Sri Vaidhyanatha Ashtakam is the lyrical composition in praise of and as prayer to Sri Vaidyanatha, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. Sri Vaidhyanatha is the God bestowing health; He heals the illness.
Sri Vaidhyanatha Ashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. It is believed that the hymn was written as prayer to Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy at Vaidheeswaran Temple near Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.
Sri Vaidhyanatha Ashtakam contains eight stanzas with an additional stanza on phalasruthi. Phalasruthi describes the benefits of chanting this slokam.
At the end of each stanza, it is necessary to chant the mantra “Mahadeva” 16 times. The recitation is towards Lord Shiva to cure all illness.
The Devanagari and the English script with a simple English translation are given in this narrative.
श्रीराम सौमित्रि जटायुवॆद
षडाननादित्य कुजार्चिताय
श्री नीलकण्ठाय दया मयाय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (1)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
shreeraama soumithri jataayu-vaedha
Shadaanana-adhithya kuja-archithaaya
shree neelakaNTaaya dhayaa mayaaya
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva in the form of Sri Vaidhyanatha was ardently worshipped by Sri Rama, Sri Lakshmana, Sri Jatayu, the Vedas themselves, Lord Subramanya who has six faces, Aaditya-the Sun and Kuja-the Mars.
His neck is of bluish hue. He is full of compassion.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
गंगा प्रवाहॆन्दु जटा धराय
त्रिलॊचनाय स्मर कालहन्त्रॆ
समस्त दॆवैरपि पूजिताय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (2)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
gaNgaa pravaahaendhu jadaa Dharaaya
thriloachanaaya smara kaala hanthrae
samastha dhaevairapi poojithaaya
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva has the matted hair through which the river Ganga flows profusely. He has the crescent moon on His head. He has three eyes (sun, moon and the fire). He had burnt down Manmadha, the God of love; He had destroyed Yama, the God of death. He is worshipped by all the Devas.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
भक्त प्रियाय त्रिपुरान्तकाय
पिनाकिनॆ दुष्ट हराय नित्यम्
प्रत्यक्ष लीलाय मनुष्य लॊकॆ
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (3)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
Bhaktha priyaaya thripuraanthakaaya
pinaakinae dhuShta haraaya nithyam
prathyaksha leelaaya manushya loakae
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva adores His ardent devotees. He had torched the three cities (iron walled city on earth, silver walled city in the sky and the gold walled city in the heaven all established by Demon Mayasura). He holds the bow in His hands. He destroys the evil with His weapon always. He performs divine activities in the world (lives) of humans.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
प्रभूत वातादि समस्त रॊग
प्रणाश कर्त्रॆ मुनि वन्दिताय
प्रभाकरॆन्द्वग्नि विलॊचनाय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (4)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
praBhootha vaathaadhi samastha roaga
praNaasa karthrae muni vandhithaaya
praBhakaraendh-vagni viloachanaaya
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva cures rheumatism and all the other prevalent deceases. He is worshipped by the sages. He has the Sun, the Moon and the Fire as three eyes.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
वाक्श्रॊत्र नॆत्राङ्घ्रि विहीन जन्तॊः
वाक्श्रॊत्र नॆत्राङ्घ्रि सुख प्रदाय
कुष्ठादि सर्वॊन्नत रॊग हन्त्रॆ
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (5)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
vaakshrothra nethraanghri viheena janthoah
vaakshrothra nethraanghri sukha praadhaaya
kuShTaadhi sarvoannatha roaga hanthrae
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva blesses those with disability to see, hear, talk and walk to be cured. He provides cure for skin deceases such as leprosy.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
वॆदान्त वॆद्याय जगन्मयाय
यॊगीश्वर ध्यॆय पदांबुजाय
त्रिमूर्ति रूपाय सहस्र नाम्नॆ
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (6)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
vaedhaantha vaedhyaaya jagan-mayaaya
yoageeswara dhyaeya padhaambujaaya
thrimoorthy roopaaya sahasra naamnae
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva is ascertained through the Vedas. He is omni-present in the universe. His pair of lotus feet is always worshipped and meditated by the Sages. He is in the form of Sri Brahma, Sri Vishnu and Sri Shiva. He has thousand names by which He is prayed to.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
स्वतीर्थ मृत् भस्म भृदंग भाजां
पिशाच दुःखार्ति भयापहाय
आत्म स्वरूपाय शरीर भाजां
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (7)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
swatheerTha mruth Bhasma BhrudhaNga BhaajaaM
pishaacha dhukha-arthi Bhayaapahaaya
aathma swaroopaaya shareera Bhaajaam
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva alleviates the effects of bad spirits, worries and fears. This happens through the Bhakts taking dip in the temple tank of Sri Vaidheeswara, through the Vibhudhi (holy ash) which is given as prasadam and the mud under the neem tree in the temple. He is the embodiment of the ultimate soul which is encased in the physical body.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
श्री नीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
स्रग्गन्ध भस्माद्यभि शॊभिताय
सुपुत्र दारादि सुभाग्यदाय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय (8)
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
shree neelakaNTaaya vruShaba-dhwaajaya
sragganDha Bhasmadhya-aBhi shoaBhithaaya
suputhra dhaaraadhi suBhagyadhaaya
shree vaidhyanaaThaaya namah shivaaya
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
Lord Shiva has the neck which is of bluish hue. He has the flag with the bull in it. He dazzles with the fragrant flower garland, sandal paste and the holy ash. He blesses and bestows good spouse, good progeny and the auspicious fortune.
My Humble Salutations to Sri Vaidhyanatha, the leader and lord who heals the illness.
Phalasruthi / फलस्रुति
वालाम्बिकेश वैद्येश भव रोग हरेति च
जपेन्नाम त्रयं नित्यं महा रोग निवारणम्
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
महादेव महादेव महादेव महादेव
balaambikaesha vaidyesha bhava roaga haraethi cha
japaen-naama thrayaM nithyaM mahaa roaga nivaaraNam
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva mahaa-dhaeva
The persons who read and recite this sloka with ardent devotion thrice a day and worships Lord Shiva along with his consort Balambika shall be blessed with cure for all the deceases. The fear of birth and death shall also be alleviated.
इत्ति श्री वैद्यनाथाष्टकम सम्पूरणम्
ithi shree vaidhyanaTha ashtakam sampoorNam
Shri Vaidhyanatha Ashtakam is thus completed.
