Lingashtakam: Devanagari Text, Meaning and How It Is Recited

The Lingashtakam is a short hymn of eight verses addressed to the linga, the rounded, aniconic form in which Shiva is worshipped in temples and homes. Every verse ends with the same line, tat pranamami sadashiva lingam, which means “I bow to that linga of Sadashiva”. A ninth verse then states the benefit of reading the hymn. The source does not name an author, so the hymn is best described as a traditional composition.

Each verse spends its first three lines praising qualities of the linga: it is pure and shining, worshipped by gods and sages, smeared with sandal and saffron, adorned with gems, and the cause of all that arises. The repeated refrain makes the hymn easy to join in with, even for beginners, and it is one of the first Shiva stotras many people learn.

This page gives the Devanagari, a simple transliteration and a plain meaning for each verse, then notes on when and how it is recited. For the festival most closely tied to the linga, see Maha Shivaratri, where the dates are listed.

The text, transliteration and meaning

The refrain in the last line of each verse is the same, so once you have learned the first verse you already know a quarter of the hymn.

Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, page “लिङ्गाष्टकम्”. Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse.

When and how it is traditionally recited

The Lingashtakam is most often recited at Shiva temples, where it may be sung while the linga is bathed with water, milk and other offerings. Many devotees also read it on Mondays, on Pradosh evenings, and through the night of Maha Shivaratri. Some families keep it as part of a short evening prayer at home before a small linga or an image of Shiva.

It is usually sung to a simple, repeating tune. Because the last line is the same in every verse, a group can easily join in on the refrain, and the hymn works well as a call-and-response. Eight verses take only a few minutes. There is no fixed count, and practice differs between regions and families, so follow your own household or teacher.

What the tradition says it is for

The linga is described in tradition as a symbol of Shiva beyond name and form, which is why the hymn calls it the Self itself, beyond the highest. Offerings of water, leaves and flowers at the linga express the idea that the formless can be approached with simple, everyday devotion.

The hymn also recalls well-known stories from Shiva’s life: the burning of the god of desire, the humbling of Ravana and the end of Daksha’s sacrifice. These appear only as brief references in the verses, as reminders of Shiva’s power rather than full tales.

The final verse states that reading the hymn near Shiva leads to Shiva’s world. This is the text’s own claim of benefit and is read in a spiritual sense by devotees. The mention of poverty and sorrow in the verses is devotional language and not a remedy for hardship, so please seek proper financial or medical advice where it is needed. The Pradosh vrat page covers the twilight observance many people pair with Shiva worship.

Pronunciation notes

The refrain is tat pranamami sadashiva lingam. Say it as tat pra-na-ma-mi sa-da-shi-va lin-gam, with the ng in lingam sounding like the ng in singer, not the hard g of finger. The final m is a soft hum, a gentle closing of the lips.

Words such as sura, asura and siddha are short and even, while a double consonant, as in siddha or pushpa, is held a little longer. The aspirated dh, bh and kh carry a light puff of air. In this transcription some words that tradition joins together are shown separately, so follow the rhythm of the line rather than the gaps.

Related mantras and pages

• Rudrashtakam: another eight-stanza hymn to Shiva
• Shiva Panchakshara Stotram: five short verses on the syllables of Shiva’s name
• Om Namah Shivaya: the short mantra that is chanted with a mala
• Shiv Aarti: the lamp song sung at the end of Shiva worship
• Maha Shivaratri: the great night of Shiva, when linga worship is most common
• All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis

Frequently asked questions