This dhyanam is filled with onomatopoeic syllables that mimic the sounds of drums, conches, snakes, bells, and is highly symbolic, representing various attributes of Lord Shiva: an ash-covered body, the damaru, the moon on his head, the Ganga in his hair, snakes, and supreme compassion.
ॐ डिं डिं डिंकत डिम्ब डिम्ब डमरु, पाणौ सदा यस्य वै।
Om! Ding ding dinkat dimba dimba damaru, in whose hands always resounds.
Let us meditate on Shiva, who always holds the damaru (drum) that makes the resonant sound “dimba dimba”.
फुं फुं फुंकत सर्पजाल हृदयं , घं घं च घण्टा रवम् ॥
Phum phum phunkat sarpajala hridayam, gham gham cha ghanta ravam.
His heart is adorned with a net of hissing snakes (“phum phum”), and the sound of bells (“gham gham”) resonates around Him.
वं वं वंकत वम्ब वम्ब वहनं , कारुण्य पुण्यात् परम् ॥
Vam vam vankat vamba vamba vahanam, karunya punyat param.
He rides upon the high and holy “Vamba Vamba” (possibly symbolic of the bull, Nandi), the embodiment of supreme compassion and merit.
भं भं भंकत भम्ब भम्ब नयनं , ध्यायेत् शिवम् शंकरम्॥
Bham bham bhankat bhamba bhamba nayanam, dhyayet Shivam Shankaram.
Meditate on Shiva Shankara, whose eyes radiate fierce and auspicious energy—”bham bham”, who is both destroyer and benefactor.
यावत् तोय धरा धरा धर धरा ,धारा धरा भूधरा॥
Yavat toya dhara dhara dhara dhara, dhara dhara bhudhara.
As long as rivers flow on earth, as long as the mountains hold up the land,
यावत् चारु सुचारु चारू चमरं , चामीकरं चामरं ॥
Yavat charu sucharu charu chamaram, chamikaram chamaram.
As long as beautiful and well-crafted fans (chamaras) made of gold are waved (in worship),
यावत् रावण राम राम रमणं , रामायणे श्रुयताम्॥
Yavat Ravana Rama Rama ramanam, Ramayane shruyatam.
As long as the story of Rama and Ravana is heard in the Ramayana,
तावत् भोग विभोग भोगमतुलम् यो गायते नित्यस:॥
Tavat bhoga vibhoga bhogamatulam, yo gayate nityasah.
Let the one who sings this daily enjoy unparalleled pleasures and prosperity.
यस्याग्रे द्राट द्राट द्रुट द्रुट ममलं , टंट टंट टंटटम् ॥
Yasyagre drat drat drut drut mamalam, tant tant tantatam.
In front of whom sounds the pure and quick rhythm—”drat drat”, “tant tant”, divine and musical,
तैलं तैलं तु तैलं खुखु खुखु खुखुमं , खंख खंख सखंखम्॥
Tailam tailam tu tailam khukhu khukhu khukhumam, khankha khankha sakhankham.
Where aromatic oils are poured, and the conch-shells blow “khankha khankha” in harmony.
डंस डंस डुडंस डुहि चकितं , भूपकं भूय नालम् ॥
Dams dams dudams duhi chakitam, bhootakam bhooya naalam.
Where spirits tremble in fear, and even kings bow low, astonished and in awe.
ध्यायस्ते विप्रगाहे सवसति सवलः पातु वः चंद्रचूडः॥
Dhyayaste vipragāhe savasati savalah pātu vah Chandrachūdah.
Meditate on Him—He who is immersed in Vedic thought, who lives among ascetics, and who wears the moon on His head—may He protect you.
गात्रं भस्मसितं सितं च हसितं हस्ते कपालं सितम् ॥
Gatram bhasmasitam sitam cha hasitam haste kapālam sitam.
His body is smeared with sacred ash; His smile is pure and calm; in His hand, He holds a white skull.
खट्वांग च सितं सितश्च भृषभः , कर्णेसिते कुण्डले ।
Khatvānga cha sitam sitashcha vrishabhah, karne site kundale.
He holds a white club (khatvānga), rides the white bull (Vrishabha), and wears white earrings in His ears.
गंगाफनेसिता जटापशु पतेश्चनद्रः सितो मूर्धनि ।
Gangāphane-sitā jatā-pashu-pateshchandrah sito mūrdhani.
The white Ganga flows from His matted hair; the moon sits white and radiant on His head; He is the Lord of beasts (Pashupati).
सोऽयं सर्वसितो ददातु विभवं , पापक्षयं सर्वदा ॥
So’yam sarvasito dadātu vibhavam, pāpakshayam sarvadā.
May this completely radiant (pure) Shiva always grant prosperity and the destruction of all sins.
॥ इति शिव ध्यानम् ॥
Thus ends the Dhyana (Meditation) on Lord Shiva.
