Nirvana Shatakam Mantra - An ultimate guide
We explain the lyrics, meaning, and benefits of a powerful Shiva chant - the Nirvana Shatakam mantra.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Nirvana Shatakam mantra, written by Adi Shankaracharya over a thousand years ago, is one of the most powerful mantras to attain inner peace.
When `someone’ asked him `who are you?, he replied in the form of this poetry, in which Adi Shankara says that he is Shivoham – the ultimate truth.
Adi Shankara himself recited these stotras for the first time just before his nirvana. Thus the name Nirvana Shatakam.
Nirvana means moksha, and Shatakam means six.
Nirvana Shatakam by Mahakatha is also one of the mantras on the Ancient Chants from India Album.
Listen to Nirvana Shatakam and Ancient Chants from India - Volume 1
Here's a list of mantras that you can listen to right now. These meditation mantras that include Nirvana Shatakam and other mantras from the Ancient Chants - Volume 1 album.
If you would like to read up on Nirvana Shatakam, please scroll below as the mantras play in the background.
Nirvana Shatakam by Mahakatha
We at Mahakatha recorded Nirvana Shatakam as our first mantra. It was the mantra our principal singer recorded after experiencing bliss.
The blissfulness comes from the daily chanting she did for her pregnant sister-in-law.
The power of the mantra was such that the little child in the womb used to react when it was just about time for the mantra to be chanted.
The child also used to react to the mantra when chanted.
Seeing the greatest gift of energy and healing passed on by our ancestors and rich Indian culture, we wanted to share this mantra with the world.
Our recording of this mantra is free to download. You can download the Nirvana Shatakam mantra here.
The release of Nirvana Shatakam was followed by the release of similarly powerful mantras like the Sudarshanashtakam and Pranamya Shirasa Devam.
Nirvana Shatakam Mantra Lyrics
Verse 1
Mano buddhi ahankara chittani naaham No cha shrotravjihve na cha ghraana netre Na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuhu Chidananda rupah Shivo’ha
Verse 2
Na cha prana sangyo na vai pancha vayuhu Na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshah Na vak pani-padam na chopastha payu Chidandanda rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
Verse 3
Na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau Na me vai mado naiva matsarya bhavaha Na dharma na chartho na kamo na mokshaha Chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
Verse 4
Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham Na mantra na tirtham na veda na yajnah Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokfa Chidananda rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
Verse 5
Na me mytyu shanka na mejati bhedaha Pita naiva me naiva mataa na janmaha Na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyaha Chidananda rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
Verse 6
Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo Vibhut vatcha sarvatra sarvendriyanam Na cha sangatham naiva muktir na meyaha Chidananda rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
The story of Adi Shankaracharya and Nirvana Shatakam mantra
In these stotras, written in his supreme state of realization, Adi Shankara explains the state of wisdom and truth.
One of the stories on the Nirvana Shatakam is this:
When Adi Shankara was in Kashi, he used to have his daily bath in the Ganga.
One day, on his way to the Ganga, his way was blocked by a Chandala (belonging to the untouchable caste) whose job was to burn dead bodies.
Adi Shankara immediately asked him to go away.
The man, instead of moving away, asked Adi Shankara `who are you?’
Adi Shankara knew that no ordinary man would ask him this question and he realized that the man in front of him was the Lord Kasinath Shiva himself.
Searching for an answer to the question `who are you?’, Adi Shankara went into a deep state of meditation.
And being in the state of highest consciousness, he identified himself with the ultimate truth of life – Shivoham.
Shivoham means `I am Shiva’.
He wrote down his answers then and there and read it out.
Adi Shankara mostly answered the question “who are you” by saying what/who he is not, instead of just saying who he is!
Adi Shankara was no ordinary soul, as he attained the state of `Shivoham’ at a very young age.
What lies between realities and false identification is the truth. The truth, the ultimate truth, is Shiva.
Meaning of the Nirvana Shatakam Mantra
Learning and understanding the meaning of this mantra is crucial for meditation and healing. We have simplified the meaning to help you better understand the narrative here.
Mano Buddhi Ahankara Chittani Naaham
I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory
Na Cha Shrotravjihve Na Cha Ghraana Netre
I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes
Na Cha Vyoma Bhumir Na Tejo Na Vaayuhu
I am not space, not earth, not fire, water, or wind
Chidananda Rupah Shivo’ham Shivoham
I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva
Na Cha Prana Sangyo Na Vai Pancha Vayuhu
I am not the breath, nor the five elements
Na Va Sapta Dhatur Na Va Pancha Koshah
I am not matter, nor the five sheaths of consciousness
Na Vak Pani-padam Na Chopastha Payu
Nor am I the speech, the hands, or the feet
Chidananda Rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva
Na Me Dvesha Ragau Na Me Lobha Mohau
There is no like or dislike in me, no greed or delusion
Na Me Vai Mado Naiva Matsarya Bhavaha
I have no duty, no desire for wealth, lust or liberation
Chidananda Rupa Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
No virtue or vice, no pleasure or pain
Na Mantro Na Tirtham Na Veda Na Yajnah
I am not the experienced nor the experience itself,
Chidananda Rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva.
Na Me Mrtyushanka Na Mejati Bhedaha
I have no fear of death, no caste, or creed
Pita Naiva Me Naiva Mataa Na Janmaha
I have no father, no mother, for I was never born
Na Bandhur Na Mitram Gurur Naiva Shishyaha
I am not a relative nor a friend, nor a teacher nor a student
Chidananda Rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva
Aham Nirvikalpo Nirakara Rupo
I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness
Vibhut Vetch Sarvatra Sarvendriyanam
I exist everywhere, pervading all senses
Na Cha Sangatham Naiva Muktir Na Meyaha
I am neither attached, neither free nor captive
Chidananda Rupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva.
Benefits of the Nirvana Shatakam Mantra
One can expect to have peace of mind, happiness, health, wealth, and prosperity by chanting the Nirvana Shatakam regularly with faith and devotion.
When to chant the Nirvana Shatakam?
This mantra is to be chanted early morning after taking bath and in front of an idol or picture of Shiva. It is important to know the meaning and purpose.
Nirvana Shatakam is recommended for blissful consciousness.
The Nirvana Shatakam mantra is now available as part of the Ancient Chants from India - Volume 1 album.
