Dwadashalinga Stotram

द्वादशलिङ्गस्तोत्रम्

Dvādaśaliṅgastotram

All 12 verses

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Verse 1

सौराष्ट्रदेशे वसुधावकाशे ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम् भक्तिप्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥१॥

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सौराष्ट्रदेशे वसुधावकाशे ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम्: In Saurashtra, in a place on earth, full of light, adorned with the crescent moon.
भक्तिप्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये: Descended in grace to grant devotion, to that Somanatha I take refuge.

Somnath, moon-crowned Lord of Saurashtra, is sought as refuge. Every jyotirlinga is a doorway to the one light of consciousness that illumines all shrines and all hearts.

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Verse 2

श्रीशैलशृङ्गे विबुधातिसङ्गे तुलाद्रितुङ्गेऽपि मुदा वसन्तम् तमर्जुनं मल्लिकपूर्वमेकं नमामि संसारसमुद्रसेतुम् ॥२॥

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श्रीशैलशृङ्गे विबुधातिसङ्गे तुलाद्रितुङ्गेऽपि मुदा वसन्तम्: On Shri Shaila's peak, in the great company of gods, dwelling joyfully on the lofty balance-mountain.
तमर्जुनं मल्लिकपूर्वमेकं नमामि संसारसमुद्रसेतुम्: I bow to that Mallikarjuna, foremost one, bridge across the ocean of samsara.

Mallikarjuna on Shri Shaila is praised as the bridge over the ocean of becoming. Devotion to the Lord who spans samsara leads the mind to the shore of non-dual knowledge.

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Verse 3

अवन्तिकायां विहितावतारं मुक्तिप्रदानाय च सज्जनानाम् अकालमृत्योः परिरक्षणार्थं वन्दे महाकालमहासुरेशम् ॥३॥

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अवन्तिकायां विहितावतारं मुक्तिप्रदानाय च सज्जनानाम्: Incarnate in Ujjain, ordained to grant liberation to good people.
अकालमृत्योः परिरक्षणार्थं वन्दे महाकालमहासुरेशम्: For protection from untimely death, I salute Mahakala, the great Lord of asuras.

Mahakaleshwar of Ujjain grants liberation and wards off untimely death. Time itself is Shiva's power; refuge in him is refuge in the timeless Self beyond birth and death.

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Verse 4

कावेरिकानर्मदयोः पवित्रे समागमे सज्जनतारणाय सदैव मान्धातृपुरे वसन्तं ओङ्कारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे ॥४॥

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कावेरिकानर्मदयोः पवित्रे समागमे सज्जनतारणाय: At the sacred confluence of the Kaveri and Narmada, to ferry good people across.
सदैव मान्धातृपुरे वसन्तं ओङ्कारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे: Ever dwelling in Mandhata's city, I praise Omkareshwara, the one Shiva.

Omkareshwar at the sacred river confluence is the one Shiva praised as Om. The primordial syllable and the Lord of the linga are one: the sound and silence of Brahman.

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Verse 5

पूर्वोत्तरे प्रज्वलिकानिधाने सदाशिवं तं गिरिजासमेतम् सुरासुराराधितपादपद्मं श्रीवैद्यनाथं तमहं नमामि ॥५॥

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पूर्वोत्तरे प्रज्वलिकानिधाने सदाशिवं तं गिरिजासमेतम्: In the northeast, in the abode of blazing flames, that Sadashiva united with Girija.
सुरासुराराधितपादपद्मं श्रीवैद्यनाथं तमहं नमामि: Whose lotus feet gods and demons worship, that Vaidyanatha I salute.

Vaidyanath with Parvati is the physician who heals the disease of ignorance. Worshipped by gods and demons alike, he is the one Lord before whom all distinctions bow.

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Verse 6

याम्ये सदङ्गे नगरेऽतिरम्ये विभूषिताङ्गं विविधैश्च भोगैः सद्भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदमीशमेकं श्रीनागनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥६॥

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याम्ये सदङ्गे नगरेऽतिरम्ये विभूषिताङ्गं विविधैश्च भोगैः: In the southern Sadeanga city, most delightful, whose limbs are adorned with varied enjoyments.
सद्भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदमीशमेकं श्रीनागनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये: The one Lord who grants worldly enjoyment and liberation, to Nageshwar I take refuge.

Nageshwar grants both rightful enjoyment and liberation. The Lord who blesses worldly life also leads the devotee beyond it to the freedom of the Self.

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Verse 7

महाद्रिपार्श्वे च तटे रमन्तं सम्पूज्यमानं सततं मुनीन्द्रैः सुरासुरैर्यक्ष महोरगाढ्यैः केदारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे ॥७॥

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महाद्रिपार्श्वे च तटे रमन्तं सम्पूज्यमानं सततं मुनीन्द्रैः: Sporting on the bank beside the great mountain, ever worshipped by great sages.
सुरासुरैर्यक्ष महोरगाढ्यैः केदारमीशं शिवमेकमीडे: By gods, demons, yakshas, and great serpents, I praise Kedareshwara, the one Shiva.

Kedarnath on the Himalaya is worshipped by sages, gods, and serpents. The Lord on the mountain peak symbolizes the Self reached when the mind ascends beyond worldly valleys.

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Verse 8

सह्याद्रिशीर्षे विमले वसन्तं गोदावरितीरपवित्रदेशे यद्धर्शनात्पातकमाशु नाशं प्रयाति तं त्र्यम्बकमीशमीडे ॥८॥

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सह्याद्रिशीर्षे विमले वसन्तं गोदावरितीरपवित्रदेशे: Dwelling on the pure peak of Sahya, in the holy place on the Godavari's bank.
यद्धर्शनात्पातकमाशु नाशं प्रयाति तं त्र्यम्बकमीशमीडे: By whose sight sin quickly goes to destruction, that Tryambakeshwar I praise.

Tryambakeshwar by the Godavari destroys sin at a single sight. The third eye of Shiva is the eye of knowledge that burns away the accumulated ignorance of countless births.

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Verse 9

सुताम्रपर्णीजलराशियोगे निबध्य सेतुं विशिखैरसङ्ख्यैः श्रीरामचन्द्रेण समर्पितं तं रामेश्वराख्यं नियतं नमामि ॥९॥

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सुताम्रपर्णीजलराशियोगे निबध्य सेतुं विशिखैरसङ्ख्यैः: At the confluence of seas with the Tamraparni waters, having built a bridge with countless arrows.
श्रीरामचन्द्रेण समर्पितं तं रामेश्वराख्यं नियतं नमामि: Offered by Sri Ramachandra, that one named Rameshwara I ever salute.

Rameshwaram was worshipped by Rama with bilva leaves across the sea. When the Lord of the universe worships Shiva, it teaches that even the highest avatara bows to the supreme Self.

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Verse 10

यं डाकिनिशाकिनिकासमाजे निषेव्यमाणं पिशिताशनैश्च सदैव भीमादिपदप्रसिद्धं तं शङ्करं भक्तहितं नमामि ॥१०॥

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यं डाकिनिशाकिनिकासमाजे निषेव्यमाणं पिशिताशनैश्च: Who is served in the assembly of dakinis and shakinikas, and by flesh-eaters.
सदैव भीमादिपदप्रसिद्धं तं शङ्करं भक्तहितं नमामि: Ever renowned at Bhima's ford, that Shankara, benefactor of devotees, I salute.

Bhimashankar is worshipped even by bhutas and pishachas, yet he benefits devotees. The Lord accepts all worship and leads every soul, however fallen, toward the good.

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Verse 11

सानन्दमानन्दवने वसन्तमानन्दकन्दं हतपापवृन्दम् वाराणसीनाथमनाथनाथं श्रीविश्वनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥११॥

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सानन्दमानन्दवने वसन्तमानन्दकन्दं हतपापवृन्दम्: Dwelling in the blissful Anandavana, root of bliss, destroyer of heaps of sin.
वाराणसीनाथमनाथनाथं श्रीविश्वनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये: Lord of Varanasi, lord of the lordless, to Sri Vishvanatha I take refuge.

Vishvanath of Varanasi is lord of the universe and refuge of the refugeless. In the city of liberation, the Lord who destroys sin is the inner Self of all who seek shelter.

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Verse 12

इलापुरे रम्यविशालकेऽस्मिन् समुल्लसन्तं च जगद्वरेण्यम् वन्दे महोदारतरस्वभावं घृष्णेश्वराख्यं शरणम् प्रपद्ये ॥१२॥

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इलापुरे रम्यविशालकेऽस्मिन् समुल्लसन्तं च जगद्वरेण्यम्: In this Ilapura, lovely and vast, shining forth, honoured by the world.
वन्दे महोदारतरस्वभावं घृष्णेश्वराख्यं शरणम् प्रपद्ये: I salute the most abundantly gracious nature, named Grishneshwara; I take refuge.

Grishneshwar, abundantly gracious, completes the circuit of twelve lingas. Each shrine reveals the same Shiva; the pilgrimage ends in the recognition that the Lord sought everywhere is one's own Self.

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