Shiv Mahimna Stotra by Pushpadant
Monday, June 13, 2005 11:42 PM
Shree Pushpadantakrut Shiv Mahimna Stotra
Glory of Shiva written by Pushpadant.
|| Pushpdant Uvach ||
Voice of Pushpadant
Mahimna paran te paramvidusho yadra sadrashi,
stuti bramha dina mapi tadavasanna tvayi gira |
Atha vachya sarva svamati parinama badhi grunan,
Mamapeshya stotre har nirapvad parikara || 1 ||
Stanza 1:
O Lord Shiva! If your glory sung by those who have not fully understood it is considered inappropriate,
then even your glory sung by Brahma & other gods is also inappropriate as even they are incapable of understanding your glory to its fullest.
Still they all have tried to sing your praise and have not been scolded/punished for their effort, so even my effort to sing in your praise is innocent.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005 11:01 PM
Atita panthana tava cha mahima vag manasayo
ratadyavrutya yam chatimdhatte shrutirapi |
Sakashya stotavya kachi vidha guna kasya vishaya,
pade tvarvachine patati na mana kasya na vacha || 2 ||
Stanza 2:
Speech or even thought can not express glory of your formless form. Even 'Shruti & Vedas' are wary of trying to describe your glory. They refer to you as 'Net-neti' (means not this not that. You are not matter, not quality, not the life-force nor soul nor the mind - what remains after removing everything seen-unseen that we know, is you).
Who can put in words your infinite glory? Who can speak on that subject? But still who is not tempted to speak about the glory of the form you have taken to please your worshippers?
Thursday, June 16, 2005 5:32 AM
Madhusphita wacha parammruta nirmitavata
stava brahman ki va gapi surguro vismaypadam |
Mama tveta vani guna kathan punyen bhavata,
puna mittyarthesmin puramathan buddhi vyrvasita || 3 ||
Stanza 3:
O God, you produce Vedas simply with your thoughts. Not only that, you also make the language of Vedas sweet like honey with ornaments of words, making it pleasing like elixir. So why will you be pleased even by the praise offered by Lord Brahma (considered creator of worlds and one of Hindu trinity)? Of course you won't be pleased by such words.
But still, my speech utilized in creating this poem is not wasted. I am not singing this to show my creativity, but am simply singing your praise with intention of purifying my speech by this holy endeavor.
O the destroyer of Tripur (three cities created by a daemon Banasur), this is why my mind is busy in creating this poem.
Friday, June 17, 2005 1:29 AM
Taveyshavrvya yatta jaggdudaya raksha pralayakrut,
trayi vastu vyasta trishusu guna bhinnasu tanushu |
Abhavayna masmin varada ramani yam ramani,
vihantu vyakroshi vidadhata eehaike jadadhiya || 4||
Stanza 4:
O the fulfiller of wishes, the creator, preserver & destroyer of the world,
Your richness is worshipped by three Vedas and manifested in three different bodies with different qualities (as Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva).
In an attempt to reduce that richness some foolish people make criticisms that only evil-minded would like.
Friday, June 17, 2005 10:12 PM
Kimih kinkay sa khalu kimupaya stribhuvana,
kimadharo dhata srujati kimupadan iti cha |
Ata kaishvarye navasardusto hatadhiya,
Krutay koyan kanshmin mukharati mohay jagata || 5 ||
Stanza 5:
Some evil minded people say "with which motive, with which type of body, by which method, by whose support and with what type of materials did the said creator create the three worlds?" about you, whose richness is even beyond imagination.
They spread such baseless and troubling ill logic to mislead the world.
Saturday, June 18, 2005 10:24 PM
Ajanma no loka kimvaya vavantopi jagata
madhista taran ki withina datya bhavati |
Anisho va kuryad bhuvan janane ka parikaro,
yahto madatsva pratyamvar sanshemat ime || 6 ||
Stanza 6:
O the best of gods, are these fourteen worlds (7 worlds and seven underworlds) without birth?
Is Earth created without a creator? If someone other than God created those worlds then what was the purpose of creating them? So those who doubt that you created the world are indeed stupid.
Sunday, June 19, 2005 11:05 PM
Trayi sankhya yoga pashupatimata vaishnav miti,
prabhinne prasthane para midmada pathya na vacha |
Ruchina vaichitra daju kutil nana pathajusha,
nrunameko gamya stavamasi paya samarnava eve || 7 ||
Stanza 7:
Three Vedas, Yoga, Pashupati mat (branch of Hinduism whose primary god is Lord Shiva), Vaishnav mat (branch of Hinduism whose prime figure is Lord Vishnu) such different paths preach using strangeness of hymns that this is best, this is beneficial. But as waters of all rivers finally directly or indirectly meet the ocean, in the same way, you are the only one to be worshipped by all that worship you directly or indirectly.
Monday, June 20, 2005 11:01 PM
Mahoksha khatawanga parashu rajina bhasma phanina,
kapalam chetiyatav varad tantrop karanam |
Surasta tamrudhi dadhati tu bhavadbhru pranihita,
na hi svatva ramam vishay mrug trushna bhramayati || 8 ||
Stanza 8:
A big bull (named Nandi), khatawanga (A large hammer-shaped weapon), an axe, tiger's skin, ash, a few snakes and a garland made of human skulls - those sum up your belongings.
Whereas even gods get their wealth by the virtue of your pleasing sight.
In this way, there is a huge difference between your possessions and what those blessed by you possess.
This proves that you are someone who is happy by himself. Mirages of desires can not attract you as you find happiness within your own soul.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 11:54 PM
Dhruva kashit sarva sakal parastva druvamida,
parao dhrovya drovye jagati gadati vyasta vishaye |
Samaste sapyet sminpuramathan tairvismit eve,
stuv jihremi tva na khalu nanu dhrushta mukharata || 9 ||
Stanza 9:
Some call this entire world as permanent, some call this world perishable, some say that this world has different qualities and is both permanent and perishable. Even though amazed at those different views, I am not shy of speaking in your praise. But I know that it is not considered good to speak too much.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 11:54 PM
Tavaisharvya yatna dadu parivira chihriradha,
parichet yata vanalamanla skandha vapusha |
Tato bhakti shraddha bhar gurugrunadbhya girish yat,
syaya tasye tamya tava kimanuvrutin falati || 10 ||
Stanza 10:
At the time of origin of the universe, to measure the boundaries of your form of the ocean of light, Lord Brahma went in the above part and Lord Vishnu went in the lower part. They were not even able to measure the size of your physical existence. If such powerful Vishnu & Brahma were also not able to measure your physical form then how can other animals understand you?
When their effort to measure you was unsuccessful then Brahma & Vishnu worshipped you with full devotion and so you appeared before them.
O god, devoted prayers not only help worshippers achieve their goals, but your refuge allows them to realize the true nature of matter/universe/self.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 11:55 PM
Alabhnada pad tribhvan maverya vyatikara,
dashasyo yadbahun mrut ranakandu parvashan |
Shir padma shrenir chitta charana moruhbale,
sthiraya svadrakte stripurhar vishfurjitmidam || 11 ||
Stanza 11:
Ravan conquered all the three worlds (Earth, Heaven & the underworld) devoid of enemies by getting twenty arms eager to wage war.
He offered his heads as flowers at your feet, that is the effect of his strong devotion for you, O the destroyer of Tripur.
Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:26 PM
Amaushya tvat seva samadhi gat sar bhujvana,
balatkailaseti tvadadhivasato vikramayata |
Alabhya patale pyalara chalita gushta shirashi,
pratishta tvayyasidh dhruvmupachito muhyati khala || 12 ||
Stanza 12:
To test the strength of his strong hands, obtained because of serving you, Ravan tried to lift the *
*Kailash is a mountain in the Himalayan range and is worshipped as abode of Lord Shiva. The Tibetan name for the mountain translates as "Store House of Snow".
Friday, June 24, 2005 10:11 PM
Yadadvi sutranmno varad paramo chairapi sati-
madhashchkre ban parijanvidhey tribhuvan |
Na tachitra tasminvariv sirati tvacharanyo-
na kasya unnatye bhavati shir sastv thayvanita || 13 ||
Stanza 13:
All the three worlds obey whom as slaves, that **Banasur surpassed even *Indra's wealth. Banasur pleased Shankar and asked for invincible power, a thousand arms and an incredible city called Shonitpur. Even Indra's wealth was negligible in front of his wealth. These achievements are not surprising about Banasur, who bowed at your feet. Because what is unachievable for those who bow at your feet?
*Indra is the King of Gods & ruler of heaven (Sort of equivalent of Zeus in Greek mythology).
**Banasur was a daemon who pleased Shiva by his devotion & later used his powers to conquer the heaven & Earth & then torment people. Finally gods killed him.
Saturday, June 25, 2005 12:00 AM
Akandabrahmanda kshayachakit deva surakrupa
vidheyasya sidh strinayan visha sahatavata |
Sa kalmash kanthe tava na kururte na shriaya maho,
vikaropi shladhyo bhuvanbhangavya sanina || 14 ||
Stanza 14:
Does the mark on your neck that you got when you took pity on gods & daemons and drunk the poison (halahal - poison threatening to destroy entire world, something like today's air pollution) not contribute to the beauty of you neck? Of course it does. To you, whose nature is to protect fourteen worlds from their fears, even a mark, deformity also becomes like an ornament.
Monday, June 27, 2005 2:19 AM
Asidhartha naiva kachidapi sadevasuranare,
nivartante nitya jayati jayino yasya vishikha |
Sa pashyanish tvamirtar sursadharan mabhut,
smara svartvyatma na hi vashishu pathya paribhava || 15 ||
Stanza 15:
*Kamdev, whose arrows targeted at any god or human being never return without succeeding in their purpose, dared to shoot his arrows of flowers at you by considering you just like any other god. Because of his this inappropriate behavior, he went to the state of being remembered (died). Because disrespect of self-actualized men like you is not good for the doer.
*Kamdev (God of love & Kama (sexual desire), sort of Indian equivalent of Greek god Cupid).
Kamadev tried to disturb Shiva's meditation by shooting him with his arrows, but instead of being distracted and succumbing to desires, Shiva opened his third eye and reduced Kamdev to ashes. Kamdev was later reincarnated when his wife Rati (godess governing the act of sex) pleased Shiva by her prayers and convinced him to bring Kamdev to life again to preserve continuity of the world.
Monday, June 27, 2005 10:53 PM
Mahi padat ghatad vrajati sahasa sanshay padam,
pad vishno bhramyad bhujparigharu grahaganam |
Muhurdho dosthvya yatya nibhrutjata tadittata,
jagadrakshaye tvam natasi nanu vamaiva vibhuta || 16 ||
Stanza 16:
When you are dancing the tandav dance, because of strokes of your feet, the Earth becomes suspicious weather it is going to cease to exist. And because of being rotated around the axis of your hands, the stars in which are sad, that space is also scared about its next state. Repeatedly whose front part is dashing against your open hair-locks that heaven also becomes unstable. In this manner all three worlds are scared about their state. But indeed you do your tandav dance to protect the world, so it is surprising if your actions will bring any unfavorable results.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005 12:06 AM
Vihadvyapi tara gangunit pheno dvamruchi,
pravaho vara yah prusht laghudrashta shirashi te |
Jagad dvipakar jaladhivalayam ten krutami
tvanenavyoneyam dhrutmahim divyam tava vapu || 17 ||
Stanza 17:
The *
Ganges, because of whose waters entire world became an island and the whole sky was covered, that
*Ganges is the holiest river according to Hindu mythology, it is called
It is said that the Milky Way seen in the sky (called Akash Ganga meaning the Ganges of the sky) is the part of
Legend is that Bhageerath, a noble king, worshipped
**A view is that an ancient Saint (called Rishi) Agatsya had drunk up the ocean on request of a bird, as the ocean had swallowed the bird's eggs. Since then the Earth was not surrounded by ocean, until the
Wednesday, June 29, 2005 11:07 PM
Rath shroni yanta shat dhrutiragendro dhanuratho,
rathange chandrarko rathcharan pani shara iti |
Dhidha shkoste koyum tripur trunamadambarvidhi
vidhyeye tridantyo na khalu paratantra prabhudhiya || 18 ||
Stanza 18:
To destroy *Tripur you made the earth your chariot, Lord Brahma your driver, the Meru Mountain your bow, Sun and the Moon wheels of the chariot, and Lord Vishnu the arrow.
Why do you need so much preparation for burning down a straw called Tripur? Why does the great adventurer need so much preparation?
Outer matters do not rule God's mind, which is used to dealing with self-controlled objects.
*Tripur - A Triad of cities constructed by a daemon by obtaining boons from Shiva. One city was in the sky, the second on earth and the third one below the earth. Together those three cities were in-penetrable by Gods, and daemons were making lives of gods hard by attacking them and then taking refuge in those three cities. So gods persuaded Shiva to destroy those cities for well being of the universe (In today's terms 'World Peace'). Since he had granted the boon that lead to creation of those cities, Shiva agreed and destroyed those 3 cities with a single arrow. But he also took care that his devotee, Tripurasur who had created Tripur, escaped and survived.
Thursday, June 30, 2005 11:52 PM
Hariste sahastram kamalbalimadhay padayo
yaderkone tasminnijmudhar netrakamalam |
Gato bhaktyudrek parinatimaso chakravapusha,
trayana rakshaye tripurhar jagarti jagatam || 19 ||
Stanza 19:
Lord Vishnu brought a thousand lotuses to offer at your feet. You hid one of them, so to complete the number Vishnu removed one of his eyes and offered it in place of that lotus. In return of this devotion, you gave him the *Sudarshan Chakra. He still stays awake to protect the three worlds.
*Surashan Chakra - The favorite weapon of Lord Vishnu (One of whose incarnations is worshipped as
Krato supte jagrat tvamasi falyoge kratumata,
ka karma pradhvasta falati purusharadhanamrute |
Atastva sampekshya kratushu faldan pratibhuv,
shruto shraddha badhva dadhaparikara karmasu jana || 20 ||
Stanza 20:
Even though *yagna-karma - the way of life of offering homage to Gods has lost its significance, you are alive in the fruits of results of those who offered homage. And anyway, efforts such as Yagna do not succeed without worships and blessings of God.
So considering you as the giver of results, the doers of deeds believe in **Ved-Shruti and continue worshipping you.
This stanza asks a devotee to keep on taking efforts in service of God, even though the way of serving God has changed with time. It is like "Believe in God and keep on working hard.".
*Vedic rituals to offer homage to Gods, in which offerings are made to holy fire so that it may carry it to Gods. Besides the ritual, any effort undertaken for the common good, any effort that requires a devotee to sacrifice his pleasures and personal desires and wishes is also called a Yagna.
**Vedas are the Holy Scriptures said to be produced by Lord Brahma. Sruti is the tradition of passing down those Vedas orally from generation to generation. Words Ved and Shruti are used interchangeably by some poets and authors.
The tradition of shruti has said to exist before the writing was invented, and the only way to pass on the Vedas was by memory. It is regarded as one of the most fail-proof ways of knowledge transfer. The Vedas were organised into two line hymns, each of which was sung in a musical tune. The tradition continued even when writing was invented, and finally Rishi Krushna Dvaipayan Vyas (called Ved -Vyas), the author of Mahabharat, longest epic in the world, got them written for the first time.
(To test fail-proof-ness of Shruti, listen to a musical song for one month, everyday, early in the morning, sing it twice every day from your memory, in the correct rhythm & then try forgetting it for rest of your life.
After that, if you manage to forget it, leave a message on my board. You deserve my salutations!)
Saturday, July 02, 2005 11:03 PM
Kriyadaksho daksha kratupatiradhish stanumrutam,
Mrushina martivajya sharanad sadasya suragana |
kratubhreshtvatt kratufalwithanvyasanino,
dhruv kartu shraddha vidhurmabhicharay hi makha || 21 ||
Stanza 21:
*Daksha Prajapati was skilled in rituals of Yagna, he was performing a Yagna. He was the hsot, and the best **Rishis were conducting that Yagna. Again, many gods were invited to his Yagna and they all were focussed on generating results of Daksha's Yagna. But still that Yagna was destroyed by you.
This leads to the conclusion that rituals performed by that faithless lead to their own ruin. (Rituals performed without faith only lead to ruin of the performer).
*Daksha Prajapati was a religious king. He was father of Sati and father-in-law of Lord Shiva. He despised Shiva. While conducting a Yagna, he disrespected Shiva and ill-treated him. Sati could not bear this insult meted out to Shiva and she gave away her life in the Yagna. Shiva got mad (obviously, wouldn't you?) and destroyed Daksha's Yagna and took his life.
This stanza states that acts of worship done without faith and values are meaningless and do not result in any good.
**Rishi - Sages well versed in Vedas and other rituals are called Rishis.
Sunday, July 03, 2005 10:27 PM
Prajanath nath prasambhikam svam duhitaram,
gata rohidmuta rirmayishumrushyasya vapusha |
dhanushpaneryata divmapi sapatra krutamamu,
trasant teyapi tyajati na mrugavya dharabhasa || 22 ||
Stanza 22:
O Lord, Brahma fell in love with *Saraswati, his own daughter, because of her beauty and ran behind her to satisfy his lust. Saraswati took the form of a dear to save herself. So Brahma took the form of a buck and chased her.
On seeing this inappropriate behavior of Brahma, you shot an arrow from your bow with the violent intent like that of a hunter. Scared by your arrow, Brahma became the **"Mrug Nakshtra" so as to escape it. By the arrow shot by you is still not leaving that buck.
*Saraswati - Godess of knowledge, memory, intellect and arts. Daughter of Lord Brahma, who is considered the creator of the universe among the Hindu holy trinity. The story goes that Brahma was so impressed by intelligence and inner beauty of Saraswati, that he forgot that she was his daughter.
**Mrug Nakshatra - One of the constellations in the sky, called The Orion in western world. The four stars in the corners represent the feet of the buck and the three stars in the center represent the arrow.
There are many different stories about this constellation. Story of Brahma and Saraswati is one of them.
Monday, July 04, 2005 10:11 PM
Svalavanya sansha dhrutdhanushmahay trunavat,
pur plushtam drashtva puramathan pushpa yudhamapi |
yadi strenam devi yamanirat dehardghatna
davaiti tvamaddha bat varad mugdha yuvatay || 23 ||
Stanza 23:
Kamdev, who adorned the bow and arrows made of flowers, aimed his arrows at you, so that you see Parvati's beauty and wish to marry her. Upon this, you reduced him to ashes like a straw.
Even after seeing this, if goddess Parvati believes that you married her because of lust then it is understandable, because it is unfortunate that, women are naturally simple-minded.
(Personally, I do not agree with the part about women being simple-minded).
Tuesday, July 05, 2005 9:38 PM
Samshaneshva krida, smarhar pishacha sahachara
chitabhasmalep stragapi nrukaroti parikara |
Amangalya shila tav bhavtu namaivamakhila,
tathapi smatdarna varada param mangalmasi || 24 ||
Stanza 24:
You live in a crematorium, ghosts are your companions. You apply the ash of burnt dead bodies on your body and in your neck you wear garland made of skulls of your dead devotees. All those things and your this appearance is inauspicious. But still for your devotees who worship you, you are the most auspicious and benefit them in the way that they desire.
Thursday, July 07, 2005 1:03 AM
Mana pratyakchitte savidhmavadhayat marut,
prahashya dromana pramad salilotsangeetdash |
Yadalokyalhada hrav eve nimajjya mrutamaye,
dadhatyat statva kimapi yaminsttkil bhavan || 25 ||
Stanza 25:
*Yogis, who control their breath by practicing discipline **Pranayama, whose body hair have stood up because of excitement and love, whose eyes are crying tears of joy, such Yogis focus their mind running behind worldly objects back to inner self and experience the joy equivalent to diving in a stream of water of immortality. The thing they focus on and feel inner happiness, is you.
*Yogi - a person who is beyond control of external forces. Whom external objects can not give happiness or sorrow and who is control of her/his five senses (taste, sight, sound, touch and smell).
**Pranayama - an ancient Indian technique to control breath and breath in a healthy way to improve overall physical health.
Friday, July 08, 2005 12:23 AM
Tvamarkastva soma stvamasi pavanstva hutvaha
stvamapastva vyom tvamu dhariniratma tvamiti ch |
Parichinna mave parinata bibhratu gir,
na vidvastatatva vayamih tu yatva na bhavasi || 26 ||
Stanza 26:
You are the Sun, you are the Moon, you are the wind, you are the fire, you are the water, you are the sky, you are the earth and the soul also is you. The experts who know you may speak about you differently as if they are speaking about different people, but we do not know anything in this world which you are not. Means that you are in everything.
Saturday, July 09, 2005 12:02 AM
Trayi tristo vrutti stribhuvanmatho trinapi sura
nakara dhaivarne stribhir bhidhatirna vikruti |
Turiyam te dham dhvanibhirvarun dhanmanumi,
samasta vyasta tva sharanad grunatyomiti padam || 27 ||
Stanza 27:
You encompass the three Vedas (Rug, Yajur & Sam), three states of mind (awake, dreaming and alseep), three worlds (Earth, underworld and heaven) and three Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar himself) by three letters (Aa, Uu, Mm culminating in Aum).
Your shapeless pure fourth form is blocked by subsonic sounds (the original phrase translates to micro sounds).
Yogis call you, who is everything and still in different forms, by the title of Aum.
Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:58 PM
Bhava sharvo rudra pashupatirathogra sahamaha
stathabhimeshana viti yadbhinashtakmidam |
Amusmin pratyek pravicharati dev shrutirapi,
priyayasme dhamne pravihit namasyosmi bhavate || 28 ||
Stanza 28:
Bhav (the creator of the universe), sharva (one who eliminates devotees' sins), rudra (one who makes everyone cry at the time of destruction/apocalypse), pashupati (king of all living beings), ugra (one who is angry & ready to destroy his opponents), sahmahan (greatest of gods), bhim (one whose appearance instills fear in the opponents) and ishan (the one who rules all), with each of these names, the Vedas offer you homage.
I bow before such an adorable God.
Monday, July 11, 2005 10:00 PM
Namo nedishthay priyadav davishthay cha namo,
namo shodishthay smarhar mahishthay cha nama |
Namo varshishthay trinayan yavishthay cha namo,
nama sarvaisme te tadidmiti sarvay cha nama || 29 ||
Stanza 29:
Salutations ('Namaskar') to you who is very near, and salutations to you who is very far. Salutations to very small you and salutations to the one with very large form, you.
O the one with three eyes, our salutations to the very ancient (old) you and our salutations to extremely young you.
Salutations to you, who is in every form and salutations to you referred to as this and as that.
This stanza means that being incapable of deciding God's form, we should only bow to God.
Monday, July 11, 2005 10:02 PM
Balrajase vishvotpatto bhavay namo namah
prabaltamase tatsamhare haray namo namah |
Janasukhkrute stvodrikto mruday namo namah,
pramahasi pade nistreygunye shivay namo namah || 30 ||
Stanza 30:
To you in the form of Brahma, having more creative nature than destructive nature so as to create the Universe, we offer salutations again and again.
And to you having more destructive qualities so as to destroy the world at the time of apocalypse, in the form of Rudra, salutations again and again.
And to you possessing positive qualities for the purpose of making men happy, in the form of happiness, we offer salutations again and again.
To you, residing as the brightest light, the combination of three energies (creative, protective and destructive) we offer our salutations again and again.
Monday, July 11, 2005 10:05 PM
Krushparinati chaeta kleshvashya ka chedum,
Ka cha tav guansimolanghini sashva drashti |
Iti chakitmamandikrutya ma bhakti radha
dvarad charanyoste vakya pushpopaharam || 31 ||
Stanza 31:
My mind is powerless and immersed in worries. And your holy image violates the boundaries of the three qualities (sight, touch, smell).
My devotion towards you alerted me, who was worried in this manner, and forced me to offer these stanzas as flowers at your lotus feet.
Monday, July 11, 2005 10:07 PM
Asitagiri samam syatkjallam sindhupatre,
surataruvarshakah lekhani putra murvi |
Likhati yadi gruhitva Sharada sarva kala,
tadapi tav gunama nisha para na yati || 32 ||
Stanza 32:
Making the ocean as the vessel, taking dried ink (eyeliner) as much as the Nilgiri Mountains in it, making a pen out of the branch of *kalpa-taru, even if Godess Saraswati keeps on writing on the letter of this earth, even then she can not exhaust your qualities.
In this stanza the poet humbly points out that it is not within anyone's capacity to describe God in entirety. This is a befitting end to a humble and glorious submission at the feet of God.
*Kalpa-taru - the wish-granting tree, known as being capable of granting all that one desires.
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Translator's comments:
The Shiv Mahimna stotra consists of 43 stanzas.
The first 32 stanzas contain absolutely no reference to the poet, and are an exercise in humility and complete submission to God. But from the 33rd stanza onwards, the poet and the hymn are praised immensely and the narrative style and the singing tune also depart from the consistency of the first 32 stanzas.
Also, the poet referred to himself using the first person pronouns in the first 32 stanzas, but from 33rd stanza onwards, the poet is referred to in third person pronoun.
All this leads me to believe, that only the first 32 stanzas are written by the original poet, Pushpadanta, and the rest have been added later on by others.
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Tuesday, July 12, 2005 11:30 PM
Asursurminindre rarchitasyendumaule,
grathitgunamahimno nirgunsyeshvarasya |
Sakalgunavarishtha pushpadantabhidhano,
ruchirmalaghuvrutte stotra metachhkar || 33 ||
Stanza 33:
The one who is worshipped by demons, gods and saints, whose hair are adorned with the moon and whose glory is sung by his devotees, for such a God, a *Gandharva, Pushpadanta who is complete with all the good qualities, has created this hymn with stanzas in **Shikharini style.
*Gandharva - A tribe of angels who are considered to be very skillful with all types of arts.
**Shikharini - A grammatical syntax for arranging words in a stanza. (It requires the sentence to be arranged in the format of Ya-Ma-Na-Sa-Bha-La-Ga).
Wednesday, July 13, 2005 11:02 PM
Aharharnavadhan dhurjate stotrametat,
Pathati parambhaktya shuddhachitta pumanya |
Sa bhavati shivloke rudratulyasta thatra,
prachurtardhanayu putravan kirtimanshva || 34 ||
Stanza 34:
The man who sings this innocent hymn everyday with a pure heart and devotion, is worshipped like god in heaven and gets lots of riches, long life, sons and glory in this world.
Friday, July 15, 2005 12:22 AM
Maheshannaparo devo mahimno na para stuti
Aghorannnaparo mantro nasti tatva guro param || 35 ||
Stanza 35:
There is no God greater than Mahesh (Shiva/Shankar), there is no hymn better than Mahimna,
There is no mantra better than *Aghor mantra and there is no element better than **Guru.
* Aghor Mantra -
Aghorebhyoth ghorebhy ghorghortarebhya |
Sarvebhya sarvashravebhyo namaste astu rudrarupebhya || 1 ||
Means - In Calm state, in frightful state, again in even frightful than the most frightful state,
In every form, destroyer of all moving and immovable objects, and the one who makes everyone cry at the time of apocalypse, to you I offer my homage/salutations.
**Guru - Teacher/guide who guides you to the path of spiritual enlightenment.
Friday, July 15, 2005 10:17 PM
Diksham da napam tirth gyana yaga dika kriya |
Mahimna stav pathasya kala naharti shodshim || 36 ||
Stanza 36:
Baptism (?), donation, worship, pilgrimage, seeking knowledge and rituals - all these do not equal even the equivalent of the crescent of reciting the hymn of mahimna.
This stanza says that reciting mahimna pleases God more than all other mentioned activities.
(Personally, I do not agree with it).
Monday, July 18, 2005 12:04 AM
Kusumdashannama sarvagandharvaraj,
shishushashidhar maule devadevasya dasa |
Sa khalu nij mahimno bhrasta evasya roshat,
stavanmidamkarshi divya divya mahimna || 37 ||
Stanza 37:
Devotee of the one who wears baby moon in his hair, God of Gods, Mahadev (Shankar),
the king of all Gandharvas, called Pushpadanta,
On finding his powers of flying destroyed by Mahadev's anger because he stepped on a flower offered to Mahadev, immediately composed this famous hymn in praise of Lord Maheshvar (Shankar/ Shiva).
Monday, July 18, 2005 12:32 AM
Survarmunipujyam svargamokshyekahetu,
patati yadi manushya pranjalinarnyacheta |
Vrajati shivsamipa kinnare stuyamaan,
stavanmidamamogha pushpadanta pranitam || 38 ||
Stanza 38:
Worthy of being worshipped by big Gods and sages and one of the ways to obtain heaven,
Whichever human being recites with folded palms, this successful hymn created by Gandharva called Pushpadanta, goes near to reside near Lord Shiva and her/his praise is sung by *Kinnaras.
*Kinnaras - Angels, similar to Gandharva's.
Monday, July 18, 2005 12:39 AM
Asamaptamidam stotram punya gandharvabhashitam |
anokamya manohari Shivvishwara varganam || 39 ||
Stanza 39:
Beneficial from the beginning to end, holy, enchanting, and the one which can not be compared,
such, this hymn describing God is created by a Gandharva called Pushpadanta.
Monday, July 18, 2005 10:23 PM
Ityesha vagmaya pooja shreemachhankar padayo |
Arpita ten devesha priyata me sadashiv || 40 ||
Stanza 40:
In this manner I have offered my homage to Lord Mahadev in the form of this song.
May Lord of Gods, Sadashiv (Shankar) be pleased with me by this.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 11:34 PM
Tav tatvam na janami kidashosshi maheshvar |
Yadashoshi mahadev tadashay namo nama || 41 ||
Stanza 41:
I do not know your element, your form.
O God, I bow to you regardless of the way you are.
Thursday, July 21, 2005 12:51 AM
Ekkalam dvikalam va trikalm ya pathenarra |
sarvapapa vinirmukta shivloke mahiyate || 42 ||
Stanza 42:
The person who recites this hymn once twice or thrice every day is absolved of all sins and is given a respectful place in heaven.
Friday, July 22, 2005 12:43 AM
(July 21st, 2005 the day of this night, was Guru Poornima. The day dedicated for students to remember and offer homage to spiritual teachers who helped them on the path of spirituality).
Shri Pushpadanta Mukhpankaj nirgaten,
strotren kilvishharen hara priyena |
Kanthasthiten pathiten samahiten,
suprinito bhavati bhutapati mahesh || 43 ||
Stanza 43:
Master of ghosts, Lord Shiva is pleased with whoever memorizes this hymn which has come out from the lotus like mouth of *Shri Pushpadanta and is a favorite of Lord Mahadev, and sings it with heart-felt devotion.
*Shri - A respectful title added before names of gentleman.
Iti shri pushpadanta gandharvaraja virachit shri shivmahimnastotra sampurnam ||
The Shiv Mahamina hymn created by King of Gandharvas, Pushpadanta ends.
**"This hymn was translated from Sanskrit to Gujarati by Shri Nathasharma.
This translator has attempted to translate it from Gujarati to English."
Labels: Glory of Shiva, Mahimna, Pushpadant, Shiv, Shiva
posted by Neel Bhatt (Zero) at 1:36 PM
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