Stotra · Shiva
Lingashtakam: lyrics with meaning
Eight short Sanskrit verses to the Shiva-linga, each ending with the same line, “to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow”. Easy to learn, and sung in Shiva temples across India.
Listen: Lingashtakam
A calm computer-voiced recitation over soft music, checked line by line against the text. It is an aid to reading along, not a replacement for a priest or a family elder.
What the Lingashtakam is
An ashtakam is a hymn of eight verses. The Lingashtakam praises the linga, the simple rounded form in which Shiva is worshipped in temples and homes: a sign of the formless taking a form. Each verse lists what the linga is honoured for, from being worshipped by Brahma and Vishnu to humbling Ravana's pride, and closes with the same line of surrender.
Its author is not known; it is often, but without evidence, credited to Adi Shankaracharya. The Sanskrit is simple and rhythmic, so it is a good first stotra for someone starting out.
How to recite it, step by step
It takes about four minutes.
- Wash and sit before a Shivling or a picture of Shiva; Mondays, Pradosh and Mahashivratri are traditional, but any day is fine.
- If you can, offer water, a bel leaf or a white flower, and light a diya.
- Recite the eight verses and the closing verse slowly. Reading from the English letters is completely fine.
- End with “Om Namah Shivaya” and a moment of silence, or with the Shiv aarti.
Lingashtakam, with meaning
Every verse ends with the same line, “tat pranamami sadashiva lingam”: to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 1
ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गं
निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम्।
जन्मजदुःखविनाशकलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Brahma-murari-surarchita lingam,
nirmala-bhasita-shobhita lingam,
janmaja-duhkha-vinashaka lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जिस लिंग की पूजा ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और देवता करते हैं, जो निर्मल प्रकाश से शोभित है, जो जन्म से जुड़े दुखों का नाश करता है, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and the gods, shining with a pure light, which ends the sorrows that come with birth; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 2
देवमुनिप्रवरार्चितलिङ्गं
कामदहनकरुणाकरलिङ्गम्।
रावणदर्पविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Deva-muni-pravara-archita lingam,
kama-dahana karunakara lingam,
ravana-darpa-vinashana lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जिसकी पूजा देवता और श्रेष्ठ मुनि करते हैं, जिसने कामदेव को भस्म किया और जो करुणा की खान है, जिसने रावण का घमंड तोड़ा, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga worshipped by gods and the best of sages, which burned away Kama, the god of desire, and is a mine of compassion, which broke Ravana's pride; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 3
सर्वसुगन्धिसुलेपितलिङ्गं
बुद्धिविवर्धनकारणलिङ्गम्।
सिद्धसुरासुरवन्दितलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Sarva-sugandhi-sulepita lingam,
buddhi-vivardhana-karana lingam,
siddha-surasura-vandita lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जिस पर हर तरह के सुगंधित लेप लगे हैं, जो बुद्धि बढ़ाने का कारण है, जिसकी वंदना सिद्ध, देवता और असुर सब करते हैं, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga anointed with every fragrance, the cause of growing wisdom, honoured by the perfected ones, by gods and by demons alike; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 4
कनकमहामणिभूषितलिङ्गं
फणिपतिवेष्टितशोभितलिङ्गम्।
दक्षसुयज्ञविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Kanaka-mahamani-bhushita lingam,
phanipati-veshtita shobhita lingam,
daksha-suyajna-vinashana lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जो सोने और बड़े रत्नों से सजा है, जिससे नागराज लिपटे हैं, जिसने दक्ष के यज्ञ का विनाश किया, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga adorned with gold and great jewels, beautiful with the king of serpents coiled around it, which brought Daksha's sacrifice to an end; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 5
कुङ्कुमचन्दनलेपितलिङ्गं
पङ्कजहारसुशोभितलिङ्गम्।
सञ्चितपापविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Kumkuma-chandana-lepita lingam,
pankaja-hara-sushobhita lingam,
sanchita-papa-vinashana lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जिस पर कुमकुम और चंदन का लेप है, जो कमल की माला से सुशोभित है, जो इकट्ठे हुए पापों का नाश करता है, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga anointed with kumkum and sandal paste, lovely with a garland of lotuses, which destroys the wrongs gathered over time; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 6
देवगणार्चितसेवितलिङ्गं
भावैर्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम्।
दिनकरकोटिप्रभाकरलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Devaganarchita-sevita lingam,
bhavair bhaktibhir eva cha lingam,
dinakara-koti-prabhakara lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जिसकी पूजा और सेवा देवताओं के समूह सच्चे भाव और भक्ति से करते हैं, जिसकी चमक करोड़ों सूर्यों जैसी है, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga worshipped and served by the hosts of gods with true feeling and devotion, shining like millions of suns; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 7
अष्टदलोपरिवेष्टितलिङ्गं
सर्वसमुद्भवकारणलिङ्गम्।
अष्टदरिद्रविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Ashtadalopari-veshtita lingam,
sarva-samudbhava-karana lingam,
ashta-daridra-vinashana lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जो आठ पंखुड़ियों वाले कमल पर विराजमान है, जो सारी सृष्टि की उत्पत्ति का कारण है, जो आठ तरह की दरिद्रता को मिटाता है, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga set upon an eight-petalled lotus, the cause from which everything arises, which ends the eight kinds of poverty; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Verse 8
सुरगुरुसुरवरपूजितलिङ्गं
सुरवनपुष्पसदार्चितलिङ्गम्।
परात्परं परमात्मकलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम्॥
Suraguru-suravara-pujita lingam,
suravana-pushpa-sadarchita lingam,
paratparam paramatmaka lingam,
tat pranamami sadashiva lingam.
अर्थ: जिसकी पूजा देवगुरु बृहस्पति और श्रेष्ठ देवता करते हैं, जिस पर स्वर्ग के उपवन के फूल सदा चढ़ते हैं, जो सबसे परे है और परमात्मा का स्वरूप है, उस सदाशिव लिंग को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Meaning: The linga worshipped by Brihaspati, teacher of the gods, and the greatest gods, always offered flowers from the gardens of heaven, beyond the highest, the Supreme Self itself; to that eternal Shiva-linga I bow.
Closing verse
लिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ।
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते॥
Lingashtakam idam punyam yah pathech chhiva-sannidhau,
shivalokam avapnoti shivena saha modate.
अर्थ: जो शिव जी के सामने इस पवित्र लिंगाष्टक का पाठ करता है, वह शिवलोक पाता है और शिव के साथ आनंद में रहता है।
Meaning: Whoever recites this sacred Lingashtakam in the presence of Shiva reaches Shiva's world and rejoices with him.
Questions
When should I recite the Lingashtakam?
Mondays, Pradosh, the month of Shravan and Mahashivratri are traditional; many recite it daily while offering water to the Shivling.
Who wrote the Lingashtakam?
No one knows for certain. It is often credited to Adi Shankaracharya, but there is no early evidence for that; it is a traditional hymn.
What are the “eight kinds of poverty” in verse 7?
Tradition does not fix one list. It is usually read as every kind of lack, of money, health, knowledge, family, peace and so on, matching the eight forms of Lakshmi.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text is a traditional, public-domain stotra. Every verse was checked against Drik Panchang and Sanskrit Wikisource, which agree apart from spacing and spelling. Variants: “ravana-darpa-vinashaka” (verse 2) and “pathet shiva-sannidhau” in the closing verse. The transliteration and meanings are our own.
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