Mantra – Nirvana Shatakam
Composed by – Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
Concept- Non-dualism
Format – Neti – Neti ( neither this nor that, ultimately denying ones association with everything)
Deity- ParaBrahman ( the supreme consciousness)
Nirvana Shatkam
There are six hymns in Nirvana Shatakam , which are written by Adi Shankaracharya. He has described the way a self realised soul looks at the world and the universe. The verses are based on the concept of Advaita ( non-dualism).
The hymns are linked to various legends . One of the legend says that , once a disciple of Shankaracharya, recited Shivoham without knowing its meaning. After this Shankaracharya went to a blacksmith and drank some molten iron. He told his disciple to do the same but the disciple was naturally unable to do so.
Adi Shankaracharya explains him that he has realized himself as the supreme consciousness and there is no difference between him and the molten iron , so he could drink it.
To explain the significance of the supreme soul to his disciple , Shankaracharya composed the Nirvana Shatkam. He denies his association with every material or abstract feeling and identifies himself as the supreme consciousness that is involved in all the processes and actions ,yet detached from the three gunas( Sattva, rajas ,tamas) of material nature.
Until the disciple ( and all of the seekers of truth) reaches the same state of consciousness , there is no point in reciting Shivoham ( or any mantra) by just imitating others.
Lyrics and Meaning
1.Mano buddhy-ahamkara chittani naham Na cha srotra jihwe na cha ghrana netre Na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vayu Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham (1) Transliteration: मनोबुद्ध्यहंकार चित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे । न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 1 ।। Translation: I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or the memory I am not the ears and tongue, I am not the nose and eyes Neither I am sky nor the earth, not the Fire or the Air I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva, the auspiciousness itself मैं न तो मन हूं, न बुद्धि, न अहंकार, न ही चित्त हूं मैं न तो कान हूं, न जीभ, न नासिका, न ही नेत्र हूं मैं न तो आकाश हूं, न धरती, न अग्नि, न ही वायु हूं मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं। ================================ 2.Na cha prana sangno na vai panchavayu Nava sapthadhatur na va pancha koshaha Na vakpani padau na cho pastha payu Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham (2) Transliteration: न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पंचवायुः, न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः । न वाक्पाणिपादौ न चोपस्थपायु, चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 2 ।। Translation: I am not the prana or even of the five vital air’s (Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and samana) Not the seven materials, saptha dathu’s of the body (skin, muscle, fat, flesh, blood, bone, and marrow) or the five sheats ( sheats of food, prana, intellect, psychological, and of bliss) I am not the organ of speech, not the hand, feet and not even the organs of reproduction or the excretion I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva, the auspiciousness itself मैं न प्राण हूं, न ही पंच वायु हूं मैं न सात धातु हूं, और न ही पांच कोश हूं मैं न वाणी हूं, न हाथ हूं, न पैर, न ही उत्सर्जन की इन्द्रियां हूं मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं। ================================ 3.Namae dwesha ragau na mae lobha mohau Mado naiva mae naiva matsarya bhavaha Na dharmo na chardho na kamo na mokshaha Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham (3) Transliteration: न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ, मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः । न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः, चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 3 ।। Translation: I have no disliking or liking, not even the greed or the covetousness Neither I am proud nor with the feelings of envy I am not bound to perform the duties or to acquire the wealth and I have no craving to desires or to the liberation I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva, the auspiciousness itself न मुझे घृणा है, न लगाव है, न मुझे लोभ है, और न मोह न मुझे अभिमान है, न ईर्ष्या मैं धर्म, धन, काम एवं मोक्ष से परे हूं मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं। ================================ 4.Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na dhukkam Na mantro na teertham na veda na yagnaha Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham (4) Transliteration: न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं, न मन्त्रो न तीर्थो न वेदा न यज्ञ । अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता, चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 4 ।। Translation: I have neither virtue nor vice, I have no pleasure or the pain I need no mantras (sacred chants) or pilgrimage, not even the Vedas (spiritual texts) or the Yagnas (rituals) I am neither the act of enjoyment nor an object to be enjoyed or even the enjoyer I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva, the auspiciousness itself मैं पुण्य, पाप, सुख और दुख से विलग हूं मैं न मंत्र हूं, न तीर्थ, न ज्ञान, न ही यज्ञ न मैं भोजन(भोगने की वस्तु) हूं, न ही भोग का अनुभव, और न ही भोक्ता हूं मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं। ================================ 5.Na mruthyu na shangka na mae jathi bedha Pita naiva mae naiva mata na janma Na bandhur na mitram gururnaiva sishya Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham (5) Transliteration: न मे मृत्युशंका न मे जातिभेदः, पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः । न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरूर्नैव शिष्यः, चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 5 ।। Translation: I am not bound to the death or such fears, or to the distinction of Caste I have neither father nor mother, not even the birth I have no relatives or friends, not a guru or a disciple I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva, the auspiciousness itself न मुझे मृत्यु का डर है, न जाति का भेदभाव मेरा न कोई पिता है, न माता, न ही मैं कभी जन्मा था मेरा न कोई भाई है, न मित्र, न गुरू, न शिष्य, मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं। =================================== 6.Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo Vibhutwaccha sarvatra sarvendriyanam Na cha sanga tham naiva mukthir na meya Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham (6) Transliteration: अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकार रूपो, विभुत्वाच सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् । न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः, चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 6 ।। Translation: I am devoid of the dualities and without any form I exist everywhere and pervaded through all the senses Neither I am attached (bonded) or free (liberated) I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss; I am Shiva, the auspiciousness itself मैं निर्विकल्प हूं, निराकार हूं मैं चैतन्य के रूप में सब जगह व्याप्त हूं, सभी इन्द्रियों में हूं, न मुझे किसी चीज में आसक्ति है, न ही मैं उससे मुक्त हूं, मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं। ================================= Ithi Srimad Shankaracharya virachitham Nirvana shatkam sampoornam Thus completes the Nirvana Shatakam composed by Srimad Shankaracharya