Rudrastakam
Encyclopedia
The Rudrastakam is a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...

 composition in devotion of Lord Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....

 or Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

, composed by the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 Bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...

 poet Sant Tulsidas
Tulsidas
Tulsidas , was a Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion for the god Rama...

 . Tulsidas
Tulsidas
Tulsidas , was a Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion for the god Rama...

 composed in the late fifteenth century Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...

 of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 and created many other literary pieces including the magnum opus Ram Charit Manas.

The devotional hymn "Rudrastakam" appears in the Uttara Kand of the celebrated Ram Charit Manas, where demon King Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...

 composed the hymn to propitiate Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

.

The Astakam
Astakam
The term Astakam is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Astak', meaning "Eight". In context of poetic compositions, 'Astakam' refers to a particular form of poetry. The form of a composition is an 'Astakam' where eight stanzas make the piece.-Form:...

 is in reverence to Lord Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....

, though the context pertains to the benevolent Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

, the post-Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...

 transformation of the malevolent Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....

. It is arguable that the distinction between Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....

 and Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

 was already lost by the time of Goswami Tulsidas
Tulsidas
Tulsidas , was a Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion for the god Rama...

.

The Rudrastakam is lucid and simple in style and plays an instrumental role in the Shaiva traditions.

Astakam as a Form and a Genre


The term "Astakam
Astakam
The term Astakam is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Astak', meaning "Eight". In context of poetic compositions, 'Astakam' refers to a particular form of poetry. The form of a composition is an 'Astakam' where eight stanzas make the piece.-Form:...

" is derived from the Sanskrit word , meaning "eight". An astakam is made up of eight stanzas.

An Astakam belong to the genre of lyric poetry, which tends to be short, extremely melodic, and contemplative. It reflects and portrays the poet's own feelings, states of mind, and perceptions about the theme or character in the Astakam.

Context

The Rudrastakam narrates the qualities and deeds of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

.

The body of the Rudrastakam includes many qualities, attributes and motifs associated with Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

, including the destruction of Tripura (mythology)
Tripura (mythology)
Tripura meaning three cities, was constructed by the great Sura architect Mayasura. They were great cities of prosperity, power and dominance over the world, but due to their impious nature, Maya's cities were destroyed by god Tripurantaka, an aspect of Shiva...

, the annihilation of Kamadeva
Kamadeva
Kāmadeva is the Hindu god of human love or desire. Other names for him include; Atanu , Ragavrinta , Ananga , Kandarpa , Manmatha , Manasija ,...

 etc. These symbols and motifs related to the life and deeds of Lord Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....

 or Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

.

Text

See Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...

 for details of pronunciation.
Devanagari
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...

IAST
IAST
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is a transliteration scheme that allows a lossless romanization of Indic scripts as employed by the Sanskrit language.-Popularity:...

English Translation
॥ रुद्राष्टकम ॥ .. rudrāṣṭakam .. Eight Stanzas on Rudra
आचार्य तुलसीदास ācārya tulsidas Acharya Tulsidas
नममिशामिशाना Namami Isham Ishana O Lord, O' Īśāna
Ishana
Īśāna has its roots in the word "ish" which means the invisible power that governs the universe. The wielder of this power is "Īśāna". It is synonymous with Ishwar which means 'The Lord'. In Hindu Scriptures this is a name given to Shiva...

! I prostrate before thee
निर्वानारुपम nirvana rupam Who is the embodiment of Nirvāṇa
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...

 bliss
विभुं व्यापकं bibhu vyapakam Who is omni-present
ब्रह्मवेदास्वरुपम, । brahmaveda svarupam, Who is knowledge of the Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...

 in reality and totality
निजम निर्गुणं Nijam Who is ever dwelling in his own self,
निजम निर्गुणं nirgunam Who is quality-less, beyond attributes
निर्विकल्पं निरीहं nirvikalpam Who is immutable
निर्विकल्पं निरीहं niriham Who is dispassionate, desireless
चिदाकशामाकशावासम chidakaram akashavasam Who is immeasurable like the sky, and Who dwells in the sky.
भाजेहम ॥ १ ॥ bhajeham .. 1 .. I beseech.
निराकरामोम्करामुलम Nirakara Formless
निराकरामोम्करामुलम omkara-mulam The root of Om
चरितं मधुरं turiyam Always in stateless Turiya
Turiya
In Hindu philosophy, turiya is the experience of pure consciousness. It is the background that underlies and transcends the three common states of consciousness: the state of waking consciousness , the state of dreaming , and dreamless sleep .-Advaita concept:The first two states are not true...

 – The fourth and most sublime state of existence
गिराज्ञान गोतितामिषम गिरीशं gira Mount Kailash
गिराज्ञान गोतितामिषम gyanaga atitam Who is beyond the scope of tongue, knowledge
गिरीशं isham girisham The ruler of Mount Kailash
करालं महाकाला कालम । Karalam Fierce
करालं महाकाला कालम । mahakala-kalam. Destroyer of Death
कृपालं kripalam benevolent and compassionate
गुनागार gunagara Who is the treasury of all qualities
संसारपारं sansara param beyond the Samsara
Samsara
thumb|right|200px|Traditional Tibetan painting or [[Thanka]] showing the [[wheel of life]] and realms of saṃsāraSaṅsāra or Saṃsāra , , literally meaning "continuous flow", is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bön, Jainism, Sikhism, and other...

, the mundane universe
नटोहम ॥ २ ॥ natoaham .. 2 .. I bow.
तुष्हरदरी Tushharadri >- संकाशा sankasha (His) face is sweet
गौरम gauram Fair and resplendent
गभीरं । gabhiram Who is profound
मनोभुता manobhuta Who is the mind of all beings
कोटिप्रभा kotiprabha Of immense splendor
श्रीशारिरम shri shariram Beautiful bodied
स्फुरंमौली Sphuran mauli shining forehead
कल्लोलिनी चारू गंगा kallolini charu ganga Wavy and enticing Ganga
लासद्भालाबलेंदु lasad Shiny
लासद्भालाबलेंदु bhala forehead
लासद्भालाबलेंदु balendu A youthful (crescent) moon
कंठे भुजंगा ॥ ३ ॥ kanthe bhujanga.. 3 .. Snake garlands in the neck
चलात्कुंदालम Chalat kundalam swaying earrings
भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं bhru sunetram vishalam With beautiful eye brow and broad eyes
प्रसन्नाननं prasanna ananam happy countenance
नीलकंठं। nilakantham blue throated one
दयालं dayalam Compassionate
म्रिगढ़िशाचार्माम्बरम Mrigadhisha charma ambaram lion-skin around His waist
मुंडा मालाम munda malam Skull-cap garland
प्रियं संकरं priyam samkaram Beloved Shankar
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥ ४ ॥ sarvanatham bhajami.. 4 .. I meditate upon the Lord of the Universe.
प्रचंडं Prachandam Fierce
प्रक्रिश्ह्तम prakrishhtam Immense
प्रगल्भं pragalbham Mature and bold
परेशं। paresham The supreme Lord
अखंडम akhandam Whole and Immeasurable
अजम ajam Birthless
भानुकोतिप्रकषम bhanukoti prakasham Splendor of a billion Suns
त्रयह Trayah Three – The Vedas
शुला निर्मुलानम shula nirmulanam One who does not have any origin
शुलापनिम भजेअहम shulapanim bhajeaham I pray the holder of the trident
भवनिपतिम bhavanipatim The divine consort of Bhavani
Bhavani
Bhavani is a ferocious aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati. Bhavani means "giver of life", the power of nature or the source of creative energy. In addition to her ferocious aspect, she is also known as Karunaswaroopini, "filled with mercy"....

भावगम्यं॥ ५ ॥ bhavagamyam.. 5 .. One who is achieved easily through emotions (devotion)
कालातीत Kalatita Timeless, beyond time and death
कल्याण kalyana Blissful
कल्पान्तकारी kalpantakari The terminator of Kalpas - The desroyer
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता sada sajjanananda data Always blissful and giver of boons to righteous
पुरारी। purari The enemy of the Puras – The destroyer of Tripura (mythology)
Tripura (mythology)
Tripura meaning three cities, was constructed by the great Sura architect Mayasura. They were great cities of prosperity, power and dominance over the world, but due to their impious nature, Maya's cities were destroyed by god Tripurantaka, an aspect of Shiva...

चिदानंदा संदोहा मोहापहारी Chidananda samdoha mohapahari Who is eternal bliss, and Who absolves abundant passion
प्रसिद प्रसिद prasida prasida Be propitious, Bless me
प्रभो मन्मथारी॥ ६ ॥ prabho manmathari.. 6 .. Lord, the destroyer of Kamadeva
न यावथ Na yavath Those who do not
उमानाथ पदाराविन्दम umanatha padaravindam The lotus feet of Umanath
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

भजंतीह bhajantiha Pray
लोके परे वा loke pare va In the universe
नारानाम naranam Of men
न तावथ । Na tavath Not their
सुखं शांति sukham shanti Happiness and peace
संतापनाषम santapa nasham Ameliorate agonies
प्रसिद prasida Be propitious
प्रभो सर्वभुताधिवासम॥ ७ ॥ prabho sarvabhuta adhivasam.. 7 .. O’ Lord! The Lord of all beings
न जानामि Na janami I don’t know
योगम yogam Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...

जपम japam Meditation
नैव naiva nor
पूजाम pujam Oblations
नतोहम natoaham I always bow
सदा सर्वदा sada sarvada Ever, always
शम्भू shambhu O' shambhu
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

, the bliss-giver
तुभ्यं । tubhyam Before you
जरा Jara Old age
जन्म janma Birth and life
दुह्खओघ duhkhaugha Immense sorrows of mundane life and existence
ताताप्यामनम tatapyamanam Pangs of pain and agony
प्रभो prabho O’ Lord
पाहि pahi Redeem me
अपन्नामामिषा apan namamisha I am saluting You, O’ Lord!
शम्भो ॥ ८ ॥ shambho.. 8 .. O' Shambhu!

External links

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