To talk to Lord Shiva
-Om Namah Shivaya || -
When you look around yourself, and witness the vast and magnificent world of nature and the human settlement spread out before you, where the sun shines bright and illuminates the land and the water, and also the people who care for you, spend time with you, and enrich your experience of life.
During the times when you stare at nothing but darkness in this lonely path of life that nobody is going to share with you till the end, when everything is lost and you go down in the depths of grief…
We talk, we praise, we even rant to Him, the Indescribable who resides within all of us, for all the emotions that arise in us, which can never be perfectly expressed in words.
Sanatana Dharma has given us the flexibility to use any pathway to realize Him and thus liberate ourselves, which we take for granted. One can choose any method that is beneficial and comfortable for him/her.
One popular practice is the mantra japa, followed by Bhaktas since time immemorial. ‘Japa’ meaning ‘muttering’ and ‘mantra’ meaning ‘tool of thought’, the mantra is chanted verbally or within the mind.
The mantra is the vision of the seer and it is a manifestation of the deity through language. The mantra should be contemplated, and its meaning to be understood by the devotee. It is worded such that it creates a vibration of peace and positive energy on chanting.
For one who doesn’t know where to start, just close your eyes and imagine as if the Lord is right in front of you. And then start chanting. Even a little effort can do wonders. It reveals the simplicity of life that seems to be complicated by today’s world. When put into practice, it is easy to realize the deity whose mantra one contemplates upon.
For a person who does not prefer the above method or finds it difficult to incorporate in one’s life, there is another, the method of slokas and kirtans (slokas being the main subject of this article), which has been declared as the best and simplest way for nirvana. When one learns slokas and gets to know the original composer’s intentions, one actually feels as if he/she is ‘talking’ to the Lord.
So here we go.
Here are a few selected slokas where great saints and philosophers have addressed Lord Shiva, in Sanskrit. They are indeed very different and beautiful, to listen, to chant and experience.
1. Shiva Sahasranama Stotram
These thousand (plus eight) names of Lord Shiva are are less well-known than those of Lord MahaVishnu, though. However, there is a quite interesting legend behind them.
In the holy Kurukshetra, with peaceful vibrations emanating from Bhishma’s final resting place, his bed of arrows, just after he has sung the glory of Lord Shri Krishna with those thousand divine names, and their benefits declared, Dharmaraja asks if Lord Shiva can be described in the same way, and he expresses his desire to hear His names as well. But Bhishma delegated the task to Krishna, who fulfilled it by quoting the sage Upamanyu, who had taught him the names.
Sage Upamanyu, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and a disciple of Saint Ayodhdhaumya, was repeatedly tested by his Guru, endured starvation and was he was blessed by Lord Shiva for the severe penances he undertook later in his life. Lord Krishna approached Sage Upamanyu to seek the wisdom he had gained from Lord Mahadeva. On Upamanyu’s advice, Krishna prayed to Lord Shiva and thus had his son Samba.
Sage Upamanyu started with the greatness of Him who cannot be described easily and stated that he would be telling “just a few” names with his “limited” capabilities.
In the phala-stuti he further stated the greatness of Shiva Sahasranama, here are a few points which I would like to share here.
The sages and Devas worship Him using these names,
And the great Lord would become happy,
If praised by these names with discipline.
Those who by all means follow and worship that Maheshwara,
Would be saved from the whirlpool of birth by him.
He who with great effort recites this always,
For a year in front of Lord Rudra,
Would attain whatever he wants.
Before concluding, he told Lord Krishna how he learnt the Sahasranama in the first place.
This very secret prayer, which is,
Always kept in the heart of Brahma,
Was taught by him to Indra,
And Indra taught this to Mrityu.
Mrityu told them to the Rudras,
And sage Thandi got it from them,
In the court of Brahma,
As a result of severe penance.
Oh Madhava, Sage Thandi taught it to Shukra,
Shukra taught it to sage Gautama,
And Gautama taught it to Vaivaswatha Manu.
He taught it to Sage Sathya Narayana,
Who was in Samadhi and greatly intelligent.
This sage Sathyanarayana taught it to Yama.
Oh Lord Krishna of the clan of Vrishni,
This Yama who was the son of Vivaswan,
Taught it to Sage Nachiketa,
Who taught it to Markandeya.
Hey Lord Janardana, I got it from Markandeya,
And Hey killer of your enemies,
I am giving this secret prayer to you.
And finally, it no longer became “secret”.
The conclusion to Yudhisthira was as follows:
Hey Yudhishthira, To the one who recites this,
Clean with continence and with control over senses,
For a year without break,
Would get the effect of performing the horse sacrifice.
May we benefit from reciting the Shiva Sahasranama while also understanding the significance of each name, and find peace and success in life.
2. Shiva Mahimna Stotram
This Stotram was composed under completely different circumstances, by a Gandharva by name Pushpadanta. He was an excellent singer and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, and was also employed at Lord Indra’s court.
Once he came across King Chitraratha’s kingdom to find beautiful flowers in the palace garden. Awestruck by the beauty of the flowers, he started to steal them for his daily oblations. As a Gandharva, he had the power to walk on air and also become invisible, and hence the task was much easier for him. Once the king (also a devotee of Lord Shiva) realized what was happening, he arranged for bilva leaves to be strewn on the ground.
The next time the invisible Pushpadanta entered the garden, he stepped on the bilva leaves without noticing them, and immediately lost his special powers. Within a matter of time, he was caught and imprisoned. Later, he had realized what he had done, and composed the Shiva Mahimna Stotram that praised the Lord, who was immensely pleased and restored his abilities. Moreover, he asked the king for forgiveness and was released.
The slokas may seem like a ‘tongue twister’ at first, but one finds them very beautiful to learn and chant them. Here are some verses I found particularly beautiful:
Tavaisvaryam yatnaad yadupari virincir-hari-radhah
paricchett- um yaataav anala manala skandha vapushah,
tato bhakti sraddhaa bhara-guru-grinad-bhyaam girisha yat
svayam tasthe taabhyaam tava kim anuvrittir na phalati.
O Girisha, when You took the form of a pillar of fire, Brahma trying from above and Vishnu trying from below failed to measure You. Afterwards, when they praised You with great faith and devotion, You revealed yourself to them of Your own accord; does not surrender to You bear fruit? (Sloka 10)
Asita-giri-samam syaat kajjalam sindhu-paatre
sura-taruvara-shaakhaa lekhani patra-murvi,
likhati yadi grhitvaa shaaradaa sarva-kaalam
tadapi tava gunaanaam isha paaram na yaati.
O Lord, if the black mountain be ink, the ocean the inkpot, the branch of the stout wish-fulfilling tree a pen, the earth the writing leaf, and if taking these the Goddess of Learning writes for eternity, even then the limit of Your virtues will not be reached. (Sloka 32)
He concludes, among the many benefits of the Stotram, with this one:
If a person learns by heart and recites this hymn, which flowed from the lotus mouth of Pushpadanta, which destroys sins and is dear to Shiva and which equally promotes the good of all, Shiva, the Lord of creation, becomes very pleased.
Legend says that when Pushpadanta became too proud of himself after the success of his composition, Lord Shiva made him realize that he is nothing but an instrument of the Lord, and nothing that he composed was truly his own work.
3. Shiva Aparaadha Kshamapana Stotram
Sri Adi Shankara, one of the noblest among souls, who in his short life, had gained mastery over all of the scriptures, puts himself in the shoes of the average man, apologizing to the Lord for his neglect towards Him and instead running after transient things throughout his life.
As a result of his past karma, a person takes birth again in the present life, where he suffers from physical ailments, his mind is deluded by the senses and he runs after material things. In old age his body becomes weak and tired, and due to further sufferings, he forgets the Lord completely and fails to worship Him.
He asks for forgiveness for not following the rules of Dharma, and not doing even the least in the direction of charity.
He tells his mind about the ultimate truth of life that he has learned the hard way, that everything that one has earned can be taken away even in a single moment, if the Lord desires it. When life and time are as transient as the tides and waves, it is Lord Shiva, ever shining within the being, who can protect, “forgive” and enlighten us, liberate us from life’s sufferings.
A couple of verses in Shri Adi Shankara’s own words:
Vaardhakye chendriyaanaam, vigata-gati-matish-cha, adhidaivaadi-taapaih,
Paapai rogair-viyogai-stvanavasita-vapuh praudhahiinam cha diinamh,
Mithyaa-mohaabhilaashhair-bhramati mama mano dhuurjater-dhyaana-shuunyam
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho.
When I was passing through ripe old age, my five senses got weakened,
My wisdom lost its memory, My body got weakened, Due to god given sin, sickness and pain never leaving it, and my mind started roaming behind,
Useless passions and desires, And so I did not think of thee Parameshwara,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva. (verse 4)
Kim vaaanena dhanena, vaajikaribhih, praaptena raajyena kim,
Kim vaa putra-kalatra-mitra-pashubhir-dehena, gehena kim,
Gyaatvai-tat-kshana-bhanguram, sapadi re tyaajyam, mano duuratah,
Svaatmaartham guruvaakyato, bhaja bhaja shriipaarvatiivallabham.
Oh, Mind, what is the use of charity, riches, horses, and by getting a kingdom, what is the use of son, wife, friends and cows, what is the use of this house, this body, for all these can be destroyed in a second, and so keep them all away, And for the sake of redemption of the soul, Meditate on the consort of Parvathi, According to the lessons taught by thine teacher. (verse 12)
This is thus an extremely relatable Stotram that anyone can recite to seek His forgiveness and start afresh a new chapter in life.
4. Shiva Panchakshara Nakshatramala Stotram
This is also composed by Shri Adi Shankara, who has kept in mind Lord Shiva’s devotees while writing the text.
The Stotram has 27 verses (plus 1 phala stuti) that coincides with the number of stars or nakshatras in Sanatana Dharma. Each verse pays obeisance to the Lord and extols His greatness. Devotees are additionally benefitted, as every line of every verse ends in ‘Namah Shivaya’ that makes it easier for devotees to chant the Shiva Panchakshara Mantra without the monotony for 27*4 = 108 times!
This is one of the best slokas to obtain a sense of inner peace, and get one’s desires fulfilled.
Here are a couple of verses to get you started:
vyomakesa divyabhavyarupa te namah shivaya
hemamedinidharendracapa te namah shivaya ।
namamatradagdhasarvapapa te namah shivaya
kamanaikatanahrddurapa te namah shivaya ||
Salutations to Lord Shiva, whose matted hair shines like the sky and possesses divine and beautiful forms.
Salutations to Lord Shiva, who holds the golden spear and is the destroyer of ignorance and delusion.
Salutations to Lord Shiva, whose mere name burns away all sins.
Salutations to Lord Shiva, who resides in the hearts of those who have conquered desires. (Verse 5)
sevakaya me mrḍa prasida te namah shivaya
bhavalabhya tavakaprasada te namah shivaya ।
pavakaksa devapujyapada te namah shivaya
tavakaṅghribhaktadattamoda te namah shivaya ||
O Lord Shiva, who is the servant of your devotees, be gracious to me.
O Lord Shiva, by your grace, bestow the attainment of worldly desires and liberation.
O Lord Shiva, whose eyes are like the flames of fire, I worship your divine feet.
O Lord Shiva, I offer my devotion and fragrance to your lotus-like feet. (Verse 24)
One would also note that the second letter of each line is the same for a particular verse (in some verses the root letter is identical).
These are merely small steps in the method of Bhakti through slokas, where we realize the beauty of the compositions and the greatness of Lord Shiva. Let us all start small, and with His anugraha, trod on the path to success and ultimate happiness.
Karacharana Kritam Vaa Kaya Jam Karmajam Vaa
Shravannayanjam Vaa Maansam Vaa Paradham
Vihitam Vihitam Vaa Sarv Metat Kshamasva
Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe Shri Mahadev Shambho.
(We praise the Almighty for purifying the body, mind, and soul from the burden of stress, rejection, failure, depression, and other negative energies.)
AUTHOR (Sudhiksha Kannan, ME23B2006): Living in a vast nation called Bharat, following the flexible but beautiful culture called Sanatana Dharma, immersing in classics and history that is both old and new at the same time.
