Shivashtakam (Shiva Ashtakam)

I praise the Lord, master of life-breaths, all-pervading, lord of the world, lord of the lord of the world, ever abiding in bliss; lord of past, present and future beings, lord of creatures — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Around his neck a garland of skulls, on his body a net of serpents; Mahakala, destroyer even of Time, protector of Ganesha and the rest; whose matted locks are wide with the rising waves of Ganga — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Who brings joy, who adorns and gladdens the great wheel of the universe, wearing ash as his ornament; the beginningless, the boundless, the great destroyer of delusion — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Dwelling under the banyan, with a vast and tremendous laugh, destroyer of great sins, ever brightly shining; lord of the mountain, lord of the ganas, lord of the gods, the great one — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Who took half the body of the Himalayan’s daughter, seated on the mountain, ever the refuge of the distressed; the supreme Brahman, worshipped even by Brahma and the gods — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Holding skull and trident in his two hands, humble to the lotus feet of those who bow, granting desires; mighty, growing in strength, foremost of the gods — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Whose body is like the autumn moon, the joy of the ganas; three-eyed, pure, friend of the lord of wealth; whose wife is Aparna, ever of good character — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.

Hara, wearer of serpents, wandering on the cremation ground; Bhava, essence of the Vedas, ever unchanging; dwelling in the cremation ground, burning the mind’s desires — Shiva, Shankara, Shambhu, the adorable Ishana.