What is the meaning of 'ambhōdharaśyāmalakuntalāyai' in the context of the Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam?

It refers to the one with hair as dark as rain clouds, typically associated with the feminine aspect of Ardhanarishvara.

What are some of the adornments mentioned in the Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam for Shiva?

Adornments mentioned include serpents as ornaments (sphuranmahāpannagabhūṣaṇāya) and a garland of skulls (kapālamālāṅkitakandharāya).

What are the different types of dances associated with Ardhanarishvara as described in the Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam?

The Ashtakam mentions the dance of creation (prapañcasr̥ṣṭyunmukhalāsyakāyai) and the dance of destruction (samastasaṁhārakatāṇḍavāya).

What are the benefits of reciting or listening to the Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam as per verse 9?

Verse 9 states that one who recites or listens to the Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam, composed by Upamanyu, is honored in the realm of Shiva (śivalōkē mahīyatē).

Who is the composer of the Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam?

The Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam is composed by Sri Upamanyu (iti śrīupamanyuviracitaṁ ardhanārīśvarāṣṭakam).

ardhanārīśvarāṣṭakam

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Shiv Stotra

ambhōdharaśyāmalakuntalāyai
taṭitprabhātāmrajaṭādharāya |
nirīśvarāyai nikhilēśvarāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 1 ||

pradīptaratnōjjvalakuṇḍalāyai
sphuranmahāpannagabhūṣaṇāya |
śivapriyāyai ca śivapriyāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 2 ||

mandāramālākalitālakāyai
kapālamālāṅkitakandharāya |
divyāmbarāyai ca digambarāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 3 ||

kastūrikākuṅkumalēpanāyai
śmaśānabhasmāṅgavilēpanāya |
kr̥tasmarāyai vikr̥tasmarāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 4 ||

pādāravindārpitahaṁsakāyai
pādābjarājatphaṇinūpurāya |
kalāmayāyai vikalāmayāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 5 ||

prapañcasr̥ṣṭyunmukhalāsyakāyai
samastasaṁhārakatāṇḍavāya |
samēkṣaṇāyai viṣamēkṣaṇāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 6 ||

praphullanīlōtpalalōcanāyai
vikāsapaṅkēruhalōcanāya |
jagajjananyai jagadēkapitrē
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 7 ||

antarbahiścōrdhvamadhaśca madhyē
puraśca paścācca vidikṣu dikṣu |
sarvaṁ gatāyai sakalaṁ gatāya
namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya || 8 ||

upamanyukr̥taṁ stōtramardhanārīśvarāhvayam |
yaḥ paṭhēcchr̥ṇuyādvāpi śivalōkē mahīyatē || 9 ||

iti śrīupamanyuviracitaṁ ardhanārīśvarāṣṭakam ||

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