in the longer text. The long form continues in the same way: fierce, supreme, unborn, bright as crores of suns; the trident-bearer who uproots the three sufferings; beyond the kalas, an end of the age, a joy to the good, destroyer of Tripura; an ocean of joy who removes delusion and the enemy of Kama; "Na yavad Umanath padaravindam": as long as people do not worship the feet of Uma''s lord, they find no happiness or peace; "Na janami yogam japam naiva pujam": I know no yoga, japa or puja, I only bow to you, Shambhu, burned by old age, birth and sorrow, protect me.

The final shloka. "Rudrashtakamidam proktam viprena haratoshaye, ye pathanti nara bhaktya tesham Shambhuh prasidati": this Rudrashtakam was said by a Brahmin to please Hara, and Shambhu is pleased with those who read it with devotion. This is a statement of faith.

The message. Surrender is better than pride: the hymn that saved a proud pupil is a prayer that makes no claim. Prayer can calm the mind but is not a medical treatment. See the Shiv Chalisa and Parvati Chalisa.