The Rudrashtakam appears in the Uttar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas тАФ the guru of Kakbhushundi sang it to please Shiva. It praises both Shiva's formless (nirguna, turiya) and personal (Gangadhara, Neelkantha) aspects.
ЁЯУЦ Full text тАФ with meaning
Tap ┬лRoman (English) script┬╗ to see the original Devanagari text.
O Ishana, I bow to you тАФ you are the form of liberation, all-pervading, the embodiment of Brahman and the Vedas; self-abiding, beyond qualities, beyond doubt, desireless, the sky of consciousness, clad in the sky тАФ I worship you.
Formless, root of Omkara, the fourth state (beyond waking, dream and sleep), beyond speech, knowledge and the senses, lord of Kailash, terrible, death of Mahakala himself, merciful, abode of virtues, beyond the world тАФ I bow to you.
Fair and deep like the snowy Himalaya, with a beautiful body radiant as crores of Kamadevas; on whose head the lovely Ganga ripples, on whose forehead is the crescent moon and on whose neck the serpents.
With swinging earrings, beautiful brows and large eyes, a cheerful face, blue throat, compassionate, wearing a lion-skin and a garland of skulls тАФ I worship the beloved Shankar, lord of all.
Fierce, supreme, bold, the highest lord, undivided, unborn, radiant as crores of suns; who uproots the three kinds of pain, holds the trident, and is reached through love тАФ I worship Bhavani's lord.
Beyond the arts, auspicious, the one who ends the kalpa, ever giving joy to the good, enemy of Tripura, mass of consciousness and bliss, remover of delusion, enemy of Kama тАФ O Lord, be pleased, be pleased.
Na Yavat Umanatha Padaravindam Bhajantiha Loke Pare Va Naranam |
Na Tavatsukham Shanti Santapanasham Prasida Prabho Sarvabhutadhivasam ||7 ||
O lord of Uma, as long as people do not worship your lotus feet, they find neither happiness nor peace nor end of suffering in this world or the next; O dweller in all beings, be pleased.
Na Janami Yogam Japam Naiva Pujam Nato'ham Sada Sarvada Shambhu Tubhyam |
Jara Janma Duhkhaugha Tatapyamanam Prabho Pahi Apannamamisha Shambho ||8 ||
I know neither yoga, nor japa, nor puja; O Shambhu, I simply bow to you always. Protect me, your refugee, burning in the flood of sorrows of old age and birth, O Lord, O Ishana, O Shambhu.
This Rudrashtakam was spoken by a brahmin (Kakbhushundi's guru) to please Shiva; Shambhu is pleased with those who read it with devotion.
ЁЯУ┐ Japa counter (mala of 108)
Tap the button for each repetition; every 108 counts as one mala (your phone vibrates). The count is saved on this device/browser.
ЁЯУЕ Next auspicious days (from our panchang)
23 Oct (Friday) тАФ Pradosh Vrat
26 Oct (Monday)
2 Nov (Monday)
6 Nov (Friday) тАФ Pradosh Vrat
7 Nov (Saturday) тАФ Masik Shivaratri
9 Nov (Monday)
Dates are for Delhi sunrise; see today's panchang for your city.
ЁЯкФ How to chant / recite
Time: Morning or evening, after Shiva abhishek.
Method: After offering water/bilva on the Shivalinga, with a calm mind тАФ it is in Bhujangaprayata metre and easy to sing.
Count: Once daily; 3 or 11 times on Shravan Mondays.
ЁЯЫХ Puja vidhi (step by step)
ЁЯз║ Items needed
Shivalinga or picture of Shiva-parivar
Pure water and raw milk (abhishek)
Bilva leaves (three-leaved, unbroken)
Dhatura, aak flowers (as per tradition)
White sandalwood, bhasma, akshata
Incense, ghee lamp
Fruits and sweets as bhog
Rudraksha mala (for japa)
ЁЯк╖ Procedure
Bathe and wear clean clothes; clean the puja place and spread a fresh cloth on the altar (chowki).
Do achamana (sip water three times) and purify hands and mouth; sit on an asana and calm the mind.
Light a lamp of ghee or sesame oil тАФ by tradition the lamp is kept to the deity's right.
Take water, akshata (unbroken rice) and a flower in the right hand and make the sankalpa тАФ your name, gotra, place, date and the purpose of the puja, spoken or in the mind; then let the water fall to the ground.
First remember Shri Ganesha (Om Gam Ganapataye Namah).
Do abhishek on the Shivalinga with water, then milk (and if possible curd, ghee, honey, sugar тАФ panchamrit), then water again, chanting ┬лOm Namah Shivaya┬╗.
Offer white sandalwood and bhasma, akshata, bilva leaves (smooth side towards the linga), dhatura and aak flowers.
Show incense and lamp, offer bhog; then chant the mantra / recite Shiv Chalisa / Rudrashtakam.
Sing ┬лOm Jai Shiv Omkara┬╗; the parikrama of a Shivalinga is half тАФ the outlet (somasutra) is not crossed.
Finally perform aarti, offer pushpanjali (flowers) and do parikrama (or turn around in your place).
Ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja, distribute the prasad and take it yourself.
тЪая╕П Rules & precautions
Ketaki flowers and tulsi are traditionally not offered to Shiva; turmeric-kumkum is offered to Mother Parvati, not on the linga.
Bilva leaves should be unbroken; a bilva leaf can be washed and offered again.
Monday, Pradosh (trayodashi) and Masik Shivaratri are special days for Shiva.
Water/milk offered on the linga should not fall at the feet тАФ pour it into a plant.
ЁЯУЬ Story / origin
According to the Ramcharitmanas, Kakbhushundi insulted his guru out of pride and Shiva cursed him. His guru then sang this Rudrashtakam asking Shiva's forgiveness тАФ pleased, Shiva softened the curse. Hence the phalashruti says ┬лspoken by a brahmin to please Hara┬╗.
ЁЯМЯ Benefits (as per tradition)
A prayer for peace of mind and end of suffering (verse 7).
The spirit of humble devotion тАФ ┬лI know neither yoga nor japa┬╗ (verse 8).
These are traditional beliefs described in scriptures; results are understood to depend on faith, discipline and one's own actions.
тЭУ Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Rudrashtakam?
Goswami Tulsidas, in the Uttar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas.
Are Rudrashtakam and Rudri (Rudrabhishek) the same?
No; Rudri is the Rudradhyaya of the Yajurveda, Rudrashtakam is Tulsidas's 8-verse hymn.
