About this stotra
Vaidyanatha Ashtakam means: Eight verses in praise of Lord Vaidyanatha.
Lord Shiva, also known as Vaidyanatha, is revered as the divine healer and is believed to possess the power to cure ailments and grant health. In Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities, known for his role as the destroyer and transformer within the Trimurti, alongside Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. He is often depicted with a third eye, a crescent moon on his head, and the river Ganga flowing from his matted hair.
The Vaidyanatha Ashtakam is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, specifically in his aspect as the divine physician. The verses begin by offering salutations to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped by various deities and revered figures such as Lord Rama, Lord Subrahmanya, and the planets. The hymn highlights Lord Shiva's attributes, such as his blue throat, which signifies his act of consuming poison to save the universe, and his compassionate nature. The verses describe his appearance, including the Ganga flowing from his hair and the crescent moon adorning his head. Lord Shiva is praised as the destroyer of evil and the beloved of his devotees. The hymn emphasizes his role as the vanquisher of the demon Tripurasura and his constant presence in the world. Devotees seek his blessings for prosperity, good fortune, and relief from ailments. The final verse underscores the importance of regularly chanting the names of Lord Shiva, Lord Vaidyanatha, and Goddess Parvati to ward off serious diseases, highlighting the protective and healing aspects of the deity.
श्रीरामसौमित्रिजटायुवेद षडाननादित्य कुजार्चिताय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय दयामयाय श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमःशिवाय ॥ 1॥
śrīrāmasaumitrijaṭāyuvēda ṣaḍānanāditya kujārchitāya ।
śrīnīlakaṇṭhāya dayāmayāya śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥśivāya ॥ 1॥
Worshipped by Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Jatayu, the six-faced Kartikeya, the sun and Mars — O blue-throated, compassionate one — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
गङ्गाप्रवाहेन्दु जटाधराय त्रिलोचनाय स्मर कालहन्त्रे ।
समस्त देवैरभिपूजिताय श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 2॥
gaṅgāpravāhēndu jaṭādharāya trilōchanāya smara kālahantrē ।
samasta dēvairabhipūjitāya śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 2॥
Who bears the flowing Ganga and the moon in his matted locks, three-eyed, destroyer of Kama and Kala — worshipped by all the gods — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
भक्तःप्रियाय त्रिपुरान्तकाय पिनाकिने दुष्टहराय नित्यम् ।
प्रत्यक्षलीलाय मनुष्यलोके श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 3॥
bhaktaḥpriyāya tripurāntakāya pinākinē duṣṭaharāya nityam ।
pratyakṣalīlāya manuṣyalōkē śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 3॥
Dear to his devotees, destroyer of Tripura, bearer of the Pinaka bow, eternal destroyer of the wicked — who performs visible miracles in the human world — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
प्रभूतवातादि समस्तरोग प्रनाशकर्त्रे मुनिवन्दिताय ।
प्रभाकरेन्द्वग्नि विलोचनाय श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 4॥
prabhūtavātādi samastarōga pranāśakartrē munivanditāya ।
prabhākarēndvagni vilōchanāya śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 4॥
Destroyer of all ailments such as excess of wind (vata) and other disorders, worshipped by sages — whose three eyes are the sun, moon and fire — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
वाक् श्रोत्र नेत्राङ्घ्रि विहीनजन्तोः वाक्श्रोत्रनेत्राङ्घ्रिसुखप्रदाय ।
कुष्ठादिसर्वोन्नतरोगहन्त्रे श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 5॥
vāk śrōtra nētrāṅghri vihīnajantōḥ vākśrōtranētrāṅghrisukhapradāya ।
kuṣṭhādisarvōnnatarōgahantrē śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 5॥
Who grants speech, hearing, sight, and the ability to walk to creatures born bereft of them — destroyer of all grievous diseases such as leprosy — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
वेदान्तवेद्याय जगन्मयाय योगीश्वरद्येय पदाम्बुजाय ।
त्रिमूर्तिरूपाय सहस्रनाम्ने श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 6॥
vēdāntavēdyāya jaganmayāya yōgīśvaradyēya padāmbujāya ।
trimūrtirūpāya sahasranāmnē śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 6॥
Known through Vedanta, all-pervading as the universe itself, whose lotus feet are meditated upon by great yogis — of the form of the Holy Trinity, bearing a thousand names — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
स्वतीर्थमृद्भस्मभृताङ्गभाजां पिशाचदुःखार्तिभयापहाय ।
आत्मस्वरूपाय शरीरभाजां श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 7॥
svatīrthamṛdbhasmabhṛtāṅgabhājāṃ piśāchaduḥkhārtibhayāpahāya ।
ātmasvarūpāya śarīrabhājāṃ śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 7॥
To those who smear their limbs with sacred ash and clay from his holy tirtha — destroyer of the afflictions and fears caused by evil spirits, the very Self dwelling in all bodies — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय स्रक्गन्ध भस्माद्यभिशोभिताय ।
सुपुत्रदारादि सुभाग्यदाय श्रीवैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ 8॥
śrīnīlakaṇṭhāya vṛṣadhvajāya srakgandha bhasmādyabhiśōbhitāya ।
suputradārādi subhāgyadāya śrīvaidyanāthāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 8॥
O blue-throated one bearing the bull-banner, adorned with garlands, sandal paste, sacred ash and other ornaments — bestower of the blessings of noble children, a devoted spouse, and all-round fortune — salutations to Sri Vaidyanatha, the Lord as Shiva.
बालाम्बिकेश वैद्येश भवरोग हरेति च ।
जपेन्नामत्रयं नित्यं महारोगनिवारणम् ॥ 9॥
bālāmbikēśa vaidyēśa bhavarōga harēti cha ।
japēnnāmatrayaṃ nityaṃ mahārōganivāraṇam ॥ 9॥
O consort of Balaambika, O Vaidyesha, O remover of the disease of worldly existence — one who daily chants these three names attains relief from all great disease. (Phalashruti)