Lingashtakam
लिङ्गाष्टकम्
Lingashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn of eight verses in praise of the Shiva Linga. Every verse ends with "Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingam", which means "to that Linga of Shiva I always bow", and a closing phalashruti says that whoever recites it near Shiva reaches Shiva's abode. Devotees sing it during abhishekam, on Mondays and through the night of Maha Shivratri.
- 9 verses
- 5 min
- Traditional (author unknown; popularly linked with Adi Shankaracharya)
- Best on Monday
Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingamब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चित लिङ्गं
Nirmala Bhasita Shobhita Lingamनिर्मलभासितशोभित लिङ्गम्।
Janmaja Dukha Vinashaka Lingamजन्मजदुःखविनाशक लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga worshipped by Brahma, by Vishnu and by the gods; the Linga pure, shining and resplendent; the Linga that ends the sorrow born of birth. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Brahma Murari Surarchitaworshipped by Brahma, Vishnu (Murari) and the gods
- Lingamthe Linga
- Nirmala Bhasita Shobhitapure, shining and resplendent
- Janmaja Dukha Vinashakadestroyer of the sorrow born of birth
- Tatthat
- PranamamiI bow to
- Sadaalways
- Shivaof Shiva, the auspicious
- Lingamthe Linga, the formless sign of Shiva
The refrain "सदा शिव लिङ्गम्" can be read two ways. We read sada as "always" (to that Linga of Shiva I always bow). Some texts write it as one compound, सदाशिवलिङ्गम्, "the Linga of Sadashiva". The sound is the same either way.
Deva Muni Pravararchita Lingamदेवमुनिप्रवरार्चित लिङ्गं
Kamadaham Karunakara Lingamकामदहं करुणाकर लिङ्गम्।
Ravana Darpa Vinashana Lingamरावणदर्पविनाशन लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga worshipped by the foremost of gods and sages; the Linga that burnt away Kama, yet is an ocean of compassion; the Linga that humbled the pride of Ravana. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Deva Muni Pravararchitaworshipped by the foremost gods and sages
- Lingamthe Linga
- Kamadahamwhich burnt Kama, the god of desire
- Karunakarathe source of compassion
- Ravana Darpa Vinashanawhich humbled the pride of Ravana
Sarva Sugandha Sulepita Lingamसर्वसुगन्धसुलेपित लिङ्गं
Buddhi Vivardhana Karana Lingamबुद्धिविवर्धनकारण लिङ्गम्।
Siddha Surasura Vandita Lingamसिद्धसुरासुरवन्दित लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga anointed with every fragrance; the Linga that makes wisdom grow; the Linga revered alike by siddhas, gods and asuras. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Sarva Sugandha Sulepitaanointed with every fragrance
- Lingamthe Linga
- Buddhi Vivardhana Karanathe cause of growing wisdom
- Siddha Surasura Vanditarevered by siddhas, gods and asuras
Kanaka Mahamani Bhushita Lingamकनकमहामणिभूषित लिङ्गं
Phanipati Veshtita Shobhita Lingamफणिपतिवेष्टितशोभित लिङ्गम्।
Daksha Suyajna Vinashana Lingamदक्षसुयज्ञविनाशन लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga adorned with gold and precious gems; the Linga resplendent with the king of serpents coiled around it; the Linga that brought Daksha's proud sacrifice to an end. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Kanaka Mahamani Bhushitaadorned with gold and great gems
- Lingamthe Linga
- Phanipati Veshtita Shobhitaresplendent, encircled by the king of serpents
- Daksha Suyajna Vinashanawhich ended the grand sacrifice of Daksha
Kumkuma Chandana Lepita Lingamकुङ्कुमचन्दनलेपित लिङ्गं
Pankaja Hara Sushobhita Lingamपङ्कजहारसुशोभित लिङ्गम्।
Sanchita Papa Vinashana Lingamसञ्चितपापविनाशन लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga smeared with kumkum and sandalwood paste; the Linga beautified with garlands of lotuses; the Linga that destroys the sins gathered over many lives. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Kumkuma Chandana Lepitasmeared with kumkum and sandalwood paste
- Lingamthe Linga
- Pankaja Hara Sushobhitabeautified with garlands of lotuses
- Sanchita Papa Vinashanadestroyer of accumulated sins
Devaganarchita Sevita Lingamदेवगणार्चितसेवित लिङ्गं
Bhavair Bhaktibhireva Cha Lingamभावैर्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम्।
Dinakara Koti Prabhakara Lingamदिनकरकोटिप्रभाकर लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga worshipped and served by the hosts of gods; the Linga reached through true feeling and devotion alone; the Linga radiant as ten million suns. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Devaganarchita Sevitaworshipped and served by the hosts of gods
- Lingamthe Linga
- Bhavairwith heartfelt feeling
- Bhaktibhirwith devotion
- Evatruly, alone
- Chaand
- Dinakara Koti Prabhakararadiant as ten million suns
Ashtadalopari Veshtita Lingamअष्टदलोपरिवेष्टित लिङ्गं
Sarva Samudbhava Karana Lingamसर्वसमुद्भवकारण लिङ्गम्।
Ashta Daridra Vinashana Lingamअष्टदरिद्रविनाशन लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga set upon an eight-petalled lotus; the Linga from which all creation arises; the Linga that removes the eight kinds of poverty. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Ashtadalopari Veshtitaset upon and encircled by an eight-petalled lotus
- Lingamthe Linga
- Sarva Samudbhava Karanathe cause from which all things arise
- Ashta Daridra Vinashanadestroyer of the eight kinds of poverty
Suraguru Suravara Pujita Lingamसुरगुरुसुरवरपूजित लिङ्गं
Suravana Pushpa Sadarchita Lingamसुरवनपुष्पसदार्चित लिङ्गम्।
Paratparam Paramatmaka Lingamपरात्परं परमात्मक लिङ्गं
Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingamतत्प्रणमामि सदा शिव लिङ्गम्॥
The Linga worshipped by Brihaspati, guru of the gods, and by the best of the gods; the Linga ever worshipped with flowers from the celestial gardens; the Linga beyond the highest, the Supreme Self itself. To that Linga of Shiva I always bow.
- Suraguru Suravara Pujitaworshipped by Brihaspati, guru of the gods, and the best of gods
- Lingamthe Linga
- Suravana Pushpa Sadarchitaever worshipped with flowers of the celestial garden
- Paratparambeyond even the highest
- Paramatmakawhose nature is the Supreme Self
Lingashtakamidam Punyam Yah Pathet Shivasannidhauलिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ।
Shivalokam Avapnoti Shivena Saha Modateशिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते॥
Whoever recites this sacred Lingashtakam in the presence of Shiva attains the abode of Shiva and rejoices there with Shiva.
- Lingashtakamthis hymn of eight verses on the Linga
- Idamthis
- Punyamholy, merit-giving
- Yahwhoever
- Pathetrecites
- Shivasannidhauin the presence of Shiva
- Shivalokamthe abode of Shiva
- Avapnotiattains
- Shivenawith Shiva
- Sahatogether
- Modaterejoices
The phalashruti ("fruit of hearing") is the traditional closing verse describing the merit of the hymn.
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Questions
What is the meaning of "Tat Pranamami Sada Shiva Lingam"?
It means "to that Linga of Shiva I always bow". Tat is "that", pranamami is "I bow", sada is "always" and Shiva Lingam is the Linga, Shiva's formless sign. Some texts join the words as Sadashiva-lingam, "the Linga of Sadashiva"; the sound is the same. The line closes all eight verses.
Who wrote Lingashtakam?
No one knows for sure. Popular books often say Adi Shankaracharya, but the hymn does not name its author and the standard texts have no colophon, so scholars treat it as a traditional stotra.
When should Lingashtakam be recited?
While offering water, milk or bilva leaves to the Shiva Linga. Mondays, Pradosh, the month of Shravan and the night of Maha Shivratri are the usual times. The phalashruti asks you to recite it near Shiva, so people say it in a temple or before a Linga at home.
Source and review
Source: Lingashtakam as printed in "Prabhata Stotranidhi" (stotranidhi.com, Devanagari); cross-checked line by line with sanskritdocuments.org lingashh.itx (encoded and proofread by Srinivas Sunder, updated 2022)
We follow stotranidhi.com, which matches how the hymn is sung (four half-lines per verse). Variants in sanskritdocuments.org: "सदाशिवलिङ्गम्" as one compound (same sound); "सर्वसुगन्धिसुलेपित" for "सर्वसुगन्धसुलेपित" (v3); "निर्मलभाषित" noted as a variant of "निर्मलभासित" (v1); "अष्टदरिद्रविनाशित" (v7); "पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ" without sandhi in the phalashruti. stotranidhi notes "परमपदं" as a variant of "परमात्मक" (v8).
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.