Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam
The Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam consists of eight verses praising the combined form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, highlighting the importance of balance in life.
अम्भोधरश्यामलकुन्तलायै
ambhōdharaśyāmalakuntalāyai taṭitprabhātāmrajaṭādharāya
To the one with dark hair like a cloud,
तटित्प्रभाताम्रजटाधराय ।
nirīśvarāyai nikhilēśvarāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
To the one with a radiant, amber crown,
निरीश्वरायै निखिलेश्वराय
pradīptaratnōjjvalakuṇḍalāyai sphuranmahāpannagabhūṣaṇāya
To the one without a lord, the lord of all,
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥ १ ॥
śivapriyāyai ca śivapriyāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
Salutations to the auspicious one, salutations to Shiva.
प्रदीप्तरत्नोज्ज्वलकुण्डलायै
mandāramālākalitālakāyai kapālamālāṅkitakandharāya
To the one with brilliant, shining earrings,
स्फुरन्महापन्नगभूषणाय ।
divyāmbarāyai ca digambarāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
To the one adorned with the great serpent,
शिवप्रियायै च शिवप्रियाय
kastūrikākuṅkumalēpanāyai śmaśānabhasmāṅgavilēpanāya
To the beloved of Shiva, the beloved one,
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥ २ ॥
kr̥tasmarāyai vikr̥tasmarāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
Salutations to the auspicious one, salutations to Shiva.
मन्दारमालाकलितालकायै
pādāravindārpitahaṁsakāyai pādābjarājatphaṇinūpurāya
To the one with a garland of mandara flowers,
कपालमालाङ्कितकन्धराय ।
kalāmayāyai vikalāmayāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
To the one with a skull garland adorning the neck,
दिव्याम्बरायै च दिगम्बराय
prapañcasr̥ṣṭyunmukhalāsyakāyai samastasaṁhārakatāṇḍavāya
To the one in divine attire, the sky-clad one,
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥ ३ ॥
samēkṣaṇāyai viṣamēkṣaṇāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
Salutations to the auspicious one, salutations to Shiva.
कस्तूरिकाकुङ्कुमलेपनायै
praphullanīlōtpalalōcanāyai vikāsapaṅkēruhalōcanāya
To the one with a musk and kumkum paste,
श्मशानभस्माङ्गविलेपनाय ।
jagajjananyai jagadēkapitrē namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
To the one smeared with the ashes of the cremation ground,
कृतस्मरायै विकृतस्मराय
antarbahiścōrdhvamadhaśca madhyē puraśca paścācca vidikṣu dikṣu
To the one who has a good memory, the one with a distorted memory,
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥ ४ ॥
sarvaṁ gatāyai sakalaṁ gatāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya
Salutations to the auspicious one, salutations to Shiva.
पादारविन्दार्पितहंसकायै
upamanyukr̥taṁ stōtramardhanārīśvarāhvayam
To the one whose lotus feet are offered to the swan,
पादाब्जराजत्फणिनूपुराय ।
yaḥ paṭhēcchr̥ṇuyādvāpi śivalōkē mahīyatē
To the one whose feet are adorned with the bells of serpents,
कलामयायै विकलामयाय
iti śrīupamanyuviracitaṁ ardhanārīśvarāṣṭakam
To the one who is artful and the one who is formless,