Ardha Nareeswara Ashtakam

Translated By P. R. Ramachander

This great stotra is a prayer to Lord Shiva in the form of Ardha Nareeswara. According to the references, I have it is written by a sage called Upamanyu. But in my search of the web, I found that it is included as a work of Adi Sankaracharya by no less a person than the great Swami Sivananda Himself. Since I am too insignificant to pass a judgment on this issue, I am giving below, the two versions (which are slightly different), first the version by Sage Upamanyu and the second version by Adhi Sankara.]

Version-1

By Sage Upamanyu]

Ambhodhara syamala kunthalayai,
Thathithprabha thamra jatadharaya,
Gireeswarayai nikhileswaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 1

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her who has black hairs resembling the swollen cloud,
To Him who has copper matted locks which are like lightning,
To Her who is the goddess of the mountains,
And to Him who is the Lord of the universe.

Pradeeptha rathnojwalakundalayai,
Sphuran maha pannaga bhooshanayai,
Shiva priyayai cha Shivaa priyaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 2

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her with glittering ear rings of gems,
To Him who wears a great serpent as ornament,
To Her who is the darling of Lord Shiva,
And to Him who is the sweetheart of Parvathi.

Mandhara maalakali thaalakayai,
Kapala malankitha kandharaya,
Divyambarayai cha Digambaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 3

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her wearing garland of sweet smelling flowers,
To Him wearing the garland of skulls,
To Her who dresses in great silks,
And to Him wearing the eight directions.

Kasthurika kumkuma lepanayai,
Smasana basmatha vilepanaya,
Kruthasmarayai vikruthasmaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 4

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose body is smeared with musk and saffron,
To Him whose body is smeared with ashes of the burning ghat,
To Her whose prettiness radiates love,
And to Him who destroyed the God of love.

Padaravindharpitha hamsakayai,
Padapja rajath phani noopuraya,
Kalamayayai vikalamayaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 5

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose feet is adorned by the lotus offered to her,
To Him whose feet is decorated by the anklet of snakes,
To Her who is as shining as the moon,
And to Him who wears moon as an ornament.

Prapancha srushtyunmukhalasyakayai,
Samasthasamharaka thandavaya,
Samekshanayai Vishamekshanaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 6

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose dance marks the creation of the world,
To Him whose dance destroys everything,
To Her who has even number of eyes,
And to Him who has odd number of eyes.

Prafulla neelothphala lochanayai,
Vikasa pankeruha lochanaya,
Jagat jananyai Jagatheka pithre,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 7

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her who has eyes as wide as the blue lotus,
To Him who has eyes as wide as a fully opened lotus,
To Her who is the mother of the universe,
And to Him who is the father of the universe.

Antharbahishordhwa madhascha mahye,
Purascha paschascha vidhikikshu dhikshu,
Sarvam gathayai sakalam gathaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 8

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her who is the beginning , middle and end,
To Him who sees east, west and all directions,
To Her towards whom everything travels,
And to Him , in whom all things meet their end.

Ardhanarreswara stotram Upamanyukrutham thwidham,
Ya padechrunyadhapi shiva loke maheeyathe.

Those who read or hear,
This prayer to Ardhanarreswara,
Composed by Upamanyu,
Will reach the world of Lord Shiva.

Version-2

By Adi Sankara Bhagwat Pada

Champeya gowrardha sareerikayai,
Karpooragourardha sareerikaya,
Dhamillakayai cha jatadaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 1

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose body shines similar to molten gold,
To Him whose body shines like the burning camphor,
To Her who has a well made up hair,
And to Him who has the matted lock.

Kasthurika kumkuma charchithayai,
Chitha raja puncha vicharchithayai,
Kruthasmarayai vikrutha smaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 2

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose body is smeared with musk and saffron,
To Him whose body is smeared with ashes of a burning ghat,
To Her whose prettiness radiates love,
And to Him who destroyed the God of love.

Chalath kanath kankana noopurayai,
Padabja Rajatphani noopuraya,
Hemangadhayai bhujagangadhaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 3

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her who has tinkling pretty anklets,
To Him who has the king of snakes as anklet,
To Her who shines with golden anklets,
And to Him who has snakes as anklets.

Visala nilothphala lochanayai,
Vikasi pangeruha lochanaya,
Samekshanayai vishamekshanaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 4

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her who has eyes as wide as the blue lotus,
To Him who has eyes as wide as a fully opened lotus,
To Her who has even number of eyes,
And to Him who has odd number of eyes

Mandhara mala kali thalakayai,
Kapalamalnkitha kandharaya,
Divyambarayai cha Digambaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 5

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose hair is decorated with divine flowers,
To Him who wears a garland of skulls,
To Her who dresses in great silks,
And to Him wearing the eight directions.

Ambhodara syamala kunthalayai,
Thadithprabha thamra jata dharaya,
Gireeswarayai nikhileeswaraya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 6

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her who has black hairs like the swollen cloud,
To Him who has copper matted locks like lightning,
To Her who is the goddess of the mountains,
And to Him who is the Lord of the universe.

Prapancha srushtyun muka lasyakayai,
Samastha samharaka thandavaya,
Jagat jananyai Jagatheka pithre,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 7

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her whose dance marks the creation of the world,
To Him whose dance destroys everything,
To Her who is the mother of the universe,
And to Him who is the father of the universe.

Pradeeptha rathnojjwala kundaayai,
Sphuran maha pannaga bhooshanayai,
Shivanvithaayai cha Shivanvithaya,
Nama Shivayai cha namashivaya. 8

My salutations to both Parvathi and Shiva,
To Her with glittering ear rings of gems,
To Him who wears a great serpent as an ornament,
To Her who is divinely merged with Shiva,
And to Him who is divinely merged with Parvathi.