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Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti

अथ कथमपि मद्रसनां त्वद्गुणलेशैर्विशोधयामि विभो । साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Also known as Shiv Swarnamala Stuti

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti is

The Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti, the 'golden garland' of praise to Shiva, is a Sanskrit stotra of fifty short verses that its closing colophon ascribes to Adi Shankaracharya, disciple of Govinda Bhagavatpada. Each verse begins with the next letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, from a in the opening words 'atha kathamapi madrasanam' to ksha in the last, and each ends on the same line, 'samba sadashiva shambho shankara sharanam me tava charanayugam'. The first half of every verse carries the substance. Some lines picture Shiva: the elephant hide in verse 3, Uma at his left side in verse 5, the Ganga bound in his locks in verse 19, the great dancer keeping drum-syllables in verse 24. Some are petitions: verse 6 asks him to drive sin far away, verse 17 to break the poet's company with the wicked. Others state Advaita teaching, as in verse 42, where the worlds appear in him like a snake in a rope or silver in a shell. No verse states a phala shruti.

How the alphabet becomes a garland

No Purana and no life of Shankara records when this hymn was made, and no legend is told about it. Its attribution rests on the colophon, which names Shri Shankara Bhagavat, and a 1910 collected edition of the works ascribed to him prints it among his stotras. The design itself is the story. Sanskrit grammar calls its alphabet the varnamala, the garland of letters, and the title adds su, 'fair', so that suvarna reads both as 'gold' and as 'well-formed letter'. The poet threads one verse on each of the fifty letters and lays the garland at Shiva's feet, and where the alphabet resists, the verses say so openly. No Sanskrit word begins with the nasals nga or nya, so verses 20 and 25 place words beginning with jna in their slots. Verse 9 finds no word at all for the vowel lri and offers the short and long letters themselves, like two flowers without stalks. Verse 27 likens Maya to the round letter tha, empty inside and out. Verse 30, on the letter na, says that sharagati, the flight of Shiva's arrow, turns into sharanagati, taking refuge, once that letter is set inside it. Verse 49 admits that no word starts with la and settles for mangala, which ends with it. The garland closes in verse 50 on ksha, with kshana, 'a moment'.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiअथ कथमपि मद्रसनां त्वद्गुणलेशैर्विशोधयामि विभो । साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Tamilஅத கதமபி மத்ரஸநாம் த்வத்குணலேஶைர்விஶோதயாமி விபோ । ஸாம்ப ஸதாஶிவ ஶம்போ ஶங்கர ஶரணம் மே தவ சரணயுகம் ॥

Teluguఅథ కథమపి మద్రసనాం త్వద్గుణలేశైర్విశోధయామి విభో । సామ్బ సదాశివ శమ్భో శఙ్కర శరణం మే తవ చరణయుగమ్ ॥

Kannadaಅಥ ಕಥಮಪಿ ಮದ್ರಸನಾಂ ತ್ವದ್ಗುಣಲೇಶೈರ್ವಿಶೋಧಯಾಮಿ ವಿಭೋ । ಸಾಮ್ಬ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಶಮ್ಭೋ ಶಙ್ಕರ ಶರಣಂ ಮೇ ತವ ಚರಣಯುಗಮ್ ॥

Malayalamഅഥ കഥമപി മദ്രസനാം ത്വദ്ഗുണലേശൈര്വിശോധയാമി വിഭോ । സാമ്ബ സദാശിവ ശമ്ഭോ ശങ്കര ശരണം മേ തവ ചരണയുഗമ് ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationatha kathamapi madrasanāṃ tvadguṇaleśairviśodhayāmi vibho | sāmba sadāśiva śambho śaṅkara śaraṇaṃ me tava caraṇayugam ||

“Now, O all-pervading Lord, I will somehow purify my tongue with even small fragments of your virtues. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.”

अथ: atha — now
कथमपि: kathamapi — somehow
मद्रसनां: madrasanāṃ — my tongue
त्वद्गुणलेशैर्विशोधयामि: tvadguṇaleśairviśodhayāmi — I will purify with small fragments of your virtues
विभो: vibho — O all-pervading Lord
साम्ब: sāmba — with Amba (the Mother)
सदाशिव: sadāśiva — ever-auspicious one
शम्भो: śambho — O Shambhu
शङ्कर: śaṅkara — O Shankara
शरणं: śaraṇaṃ — refuge
मे: me — my
तव: tava — your
चरणयुगम्: caraṇayugam — pair of feet

Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti lyrics in full

Fifty verses, one for each letter of the Sanskrit alphabet from a to ksha, each closing with the same refrain. The printed closing line is given at the end.

All 51 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti PDFAll 51 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Verse 1

अथ कथमपि मद्रसनां त्वद्गुणलेशैर्विशोधयामि विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Now, O all-pervading Lord, I will somehow purify my tongue with even small fragments of your virtues. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 2

आखण्डलमदखण्डनपण्डित तण्डुप्रिय चण्डीश विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord, expert at breaking the pride of Indra, fond of Tandu, lord of Chandi. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 3

इभचर्माम्बर शम्बररिपुवपुरपहरणोज्ज्वलनयन विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord who wears the hide of an elephant, whose blazing eye destroyed the body of Kama, the enemy of Shambara. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 4

ईश गिरीश नरेश परेश महेश बिलेशयभूषण भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Ishvara, lord of the mountain, lord of men, supreme lord, great lord, adorned with serpents. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 5

उमया दिव्यसुमङ्गलविग्रहयालिङ्गितवामाङ्ग विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord whose left side is embraced by Uma, whose form is divine and most auspicious. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 6

ऊरीकुरु मामज्ञमनाथं दूरीकुरु मे दुरितं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Accept me, ignorant and without a protector, and drive my sins far away from me. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 7

ऋषिवरमानसहंस चराचरजननस्थितिलयकारण भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O swan in the minds of the great sages, cause of the creation, preservation and dissolution of all that moves and does not move. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 8

ॠक्षाधीशकिरीट महोक्षारूढ विधृतरुद्राक्ष विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord whose crown is the moon, lord of the stars, who rides the great bull and wears rudraksha beads. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 9

ऌवर्णद्वन्द्वमवृन्तसुकुसुममिवाङ्घ्रौ तवार्पयामि विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

I offer at your feet the pair of letters 'lri' (short and long), like two fine flowers without stalks. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 10

एकं सदिति श्रुत्या त्वमेव सदसीत्युपास्महे मृड भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Following the scripture that says 'Being alone (was in the beginning)', we worship you as that Being, O gracious Mrida. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 11

ऐक्यं निजभक्तेभ्यो वितरसि विश्वम्भरोऽत्र साक्षी भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

You grant oneness with yourself to your own devotees; Vishnu, the upholder of the world, is the witness to this. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 12

ओमिति तव निर्देष्ट्री मायास्माकं मृडोपकर्त्री भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Maya, which points to you as 'Om', is our helper, O Mrida. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 13

औदास्यं स्फुटयति विषयेषु दिगम्बरता च तवैव विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Your very nakedness, clothed only in the directions, makes plain your detachment from the objects of the senses. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 14

अन्तःकरणविशुद्धिं भक्तिं च त्वयि सतीं प्रदेहि विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Grant me purity of the inner mind and true devotion to you. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 15

अस्तोपाधिसमस्तव्यस्तै रूपैर्जगन्मयोऽसि विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

With all limiting adjuncts set aside, you pervade the world through forms both collective and individual. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 16

करुणावरुणालय मयि दास उदासस्तवोचितो न हि भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O ocean of compassion, indifference towards me, your servant, is not fitting for you. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 17

खलसहवासं विघटय घटय सतामेव सङ्गमनिशं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Break up my company with the wicked, and join me always with the good. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 18

गरलं जगदुपकृतये गिलितं भवता समोऽस्ति कोऽत्र विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

You swallowed the poison for the good of the world; who here is equal to you? Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 19

घनसारगौरगात्र प्रचुरजटाजूटबद्धगङ्ग विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord whose body is white as camphor, who holds the Ganga bound in a great mass of matted locks. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 20

ज्ञप्तिः सर्वशरीरेष्वखण्डिता या विभाति सा त्वं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

The awareness that shines unbroken in all bodies, that is you. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 21

चपलं मम हृदयकपिं विषयद्रुचरं दृढं बधान विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Bind firmly the restless monkey of my heart, which roams among the trees of sense objects. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 22

छाया स्थाणोरपि तव तापं नमतां हरत्यहो शिव भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Wonder of wonders, O Shiva: even the shade of you, the motionless pillar, takes away the burning pain of those who bow to you. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 23

जय कैलासनिवास प्रमथगणाधीश भूसुरार्चित भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Victory to you who dwell on Kailasa, lord of the Pramatha hosts, worshipped by the learned. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 24

झणुतकझङ्किणुझणुतत्किटतकशब्दैर्नटसि महानट भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O great dancer, you dance to the drum-syllables 'jhanutaka jhankinu jhanutat kitataka'. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 25

ज्ञानं विक्षेपावृतिरहितं कुरु मे गुरुस्त्वमेव विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Make my knowledge free of distraction and of veiling; you alone are my guru. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 26

टङ्कारस्तव धनुषो दलयति हृदयं द्विषामशनिरिव भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

The twang of your bow splits the hearts of enemies like a thunderbolt. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 27

ठाकृतिरिव तव माया बहिरन्तः शून्यरूपिणी खलु भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Your Maya is like the shape of the letter 'tha', a circle that is empty both outside and inside. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 28

डम्बरमम्बुरुहामपि दलयत्यनघं त्वदङ्घ्रियुगलं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Your sinless pair of feet surpasses even the splendour of lotuses. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 29

ढक्काक्षसूत्रशूलद्रुहिणकरोटीसमुल्लसत्कर भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord whose hands shine with the drum, the rosary, the trident and the skull of Brahma. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 30

णाकारगर्भिणी चेच्छुभदा ते शरगतिर्नृणामिह भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

The verse plays on a letter: 'shara-gati', the flight of your arrow, becomes 'sharana-gati', refuge in you, when the letter 'na' is placed within it, and then it brings good to people here. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 31

तव मन्वतिसञ्जपतः सद्यस्तरति नरो हि भवाब्धिं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

The verse says that one who keeps chanting your mantra quickly crosses the ocean of worldly existence. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 32

थूत्कारस्तस्य मुखे भूयात्ते नाम नास्ति यस्य विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

May contempt fall on the mouth of anyone who does not speak your name. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 33

दयनीयश्च दयालुः कोऽस्ति मदन्यस्त्वदन्य इह वद भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Tell me, who here is more in need of mercy than I am, and who is more merciful than you? Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 34

धर्मस्थापनदक्ष त्र्यक्ष गुरो दक्षयज्ञशिक्षक भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord skilled in establishing dharma, three-eyed teacher, who corrected Daksha at his sacrifice. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 35

ननु ताडितोऽसि धनुषा लुब्धधिया त्वं पुरा नरेण विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Indeed, long ago you were struck with a bow by a man (Arjuna) who took you for a hunter. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 36

परिमातुं तव मूर्तिं नालमजस्तत्परात्परोऽसि विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Brahma, the unborn, could not measure your form; you are higher than the highest. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 37

फलमिह नृतया जनुषस्त्वत्पदसेवा सनातनेश विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

The fruit of being born human here is service at your feet, O eternal Lord. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 38

बलमारोग्यं चायुस्त्वद्गुणरुचितां चिरं प्रदेहि विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Grant me strength, health, long life and a lasting delight in your virtues. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 39

भगवन्भर्ग भयापह भूतपते भूतिभूषिताङ्ग विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Bhagavan, Bharga, remover of fear, lord of beings, whose limbs are adorned with sacred ash. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 40

महिमा तव न हि माति श्रुतिषु हिमानीधरात्मजाधव भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Your greatness cannot be contained even in the Vedas, O consort of the daughter of the snowy mountain. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 41

यमनियमादिभिरङ्गैर्यमिनो हृदये भजन्ति स त्वं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

You are the one whom the self-controlled worship in the heart through the limbs of yoga beginning with yama and niyama. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 42

रज्जावहिरिव शुक्तौ रजतमिव त्वयि जगन्ति भान्ति विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

As a snake appears in a rope and silver in a shell, the worlds appear in you. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 43

लब्ध्वा भवत्प्रसादाच्चक्रं विधुरवति लोकमखिलं भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Having received the discus by your grace, Vishnu protects the whole world. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 44

वसुधातद्धरतच्छयरथमौर्वीशर पराकृतासुर भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord who overcame the demons with the earth as chariot, Shesha who bears the earth as bowstring, and Vishnu who rests on Shesha as arrow. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 45

शर्व देव सर्वोत्तम सर्वद दुर्वृत्तगर्वहरण विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Sharva, god, highest of all, giver of everything, destroyer of the pride of the wicked. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 46

षड्रिपुषडूर्मिषड्विकारहर सन्मुख षण्मुखजनक विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

Remover of the six enemies, the six waves and the six changes, gracious-faced father of Shanmukha. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 47

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्मेत्येतल्लक्षणलक्षित भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord marked out by the definition 'Brahman is truth, knowledge, infinite'. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 48

हाहाहूहूमुखसुरगायकगीतापदानपद्य विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Lord whose deeds are sung in verse by the celestial singers led by Haha and Huhu. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 49

ळादिर्न हि प्रयोगस्तदन्तमिह मङ्गळं सदास्तु विभो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

No word is used that begins with the letter 'la'; so here may there always be 'mangala', auspiciousness, the word that ends with it. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Verse 50

क्षणमिव दिवसान्नेष्यति त्वत्पदसेवाक्षणोत्सुकः शिव भो ।
साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥

O Shiva, the one who longs for each moment of service at your feet will pass the days as if they were a moment. Your two feet are my refuge, O Samba, Sadashiva, Shambhu, Shankara.

Closing

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ सुवर्णमालास्तुतिः सम्पूर्णा ॥

Thus ends the Suvarnamala Stuti, composed by Shri Shankara Bhagavat, the disciple of Shri Govinda Bhagavatpada, a paramahamsa parivrajaka acharya.

The syllable people get wrong

Sāmba (साम्ब), in the refrain of every verse, is sa + ambā, 'together with the Mother', and is said SAAM-ba with a long first vowel and a plain b; it is not the dance word 'samba', and Śambho in the same line keeps its aspirated bh.

When the Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti is chanted

Weekday. Monday

Questions

Suvarna is gold and mala is a garland, so the plain sense is 'golden garland'. The word also divides as su-varna, 'fair letters', since varnamala is the Sanskrit name for the alphabet set out in order. Both senses fit the text: fifty verses, one strung on each letter, offered to Shiva the way a garland is laid at an image. Some printings spell the title Swarnamala, from svarna, a shorter form of the same word for gold.

No. Both run through the Sanskrit alphabet and both call on Samba Sadashiva, which is why they are often confused. The Aksharamala stotram strings short name-phrases, beginning 'adbhutavigraha amaradhishvara', with 'samba sadashiva' repeated several times as its chorus. The Suvarnamala Stuti opens with 'atha kathamapi madrasanam', gives a full line of praise or prayer in each verse, and closes every verse with 'sharanam me tava charanayugam'. Its colophon names Shankara; the Aksharamala is usually printed without an author.

Samba is 'with Amba', Shiva together with the Mother, Uma. Sadashiva is 'the ever-auspicious one', Shambhu 'the source of happiness' and Shankara 'the one who brings welfare'. The second half, 'sharanam me tava charanayugam', says 'your pair of feet is my refuge'. Because the line returns after all fifty verses, the hymn reads as one long act of taking refuge, each new letter adding another reason for it.

Verse 38, on the letter ba, asks for bala, strength, arogya, health, and ayus, long life, together with a lasting delight in Shiva's virtues. It is a petition in the poet's own voice, not a promise made to the reader, and the hymn has no phala shruti verse setting out what its recitation brings. Verse 31 comes nearest to one: the verse says that whoever keeps Shiva's mantra on the lips soon crosses the ocean of worldly existence.

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Continue

Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti

What the Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti is

How the alphabet becomes a garland

The mantra, in six scripts

Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Shiva Suvarnamala Stuti is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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