Shiva Mahima Stotram
The Shiva Mahimna Stotra is very popular among the devotees of Lord Shiva
and is considered one of the best among all Stotras (or Stutis) offered to
Lord Shiva. The legend about the composition of this Stotra is as follows.
A king named Chitraratha had constructed a nice garden. There were
beautiful flowers in this garden. These flowers were used every day by the
king in worshipping Lord Shiva.
One day a Gandharva (Singer in the court of Indra, the Lord of the Heaven)
named Pushhpadanta being fascinated by the beautiful flowers, began to steal
them, as a consequence of which king Chitraratha could not offer flowers to
Lord Shiva. He tried very hard to capture the thief, but in vain, because
the Gandharvas have divine power to remain invisible.
Finally the king spread the Shiva Nirmaalya in his garden. Shiva
Nirmaalya consists of the Bilva leaves, flowers, et cetera which
have been used in worshipping Lord Shiva. The Shiva Nirmaalya is
considered holy.
The thief Pushhpadanta, not knowing this, walked on the Shiva Nirmaalya,
and by that he incurred the wrath of Lord Shiva and lost the divine power
of invisibility. He then designed a prayer to Lord Shiva for forgiveness.
In this prayer he sung the greatness of the Lord.
This very prayer became well known as the `Shiva Mahimna Stotra’.
Lord Shiva became pleased by this StotraM, and returned Pushhpadanta’s
divine powers.
The legend has some basis since the name of the author is mentioned
in verse number 38 of the stotraM. The recital of this stotra is very
beneficial, and Shri Ramakrishna, one of the famous saints of the nineteenth century,
went into samadhi just by reciting a few verses from this hymn.
Mahimnah paaram te paramavidushho yadyasadrishii
Stutirbrahmaadiinaamapi tadavasannaastvayi girah
Athaaavaachyah sarvah svamatiparimaanaavadhi grinanh
Mamaapyeshha stotre hara nirapavaadah parikarah 1
O, Lord Shiva, remover of all types of miseries, what wonder is there, if
The prayer to you, chanted by one who is ignorant about your greatness, is
Worthless! Because, even the utterance ( speech ) of Brahmaa and other gods
Is not able to fathom your merits ( ie, greatness )
Hence, if persons with
Very limited intellect ( and I am one of them ) try to offer you a prayer,
Their attempt deserve your special favour If it is so, I should not be an
Exception hence, (thinking like this ) I begin this prayer (1)
Atiitah panthaanam tava cha mahimaa vaanmanasayoh
Atadvyaavrittyaa yam chakitamabhidhatte shrutirapi
Sa kasya stotavyah katividhagunah kasya vishhayah
Pade tvarvaachiine patati na manah kasya na vachah 2
O, great god, so great is your majesty that it cannot be reached by speech
And mind Even the Vedas also, having become surprised, confirm your
Greatness by only saying `neti’, `neti’ (not this, not this) while
Describing you Who can praise this type of greatness of yours? With how
Many qualities is it composed? Whose subject of description can it be ? And
Yet even then whose mind and speech are not attached to your this new
Saguna form ? (2)
Madhusphiitaa vaachah paramamritam nirmitavatah
Tava brahmanh kim vaagapi suragurorvismayapadamh
Mama tvetaam vaaniim gunakathanapunyena bhavatah
Punaamiityartheasminh puramathana buddhirvyavasitaa 3
O, Paramaatmaa (greatest Soul), as you are the very creator of speech of
The Vedas, which is like highest type of nectar and as sweet as honey, how
Can even the speech of Brahaspati (guru, or spiritual guide of gods)
Surprise you ? (ie, the speech of even Brahaspati is worthless before you)
O, destroyer of three Cities of the demons, thinking that my speech may
Become purified by this act, my intellect (Buddhi) has become prepared to
Sing your greatness (3)
Tavaishvaryam yattajjagadudayaraxaapralayakrith
Trayiivastu vyastam tisrushhu gunabhinnaasu tanushhu
Abhavyaanaamasminh varada ramaniiyaamaramaniim
Vihantum vyaakroshiim vidadhata ihaike jadadhiyah 4
O, giver of Boons, your greatness is the cause of creation, maintenance,
And destruction of the whole universe; this is supported by three Vedas
(ie, rigveda, yajurveda, and Saamaveda); it is distributed in the three
Qualities (ie, Satva, rajas and tamas) and three bodies (of Brahmaa, Vishhnu
And mahesha) Such is your greatness but certain stupid persons in this
World are trying to destroy it by slander, which may be delightful to them
But is really undelightful (4)
Kimiihah kinkaayah sa khalu kimupaayastribhuvanam
Kimaadhaaro dhaataa srijati kimupaadaana iti cha
Atarkyaishvarye tvayyanavasara duhstho hatadhiyah
Kutarkoayam kaanshchith mukharayati mohaaya jagatah 5
If the Paramaatmaa (the greatest Soul) creates the three worlds (ie, the
Whole universe), what is his gesture ? What is his body ? What is his plan
? What is his basis (support)? What are his means (instruments,resources) ?
These are the useless questions raised by some stupid critics, in order to
Mislead people, against one (ie, you) who always remains incompatible to
Senses (5)
Ajanmaano lokaah kimavayavavantoapi jagataam
Adhishhthaataaram kim bhavavidhiranaadritya bhavati
Aniisho vaa kuryaadh bhuvanajanane kah parikaro
Yato mandaastvaam pratyamaravara sansherata ime 6
O, Best Of the gods, are the seven Lokas (It is believed that there are
Seven worlds in this universe, namely, Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka, Svargaloka,
Maharloka, Janaloka, tapaloka, and Satyaloka) unborn ? Was the birth of
The universe independent of its Lord (ie, you) ? If it was so, then what
Were the means by which it was created that the stupid critics are creating
Doubts about you? (ie, you are the only creater of the whole
Universe) (6)
Trayii saankhyam yogah pashupatimatam vaishhnavamiti
Prabhinne prasthaane paramidamadah pathyamiti cha
Ruchiinaam vaichitryaadrijukutila naanaapathajushhaam
Nrinaameko gamyastvamasi payasaamarnava iva 7
The different practices based on the three Vedas, Samkhya, yoga,
Pashupata-mata, Vaishhnava-mata etc are but different paths (to
Reach to the greatest truth) and people on account of their different
Aptitude choose from them whatever they think best and deserved to be
Accepted But as the sea is the final resting place for all types of
Streams , you are the only reaching place for all people whichever
Path,straight or zigzag, they may accept (7)
Mahoxah khatvaangam parashurajinam bhasma phaninah
Kapaalam chetiiyattava varada tantropakaranamh
Suraastaam taamriddhim dadhati tu bhavadbhuupranihitaam
Na hi svaatmaaraamam vishhayamrigatrishhnaa bhramayati 8
O, giver of the Boons, the bull, the parts of a cot, chisel, the
Elephant-skin, ashes, the serpent, the skull : these are the articles of
Your house-hold and yet gods get all their riches merely by the movement
Of your eye-brows really, false desires for worldly things do not deceive (
Mislead ) one who is always is absorbed in his soul ( ie, the yogi- in fact
You ) (8)
Dhruvam kashchith sarvam sakalamaparastvadhruvamidam
Paro dhrauvyaaadhrauvye jagati gadati vyastavishhaye
Samasteapyetasminh puramathana tairvismita iva
Stuvanh jihremi tvaam na khalu nanu dhrishhtaa mukharataa 9
O, destroyer Of ( three ) Cities, some persons call this universe eternal
( ever lasting), others call it temporary, and yet others call it both
Eternal and temporary hence, being surprised ( perplexed ) by these
Contradictory opinions on this subject, I am really becoming immodest in
Loquaciously praising you (9)
Tavaishvaryam yatnadh yadupari virijnchirhariradhah
Parichchhetum yatavanilamanalaskandhavapushhah
Tato bhaktishraddha-bharaguru-grinadbhyam girisha yath
Svayam tasthe tabhyam tava kimanuvrittirna phalati 10
Brahma and Vishhnu wanted to measure your wealth iegreatness you took
The form of Fire and your whole body was a column of fire extending over
Space While Brahma took the form of a swan and flew high to see the
Top(head), Vishhnu took the form of a boar and dug up downwards to see the
Bottom (feet)neither could succeed(While Vishhnu confessed the truth,
Brahma falsely claimed that he had found the top and persuaded the Ketaki
Flower to bear false witnessshiva punished Brahma by removing one of his 5
Heads and ordered that henceforth the Ketaki flower should not be used for
His worship)When ultimately both praised you with full devotion and faith,
You stood before them revealing your normal form O, mountain-dweller, does
Not toeing your line always bear fruit? (10)
Ayatnadasaadya tribhuvanamavairavyatikaram
Dashaasyo yadbahunabhrita-ranakandu-paravashanh
Shirahpadmashreni-rachitacharanambhoruha-baleh
Sthirayastvadbhaktestripurahara visphurjitamidamh 11
Oh,destroyer of the three cities! The effortless achievement of the
Ten-headed ravana in making the three worlds enemyless( having conquered)
And his arrant eagerness for further fight by stretching his arms,are but
The result of his constant devotion to your lotus feet at which he ever
Laid the lotus garland consisting of his 10 heads! (11)
Amushhya tvatseva-samadhigatasaram bhujavanam
Balath kailaaseapi tvadadhivasatau vikramayatah
Alabhyapataleapyalasachalitangushhthashirasi
Pratishhtha tvayyasidh dhruvamupachito muhyati khalah 12
Having obtained all his prowess through worshipping you, ravana once dared
To test the power of his arms at your own dwelling place(Kailas
Mountain) When he tried to lift it up, you just moved a toe of your foot
On a head of his and lo! Ravana could not find rest or peace even in the
Nether-world Surely, power maddens the wicked Finally ravana
Reestablished his faith in you (12)
Yadriddhim sutramno varada paramochchairapi satim
Adhashchakre banah parijanavidheyatribhuvanah
Na tachchitram tasminh varivasitari tvachcharanayoh
Na kasyapyunnatyai bhavati shirasastvayyavanatih 13
Oh boon-giver! Baana, the demon king made all the three worlds serve him
With all their attendants and even the greatest wealth of Indra was a
Trifle for him It was not a surprise at all, since he `dwelt’ in your
Feet; who does not rise in life by bowing his head to you? (13)
Akanda-brahmanda-xayachakita-devasurakripa
Vidheyasyaaasidh yastrinayana vishham sanhritavatah
Sa kalmashhah kanthe tava na kurute na shriyamaho
Vikaroapi shlaghyo bhuvana-bhaya- bhanga- vyasaninah 14
When the ocean was being churned by the gods and demons for
`amrith’(nectar),various objects came forth: at one point, there emerged
The `kalakuta’ poison which threatened to consume everything the gods as
Well as the demons were stunned at the prospect of the entire universe
Coming to an end, O, three-eyed lord, who is ever compassionate and engaged
In removing the fear of the world, you took it(poison) on yourself by
Consuming it (On Parvati’s holding Shiva’s throat at that point, the
Poison froze blue there itself and Shiva became `neelakantha’) It is
Strange that this stain in your neck, though appearing to be a deformity,
Actually adds to your richness and personality (14)
Asiddhartha naiva kvachidapi sadevasuranare
Nivartante nityam jagati jayino yasya vishikhah
Sa pashyannisha tvamitarasurasaadharanamabhuth
Smarah smartavyatma na hi vashishhu pathyah paribhavah 15
The cupid’s(love-god `manmatha’s) (flower) arrows never return
Unaccomplished whether the victims were gods or demons or men however O,
Master! He has now become just a remembered soul (without body),since he
Looked upon you as any other ordinary god, shot his arrow and got burnt to
Ashes,in no time Insulting, masters (who have controlled their senses),
Does one no good (15)
Mahi padaaghatadh vrajati sahasa sanshayapadam
Padam vishhnorbhramyadh bhuja-parigha-rugna-graha- ganamh
Muhurdyaurdausthyam yatyanibhrita-jata-taadita-tata
Jagadraxayai tvam natasi nanu vamaiva vibhuta 16
You dance for protecting the world, but strangely, your glorious act
Appears to produce the opposite result in that the earth suddenly struck by
Your dancing feet doubts that it is coming to an end; even Vishhnu’s domain
Is shaken in fear when your mace like arms bruise the planets; the godly
Region feels miserable when its banks are struck by your agitated matted
Locks (of hair)! (16)
Viya\dvyaa pi tara-gana-gunita-phenodgama-ruchih
Pravaho varam yah prishhatalaghudrishhtah shirasi te
Jagaddvipakaram jaladhivalayam tena kritamiti
Anenaivonneyam dhritamahima divyam tava vapuh 17
The divine river flows extensively through the sky and its charm is
Enhanced by the illumination of the foam by the groups of stars (Brought
Down to the earth by the King Bhagiratha by propitiating Lord Shiva and
Known as ganga) it creates many islands and whirlpools on the earth the
Same turbulent river appears like a mere droplet of water on your head
This itself shows how lofty and divine your body(form) is! (17)
Rathah xoni yanta shatadhritiragendro dhanuratho
Rathange chandrarkau ratha-charana-panih shara iti
Didhaxoste koayam tripuratrinamadambara vidhih
Vidheyaih kridantyo na khalu paratantrah prabhudhiyah 18
When you wanted to burn the three cities, you had the earth as the chariot,
Brahma as the charioteer,the meru mountain as the bow, the sun and the moon
As the parts of the chariot and Vishhnu himself(who holds the
Chariot-wheeel in his hand -Sudarshan chakra?), as the arrow Why this
Demonstrative show when you as the dictator of everything, could have done
The job as a trifle? The Lord’s greatness is not dependent on anybody or
Anything ( Incidentally there is a view that the burning of the three
Cities would refer to the burning of three kinds of bodies of man ie
`sthula sharira’, `sukshma sharira’ and `karana sharira’) (18)
Hariste sahasram kamala balimadhaya padayoh
Yadekone tasminh nijamudaharannetrakamalamh
Gato bhaktyudrekah parinatimasau chakravapushhah
Trayanam raxayai tripurahara jagarti jagatamh 19
Vishhnu once brought 1000 lotuses and was placing them at your feet;
After placing 999 flowers he found that one was missing; he plucked out one
Of his own eyes and offered it as a lotus; this supreme exemplification of
Devotion on his part was transformed into the wheel (sudarshana chakra) in
His hand, which he uses for protecting the world (19)
Kratau supte jagrath tvamasi phalayoge kratumatam
Kva karma pradhvastam phalati purushharadhanamrite
Atastvam samprexya kratushhu phaladaana-pratibhuvam
Shrutau shraddham badhva dridhaparikarah karmasu janah 20
You ensure that there is a connection between cause and effect and hence
When men perform a sacrifice they obtain good results Otherwise how can
There be future result for a past action? Thus on seeing your power in
Rewarding people performing sacrificial worship, with good results, men
Believe in Vedas and firmly engage themselves in various
Worshipful acts (20)
