Rudrashtakam

The Rudrashtakam is Ashtakam or an eight verse Octet or a rhyming prayer dedicated to the manifestation of Shiva the Destroyer out of the Hindu holy trinity as Rudra.Rudra is considered as the fearsome manifestation of Shiva who is to be feared.

The Rudhrashtakam was composed by the great saint Goswami Tulsidas. This eightfold hymn of praise was sung to please Shankara. Shambhu will be pleased with whomever heartfully recites it.


Sanskrit-


नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं। विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपं।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजे हं॥1॥

निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं। गिरा ग्यान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं।
करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं। गुणागार संसारपारं नतो हं॥2॥

तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गम्भीरं। मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरं।
स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा। लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजंगा॥3॥

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं। प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालं।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं। प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥4॥

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं। अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्।
त्रय: शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं। भजे हं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं॥5॥

कलातीत कल्याण कल्पांतकारी। सदासज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी।
चिदानन्द संदोह मोहापहारी। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥6॥

न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविंदं। भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणां।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं॥7॥

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां। नतो हं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यं।
जराजन्म दु:खौघ तातप्यमानं। प्रभो पाहि आपन्न्मामीश शंभो॥8॥

रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये।
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्तया तेषां शम्भु: प्रसीदति॥


इति श्री गोस्वामी तुलसिदास कृतम श्रीरुद्राश्ह्टकम संपूर्णम॥

Lyrics-


Namam Meesana nirvana roopam,Vibhum vyapakam Brahma Veda swaroopam l
Nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nireeham,Chidakasamaakasa vasam Bhajeham ll

Niraakara monkaara moolam thureeyam ,Giraa jnana gotheethamesam gireesam l
Karalam maha kala kalam krupalam,Gunaa gara samsara param athoham ll

Thushaaraadhi sankasa gowram gabheeram,Mano bhootha koti prabha sree sareeram l
Sphuran mouli kallolini charu ganga,Lasaddala balendu kante bhujanga.ll

Chalath kundalam bru sunethram vishaalam,Prasannananam neela kandam dhayalam l
Mugadheesa charmambaeam munda malam Priyam shankaram sarva nadham bhajami ll

Prachandam prakrushtam Prakalbham paresam,Akhandam ajam bhanu koti prakasam l
Thraya soola nirmoolanam soola panim,Bhajeham bhavani pathim bhava gamyam ll

Kalatheetha kalyani kalpanthakari,Sada sajjananda datha purari l
Chidananda sandoha mohapahari,Praseeda praseeda prabho mamamadhari ll

Na yavad Umanada padaravindam ,Bhajantheeha loke pare vaa naraanaam l
Na thath sukham shanthi santhapa nasam,Praseedha prabho Sarva bhoothadhivasam ll

Na janami yogam , japam , naiva poojaam,Nathoham sada sarvadha Shambhu thubhyam l
Jara janma dukhogha thathpyamanam,Prabho pahi aapannamameesa Shambho ll

Rudhrashtakamidham proktham Viprena hara thoshaye l
Ye padanthi naraa bhakthya thesham Shambhu praseedathi ll

Ithi Sri Goswami Thulasi dasa krutham Sri Rudhrashtakam sampurnam ll


Meaning-


I bow to the Ruler of the Universe, whose very form is Liberation,the omnipotent and all pervading Brahma, manifest as the Vedas. I worship Shiva, shining in his own glory, without physical qualities,Undifferentiated, desireless, all pervading sky of consciousness and wearing the sky itself as His garment. ||1||

I bow to the supreme Lord who is the formless source of “OM” The Self of All, transcending all conditions and states,
Beyond speech, understanding and sense perception, Awe-full, but gracious, the ruler of Kailash, Devourer of Death, the immortal abode of all virtues. ||2||

I worship Shankara, whose form is white as the Himalyan snow, Radiant with the beauty of countless Cupids, Whose head sparkles with the Ganga. With crescent moon adorning his brow and snakes coiling his neck ||3||

The beloved Lord of All, with shimmering pendants hanging from his ears, Beautiful eyebrows and large eyes, Full of Mercy with a cheerful countenance and a blue speck on his throat. ||4||

I worship Shankara, Bhavani’s husband,The fierce, exalted, luminous supreme Lord.Indivisible, unborn and radiant with the glory of a million suns; Who, holding a trident, tears out the root of the three-fold suffering,And who is reached only through Love. ||5||

You who are without parts, ever blessed, The cause of universal destruction at the end of each round of creation, A source of perpetual delight to the pure of heart,Slayer of the demon, Tripura, consciousness and bliss personified,
Dispeller of delusion Have mercy on me, foe of Lust. ||6||

Oh Lord of Uma, so long as you are not worshipped there is no happiness, peace or freedom from suffering in this world or the next. You who dwell in the hearts of all living beings, and in whom all beings have their existence, Have mercy on me, Lord. ||7||

I don’t know yoga, prayer or rituals, But everywhere and at every moment, I bow to you, Shambhu! Protect me my Lord, miserable and afflicted as I am with the sufferings of birth, old-age and death. ||8||