Shiva's Great Stotram

Upamanyu said

Following the path of the five enclosures there is a stotra that concludes the sacred karma of Yogeshvara. I will tell it to you.

The stotra

Victory to you, sole protector of the universe. Victory to you, Shambhu, charming by nature, whose nature is eternal consciousness. You are far beyond the impurities of the world display. The state of your tattva is beyond the reach of thought and word. Your body is naturally bright. Victory to the one whose actions enchant. Your great Shakti equals your own self. Victory to the ocean of pure qualities, of infinite beauty. Victory to the one whose form has no match, the store of undisputed greatness. Victory to the one who is kind and full of auspiciousness, without blemish, without support, who rises without a cause, who is unbroken supreme bliss. Victory to the cause of withdrawal, to the one of great prosperity, the store of great compassion, self-ruling and everything, whose wealth has no parallel, who encloses the great universe and is enclosed by nothing, who is above everything and has none above him. Victory to the wonderful, the one not lowered, not harmed, not decaying, immeasurable, free of disease, free of feeling, free of dirt. Mighty-armed one, of great substance, great qualities, great narratives, immense strength, great maya, great flavour and great chariot, I bow to the supreme divinity, the supreme cause, Shiva the serene, the most auspicious. The whole universe with gods and asuras is under your rule, so who can cross a command you have laid down? People always take refuge in you. I bow, seeking your favour; please grant it.

Victory to Ambika, mother of the universe, who pervades the whole universe, whose prosperity is not surpassed and whose image is unmatched, who is beyond words and thoughts, who shatters whatever destroys intelligence, who is without birth or old age, who is beyond even what is beyond Kala, who is established in many procedures, beloved of Vishveshvara, worshipped by all the gods, who extends the universe, whose divine limbs are auspicious, who is the lamp of auspiciousness, whose conduct is auspicious and who bestows auspiciousness. I bow to the one whose form is a heap of supreme auspicious qualities. Truly the universe came from you and dissolves into you. Without you even Ishvara cannot give fruits. Deveshi, this person has taken refuge in you from birth; he is your devotee, so grant his wishes.

Sadashiva has five faces and ten arms and looks like pure crystal. His body is made of the letters, the brahmanas and the kalas; the god is both with parts and without parts; Sadashiva is Shantyatita. I am full of devotion to Shiva and have devoutly worshipped him; may he give me the welfare I wish. Iccha Shakti, called Shivaa, sits on Sadashiva's lap, mother of all the worlds; grant my wishes. The gods Heramba and Shanmukha are the dear sons of Shiva and Shivaa, full of feeling for Shiva, all-knowing, drinking the amrita of knowledge of Shiva, content and affectionate to each other, always honoured by Shiva and Shivaa and by Brahma and the other gods, always ready to save all the worlds, and by their will they take many avataras from their portions. I have always worshipped them on the sides of Shiva and Shivaa. With their command as chief, let them grant my wish.

Sadashiva is like pure crystal and is known as Ishana, his image rising with its head into the sky. Shiva is the supreme self, and I have been worshipping Shiva, serene and Shantyatita, established in sacrifices, the seed of the panchakshara with five kalas. With Shakti I have worshipped him in the first enclosure. He is the sacred supreme brahman; may he grant my wish. He is like the rising sun and known as the ancient Purusha. On the east Shiva's face is Parameshthi, established in the wind in his form as Shanti. I have been worshipping Shambhu's feet, first of Shiva's seeds, with four kalas. I have devoutly worshipped him in the east with Shakti. Aghora's form is terrible, like a mass of collyrium. He is the god's southern face, worshipping the lord's feet, seated in the region of Vidya in a circle of fire, second of Shiva's seeds with eight kalas. I have worshipped him south of Shambhu with Shakti. Vamadeva wears a garment like saffron powder, is established in the region of Pratishtha, is Isha's northern face, set in a circle of water and engaged in worshipping Mahadeva; he is the fourth of Shiva's seeds with thirteen kalas. With Shakti I have worshipped him north of the divinity. Sadyojata is gentle in look, white as a conch, kunda flower or the moon, Shiva's western face, worshipping Shiva's feet, in the region of Nivritti, established in the earth, third of Shiva's seeds with eight kalas. With Shakti I have worshipped him west of the divinity. Each of these is the sacred supreme brahman; let him grant my wish.

The auspicious forms of Shiva and Shivaa are fixed in my heart; with their command as chief, let them grant my wish. The images in their tufts of hair, the feeling of Shiva in their armour, the forms in their eyes, and the forms in their weapons, always worshipping Shiva and Shivaa: honouring their commands, let them grant what I desire. Following their commands, let Vama, Jyeshtha, Rudra, Kala, Vikarana, Balavikarana, Balapramathana and Sarvabhutadamana, with their eight Shaktis, grant my wish. In the second enclosure I have worshipped Ananta, Sukshma, Shiva, Ekanetra, Ekarudra, Trimurti, Shrikantha and Shikhandaka with their eight Shaktis; by the commands of Shiva and Shivaa let them grant my wish. The eight images, Bhava and the rest, and the eleven, Mahadeva and the rest, with their Shaktis, are established in the third enclosure; honouring the commands, let them grant the fruits I desire.

Vrisharaja is immensely energetic, his bellow like a great cloud's thunder, like the peaks of Meru, Mandara, Kailasa and Himalaya, with a hump like a peak ringed by white clouds, hair like great serpents, a red face, horns and feet, and nearly red eyes. All his limbs are thick, raised and radiant, his gait beautiful, his marks praiseworthy, decked with handsome blazing jewels. He is loved by Shiva and devoted to Shiva, the banner and mount of Shiva and Shivaa, his body made very pure by touching their feet. The glorious king of cattle has the supreme trident as his weapon; honouring their commands, let him grant my wish. Nandishvara is very energetic, son of the mountain king's daughter, always worshipped by the gods and Narayana, standing with his companions as the gate of Sharva's inner rooms. He is like Sarveshvara and crushes all asuras; he is chosen to preside over all who follow Shiva's dharma, loved by Shiva and devoted to Shiva, with the glorious trident as his weapon, loving those who take refuge in Shiva and loved by devotees. Let him grant my wish. Mahakala is mighty-armed and like another Mahadeva; let him always protect those who take refuge in Mahadeva. He always worships Shiva and Shivaa; let him grant my wish. He knows the true meanings of all the sacred texts, is the chastiser and Vishnu's second body. His son is Mahamoha, who loves honey, flesh and wine. Regarding their commands as important, let him grant my wish. The seven Matrikas are Brahmani, Maheshi, Koumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri and Chamunda, terrible in valour, mothers of all the worlds. By Parameshvara's instruction let them grant my wish.

He has the face of a maddened elephant, son of Ganga, Uma and Shankara. The firmament is his body, the directions his arms, the sun, moon and fire his eyes. Airavata and the other divine elephants always worship him. From his split temple flows the musth of knowledge of Shiva. He removes the gods' obstacles and is the lord who obstructs those who obstruct gods and others. Full of feeling for Shiva, let him grant my wish. Shanmukha was born from Shiva, lord who holds a spear and a vajra, son of Agni and of Aparna, with Ganga as his mother and the host of Krittikas his mothers too. Vishakha, Shakha and Naigameya surround him. He defeated Indra, who made him commander, conquered Tarakasura, and with his own energy pierced Meru and other fine mountains. He is like molten gold, lotus-eyed, Kumara, held up as the great example for all young boys, loved by Shiva, devoted to Shiva, always worshipping Shiva's feet. Let him grant my wish. Jyeshtha is supreme among givers of boons; let her grant my wish. Ganambika is worshipped by the three worlds and shines like a meteor. To extend the creation of the universe, Brahma asked her through Shivaa; she came out from between Shivaa's eyebrows and divided herself into Dakshayani, Sati, Mena, Haimavati, Uma, Koushiki, the mother Bhadrakali, the mother Aparna and Patalaa. Rudrani, loved by Rudra, always worships Shiva; let her grant my wish. Chanda is lord of all leaders of the ganas and came from Shambhu's face; let him grant my wish. Pingala, lord of the ganas, is devoted to Shiva and loved by Shiva; let him grant my wish. Bhringisha, a lord of the ganas, is devoted to worshipping Shiva; honouring his master's commands, let him grant my wish. Virabhadra is immensely energetic, like snow, the kunda flower or the moon, loved by Bhadrakali and always guarded by the Matrikas. He cut off the head of the sacrifice and of the evil-souled Daksha, and hurt the limbs of Upendra and other gods. He is Shiva's follower and carries out Shiva's commands; let him grant my wish.

Sarasvati came from the words that flowed from Mahesha's lotus mouth and is devoted to worshipping Shiva and Shivaa; let her grant my wish. Lakshmi, established on Vishnu's chest, always worships Shiva and Shivaa; let her grant my wish. Mahamati worships Mahadevi's feet; engaged by her, let her grant my wish. The supreme Koushiki rides a lion and is Parvati's daughter, Vishnu's sleep and the great maya, who crushed great Mahisha and killed Shumbha and Nishumbha. She loves honey, flesh and wine. Honouring her mother's command, let her grant my wish. All those called Rudras are like Rudra. Pramathas are known for energy. Those called bhutas are immensely valiant and like Mahadeva in radiance, always said to be without parallel, free of the pairs of opposite feelings and untouched by the deluge. With their Shaktis and followers all the worlds bow to them. They can create and destroy all the worlds. They are devoted to each other, follow each other's conduct, are gentle to each other and honour each other. Shiva always loves them greatly and they show Shiva's signs. Though pleasing in appearance, within they have traits of destruction mixed in. They are handsome but can be misshapen, with many different forms. Honouring the commands of Shiva and Shivaa, let them grant my wish. Devi's many friends bear Devi's traits, with Rudra's daughters and many Shaktis. In Shambhu's third enclosure I have always devoutly worshipped them. Let them grant my wish.

Divakara with his dazzling disc is Mahesha's form. He has no qualities yet is bound by qualities, he is only qualities, without transformation, one yet commonly engaged in tasks, extraordinary in deeds, engaged in creation, preservation and destruction, and so divided into three, four and five forms. With his followers I have worshipped him in Shambhu's fourth enclosure. He is loved by Shiva and devoted to Shiva, worshipping Shiva's feet; honouring the commands of Shiva and Shivaa, let him grant what is auspicious. With his eight Shaktis Divakara blazes in his six limbs. The sun's forms are Aditya, Bhaskara, Bhanu, Ravi, Arka, Brahma, Rudra and Vishnu. The Shaktis are Vistara, Sutara, Bodhini, Apyayini, Usha, Prabha, Prajna and Sandhya. From Soma to Ketu all the planets are full of feeling for Shiva; let them bestow what is auspicious. Or there are the twelve Adityas, twelve Shaktis, rishis, gods, gandharvas, serpents, apsaras, village chiefs, yakshas, rakshasas, asuras, the groups of seven, the metres in the form of the seven horses and the valakhilyas, all worshipping Shiva's feet; let them bestow what is auspicious.

Brahma, lord of the earth's circle, is a form of the lord of the gods. With his sixty-four qualities and prosperity he is established in his tattva of intelligence. He has no qualities yet is bound by qualities, he is only qualities, without transformation, set at the head of the ordinary gods, extraordinary in deeds, engaged in creation, preservation and destruction, divided into three, four and five forms. With his followers I have worshipped him in Shambhu's fourth enclosure; he is loved by Shiva, devoted to Shiva and worships Shiva's feet. Let him bestow what is auspicious. Hiranyagarbha, lord of the worlds, Virat, Kala, Purusha, Sanatkumara, Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Daksha and the other sons of Prajapati Brahma number eleven. With their wives, Dharma, Sankalpa and the others, they worship Shiva and are full of devotion to him. Let all of them bestow what is auspicious. The four Vedas, Itihasa, Puranas, Dharmashastras and many other kinds of learning that agree with the Vedas may seem to disagree in meaning, but all rest on Shiva's nature and his feet. Let them bestow what is auspicious.

Or there is Rudra Mahadeva, Shambhu's greatest form, lord of the circle of fire, possessing every prosperity and Shiva's pride. He has no qualities, yet also the three gunas; though only sattva, he also has rajas and tamas; without transformation he does many tasks, extraordinary in deeds, engaged in creation, preservation and destruction. He cut off Brahma's head and is both his father and his son. He controls Vishnu. The lord always shows favour and enlightened the two of them. Rudra stands both inside and outside the cosmic egg, lord of both worlds, loved by Shiva and devoted to him, worshipping Shiva's feet. Let him bestow the auspicious. In Brahma's six limbs are the eight ending with Vidyesha, in four different forms, who start with Shiva and worship Shiva: Shiva, Bhava, Hara and Mridha. Let them bestow the auspicious. Or Vishnu is another form of Mahesha Shiva, lord of the tattva of water, established in his unmanifest form. He has no qualities, yet is only quality, chiefly sattva, proud and without transformation, engaged in the three general acts, extraordinary in deeds and distinct from the acts of creation and the rest. Born from the right side of the body, he rivals Svayambhu. He was first created by Brahma, yet he also created him. Vishnu stands inside and outside the cosmic egg as lord of both worlds. He wields the chakra, destroys asuras and is Shakra's younger brother. Through Bhrigu's curse he appeared in ten forms, and by his own will, to protect the earth and lift her burdens, he took avataras. His strength is beyond measure. He has maya and uses it to bewilder the universe. He takes the forms of Mahavishnu and Sadavishnu and is always worshipped by Vishnu's devotees in the seat with three images. He is loved by Shiva and devoted to Shiva, always worshipping Shiva's feet. Let him bestow the auspicious.

Hari's four forms are said to be Vasudeva, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and Samkarshana. His forms are Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, the three Ramas, Krishna and Vishnu as the horse-faced one. The weapons are the chakra, Narayanastra, Panchajanya and the Sharnga bow. Let them bestow the auspicious. Prabha, Sarasvati, Gouri and Lakshmi are full of feeling for Shiva; let them bestow the auspicious. Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Varuna, Vayu, Soma, Kubera and Ishana, wielder of the trident, all devoted to worshipping Shiva and full of virtuous feeling for him, let them bestow the auspicious. Deva and Devi's divine weapons, the trident, vajra, battle axe, arrow, sword, noose, goad and the Pinaka, supreme among weapons, always honouring their commands, let them always protect me. The god in the form of a bull is the immensely strong son of Surabhi; he challenged the mare-headed fire beneath the sea, is surrounded by the five bovine mothers, and has become the mount of Paramesha and Parameshi. Regarding their command as chief, let him grant my wishes. The five bovine mothers, Nanda, Sunanda, Surabhi, Sushila and Sumana, are established in Shiva's world, always full of devotion and worshipping Shiva; let them grant my wish.

Kshetrapala is immensely energetic, like a blue cloud, with cruel fangs and face, red lips quivering and blazing, red hair standing up, handsome yet with furrowed brows, three eyes tinged with red circles, the moon and serpents as ornaments. He is naked and his hands hold a trident, a noose, a sword and a skull. He is terrible and surrounded by Bhairavas, siddhas and yoginis, seated in every sacred field, protecting the virtuous. He is devoted to bowing before Shiva and full of virtuous feeling for him, and in particular protects those who take refuge in Shiva like his own sons. Let him bestow the auspicious. Talajangha and the others were worshipped in the first enclosure; honouring the commands of Shiva and Shivaa, let those four protect me. Bhairava and the others surround him on all sides; showing deference to Shiva's command, let them show me favour. Narada and other divine sages, worshipped by the gods, the Sadhyas, nagas and gods who live in Janaloka, the dwellers of Maharloka entitled to withdrawal, the seven sages and those on celestial cars, all devoted to worshipping Shiva and following his commands, let them grant what I desire.

Four categories born as divine species: gandharvas, siddhas, vidyadharas and pishachas. Others roam in the sky. Asuras, rakshasas and others live in the nether regions; Ananta and other lords of nagas; birds, Vinata's son and others; kushmandas, pretas, vetalas, grahas and many other bhutas; dakinis, yoginis and shakinis; sacred fields, pleasure gardens, homes, holy places, mansions, islands, oceans, large and small rivers, lakes, Sumeru and other mountains, forests in every direction, animals, birds, trees, worms, insects, deer, all the worlds and their lords, cosmic eggs and their sheaths, the great elephants of the ten bright directions, letters, words, mantras, tattvas and their lords, the Rudras who hold up the cosmic egg, other Rudras and their Shaktis, and everything heard, seen or inferred in the universe: following the commands of Shiva and Shivaa, let them bestow everything desired on me.

Supreme knowledge of Shiva frees from the bondage of being a Pashu. It is divine, with five kinds of meaning, outside the learning Pashus possess. There are sacred texts that speak of Shiva's dharma, and others about dharma too; those about Shiva's dharma are texts about Shiva. There is the Purana that agrees with the shrutis. There are other Shiva agamas in four categories, Kamika and the rest, especially honoured by Shiva and Shivaa and worshipped by me. Let all of them give me permission to accomplish my aim, and let everyone else make this karma I have undertaken fruitful. There are the teachers from Shveta to Nakulisha with their disciples, their descendants who have become gurus, and in particular my own guru. Devoted to knowledge and karma, they are Shivas and Maheshvaras. Let all of them permit that this karma be completed successfully and fruitfully. There are all the ordinary brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas who know the truth of the Vedas and Vedangas and are skilled in all the sacred texts. There are those who follow samkhya, vaisheshika, yoga and nyaya, and those who follow Surya, Brahma, Rudra, Vishnu and others. All of them are virtuous and distinguished, held by Shiva's commands; may all of them permit me to accomplish this intended karma. There are followers of the Shaiva Siddhantas, followers of Shiva's Pashupata vow, followers of Shiva's great vratas, and others devoted to Shiva who follow the kapalika mode. They obey Shiva's instructions, and by Shiva's command I have worshipped them too. Let all of them favour me and praise this rite so that it succeeds. There are those devoted to the southern knowledge and those who follow paths beyond it. There is no conflict with them. With mantras I wish only for what is best for me. But let non-believers, deceivers, the ungrateful, those who follow darkness, heretics and great sinners keep their distance from me. Why a long praise? Let all believers favour me. Let the virtuous praise me and ensure all that is auspicious. I bow to Shiva with Amba, to the original cause with his sons, who in his form as the five enclosures wraps the world display.

Upamanyu concluded

After saying this he bows to the ground before Shiva and Shivaa like a rod. With the panchakshara he does japa at least a hundred and eight times. He also does japa with the mantra of Shakti and offers himself. Asking Isha's forgiveness, he completes the worship. This is an extremely sacred stotra with Shiva and Shivaa at its core. It gives all one wishes for and is a means to enjoyment and liberation. A person who controls himself and constantly hears or chants it is quickly cleansed of all sins and gains sayujya with Shiva. Killers of cows, the ungrateful, slayers of heroes, killers of unborn children, those who kill people who took refuge with them, those who betray friends' trust, and those who commit evil crimes like killing mother or father: by doing japa of this praise, all are freed from their sins. When there are bad dreams or great calamities that signal fear, chanting this brings good fortune. A person who bases himself on japa of this stotra gains long life, freedom from disease, prosperity and all else he desires. It is said that these are the fruits of japa of this stotra when Shiva is not worshipped. When worship and japa are both done, the fruits cannot be described. Still, this much can be said: when the divinity hears this with Ambika, he stations himself in the sky. So with Uma the lord of the gods must be worshipped in the sky. A person must stand with joined hands and chant this stotra.