Shri Rudrashtakam — Eight Verses of Praise to Lord Shiva

I bow to the Lord, the Supreme Ruler, whose form is absolute liberation, who is all-pervading, the very essence of the Vedas and Brahman. I worship Him who is self-existent, beyond all attributes, changeless, desireless, the expanse of pure consciousness, and who dwells in the sky of the heart.

I bow to the formless One, the root of the sacred syllable Om, the transcendent fourth state of consciousness, beyond the reach of speech and intellect, the Lord of Kailasa. He is fearsome, the destroyer of even the great Time, yet compassionate, the abode of all virtues, and the ferryman who carries one across the ocean of worldly existence.

He is fair like the snow-clad Himalayan mountain, profound and deep, whose body shines with the splendor of millions of cupids. On His crowned head flows the charming Ganga, on His forehead glows the crescent moon, and on His neck rests a serpent.

I worship Lord Shankara, the beloved Lord of all, who has swinging earrings, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, a broad and serene face, a blue throat, and is full of compassion. He wears the hide of the lion as His garment and a garland of skulls.

I worship the fierce, excellent, bold, supreme Lord, who is indivisible and unborn, with the brilliance of millions of suns. He uproots the threefold miseries with His trident, the trident-bearer, the husband of Bhavani, who is attained through loving devotion.

O Lord beyond time, embodiment of all auspiciousness, destroyer of the universe at the end of the eon, ever the giver of joy to the righteous, the foe of the city of Tripura, who removes the delusion that veils the mass of consciousness and bliss—O Lord, destroyer of the god of love, be gracious, be gracious unto me.

Until men worship the lotus feet of the Lord of Uma, in this world or the next, they do not attain happiness, peace, or the destruction of afflictions. O Lord, who dwells within all beings, be gracious.

I do not know the practice of yoga, nor the repetition of mantras, nor the rites of worship; I simply bow to You always, O Shambhu. O Lord, O Shambhu, protect me, who am tormented by the multitude of sorrows of old age and birth, and who am utterly helpless.

This Rudrashtakam was recited by the brahmin Tulsidas to please Lord Shiva. Those men who read it with devotion, Lord Shambhu becomes pleased with them.