Shivananda Lahari

Shivananda Lahari is a devotional hymn composed by Adi Shankara, Advaita philosopher, on Shiva. It literally means Wave of Auspicious Bliss. It consists of one hundred stanzas of Sanskrit poetry in various chandas (metres). It was composed by Adi Shankara while staying in Srisailam, a pilgrimage town, in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It begins with an ode to Mallikarjuna and Bhramarambika, the deities at Srisailam.

Shivananda Lahari was translated into Telugu language with word-to-word explanation by Balijepalli Lakshmikantham Kavi and published in 1916.

Shivananda Lahari is one of the greatest poetic prayers couched in an undercurrent of practical philosophy by Adi Shankaracharya. Unlike Soundarya Lahari, this stotra does not seem to have a tantric implication. It is more simple and enriched with several alankaras (Figure Of Speech). Anyone reading this and understanding it would definitely become a richer man - rich because of the peace, steadfast mind and knowledge of God and philosophy he gains.

Shivananda Lahari by Adi Shankaracharya takes us through the different stages of happiness on the spiritual path, culminating in an outburst of bliss when he reaches the presence of Lord Mallikarjuna. His experience of Oneness in the form of beautiful poetry reveals the devoted bhakta in him. 

It literally means Wave of Auspicious Bliss. It consists of one hundred stanzas of Sanskrit poetry in various chandas(metres). It was composed by Adi Shankacharya while staying in Srisailam, a pilgrimage town, in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It begins with an ode to Mallikarjuna and Bhramarambika, the deities at Srisailam. 

Shivananda Lahari of Shankara is a composition of 100 verses on Lord Shiva. This poem is full of bhakti-bhava. Soundarya Lahari abounds in mantra-sastra, and explains the purport of Sri Vidya through Pancha-dasakshari - 15 letters - of Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari, and Viveka Choodamani, explains the Jnana-marga. 

 

Shivananda Lahari First 30 Verses Lyrics in English

 

Kalabhyam choodalankrutha sasi kalabhyam nija thapa

Phalabhyam bhaktheshu prakatitha phalabhyam bhavathu me

Shivabham sthoka thri bhuvana shivabhyam hridhi punar

Bhavaabhyam ananda sphura dhanubhavabhyam natheeriyam || 1 ||

 

Galanthi shambho twacharitha saritha khilbhisharajo

Dganthi dho kulya saranishu pathanthi vijayatham

Dhisanthi samsara bhramana parthapopa samanam,

Vasanthi machedho hrid bhavathi Shivananda Lahari || 2 ||

 

Vrayi vedhyam tripura hara madhyam thrinayanam,

Jata bharodharam chala dhoora gaharam mriga dharma

Mahadevam devam mayi sadhata bhavam pasu pathim,

Chidalambam sambham shiva mathi vidambam hridhi bhaje || 3 ||

 

Sahasram varthanthe jagathi vibhutha kshudra phalada

Na manye swapne vaa thadanusaranam that krutha phalam

Hari brahmadeenamapi nikata bhaja masulabham

Chiram yache shambho shiva thava padombhoja bhajanam || 4 ||

 

Smruthou shasthre vaidhye shakuna kavitha gana phanithou

Puranee manthre vaa sthuthi natana hasyeshwa chatura

Kadham ragman preethirbhavathi mayi koo aham pasu pathe

Pasum maam sarvagna pradhitha kripaya palaya vibho || 5 ||

 

Ghato vaa mrithir pando apyaraunubhi cha dhoomogni rachala

Pato vaa thanthurva pariharathi kim ghorasamanam

Vridha kantakshebham vahasi tharasa tharka vachasa

Padhambhojam shmbhor bhaja parama soukhyam vrijasudhi || 6 ||

 

Manasthe padhabjhe nivasathu vacha sthothra phanithou

Karou chabhyarchyam sruthirapi kadha karnana vidhou

Thava dhyane budhir nayana yugalam moorthi vibhave

Para grandhan kairvaa paramashiva janee para matha || 7 ||

 

Yadha bhuddhi ssakthou rajatha mithi kachasamani mani

Rjale paishte ksheeram bhavathi mrigthrishnasu sallam

Thadha deva branthya bhajathi bhavadanyam jada jano

Maha devesam twam manasi cha na mathwa pasupathe || 8 ||

 

Gabheeram kaasare vimsathi vijane ghora vapine,

Vishale shaile cha brahmathi kusumartha jada mathi

Samarpaikam chetha sarasijamumanatha bhavathe,

Sukhenawasthathum jana iha na janathi kimaho || 9 ||

 

Narathwam devasthvam naga vana mrugathwam masakhatha,

Pasuthwam keetathwam bhavathu vihagathwadi janananam

Sada twadpadabja smarana paramananda lahari

Vihaarasaktham che dhugdhaya miha kim thena vapusha || 10 ||

 

Vaturva gehee va yathirapi jati va thadinari,

Naro vaa ya kaschid bhavathu bhava kim thena bhavathi

Yadeeyam hrith padmam bhavad adeenam pasu pathe,

Thadeeya stwam shambho bhavasi bhava bhaaram cha vahasi || 11 ||

 

Guhayam gehe va bahiapi vane va adri shikaram

Jale va vahni va vasathu vasathe kim vada phalam,

Sada yasyai va antha karana mapi sambho thava pade

Sthitham chedyogosau sa cha parama yogi sa cha sukhi || 12 ||

 

Asare samsare nija bhajana dhoore jada dhiya

Bramantham mamandham parama kripaya pathu muchitham

Madanya ko dheena sthava kripana rakshaathi nipuna,

Sthvadanya ko va me trijagathi saranya pasu pathe || 13 ||

 

Prabhu sthvam dheenanam khalu parama bhandhu pasu pathe,

Pramukhyoham thesha mapi kimutha bhanduthva manoyo

Twayaiwa kshanthawyo sisava mdhaparadascha sakala

Prayathnath karthavyam madavana miyam bhandhu sarani || 14 ||

 

Upeksha no cheth kinna harasi bhavadh dhyana vimukham

Dhurasa booyishtam vidhi lipi masaktho yadi bhavath,

Shira sthadvai dhathram na nakhalu savrutham pasu pathe,

Kadam vaa niryathnam kara nakha mukhe naiva lulitham || 15 ||

 

Virinchi dheergayushur bhavathu bhavatha that para sira

Schathushkam samrakshyam sa khalu bhuvi dhainyam likhitavan,

Vichara ko vaa maam vishdha kripaya paathi shivaa me,

Kataksha vyaapara swayamapi na dheenavaan para || 16 ||

 

Phaladha punyanam mayi karunaya vaa twayi vibho,

Prasannepi swamin bhava damala padabja yugalam,

Kadham pasyeyam maam sthagayathi namarasambrama jusham

Nirlepanam sreni nija kanaka manikya makutai || 17 ||

 

Twameko lokanam parama phalado divya padavim,

Vahantha stwanmulam punarapi bajanthe hari mukha,

Kiyadwa dhakshinyai twa shiva madhasaa cha kiyathi,

Kadha vaa mad raksham vahasi karunaa pooritha drisha || 18 ||

 

Dhurasaa bhooyishte dhuradhipa gruhadwara ghatake,

Dhooranthe samsare dhuritha nilaye dhukka janake,

Madayasam kim na vyapanayathi kasyopa krithaye,

Vadeyam preethischeth tawa krithartha khalu vayam || 19 ||

 

Sadaa mohatavyam charathi yuvatheenam kucha girou,

Nata thyasha sakhasvatathi jhatithi swairamabhitha

Kapaalin bhiksho me hridaya kapi matyantha chapalam,

Dridam bhakthya bhaddha shiva bhavad dheenam kuru vibho || 20 ||

 

Dhruthui sthambha daram drida guna nibhaddham sagamanam,

Vichitram padmadyam prathi divasa sanmarga gaditham,

Smarare macchetha sphuta patas kutim prapya vishuddham,

Jaya swamin shakthya saha shiva ganai samsevitha vibho || 21 ||

 

Pralobhadyai rarthaharana para thanthro dhani gruhe,

Pravesadhya kthassan bramathi bahudha thaskarapathe,

Imam chetaschoram katha miha sahe sankara vibho,

Thavadeenam kruthva mayi niraparadhe kuru krupam || 22 ||

 

Karomi twapoojam sapadhi sukhadho me bhava vibho,

Vidhitwam Vishnutwam dhisasi khalu tasya phalamithi,

Punascha twam dhivi bhuvi vahan pakshi mrugatha

Madrushtwa tat khedam kada miha sahe Sankara Vibho ||23 ||

 

Kadha vaa kailase kanaka mani soudhe saha ganai,

Rvasan Shamboragre sphuta ghatitha moordhajali phuta

Vibho sambha swamin paramashiva paheethi nigadhana

Vidhaathrunam kalpan kshanamiva vineshyami sukhada || 24 ||

 

Sthavai rbrahmadeenam jaya jaya vachobhi niryaminam,

Gananam kelibhir mada kala maksobhya kakudhi,

Sthitham neelagreevam trinayana mumamslishta vapusham,

Kadha twam pasyeyam kara drutha kkhanda prasum || 25 ||

 

Kadha vaa drushtva gireesha thava bhavayangri yugalam,

Griheethva hasthabhyam shirasi nayane vakshasi vahan,

Samaslishya graya sphuta jalaja gandhan parimala,

Nalabhyam brhmadourmudha manu bavishyami hrudhaye || 26 ||

 

Karasthe hemadrou Gireesha nikatasthe dhana pathou,

Gruhasthe sarvabujamara surabhi chinthamanir gane,

Shirasthe sheetamsau charana yugalsthe akhila shubha,

Kamartha dasyoham bhavathu bhavadarthe mama mana || 27 ||

 

Saaroopyam thava poojana shiva maha devethi samkeerthane,

Saameepyam shiva bhakthi dhurya janatha sangathya sambhashane,

Saalokyam cha characharathmaka thanu dyane bhavani pathe,

Sayujyam mama siddha mathra bhavathi swamin kridharthosysmaham || 28 ||

 

Twat padambuja marchayami paramam twam chintayamyaham

Twameesam saranam vrijami vachasa twameva yache Vibho,

Veeksham me disa chakshusheem sakarunam divyai schiram prarthitham

Shambho loka guro maddeya manasa soukyopadesam kuru || 29 ||

 

VasthroDhutrutha Vidhou sahasrakaratha pushparchane Vishnutha,

Gandhe gandha vahatmathaanna pachane bahirmukadyakshatha,

Pathre kanchagarbhatasthi mayi Chedbalendu chudamane,

Sushrusham kara vani the pasupathe swamin triloki guro || 30 ||