Siva Mahmna Stotram translation by Sri V V B Rama Rao

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AUM

 

A Free Rendering in English of Pushpadanta's Shivamahimna Stotram

A Paean to Lord Shiva's Power and Glory

V.V.B.Rama Rao

I remember with gratitude the blessings of His Holiness

Mahamandaleswar, Parama Poojya Vidyanandagiri Maharaj of hallowed

memory, of Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh.

He made available to devotees an excellent exegesis of the great

paean in Hindi.. But for His Divine blessing, I could not have

attempted this arduous task.

 

Introduction

 

Pushpadanta was a king of the divine species of Gandharvas, renowned

for their powers of delectable singing. This Gandharva used to steal

flowers for his daily worship of the Supreme Being, Lord Shiva from

the flower gardens of a king's flower gardens. Once the king came to

know about this. He caused `nirmalya' to be thrown in the

Gandharva's way in order to spell ruin on him. It is believed

that `nirmalya' flowers used once in worship, when crossed on the

way, would render the transgressor lose all his brilliance.

Unknowingly, Pushpadanta walked over the strewn flowers and suffered

the loss of his brilliance. He was shocked, but being a blessed

devotee, he realized why that happened. He composed his monumental

Shivamahimna Stotram in expiation of his sin. Pleased, Lord Shiva

blessed him and Pushpadanta regained his brilliance. The recitation

of this great paean, or listening to it sung by a devotee would

absolve the listener of his sins and leads him to the refuge of the

Supreme Being, Lord Shiva.

 

Sloka.1

Compositions describing the glory of Lord Shiva can never be

exhaustive for His Power and Glory are is impossible to describe in

all their infinite variety. Even angels and deities would find it a

baffling task. Still composers like me are free from blame for

attempting in total devotion the impossible. Inspired by the Supreme

Being, I offer this at His feet.

 

Sloka 2

The Vedas themselves are unequal to describe in entirety the nature

and qualities of the formless divine and the divine with form,

nirguna and saguna. But the devout and the blessed, learned or lay,

who contemplate and realize the Supreme Being cannot desist from

singing Your praise in humility, which endears them to You.