The verses are from the “Lingashtakam”, a beautiful Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of the Shiva Linga, composed in devotional praise. Each verse glorifies different aspects and powers of the Shiva Linga, symbolizing the formless absolute reality. The exact authorship of the Lingashtakam is not definitively known, but it is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE), the great philosopher and saint who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. Lingashtakam was likely composed in the 8th or early 9th century CE, during his lifetime.
ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गं
निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
जन्मजदुःखविनाशकलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥१॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and other gods,
Radiant with pure, divine brilliance,
And the destroyer of the miseries of birth and worldly suffering.
देवमुनिप्रवरार्चितलिङ्गं
कामदहं करुणाकरलिङ्गम् ।
रावणदर्पविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥२॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Worshipped by celestial beings and great sages,
The destroyer of desires and embodiment of compassion,
Who crushed the arrogance of Ravana.
सर्वसुगन्धिसुलेपितलिङ्गं
बुद्धिविवर्धनकारणलिङ्गम् ।
सिद्धसुरासुरवन्दितलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥३॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Anointed with all kinds of fragrant substances,
The source of enlightenment and intelligence,
Revered by perfected beings, gods, and demons alike.
कनकमहामणिभूषितलिङ्गं
फणिपतिवेष्टितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
दक्षसुयज्ञविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥४॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Adorned with gold and precious gems,
Gloriously wrapped by the serpent king (Shesha),
And the one who destroyed Daksha’s arrogant sacrificial ritual.
कुङ्कुमचन्दनलेपितलिङ्गं
पङ्कजहारसुशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
सञ्चितपापविनाशनलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥५॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Anointed with saffron and sandal paste,
Beautifully adorned with garlands of lotus flowers,
The one that destroys all accumulated sins.
देवगणार्चितसेवितलिङ्गं
भावैर्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम् ।
दिनकरकोटिप्रभाकरलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥६॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Worshipped by hosts of divine beings and devotees,
Worthy of reverence through heartfelt devotion,
Radiating brilliance like millions of suns.
अष्टदलोपरिवेष्टितलिङ्गं
सर्वसमुद्भवकारणलिङ्गम् ।
अष्टदरिद्रविनाशितलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥७॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Encircled by an eight-petaled lotus,
The cause of all creation and existence,
The destroyer of eight forms of poverty and lack.
सुरगुरुसुरवरपूजितलिङ्गं
सुरवनपुष्पसदार्चितलिङ्गम् ।
परात्परं परमात्मकलिङ्गं
तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥८॥
I bow to the eternal Shiva Linga,
Worshipped by gods and divine sages,
Always adorned with flowers from celestial gardens,
And representing the Supreme Consciousness beyond all.
लिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ ।
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥
Whoever recites this sacred Lingashtakam in the presence of Lord Shiva,
Shall attain the realm of Shiva and rejoice in His eternal company.
