RUDRA ASHTAKAM

I bow to you the Lord, who is present as the Ishana (God Shiva’s form) and whose form is present in Nirvana state (that’s is not affected by Karma). The one who is present everywhere, the supreme being, present in the form of Vedas. O the truthful one, beyond the gunas, beyond the thoughts or changes (vikalpas) and beyond any movements. The divine form who abodes in the sky, I worship you (God Shiva).

I bow to you, who is formless, the source of Omkara and the pure consciousness. Who is beyond speech, knowledge and senses, The Lord of Mountains. Who is fearsome (to the wicked), the Mahakala, who is beyond the time and the compassionate. The adobe of virtues, who helps me to cross the samsara (worldly existence) (I bow to you, God Shiva)

I bow to you, who is white, resembling the snow mountain and whose being is very deep. Who is present in all the beings, whose body is auspicious and radiant. Whose head bears the streams of Ganga. The forehead, adorned with a crescent moon, and the neck with a snake.

The one who is adorned with hanging earrings, whose eyes are large and pleasant. Who has a cheerful face and a blue throat, O the merciful one. Who wears the skin of animals as his clothes (Tigerskin to signify the victory over animal instincts which happened while teaching a lesson to the muni’s in Chidambaram, Elephant skin as his promise to Gajasura), a garland of skulls (of the Brahmas over different kalpas)
O the beloved Lord Shankara, the Lord of all beings, I bow to you.

Who is terrible, extraordinary, courageous and the supreme controller. O the one who filled up the entire cosmos, I worship you the Lord who shines like millions of suns. Who removes the threefold sufferings, holding a trident in hands. I bow to you, whose abode can be attained by single thought (with devotion) O the Lord of goddess Bhavani.

The one who is beyond the elemental aspects, who is auspicious in nature, who brings an end to the Kalpa. You, the one who always brings happiness/joy to the good people, The destroyer of Tripuras (so called Purari). Who is always happy immersed in eternal bliss and the remover of wrong thoughts or intensions. Be pleased, pleased O the God who killed the God of Love (Manmadha).

As long as the lotus feet of the Goddess Uma’s Lord are not worshipped by the beings in this world. They can’t experience the happiness, peace or the end to their sufferings be pleased, O the Lord who resides in all the beings.

O, my Lord, I don’t know the yagna, the japa or the puja’s. O God I always bow before you at every moment. Please help me to uplift from the sorrows of the Birth and old age, miserable I am by the sufferings. My Lord is pleased, Protect me from the state of pain, O Lord Shambhu.