“Nirvana” is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy whereas “Shatkam” means “six” or “consisting of six.” Thus the Nirvana Shatakam is a non-dualistic composition consisting of 6 verses or ślokas, attributed to the Hindu exegete Adi Shankara summarizing the basic teachings of Advaita Vedanta, or the Hindu teachings of non-dualism. Altogether the verses are said to be valued to progress in contemplation practices that lead to Self-Realization.
Nirvana Shatakam unifies the Atma (Soul) with Lord Shiva by eliminating all the worldly attachments both internal and external. This unification with Lord Shiva liberates the soul through self realization and overall makes us to understand that our Atma (soul) is commensurate with the entire universe.
It is said that when Ādi Śaṅkara was a young boy of eight and wandering near River Narmada, seeking to find his guru, he encountered the seer Govinda Bhagavatpada who asked him, “Who are you?” The boy answered with these stanzas or verses, given below and Swami Govindapada accepted Ādi Śaṅkara as his disciple:
मनोबुद्ध्यहङकार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥1॥
mano buddhi ahankara chittani naaham
na cha shrotravjihve na cha ghraana netre
na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuhu
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am not any aspect of the mind like the intellect, the ego or the memory,
I am not the organs of hearing, tasting, smelling or seeing,
And I am not the space, nor the earth, nor fire, nor air, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, am Shiva (that which is not)…
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पंचवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पंचकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥2॥
na cha prana sangyo na vai pancha vayuhu
na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshah
nah vak pani-padam na chopastha payu
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am not the Vital Life Energy (Prana), nor the Five Vital Airs (manifestations of Prana),
I am not the seven essential ingredients nor the 5 sheaths of the body, Also not any of the body parts, like the mouth, the hands, the feet, etc.,
And I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am Shiva (that which is not)…
न मे द्वेश्रागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न अर्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥3॥
na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau
na me vai mado naiva matsarya bhavaha
nah dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
There is no hatred nor passion in me, no greed nor delusion,
There is no pride, nor jealousy in me,
I am not identified with my duty, wealth, lust or liberation, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, And I am Shiva (that which is not)…
न पुण्यं, न पापं, न सौख्यं, न दुखं।
न मंत्रो, न तीर्थं, न वेदा, न यज्ञः।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं, न भोक्ता
चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥4॥
na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham
na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajnah
aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am not virtue nor vice, not pleasure or pain,
I need no mantras, no pilgrimage, no scriptures or rituals,
And I am not the experience, not the object of experience, not even the one who experiences,
I am the form of consciousness and bliss, And I am Shiva (that which is not)….
न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बंधनुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥5॥
na me mrtyu shanka na mejati bhedaha
pita naiva me naiva mataa na janmaha
na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am not bound by death and its fear, not by caste or creed,
I have no father, nor mother, or even birth,
And I am not a relative, nor a friend, nor a teacher nor a student, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, am Shiva (that which is not)…
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
विभूत्वाच सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियानाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मयः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥6॥
aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo
vibhut vatcha sarvatra sarvendriyanam
na cha sangatham naiva muktir na meyaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness,
I am omnipresent, I exist everywhere, pervading all senses,
And I am neither attached, neither free nor limited, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, And I am Shiva (that which is not)…
Ganga Mantra: That Has Purity And Healing Powers
Additionally chanting and listening to Nirvana Shatakam daily creates the positive vibes around you and a sense of consciousness. It is believe to be one of the most effective and also powerful Shiva Mantra you can chant to attain inner peace and salvation. Furthermore this mantra chant makes you emotionally stable and helps you to achieve an eternal state of peace even in stressful situations in life.
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