White as Camphor

Below is a beautiful shloka, a popular short prayer, addressed to Lord Shiva which is commonly recited during arati rituals. This shloka is written in the trishtubh meter (4x11 syllables) and is often times cited to be from the Yajurveda. However, it is more likely part of a post-vedic composition. 

Nevertheless, this simple verse is beautiful and spiritual capturing in 44 syllables both philosophy and devotion. Lord Shiva is envisioned in a form white like camphor, garlanded by the king of serpents (a reference to Kundalini Shakti). He is both the essence of the universe and the indweller (antaryamin), who resides in the lotus of the heart. He is compassion personified! The verse ends as a salutation to the ever-inseparable Shiva-Shakti, Bhava and Bhavani, the very nature of all existence.

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं 
संरसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् ।
सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे 
भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥

karpūragauraṁ karuṇāvatāraṁ 
saṁsārsāraṁ bhujagendrahāram |
sadāvasantaṁ hṛdayāravinde 
bhavaṁ bhavānīsahitaṁ namāmi || 

White as camphor, the very form of compassion,
Essence of the universe, garlanded by the serpent king, 
Forever residing in the lotus of the heart,
To Bhava-Bhavani together I bow.

Aum Namah Shivaya.