Who is addressed in the Shiva Namavali Ashtakam?

The Shiva Namavali Ashtakam is addressed to Lord Shiva, invoking him with various names and epithets.

What is the main plea in each verse of the Shiva Namavali Ashtakam?

The main plea in each verse is a request to Lord Shiva to protect the speaker from the vast and deep suffering of worldly existence (saṁsāraduḥkhagahanāt).

Can you list some names used to address Shiva in the verses?

Some names include Chandrachuda, Madanantaka, Shulapani, Sthanu, Girisha, Maheshwara, Shambhu, Bhutesha, Nilakantha, Vishwanath, and many more highlighting his different aspects.

What is the significance of Shiva being called 'Nilakantha'?

'Nilakantha' (blue-throated) refers to Shiva's act of consuming the poison that arose during the churning of the ocean, saving the universe and marking his compassion.

Who composed the Shiva Namavali Ashtakam?

The Shiva Namavali Ashtakam is attributed to Sri Shankaracharya, a prominent figure in Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

śrī śivanāmāvalyaṣṭakam

1278
Shiv Stotra

hē candracūḍa madanāntaka śūlapāṇē
sthāṇō girīśa girijēśa mahēśa śambhō |
bhūtēśa bhītabhayasūdana māmanāthaṁ
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 1 ||

hē pārvatīhr̥dayavallabha candramaulē
bhūtādhipa pramathanātha girīśacāpa |
hē vāmadēva bhava rudra pinākapāṇē
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 2 ||

hē nīlakaṇṭha vr̥ṣabhadhvaja pañcavaktra
lōkēśa śēṣavalaya pramathēśa śarva |
hē dhūrjaṭē paśupatē girijāpatē māṁ
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 3 ||

hē viśvanātha śiva śaṅkara dēvadēva
gaṅgādhara pramathanāyaka nandikēśa |
bāṇēśvarāndhakaripō hara lōkanātha
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 4 ||

vārāṇasīpurapatē maṇikarṇikēśa
vīrēśa dakṣamakhakāla vibhō gaṇēśa |
sarvajña sarvahr̥dayaikanivāsa nātha
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 5 ||

śrīmanmahēśvara kr̥pāmaya hē dayālō
hē vyōmakēśa śitikaṇṭha gaṇādhinātha |
bhasmāṅgarāga nr̥kapālakalāpamāla
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 6 ||

kailāsaśailavinivāsa vr̥ṣākapē hē
mr̥tyuñjaya trinayana trijagannivāsa |
nārāyaṇapriya madāpaha śaktinātha
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 7 ||

viśvēśa viśvabhavanāśaka viśvarūpa
viśvātmaka tribhuvanaikaguṇādhikēśa |
hē viśvanātha karuṇāmaya dīnabandhō
saṁsāraduḥkhagahanājjagadīśa rakṣa || 8 ||

gaurīvilāsabhavanāya mahēśvarāya
pañcānanāya śaraṇāgatakalpakāya |
śarvāya sarvajagatāmadhipāya tasmai
dāridryaduḥkhadahanāya namaḥ śivāya || 9 ||

iti śrīmatparamahaṁsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgōvindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṅkarabhagavataḥ kr̥tau śrīśivanāmāvalyaṣṭakaṁ sampūrṇam ||

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