The Ardhanarishwara Stotram is a sacred hymn that beautifully captures the divine union of Shiva and Shakti in one form, known as Ardhanarishwara—half male and half female. This form symbolizes the perfect harmony between the masculine energy of creation’s stillness and the feminine energy of dynamic power, showing that the universe thrives on their balance. It was composed by the great sage Adi Shankaracharya. Chanting it with devotion brings inner peace, balance in life, and spiritual growth, reminding us that all opposites in the world are one in the divine.
अर्धनारीश्वर स्तोत्रम् | Ardhanarishwara Stotram
चाम्पेयगौरार्ध शरीरकायै कर्पूरगौरार्ध शरीरकाय ।
धम्मिल्लकायै च जटाधराय नमः शिवयै च नमः शिवाय ॥1॥
Transliteration:
Chāmpeyagaurārdha śarīrakāyai karpūragaurārdha śarīrakāya।
Dhammillakāyai ca jaṭādharāya namaḥ śivayai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥1॥
Explanation:
One half of the divine body glows with the gentle golden light of champa flowers, like Shakti’s soft and nurturing grace. The other half shines pure white like camphor, reflecting Shiva’s calm and eternal purity. On Shakti’s side, the hair is beautifully braided, full of elegance, while on Shiva’s side, it flows in matted locks, symbol of deep meditation. This verse bows to both Shakti and Shiva, celebrating their oneness that fills the heart with peace and wonder.
कस्तूरिका कुङ्कुमचर्चितायै चितारजःपुञ्जविचर्चिताय ।
कृतस्मरायै विकृतस्मराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||2||
Transliteration:
Kastūrikā kuṅkumacarcitāyai citārajaḥpuñjavicarcitāya।
Kṛtasmarāyai vikṛtasmarāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥2॥
Explanation:
Shakti’s side is adorned with the sweet scent of musk and the vibrant red of kumkum, like a loving embrace that brings life and beauty. Shiva’s side is covered in sacred ash from the fire, a reminder of letting go and the cycle of renewal. Shakti revives love and desire in the world, while Shiva transforms it beyond the ordinary. Salutations to this divine pair, whose balance teaches us to find harmony in change and stillness, touching the soul with deep joy.
झणत्क्वणत्कङ्कणनूपुरायै पादाब्जराजत्फणिनूपुराय ।
हेमाङ्गदायै भुजगाङ्गदाय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||3||
Transliteration:
Jhaṇatkvaṇatkaṅkaṇanūpurāyai pādābjarājatphaṇinūpurāya।
Hemāṅgadāyai bhujagāṅgadāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥3॥
Explanation:
The gentle tinkling of bangles and anklets on Shakti’s wrists and feet fills the air like sweet music, evoking grace and movement. On Shiva’s lotus-like feet, serpents coil as anklets, shining with quiet power and protection. Golden armlets adorn Shakti’s arms, while serpents wrap around Shiva’s, blending beauty with strength. This verse offers reverence to Shakti and Shiva, inspiring us to see the divine dance of gentleness and might in every step of life.
विशालनीलोत्पललोचनायै विकासिपङ्केरु हलोचनाय ।
समेक्षणायै विषमेक्षणाय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ॥4॥
Transliteration:
Viśālanīlotpalalocanāyai vikāsipaṅkeru halocanāya।
Samekṣaṇāyai viṣamekṣaṇāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥4॥
Explanation:
Shakti’s eyes are wide and deep like blue lotuses blooming in calm waters, full of compassion and endless love. Shiva’s eyes open like red lotuses in the sun, radiating wisdom and inner light. Shakti sees with two eyes of balance and equality, while Shiva’s three eyes reveal deeper truths beyond the seen. Bowing to them brings a sense of wholeness, as if the heart opens to the vast beauty of the universe’s mysteries.
मन्दारमाला कलितालकायै कपालमालाङ्कितकन्धराय ।
दिव्याम्बरायै च दिगम्बराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||5||
Transliteration:
Mandāramālā kalitālakāyai kapālamālāṅkitakandharāya।
Divyāmbarāyai ca digambarāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥5॥
Explanation:
Shakti’s forehead is graced with garlands of mandara flowers, blooming with freshness and divine fragrance. Around Shiva’s neck hangs a garland of skulls, a gentle reminder of life’s fleeting nature and eternal spirit. Shakti wears heavenly silks that flow like rivers of light, while Shiva is clothed in the open sky, free and boundless. This salutation awakens the soul to embrace both the adorned and the simple, finding sacredness in every form.
अम्भोधरश्यामलकुन्तलायै तडित्प्रभाताम्रजटाधराय ।
निरीश्वरायै निखिलेश्वराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||6||
Transliteration:
Ambhodharaśyāmalakuntalāyai taḍitprabhātāmrajaṭādharāya।
Nirīśvarāyai nikhileśvarāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥6॥
Explanation:
Shakti’s hair cascades like dark rain clouds, rich and mysterious, holding the promise of life’s nourishing flow. Shiva’s matted locks glow with the coppery light of lightning, full of energy and transformation. Shakti stands supreme with no one above her, while Shiva guides the entire cosmos as its loving master. Reverence to them fills the spirit with freedom and connection, like a gentle rain merging earth and sky.
प्रपञ्चसृष्ट्युन्मुखलास्यकायै समस्तसंहारक ताण्डवाय ।
जगज्जनन्यै जगदेकपित्रे नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||7||
Transliteration:
Prapañcasṛṣṭyunmukhalāsyakāyai samastasaṃhārakatāṇḍavāya।
Jagajjananyai jagadekapitre namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥7॥
Explanation:
Shakti’s joyful dance sparks the creation of worlds, like a smile that brings forth all life with tender care. Shiva’s tandava dance dissolves everything back into oneness, a powerful rhythm of renewal. As the mother of the universe, Shakti nurtures every being, while Shiva, the sole father, protects and guides. This verse honors them, evoking a profound sense of belonging, as if the cosmos itself cradles the soul in eternal love.
प्रदीप्तरत्नोज्ज्वल कुण्डलायै स्फुरन्महापन्नगभूषणाय ।
शिवान्वितायै च शिवान्विताय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||8॥
Transliteration:
Pradīptaratnojjvalakuṇḍalāyai sphuranmahāpannagabhūṣaṇāya।
Śivānvitāyai ca śivānvitāya namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ॥8॥
Explanation:
Shakti’s ears sparkle with gems that shine like stars, symbols of inner radiance and divine beauty. Shiva wears great serpents that coil with life, representing protection and infinite wisdom. United with Shiva, Shakti completes the whole, and united with Shakti, Shiva finds his fullness. Salutations to this perfect union, which stirs the heart with a timeless glow of oneness and bliss.
फलश्रुतिः
एतत्पठेदष्टकमिष्टदं यो भक्त्या स मान्यो भुवि दीर्घजीवी ।
प्राप्नोति सौभाग्यमनन्तकालं भूयात्सदा तस्य समस्तसिद्धिः ॥
Transliteration:
Etatpaṭhedaṣṭakamiṣṭadaṃ yo bhaktyā sa mānyo bhuvi dīrghajīvī।
Prāpnoti saubhāgyamanantakālaṃ bhūyātsadā tasya samastasiddhiḥ ॥
Explanation:
Whoever recites this octet with true devotion will be honored in the world and live a long, blessed life. They will enjoy endless good fortune and attain all spiritual powers, as the divine grace of Shiva and Shakti flows eternally into their heart, bringing complete fulfillment and peace.
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