Prayer to Lord Shiva (from Haidakhandi Arati)

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Prayer to Lord Shiva (Shivashtak)

 

Praise to Om holy Shankara, ultimate guru Shiva and Mother of the

universe

together!

 

Refrain:

O Shiva, image of mercy, why do you delay my liberation so long?

Remove poverty, pain, doubts. Have compassion, have compassion.

 

Aggrieved and saddened by the cares of this world, O Lord, I have

fallen at Thy

lotus feet.

O Shiva, save me now. Have compassion, have compassion.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

You are beautiful with your body covered with ashes, Lord of this

world, Lord of

the universe.

Half Thy body is the beautiful mother Goddess Amba, Lord of the

mountains, Lord

of the rivers.

With the crescent moon at Thy head, Thou art the image of peace.

Lord of your

people, Lord of my being.

Remove poverty, pain, doubts. Have compassion, have compassion.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

Who does not know Thy motherly love for Thy devotees?

But truly I must admit that I am not a real devotee of Thine.

I do not rely on my devotion to Thee, but on Thy grace alone, O Lord.

Remember Thy own promise of liberation. Have compassion, have

compassion.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

Thou art the Lord of the universe, why should I turn to Anyone else?

Thou art the sustainer of creation, then what could I gain from

others?

Thou alone art my thoughts, my goal; then what more could I gain

from others?

O God of Gods, why should I shed my tears before anyone else?

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

Thou art easily pleased Shiva, and this manner of being pleased is

wonderful.

All beauty beautifies You, Your form is worthy of being worshipped.

You are a storehouse of energy. You are great and powerful.

You are knowledge and beauty. you are always liberating us.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

Thou art a never-failing spring of bliss, the infinite essence of

truth.

Thou art the form and base of everything pervading the world.

Thou art worthy of being served by Lakshmi and Vishnu, yet you are

their

selfless servant, as well.

Divine love is given to those who always repeat Thy name.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

Who has been able to know the greatness of Thy name so far?

Beings of Love and beings of power both sing Thy name in praise.

O Lord, I am waiting until now with trust in Thee.

That Thou and Thy name shall constantly reside in my breath.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy...

 

Holy master, show grace to me, show grace to me, have mercy on me.

Thou art brother of the humble, show grace to me, have mercy on me.

Thou art the trinity - the embodiment of knowledge, the knower and

the object of

knowledge.

Show grace to me, have mercy on me.

Thou holy divine Master of eternal form, embodiment of joy, show

grace to me,

have mercy on me.

 

O Shiva, image of mercy, why do you delay my liberation so long?

Remove poverty, pain, doubts. Have compassion, have compassion.

 

Om. Absolute Bliss, bestower of the highest joy, knowledge

personified, Beyond

duality, formless as the sky, the object of proclamations such

as "Thou art

That"; The One Absolute, eternal, immoveable Being, witness of all

intellects,

Beyond thought and the three gunas; to Thee O supreme guru, I bow.