The Rudrashtakam is a hymn of eight stanzas in praise of Shiva, known here by his names Rudra, Ishana, Shankara and Shambhu. The verses are found in Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi telling of the Rama story. The closing verse of the text itself says that the Rudrashtakam was spoken by a Brahmin in order to please Hara, another name of Shiva.
Each stanza is made of four half-lines, and the page below groups them that way. The hymn first describes Shiva as formless, all-pervading and beyond speech, then as the fair, moon-crowned, snake-garlanded Lord of Kailasa, and at the end it turns into a personal prayer. The speaker says that he knows no yoga, no japa and no formal worship, and asks the Lord for protection. Many readers find this honesty the most moving part.
You will find the Devanagari with a simple transliteration and a plain meaning for every stanza, followed by notes on recitation and pronunciation. If you are looking at Shiva texts more widely, you may also like the Shiva Tandava Stotram and the Lingashtakam.
The text, transliteration and meaning
The stanzas below keep the spelling of the source, which is a Devanagari rendering of Tulsidas’s verses. A few words are joined or split a little differently from standard Sanskrit.
Stanza 1
नमामिशमीशान निर्वाण रूपं। विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपं
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेहं ॥
Namamishamishana nirvana rupam, vibhum vyapakam brahma vedasvarupam
Nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham, chidakashamakashavasam bhajeham
MeaningI bow to the Lord, Ishana, whose form is liberation, who is all-pervading, who is Brahman, the very form of the Vedas. I worship the one who is truly himself, without qualities, without distinctions and without desire, the sky of consciousness who dwells in the sky.
Stanza 2
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं। गिरा ज्ञान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं
करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं। गुणागार संसारपारं नतोहं ॥
Nirakaramonkaramulam turiyam, gira jnana gotitamisham girisham
Karalam mahakala kalam kripalam, gunagara samsaraparam natoham
MeaningFormless, the root of Om, the fourth state beyond waking, dream and sleep, beyond speech, knowledge and the senses, the Lord of the mountain. Terrible, the Mahakala who is time of time, yet compassionate, home of all good qualities, beyond the world: I bow to him.
Stanza 3
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गंभीरं। मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरं
स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा। लसद्भालबालेंदु कंठे भुजंगा ॥
Tusharadri sankasha gauram gambhiram, manobhuta koti prabha shri shariram
Sphuranmauli kallolini charu ganga, lasadbhalabalendu kanthe bhujanga
MeaningFair as a snow mountain, deep and grave, his body shining with the beauty of countless gods of love. The lovely Ganga ripples on his head, a bright young moon rests on his brow, and serpents hang at his throat.
Stanza 4
चलत्कुंडलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं। प्रसन्नाननं नीलकंठ दयालं
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं। प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥
Chalatkundalam bhru sunetram vishalam, prasannananam nilakantha dayalam
Mrigadhishacharmambaram mundamalam, priyam shankaram sarvanatham bhajami
MeaningWith swinging earrings, fine brows and wide, lovely eyes, a cheerful face and a blue throat, he is merciful. He wears a lion's hide and a garland of skulls. I worship dear Shankara, the Lord of all.
Stanza 5
प्रचंडं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं। अखंडं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं
त्रय:शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं। भजेहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं ॥
Prachandam prakrishtam pragalbham paresham, akhandam ajam bhanukotiprakasham
Traya:shula nirmulanam shulapanim, bhajeham bhavanipatim bhavagamyam
MeaningFierce, supreme, bold, the highest Lord, undivided and unborn, shining with the light of countless suns. He removes the threefold pain, holds the trident, and is the husband of Bhavani, reached through devotion. I worship him.
Stanza 6
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी। सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी
चिदानंदसंदोह मोहपहारी। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥
Kalatita kalyana kalpantakari, sada sajjananandadata purari
Chidanandasandoha mohapahari, prasida prasida prabho manmathari
MeaningBeyond all the arts, auspicious, the one who ends the age, ever the giver of joy to good people, the enemy of the three cities, a mass of consciousness and bliss, the remover of delusion. Be gracious, be gracious, Lord, enemy of the god of love.
Stanza 7
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं। भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणां
न तावत्सुखं शांति सन्तापनाशं। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥
Na yavad umanatha padaravindam, bhajantiha loke pare va naranam
Na tavatsukham shanti santapanasham, prasida prabho sarvabhutadhivasam
MeaningAs long as people do not worship the lotus feet of Uma's Lord, in this world or the next, they have no real happiness, peace or end to suffering. Be gracious, Lord who dwells in all beings.
Stanza 8
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां। नतोहं सदा सर्वदा शंभु तुभ्यं
जरा जन्म दु:खौघ तातप्यमानं। प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमाशीश शंभो ॥
Na janami yogam japam naiva pujam, natoham sada sarvada shambhu tubhyam
Jara janma du:khaugha tatapyamanam, prabho pahi apannamashisha shambho
MeaningI do not know yoga, chanting or ritual worship. I bow to you, Shambhu, always and at all times. Tormented by old age, birth and floods of sorrow, protect me, Lord. Protect this distressed one, Shambhu.
Benefit verse
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये।
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥
Rudrashtakamidam proktam viprena haratoshaye
Ye pathanti nara bhaktya tesham shambhuh prasidati
MeaningThis Rudrashtakam was spoken by a Brahmin to please Hara. The text states that Shambhu becomes gracious to those who read it with devotion. This is the hymn's own statement of benefit.
Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, page “रुद्राष्टकम्”. Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse.
When and how it is traditionally recited
The Rudrashtakam is among the most commonly sung Shiva hymns in North Indian households, partly because it is short enough to learn in an evening. Many people recite it at dawn or dusk before a picture or linga, or at a Shiva temple. Mondays are a favourite day, and the hymn is often read on Maha Shivaratri and on Pradosh evenings.
It is usually sung rather than read aloud, to a gentle tune that varies from region to region and from singer to singer. Some devotees offer water, a few leaves or just a lit lamp as they sing. A single recitation takes only a few minutes, and there is no fixed number of repetitions. Customs differ by family, so follow what your own household or teacher practises.
What the tradition says it is for
Tradition values the Rudrashtakam for its balance of philosophy and tenderness. The first stanzas speak of Shiva as Brahman beyond form, and the later ones place him as the Lord of Parvati, close to the devotee who calls for help. Reciting it is seen as a way to remember both aspects.
The closing verse states that Shambhu becomes gracious to those who recite the hymn with devotion. This is the text’s own claim, and devotees generally read it as an assurance of grace in a spiritual sense, not a promise of a particular worldly result.
The hymn speaks of old age and sorrow, but it is a prayer and not a treatment for anything. If you are unwell or anxious about health, money or law, please also seek proper professional advice. The details of the festivals associated with Shiva, such as Maha Shivaratri, are on the festival pages.
Pronunciation notes
Hindi readers tend to drop the short a at the end of many words, while Sanskrit chanting keeps it, so the same stanza may sound a little different in two households. Both are accepted. The word Rudrashtakam is said as Ru-dra-shta-kam, with the sht running together and a soft m at the end.
Several stanzas end in a held m or n sound, as in bhajeham and namami, and the line breaks in the page show the natural pauses. Long vowels last about twice as long as short ones, and the aspirated consonants such as bh and dh carry a small breath. As ever, listening to a trusted singer is the quickest way to find a comfortable rhythm.
Related mantras and pages
- Shiva Tandava Stotram: a longer, more forceful hymn to Shiva
- Lingashtakam: another eight-verse Shiva prayer
- Om Namah Shivaya: the five-syllable mantra of Shiva
- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: the Rigveda verse to the three-eyed Lord
- Maha Shivaratri: the night most associated with Shiva worship
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is the Rudrashtakam?
It is an eight-stanza hymn to Shiva with a short verse stating its benefit. The stanzas describe Shiva as formless Brahman and as the Lord of Parvati, and end in a humble prayer for protection.
↳ Who composed the Rudrashtakam?
The hymn is found in Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas. Its own closing verse says that a Brahmin spoke it to please Hara, which is another name for Shiva.
↳ When is the Rudrashtakam usually recited?
Many devotees read it on Mondays, at Shiva temples, on Pradosh evenings and on Maha Shivaratri. Some simply recite it at dawn or dusk. Customs differ, and no single time is required.
↳ What does the line about not knowing yoga or worship mean?
In the eighth stanza the speaker admits that he knows no yoga, no chanting and no ritual, and offers only a bow. Devotional tradition reads this as humility, the idea that sincere surrender matters more than expertise.
↳ Is the Rudrashtakam in Hindi or Sanskrit?
The verses are in a Sanskrit-based language that Tulsidas wrote within his Hindi epic. The page shows it in Devanagari as transcribed, with a few spelling differences from standard Sanskrit.