Namami Shamishan Meaning
If you relate to Lord Shiva a lot, then this prayer will truly touch your heart & fill you with tears of happiness.
Popularly known as “Namami Shamishan”, the Rudrāṣṭakam stotram is mostly credited to Goswami Tulsidas, who is famous for writing the Ramacharitramanas.
It’s a beautiful stotram of 8 verses praising Lord Shiva & hearing or reciting it is said to calm down your mind instantly.
The first verse says…
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं, विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं, चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेहम् ॥
It means that I’m bowing down to the God of all Gods, whose very form is moksha or liberation itself. He is present everywhere, in everything, and he is the Supreme Reality, his essence is in the Vedas - he exists without material qualities, beyond duality & desire. He is the infinite sky of consciousness, residing in infinity … I adore & worship him.
The second verse goes…
निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं, गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं, गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोहम् ॥
It means that Shiva is formless, rooted in the sacred Om, as the fourth state of higher awareness. He is the ruler of the mountain, his form is terrifying, and he is the Death of Death, the Time of Time. Despite that, he is compassionate, he has all good virtues, and he is beyond the ocean of worldly existence. I bow to him.
The third verse says…
तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभीरं, मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा, लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥
It’s describing how Shiva’s skin glows like a snow mountain, and his mood is profoundly deep. His hair flows like Ganga and he’s carrying the crescent on his brow, with serpents on his neck.
The fourth verse goes…
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं, प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं, प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥
It talks about Shiva’s dangling earrings & broad eyes. He has a blue throat which is a result of his consuming poison during the Samudra Manthan episode. He is wearing a garland of skulls, symbolising his mastery over death.
The fifth verse says…
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं, अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं, भजेहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥
It further describes Shiva as fierce, majestic, eternal & shining with the brilliance of a million Suns. He wields the trident, which symbolises his victory over the 3 bondages which cause our misery: ego, karma and ignorance. Only he can deliver us from them.
The sixth verse goes…
कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी, सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी, प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥
This line talks about his victory over Kama, material desire, and his ability to give us real bliss or happiness, not the shallow kind. Rising above time, and renewing the universe, he removes all our delusions … so please have mercy on us, o Lord!
The seventh verse says…
न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं, भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं, प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥
This teaches us to completely surrender to Shiva-Shakti, Shiva being pure consciousness & Shakti being prakriti or the creative power, as embodied by his consort Uma. Until that happens, we will not find peace, happiness & relief.
Finally, the eight verse goes…
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां, नतोहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं, प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो ॥
This verse beautifully culminates in the complete surrender of the devotee, who accepts that they don’t know yoga, mantra or worship … they are only bowing down to Shambhu, who will protect our living being burning in the fire or birth, ageing, sorrow & death.
This is truly a heart-touching meditative stotra to go back to daily, so search it up on YouTube& begin your Sadhana!