Sri Chidambara Ashtakam
The ashtakam consists of eight verses praising Lord Shiva, highlighting his divine qualities and the bliss of union with the divine.
श्री नटराज स्तोत्राणि
cittajāntakaṁ citsvarūpiṇaṁ candramr̥gadharaṁ carmabhīkaram
O destroyer of the mind, embodiment of consciousness,
चित्तजान्तकं चित्स्वरूपिणं
caturabhāṣaṇaṁ cinmayaṁ guruṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
O bearer of the moon deer, adorned with skin,
चन्द्रमृगधरं चर्मभीकरम् । चतुरभाषणं चिन्मयं गुरुं
dakṣamardanaṁ daivaśāsanaṁ dvijahitē rataṁ dōṣabhañjanam
O four-faced one, the guru made of consciousness,
भज चिदम्बरं भावनास्थितम् ॥ १ ॥
duḥkhanāśanaṁ duritaśāsanaṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
Worship the one in Chidambaram, who is established in contemplation.
दक्षमर्दनं दैवशासनं
baddhapañcakaṁ bahulaśōbhitaṁ budhavarairnutaṁ bhasmabhūṣitam
O skilled one, the slayer of Daksha,
द्विजहिते रतं दोषभञ्जनम् । दुःखनाशनं दुरितशासनं
bhāvayuk-stutaṁ bandhubhiḥ stutaṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
Delighting in the welfare of the twice-born, the remover of faults,
भज चिदम्बरं भावनास्थितम् ॥ २ ॥
dīnatatparaṁ divyavacanadaṁ dīkṣitāpadaṁ divyatējasam
O destroyer of sorrow, the one who governs difficulties,
बद्धपञ्चकं बहुलशोभितं
dīrghaśōbhitaṁ dēhatattvadaṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
Worship the one in Chidambaram, who is established in contemplation.
बुधवरैर्नुतं भस्मभूषितम् । भावयुक्स्तुतं बन्धुभिः स्तुतं
kṣititalōdbhavaṁ kṣēmasambhavaṁ kṣīṇamānavaṁ kṣiprasadyavam
O bound by the five elements, greatly adorned,
भज चिदम्बरं भावनास्थितम् ॥ ३ ॥
kṣēmadātravaṁ kṣētragauravaṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
Saluted by the wise, wearing ashes as adornment,
दीनतत्परं दिव्यवचनदं
takṣabhūṣaṇaṁ tattvasākṣiṇaṁ yakṣasāgaṇaṁ bhikṣurūpiṇam
Worshipped by those filled with devotion, praised by relatives,
दीक्षितापदं दिव्यतेजसम् । दीर्घशोभितं देहतत्त्वदं
bhasmapōṣaṇaṁ vyaktarūpiṇaṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
Worship the one in Chidambaram, who is established in contemplation.
भज चिदम्बरं भावनास्थितम् ॥ ४ ॥
yastu jāpikaṁ cidambarāṣṭakaṁ paṭhati nityakaṁ pāpahaṁ sukham
O humble and eager one, the giver of divine words,
क्षितितलोद्भवं क्षेमसम्भवं
kaṭhinatārakaṁ ghaṭakulādhikaṁ bhaja cidambaraṁ bhāvanāsthitam
The one who has received initiation, of divine radiance,
क्षीणमानवं क्षिप्रसद्यवम् । क्षेमदात्रवं क्षेत्रगौरवं
iti śrīcidambarāṣṭakam
O long-glorious one, the essence of the body,