Rudrashtakam
namāmīśamīśāna nirvāṇarūpaṃ vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahmavedasvarūpam| nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīhaṃ cidākāśamākāśavāsaṃ bhaje'ham||1||
nirākāramoṅkāramūlaṃ turīyaṃ girā jñāna gotītamīśaṃ girīśam| karālaṃ mahākālakālaṃ kṛpālaṃ guṇāgārasaṃsārapāraṃ nato'ham||2||
tuṣārādrisaṃkāśagauraṃ gabhīraṃ manobhūtakoṭiprabhāśrīśarīram| sphuranmaulikallolinīcārugaṅgā lasadbhālabālendu kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā||3||
calatkuṇḍalaṃ bhrūsunetraṃ viśālaṃ prasannānanaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ dayālam| mṛgādhīśacarmāmbaraṃ muṇḍamālaṃ priyaṃ śaṅkaraṃ sarvanāthaṃ bhajāmi||4||
pracaṇḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ pareśaṃ akhaṇḍaṃ ajaṃ bhānukoṭiprakāśam| trayaḥśūlanirmūlanaṃ śūlapāṇiṃ bhaje'haṃ bhavānīpatiṃ bhāvagamyam||5||
kalātītakalyāṇakalpāntakārī sadā sajjanānandadātā purārī| cidānandasandohamohāpahārī prasīda prasīda prabho manmathārī||6||
na yāvad umānātha pādāravindaṃ bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām| na tāvatsukhaṃ śānti saṃtāpanāśaṃ prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsam||7||
na jānāmi yogaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ nato'haṃ sadā sarvadā śambhu tubhyam| jarājanmaduḥkhaughatātapyamānaṃ prabho pāhi āpannamāmīśa śambho||8||
rudrāṣṭakamidaṃ proktaṃ vipreṇa haratoṣaye| ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ śambhuḥ prasīdati||
namāmīśamīśāna nirvāṇarūpaṃ vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahmavedasvarūpam| nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīhaṃ cidākāśamākāśavāsaṃ bhaje'ham||1||
nirākāramoṅkāramūlaṃ turīyaṃ girā jñāna gotītamīśaṃ girīśam| karālaṃ mahākālakālaṃ kṛpālaṃ guṇāgārasaṃsārapāraṃ nato'ham||2||
tuṣārādrisaṃkāśagauraṃ gabhīraṃ manobhūtakoṭiprabhāśrīśarīram| sphuranmaulikallolinīcārugaṅgā lasadbhālabālendu kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā||3||
calatkuṇḍalaṃ bhrūsunetraṃ viśālaṃ prasannānanaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ dayālam| mṛgādhīśacarmāmbaraṃ muṇḍamālaṃ priyaṃ śaṅkaraṃ sarvanāthaṃ bhajāmi||4||
pracaṇḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ pareśaṃ akhaṇḍaṃ ajaṃ bhānukoṭiprakāśam| trayaḥśūlanirmūlanaṃ śūlapāṇiṃ bhaje'haṃ bhavānīpatiṃ bhāvagamyam||5||
kalātītakalyāṇakalpāntakārī sadā sajjanānandadātā purārī| cidānandasandohamohāpahārī prasīda prasīda prabho manmathārī||6||
na yāvad umānātha pādāravindaṃ bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām| na tāvatsukhaṃ śānti saṃtāpanāśaṃ prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsam||7||
na jānāmi yogaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ nato'haṃ sadā sarvadā śambhu tubhyam| jarājanmaduḥkhaughatātapyamānaṃ prabho pāhi āpannamāmīśa śambho||8||
rudrāṣṭakamidaṃ proktaṃ vipreṇa haratoṣaye| ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ śambhuḥ prasīdati||
Introduction
Rudrashtakam is a famous eight-verse hymn in praise of Lord Shiva. In devotional tradition it is attributed to Goswami Tulsidas and associated with the Uttarkand of the Ramcharitmanas.
The hymn meditates on Shiva as formless, beyond attributes, auspicious, compassionate, and the refuge from worldly suffering.
How to Recite
- It is commonly recited on Mondays, Pradosha, during Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri.
- Meditate on Lord Shiva or a Shiva Linga before recitation.
- Recite with clear pronunciation and a calm devotional mind.
Sources 2
- Rudrashtakam — Ramcharitmanas, Uttarkand
Digital text witness for the commonly recited Rudrashtakam and its Ramcharitmanas attribution; verify against a printed Ramcharitmanas edition during religious review.
- Rudrashtakam — Public overview and attribution pointer
Used only as a public pointer for attribution, not as the final textual authority.
Meanings are compiled and edited by the Ved Path team, and are being progressively reviewed for accuracy.