Complete · Alphabet praise · ~4 min · ~4 min chant
Suvarna Mala Stutih
सुवर्णमालास्तुतिः
Suvarṇamālāstutiḥ
An alphabetical garland of fifty verses to Shiva; this edition presents the opening six, each beginning with a successive Devanagari letter.
6 verses · About 4 min · Lord Shiva
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Suvarnamala Stutih is a varnamala hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya in which each verse begins with a successive letter of the Sanskrit alphabet and closes with a shared refrain of surrender at Shiva's feet. The first six verses move from A through R, praising Shambhu as lord of the cosmos, beloved of Uma, and refuge of the wise.
At a glance
- Deity
- Lord Shiva
- Verses
- 6 verses
- Chant time
- About 4 minutes (Alphabet praise · ~4 min)
- Attribution
- Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
- Sanskrit source
- sanskritdocuments.org · All sources
Verse overview
- 1
Praise begins by confessing impurity and seeking refuge in Shiva's feet. Surrender turns the restless mind from self-assertion toward the Lord who is one's own…
- 2
The Lord who shatters the arrogance of gods is still the one refuge of the humble devotee. Victory over pride in the world points to the Self that stands…
- 3
The fierce form that wears the hide of slain illusion is worshipped as the compassionate refuge. What destroys demonic ignorance is the same consciousness that…
- 4
The many names of the Lord are ladders to the one Mahesha beyond all titles. When the mind gathers them in devotion, multiplicity dissolves into the single…
- 5
Shiva and Shakti united on one body image the non-duality of consciousness and its power. Refuge at his feet is refuge in the wholeness from which the world of…
- 6
The closing prayer asks removal of ignorance and sin through the Lord's grace. What the devotee calls sin is bondage to the unreal; refuge in Shiva is the…
All verses
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Common questions
- When do people recite Suvarna Mala Stutih?
- Shaiva hymns are often chanted on Pradosham, during Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri, as well as in short daily practice. This edition is labeled for practice as "Alphabet praise · ~4 min" and takes about 4 minutes to chant.
- What is the opening focus of Suvarna Mala Stutih?
- Praise begins by confessing impurity and seeking refuge in Shiva's feet. Surrender turns the restless mind from self-assertion toward the Lord who is one's own inner reality. Read verse 1 in Study mode for the full editorial note beside the Sanskrit.
- Which hymns pair well with Suvarna Mala Stutih?
- On this site, related reading includes Vedasara Shiva Stotram, and Shiva Namavalyashtakam. Open those hubs for their own Sanskrit, English meaning, and study notes.