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Nirvana Shatakam Lyrics and Meaning

Nirvana Shatakam, composed by Adi Shankara himself, embodies the spiritual pursuit. Here are the lyrics and meaning of this timeless composition.

Sadhguru looks at the significance of the Nirvana Shatakam chant and explores what is being conveyed through it.

Sadhguru: Nirvana means “formless.” The Nirvana Shatakam is towards this – you don’t want to be either this or that. If you don’t want to be this nor that, then what do you want to be? Your mind cannot understand this because your mind always wants to be something. If I say, “I don’t want to be this; I don’t want to be that,” you would think, “Oh something super!” Not super. “Oh, so emptiness?” Not emptiness. “Nothingness?” Not nothingness. That’s what is being conveyed through this chant.

Nirvana Shatakam Lyrics

1.
Mano buddhya-haṅkāra chittāni nāham
Na cha shrotra jihve na cha ghrāṇa netre
Na cha vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuh
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥1॥

2.
Na cha prāṇa sañjño na vai pancha vāyuh
Na vā sapta dhātur na vā pancha kośah
Na vāk pāṇi pādam na chopastha pāyu
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥2॥

3.
Na me dvesha rāgau na me lobha mohau
Mado naiva me naiva mātsarya bhāvah
Na dharmo na chārtho na kāmo na moksha
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥3॥

4.
Na puṇyam na pāpam na saukhyam na duḥkham
Na mantro na tīrtham na vedā na yajñāh
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktā
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥4॥

5.
Na mṛtyur na śaṅkā na me jāti bhedah
Pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janmah
Na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva śishya
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥5॥

6.
Aham nirvikalpo nirākāra rūpo
Vibhu tvāccha sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām
Na chāsaṅgatam naiva muktir na meyah
Chidānanda rūpah shivo’ham shivo’ham ॥6॥