Adi Shankaracharya
ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गं निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
जन्मजदुःखविनाशकलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥१॥
देवमुनिप्रवरार्चितलिङ्गं कामदहं करुणाकरलिङ्गम् ।
रावणदर्पविनाशनलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥२॥
सर्वसुगन्धिसुलेपितलिङ्गं बुद्धिविवर्धनकारणलिङ्गम् ।
सिद्धसुरासुरवन्दितलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥३॥
कनकमहामणिभूषितलिङ्गं फणिपतिवेष्टितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
दक्षसुयज्ञविनाशनलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥४॥
कुङ्कुमचन्दनलेपितलिङ्गं पङ्कजहारसुशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
सञ्चितपापविनाशनलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥५॥
देवगणार्चितसेवितलिङ्गं भावैर्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम् ।
दिनकरकोटिप्रभाकरलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥६॥
अष्टदलोपरिवेष्टितलिङ्गं सर्वसमुद्भवकारणलिङ्गम् ।
अष्टदरिद्रविनाशितलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥७॥
सुरगुरुसुरवरपूजितलिङ्गं सुरवनपुष्पसदार्चितलिङ्गम् ।
परात्परं परमात्मकलिङ्गं तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥८॥
लिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ ।
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥
Reverence to the Divine: Understanding the Lingashtakam
Introduction: The Lingashtakam is a powerful stotra dedicated to Lord Shiva, praising his form as the Shiva Lingam in eight Sanskrit verses, followed by a concluding verse. This sacred hymn is believed to be written by Adi Shankaracharya which extols the glory, power, and compassionate nature of Shiva, and is a profound expression of devotion. On our website, Stotra Ratnavali, we provide the complete Lingashtakam with its English translation, meaning, and description to help devotees deepen their understanding and connection with Lord Shiva.
Verse-by-Verse Description:
Verse 1: This verse glorifies the Shiva Lingam as a symbol revered by all deities, including Brahma and Vishnu. It emphasizes the purity and brilliance of the Lingam, which has the power to eradicate the sorrows of life.
Verse 2: The Lingam is worshipped by gods and sages. It has the power to burn away worldly desires and embodies Shiva's compassionate nature, as well as his victory over the demon king Ravana.
Verse 3: Described here is the Lingam adorned with fragrant pastes that enhance the devotee's intelligence and wisdom. It is universally praised by enlightened beings, gods, and even demons.
Verse 4: The richly adorned Lingam symbolizes prosperity and power, with serpents wrapped around it, signifying Shiva's disruption of Daksha's sacrificial fire and asserting his supreme authority.
Verse 5: This verse emphasizes the auspicious decorations of the Lingam, symbolizing purity and beauty with its divine fragrance. It also speaks of its power to cleanse the devotee of sins accumulated over lifetimes.
Verse 6: The Lingam is depicted as the object of sincere devotion by gods, radiating an intense brilliance akin to millions of suns, symbolizing its supreme spiritual energy.
Verse 7: Surrounded by eight-petalled flowers, the Lingam represents the universe's creative force and its power to eradicate various forms of poverty, highlighting its cosmic significance.
Verse 8: The final verse glorifies the Lingam as the highest and greatest form, worshipped by the gods and their teachers with divine flowers, symbolizing ultimate reverence.
Concluding Verse: The concluding verse assures devotees that reciting the Lingashtakam with devotion near the Shiva Lingam will lead to attaining Shiva's divine abode and eternal bliss.
Summary: The Lingashtakam is a profound hymn that encapsulates the essence of devotion to Lord Shiva through its vivid descriptions and praise of the Shiva Lingam. Each verse highlights different attributes of Shiva and his Lingam, offering devotees a way to connect deeply with the divine. Our page on Stotra Ratnavali provides the complete Lingashtakam with English translation, meaning, and detailed descriptions to enrich your spiritual journey.