Mahadeva'r Stuti

This unique Axomiya hymn, echoing the deep philosophical and devotional style similar to that of the historical tradition of the region, beautifully captures the essence of Lord Shiva. Attributed to 'Shibadasa,' the verses celebrate Shiva as the ultimate, all-encompassing reality.

The hymn's power lies in its duality: it first establishes Shiva as the Transcendent Brahman (Nirguṇa, Nirākāra), existing beyond the universe. It then shifts to recognize Him as the Immanent Force, the Līlāmaya Mahadeva, residing within every creation and governing all action.

The final verses deliver a profound message that salvation is achieved not merely through austerity, but through understanding this Shiva-Tattva and meditating on His formless yet benevolent presence. The hymn is a succinct guide to finding moksha by navigating the world while focused on the ultimate peace offered by the Divine.

জয় জয় শিৱ শম্ভু, দেৱ দিগম্বর। তুমিহে কেৱল ব্ৰহ্ম, জগতৰ পৰ॥ 

চিদানন্দ ৰূপ তোমাৰ, নিৰ্গুণ নিৰাকাৰ। নিৰঞ্জন প্ৰভু তুমি, নাহিকে বিকাৰ॥ 

তথাপিও তুমি প্ৰভু, সৱ ঘটে আছা। স্থাৱৰ জঙ্গম যত, তোমাৰেই ক্ৰিয়া॥ 

তুমি সৃষ্টি স্থিতি লয়, ত্ৰিগুণৰ মূল। লীলাময় মহাদেৱ, সদায় অনুকূল॥ 

তোমাতে আৰম্ভ প্ৰভু, তোমাতে পৰিণতি। তোমাৰ চৰণে সেৱা, ভকতিৰ গতি॥ 

যতেক পুণ্য যশ, যতেক তপস্যা। তোমাৰ নামৰ ৰস, কৰিলেহে ৰক্ষা॥ 

বিষয় বাসনাত, জীৱ সদা ভ্ৰান্ত। তোমাৰ চৰণ পঙ্কজ, পৰম শান্ত॥ 

শিৱ-তত্ত্ব জ্ঞান যাৰ, সিজনেহে তৰে। শিৱদাসে কহে, মোক্ষ পদে স্মৰে॥ 

---om---

Victory, victory to Shiva Shambhu, the Sky-clad God. You alone are the absolute Brahman, beyond the universe. Your form is pure Consciousness-Bliss, without attributes, without form. You are the immaculate Lord, entirely without change or modification.

Yet, O Lord, You reside within every vessel/being. Whatever is unmoving or moving, is all Your divine action. You are the root of creation, maintenance, and dissolution—the source of the three gunas. The playful Mahadeva, You are always benevolent.

In You is the beginning, O Lord, and in You is the ultimate end. Worship at Your feet is the true path of devotion. Whatever merit or fame, whatever austerity one has amassed, only the nectar of Your Name can truly protect it.

The individual soul is always bewildered by material desires. Your lotus feet offer the ultimate peace. The one who attains the knowledge of the Shiva-Tattva (Shiva Principle) is indeed saved. Shibadasa says: meditate upon the state of Liberation.

|| oṁ namaḥ śivāya ||