Shri Rudrashtakam is ascribed by saint poet Goswami Tulsidas. This is a devotional hymn in praise of Lord Rudra. In Uttara Kand of Ram Charit Manas, Rudrashtakam has been composed by Lomesh rishi to pacify Lord Rudra. This hymn appeased Lord Shiva and he bestows his grace to Rishi.
Rudrashtakam consists of eight verses to propitiate Lord Rudra. Recitation of this melodious hymn not only brings happiness and peace but also fulfills your worldly desires.
Shri Rudrastakam in Sanskrit
श्रीरुद्राष्टकम्
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥२॥
तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥३॥
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं
प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं
प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥४॥
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं
अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं
भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥५॥
कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी
प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥६॥
न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं
भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं
प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥७॥
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां
नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं
प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो ॥८॥
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥९॥
इति श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
Shri Rudrashtakam in English
Nama misha mishana-nirvana rupam
vibhum vyapakam brahma-veda-svaroopam
nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham
chidakasha makasha-vasam bhaje ham
nirakara monkara-moolam turiyam
gira gnana gotita misham girisham
karalam maha-kala-kalam krpalam
gunagara samsara param nato ham
tusha radri-sankasha-gauram gabhiram
manobhuta-koti prabha sri sariram
sphuran mauli-kallolini-charu-ganga
lasad-bhala-balendu kanthe bhujanga
chalatkundalam bhru sunetram visalam
prasanna-nanam nila-kantham dayalam
mrgadhisa charmambaram mundamalam
priyam sankaram sarvanatham bhajami
pracandam prakrstam pragalbham paresham
akhandam ajam bhanukoti-prakasam
trayah-shula-nirmulanam shula-panim
bhaje ham bhavani-patim bhava-gamyam
kalatitata-kalyana-kalpanta-kari
sada sajjana-nanda-data purarih
chidananda-sandoha-mohapahari
prasida praslda prabho manmatharih
na yavad umanatha-padaravindam
bhajantiha loke pareva naranam
na tavat-sukham shanti-santapa-nasham
praslda prabho sarva bhuta-dhivasam
na janami yogam japam naiva pujam
nato ham sada sarvada sambhu tubhyam
jara janma-duhkhaugha tatapya manam
prabho pahi apan-namamisha shambho
Rudraassttaka-Idam Proktam Viprenna Hara-Tossaye
Ye Patthanti Naraa Bhaktyaa Tessaam Shambhuh Prasiidati ||9||
||Iti shri goswamitulsidas kritam shri Rudrashtakam sampurnam||
Meaning of Rudrashtakam
My greetings to God Ishaan, the God who is the embodiment of nirvana, who is all-pervasive, who is the personification of Veda which has been originated from Brahma, who is beyond virtues, self dwelling, immutable and dispassionate. I implore who is immeasurable like the sky.
He is formless, who is the origin of ॐ, who is stateless, who is beyond all knowledge, word, who are the masters of Kailash, whose form is frightful, who is the lord of Kaal, who are generous and kind, who is the treasure of virtues, those who are beyond the whole world, I bow down before Him.
Who is fair as a snowy mountain. who has a beautiful face, who is intense, who is in deep contemplation, who is in all beings, whose glory is immense, whose body is beautiful, whose forehead is sharp, whose hairs have the wavy Ganges, with the moon on its shining forehead, and the snake inhabiting its throat.
Those who have earrings in their ears, beautiful eyebrows and big eyes, who have a sense of happiness on their faces, who has blue troat due to venom in their throat, who is kind, whose wears the skin of a lion, who has a snake as a garland around their neck, such dear Shankar is the Nath of the whole world, I worship him.
Who is fierce, who is mature, who is superior, who is unbroken, who is unborn, who is as bright as the thousands of suns, who has a trident, who has no origin, who has the power to destroy all miseries from the root. I bow to the holder of trident and spouse of mother Bhagwati who is achievable through devotion.
He is one who is not bound by time, euphoric, who are also destroyers of Kalp, who always bless and give a boon to righteous, who is the destroyer of the unrighteous Tripur, who is joyous and the passionate, be happy with me. My greetings to God who is the destroyer of Kamdev.
those who are not the same, lotus feet of Uma Pati, Pray till you get peace and happiness, who destroy all sorrows, who dwells in all beings.
I do not know anything, neither yoga nor meditation, I bow my head before You shambho, protect me from all worldly sufferings, sorrows, and pains. I always bow down to Shiva Shambhu like this.
This Rudrashtakam is written to propitiate Har (Shiva)
whoever reads this Rudrashatakam with the true sentiment, Hey Lord Shiva, please be pleased and bless them.
Sri Rudraashtakam of Mahakavi Tulsidas ji ends.
Benefits of Rudrastakam
Whoever reads or just listen to the Rudrasktakm gets blessings from Lord Shiva because reading Rudra Ashtakam with devotion, delights Lord Shiva.
Recitation of Rudrashatak on regular basis brings good luck and keep you calm and delighted from inside. It also nurtures our inner strength and fulfills the desires. Anybody who read Rudrashtaka with full devotion, gets liberated of the sins he accumulated over many births.
Chanting Rudra ashtakam brings happiness, wealth and peace and protects against evils.
Its chanting reduces anxiety and fear, and we feel happy and protected.
You may also like to read -Shiv Panchakshar Strota , Shiva Tandav Strota, Shiv Chalisa
