Although there are many hymns and stotras of Lord Shiva in the religious books, but in all these, Rudrashtakam composed by Sri Gowswami Tulsidas Ji holds its own place. Rudrashtakam is a great hymn of 8 verses to please the God Shiva for the removal of sorrows and sufferings. The lyrics of this popular hymn explain several qualities of great God Shiva at the same time requesting him to remove the sorrows in life and to bestow happiness and joy. Several of the words in the Rudrashtakam lyrics have a great and in depth meaning. This divine stotram is also popular with its first words of the lyrics ‘Namamishamishana nirvana rupam’.

Whenever we are happy or sad, any time, any day we can recite it. But, if we recite Rudrashtakam on Monday, it gives many times benefit than the normal occasion since Monday is the special worship day of Lord Shiva. If any particular day we may recite it nine times for additional benefits.

नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेहम्

Namaamee Shameeshaana Nirvaana Rupam
Vibhum Vyaapakam Brahma Veda Svarupam ।
Nijam Nirgunam Nirvikalpam Nireeham
Chidaakaasha Maakaasha Vaasam Bhajeaham ॥1॥

Meaning – O Ishaan ! I bow to the Lord who is in the form of liberation, capable, omnipresent, Brahma, form of the Vedas, situated in his own form, devoid of qualities, without any choice, innocent, infinite knowledgeable and ubiquitous like the sky ॥1॥

निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोहम्

Niraakaara Monkaara Mulam Tureeyam
Giraa Gyaana Goteeta Meesham Gireesham ।
Karaalam Mahaakaala Kaalam Kripaalam
Gunaagaara Sansaara Paaram Natoaham ॥2॥

Meaning – I salute the Lord who is formless, is Omkaararupa and the root cause of everything, is beyond the three states of consciousness, is beyond the path of speech, intellect and senses, is Kailasanath, is formidable and the Kaala of the Mahaakaala, is graceful, is the storehouse of virtues and the savior from the world ॥2॥

तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा

Tushaaraadri Sankaasha Gauram Gabheeram
Manobhuta Koti Prabhaa Shree Shareeram ।
Sphuranmauli Kallolinee Chaaru Gangaa
Lasadbhaala Baalendu Kanthe Bhujangaa ॥3॥

Meaning – Whose complexion is as white as the Himalayas, who is calm and serious, who is as radiant as millions of Cupid, on whose head the beautiful Ganges is waving, on whose forehead the moon is adorned and a garland of serpents adorns the neck ॥3॥

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं
प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं
प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि

Chalat Kundalam Bhru Sunetram Vishaalam
Prasannaa Nanam Neela Kantham Dayaalam ।
Mrigaadheesha Charmaambaram Munda Maalam
Priyam Shankaram Sarva Naatham Bhajaami ॥4॥

Meaning – Whose earrings are shaking, whose eyes and forehead are beautiful and huge, whose face is happy and throat is blue, who is very kind, who wears tiger skin and garland of skulls, I worship that most beloved and master of all, Shiva ॥4॥

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं
अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं
भजेहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्

Prachandam Prakrishtam Pragalbham Paresham
Akhandam Ajam Bhaanu Koti Prakaasham ।
Trayah Shula Nirmulanam Shula Paanim
Bhajeaham Bhavaanee Patim Bhaava Gamyam ॥5॥

Meaning – I worship the consort of Bhavaani, who is fierce, the best, the argute, the supreme, the perfect, the unborn, radiant like the millions of Sun, destroyer of the world’s sorrow and the one who holds the trident in his hand ॥5॥

कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी
प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी

Kalaateeta Kalyaana Kalpaanta Kaaree
Sadaa Sajjanaa Nanda Daataa Puraaree ।
Chidaananda Sandoha Mohaa Pahaaree
Praseeda Praseeda Prabho Manmathaaree ॥6॥

Meaning – Oh, Lord ! You are devoid of growth and decay. You are benevolent and the destroyer of creation. You always give joy to the virtuous. You destroyed Tripurasura. You are the destroyer of fascination and enlightened God. You are the enemy of Kaamadeva, be pleased with me ॥6॥

न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं
भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं
प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं

Na Yaavad Umaa Naatha Paadaa Ravindam
Bhajam Teeha Loke Pare Vaa Naraanaam ।
Na Taavat Sukham Shaanti Santaapa Naasham
Praseeda Prabho Sarva Bhutaa Dhivaasam ॥7॥

Meaning – As long as human beings do not worship the feet of Umakanta Mahadeva ji, they never get happiness and peace in this world or in another world, nor their anguish go away. O Lord Shiva, the abode of all the substances ! Be pleased with me ॥7॥

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां
नतोहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं
प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो

Na Jaanaami Yogam Japam Naiva Pujaam
Natoaham Sadaa Sarvadaa Shambhu Tubhyam ।
Jaraa Janma Dukhaugha Taatapya Maanam
Prabho Paahi Aapanna Maameesha Shambho ॥8॥

Meaning – Oh, Lord ! O Shambho ! Oh Isha ! I know nothing of yoga, chanting and worship. O Shambho ! I always bow to you. I am tormented by old age, birth and sorrows, protect me from all these sorrows ॥8॥

रूद्राष्टकं इदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हर्षोतये
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्तयां तेषां शंभो प्रसीदति।।

Rudraashtaka Midam Proktam Viprena Hara Toshaye ।
Ye Pathanti Naraa Bhaktyaa Teshaam Shambhuh Praseedati ॥9॥

Meaning – For the satisfaction of Lord Shankar, who recite this Rudrashtak with devotion spoken by a Brahmin, Shankar ji is pleased on them ॥9॥