रुद्राष्टकम्
8 Verses by Tulsidas — Complete Lyrics in Hindi
Rudrashtakam (रुद्राष्टकम्) is a magnificent 8-verse hymn composed by Goswami Tulsidas in praise of Lord Rudra (Shiva). It appears in the Uttara Kanda of Ramcharitmanas. This stotra is one of the most beautiful and poetic descriptions of Lord Shiva's divine form, attributes, and glory.
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं। विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्॥ निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम्॥
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं। गिरा ज्ञान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम्॥ करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालुं। गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहम्॥
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं। मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरम्॥ स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा। लसद्भालबालेंदु कंठे भुजंगा॥
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं। प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम्॥ मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं। प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं। अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्॥ त्रयः शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं। भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्॥
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी। सदा सज्जनानंद दाता पुरारी॥ चिदानंद सन्दोह मोहापहारी। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं। भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणाम्॥ न तावत्सुखं शान्तिसन्ताप नाशं। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम्॥
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां। नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम्॥ जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं। प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो॥
Rudrashtakam was composed by Goswami Tulsidas, the great 16th-century Hindi poet and saint who also wrote Ramcharitmanas and Hanuman Chalisa. It appears in the Uttara Kanda of Ramcharitmanas.
Rudrashtakam describes Lord Shiva's divine form — his white complexion, the Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the crescent moon on his head, the serpent around his neck, his trident, and his supreme compassionate nature.
Rudrashtakam is best recited on Mondays, on Maha Shivaratri, during Shravan month, and during pradosh kaal (evening twilight). It can also be recited any time with devotion to Lord Shiva.