Sri Ardha Nareeswara Stotram is in praise of and as prayer to Sri Ardha Nareeswara, the combined form of Bhagwan Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Bhagwan Shiva has given the left half part of His entire body to Goddess Parvathi to signify that both He and She are equal in all respects.
Sri Ardha Nareeswara Stotram was composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. He has described the attributes of both Bhagwan Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in the Stotram. The benefits of chanting this Stotram is embedded in the Slokam itself.
Sri Ardha Nareeswara Stotram also indicates that the devotees should not practice any discrimination in worshipping the God and the Goddess. This slokam is also named as Sri Ardha Nareeshwara Ashtakam.
As per Sri Shiv Puran, Bhagwan Shiva had first appeared in the form of Sri Ardha Nareeshwara before Sri Brahma to educate Him on the concept of creation. It is believed that even Sage Bringi also had the darshan of Bhagwan Shiva in the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
The Devanagari & the English scripts and a simple English translation are given in this narrative.
चाम्पेय गौरार्धा शरीर कायै
कर्पूर गौरार्धा शरीर काय
धम्मिल्लकायै च जटाधराय
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय (1)
chaampaeya gauraarDha shareera kaayai
karpoora gaurarDha shareera kaaya
Dhammilla-kaayai cha jataa-Dharaya
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE shines golden like the bunch of champaka flowers;
-where HE glitters like a lit camphor;
-where SHE has the well braided hair and HE has the matted hair.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
कस्तूरिका कुंकुम चर्चितायै
चितरजःपुंजा विचर्चिताया
कृतस्मरायै विकृत स्मराय
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय (2)
kasthoorikaa kunkuma charchithaayai
chitha-rajah punjaa vicharchithaaya
kruthasmaraayai vikrutha smaraaya
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE is smeared with kasturi and saffron;
-where HE is smeared with the holy ash(from smashan);
-where SHE looks resplendent with jewels and where HE looks ferocious with animal skins and snakes.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
झणत्क्वणत्कंकणा नूपुरायै
पादब्ज राजत्फणि नूपुराया
हेमंग दायै भुजंग दाया
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय (3)
jhaNath-kvaNath-kankaNaa noopuraayai
paadhabja raajath-phaNi noopuraayaa
haemanga dhaayai Bhujanaga dhaayaa
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE is decked up with bangles and anklets which make enjoyable sounds;
-where HE is covered with snakes as anklets at the lotus feet;
-where SHE is radiant with gold jewels and where HE is embellished with the snakes.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
विशाल नीलोत्पल लोचनायै
विकासि पानकेरुह लोचनाया
समेक्षनायै विषमेक्षणाय
नमःशिवायै च नमःशिवाय (4)
vishaala neeloathpala loachanaayai
vikaasi paankaeruha loachanaayaa
samekShanaayai viShamaekShaNaaya
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE has the eye, which looks elegantly long, broad and blueish;
-where HE has the eye, which looks regal like reddish lotus;
-where SHE is two eyed and where HE is three eyed.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
मन्दार माला कलिता लकायै
कपाल मालाङ्कित कन्धराय
दिव्याम्बरायै च दिगम्बराय
नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय (5)
mandhaara maalaa kalithaa lakaayai
kapaala mala-ankitha kanDharaaya
dhivyaambaraayai cha dhigambaraaya
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE has the hair decked up with the strings of deific flowers;
-where HE has the neck wearing the garland of skulls;
-where SHE is adorned with excellent garments and where HE has only directions as clothes.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
अम्भोधर श्यामल कुन्तलायै
ततीत्प्रभा ताम्र जटाधराय
निरीश्वरायै निखिलेश्वराय
नमःशिवायै च नमः शिवाय (6)
amBhoaDhara shyamala kunthalaayai
thathithpraBhaa thaamra jataaDharaaya
nireeshwarayai nikhilaeshwaraya
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE has the hair as ripe black clouds;
-where HE has the hair of glistening copper colour;
-where SHE is the Goddess with no superior and where HE is the Bhagwan of the entire Universe.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
प्रपञ्चसृष्ट्युन्मुखलासयकायै
समस्त समहारक ताण्डवाय
जगज्जनन्यै जगदेकपित्रे
नमः शिवायै च नमःशिवाय (7)
prapancha-srushtyun-mukhalaasya-kaayai
samastha samhaaraka thaaNdavaaya
jagaj-jananyai jagadhaeka pithrae
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE creates the universe with Her enchanting smile;
-where HE destroys the universe with His cosmic dance;
-where SHE is the mother of the universe and where HE is the father of the universe.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
प्रदीप्तरत्नोज्ज्वलकुण्डलायै
स्फुरन्महापन्नग भूषणाय
शिवान्वितायै च शिवान्विताय
नमः शिवायै च नमःशिवाय (8)
pradeeptha- rathnoajwala-kuNdalaayai
spuran-mahaa-pannaga BhushaNaaya
shivaanvithaayai cha shivaanvithaaya
namah shivaayai cha namah shivaaya
Sri Ardha Nareeswara appears in the form of both Bhagwan Shiva (HE) and Goddess Parvathi Devi (SHE)
-where SHE dazzles with the ear ornaments studded with precious gems;
-where HE appears royal with great snakes as His ornaments;
-where SHE is divinely merged with Bhagwan Shiva and HE is divinely merged with Goddess Parvathi Devi.
My humble Salutations to the form of Sri Ardha Nareeswara.
एतत्पठे-दशतक मीशतडम यो
भक्त्या स मान्यो भुवि धीरघ जीवी
प्राप्नोति सौभाग्यमनन्त कालम
भूयात सदा तस्य समस्त सिद्दिः (9)
ethathpaTae-dhasthaka mishthaDam yoa
bhakthya sa maanyoa Bhuvi Dheergha jeevee
prapnoathi saubhagya-manantha kaalam
Bhuyaath sadhaa thasya samastha siddhi
Those who read and recite this Sri Ardha Nareeshwara Ashtakam (8 stanzas) with ardent devotion shall earn respect and honour; They shall be blessed with long life filled with auspiciousness, wealth and happiness. They shall also be bestowed with Siddhies.
इत्ति श्री आदि शंकर भगवत्पदा विरचितम अर्ध नारीश्वर स्तोत्रम सम्पूरणम्
iti shri aadishankara Bhagavathpadaa virachitham arDhanareeshwara sthothram sampoorNam
Thus Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada composed Ardhanareeshwara Stotram is completed.
