Shiv Raksha Stotra - Meaning, Benefits of chanting & When to chant.

Shiv Raksha Stotra is a sacred hymn composed by Sage Budha Koushika, an ancient sage renowned for his devotion to Lord Shiva. The exact date of its composition is not definitively known, as it is believed to originate from ancient times. This stotra is a powerful invocation to Lord Shiva, seeking his protection from various dangers and obstacles in life. It is believed that reciting the Shiv Raksha Stotra with faith and devotion can ward off negative energies and bestow divine blessings upon the devotee.

|| Shiva Raksha Stotra ||

Viniyoga: -

Om Asya Shrishivarakshastotramantrasya Yajnavalkya Rishi, Shri Sadashivo Devta, Anushtup Chhandah, Shri Sadashivprityartham Shivarakshastotrajpe Viniyoga.

Charitam Devdevasya Mahadevasya Pavanam ।
Aparam Paramodaram Chaturvargasya Sadhanam..1.

Gaurivinayakopetam panchavaktra trinetrakam ।
Shivam Dhyatva Dashbhujan Shivarakshaam Pathennar: 2.

Gangādhara: shira: pātu bhālamardhendushekhara: ।
Nayane madanadhvansī karṇau sarpavibhūṣhaṇa: ।।3।।

Ghrāṇan pātu purārātirmukhan pātu jagatpati:।
Jihvāan vāgīshvara: pātu kandharāan shitikandhara:।।4।।

Shrīkaṇṭha: pātu me kaṇṭhan skandhau vishvadhurandhara:।
Bhujau bhūbhārasanhartā karau pātu pinākadhṛuk ।।5।।

Hṛudayan shankara: pātu jaṭharan girijāpati: ।
Nābhian mṛutyuanjaya: pātu kaṭī vyāghrājināmbara: ।।6।।

Sakthinī pātu dīnārtasharaṇāgatavatsala: ।
Ūrū maheshvara: pātu jānunī jagadīshvara: ।।7।।

Janghe pātu jagatkartā gulfau pātu gaṇādhipa: ।
Charaṇau karuṇāsindhu: sarvāangāni sadāshiva: ।।8।।

Etāan shivabalopetāan rakṣhāan ya: sukṛutī paṭhet ।
S bhuktvā sakalān kāmān shivasāyujyamāpnuyāt ।।9।।

Grahabhūtapishāchādyāstrailokye vicharanti ye ।
Dūrādāshu palāyante shivanāmābhirakṣhaṇāt ।।10।।

Abhayankaranāmedan kavachan pārvatīpate: ।
Bhaktyā bibharti ya: kaṇṭhe tasya vashyan jagattrayam ।।11।।

Imāan nārāyaṇa: svapne shivarakṣhāan yathāssdishat ।
Prātarutthāya yogīndro yāgnavalkyastathāslikhat ।।12।।

।।Iti shrīyāgnavalkyaproktan shivarakṣhāstotraman sampūrṇam।।

Meaning of Shiva Raksha Stotra

Viniyoga: - Om Asya Shrishivarakshastotramantrasya Yajnavalkya Rishi, Shri Sadashivo Devta, Anushtup Chhandah, Shri Sadashivprityartham Shivarakshastotrajpe Viniyoga.
Meaning - Appropriation - Yajnavalkya is the sage of this Shiv Raksha Stotra mantra, Shri Sadashiv is the deity and Anushtup is the verse, it is appropriated in the chanting of Shiv Raksha Stotra for the happiness of Shri Sadashiv.

Charitam Devdevasya Mahadevasya Pavanam ।
Aparam Paramodaram Chaturvargasya Sadhanam ।।1।।
Meaning - This most sacred character of Devadhidev Mahadev is the gift that provides accomplishment of Chaturvarga (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha), it is very generous. There is no limit to his generosity.

Gaurivinayakopetam panchavaktra trinetrakam ।
Shivam Dhyatva Dashbhujan Shivarakshaam Pathennar: ।।2।।
Meaning - The seeker should recite Shiv Raksha Stotra by meditating on the five-headed, ten-armed Lord Shiva with Gauri and Vinayak.

Gangādhara: shira: pātu bhālamardhendushekhara: ।
Nayane madanadhvansī karṇau sarpavibhūṣhaṇa: ।।3।।
Meaning - May Gangadhar protect my head and may the peak of the crescent moon protect my brow.
The destroyer of passion in his eyes and the ornament of snakes in his ears.

Ghrāṇan pātu purārātirmukhan pātu jagatpati:।
Jihvāan vāgīshvara: pātu kandharāan shitikandhara:।।4।।
Meaning - May Purarati protect my sense of smell and Lord of the universe protect my mouth.
May the lord of speech protect my tongue and Shitikandhara my shoulder.

Shrīkaṇṭha: pātu me kaṇṭhan skandhau vishvadhurandhara:।
Bhujau bhūbhārasanhartā karau pātu pinākadhṛuk ।।5।।
Meaning - May Srikantha protect my neck and Visvadhurandhara on my shoulders.
May the destroyer of the burden of the earth protect my arms and the bearer of Pinaka protect my hands.

Hṛudayan shankara: pātu jaṭharan girijāpati: ।
Nābhian mṛutyuanjaya: pātu kaṭī vyāghrājināmbara: ।।6।।
Meaning - May Lord Śiva protect my heart, and Lord Girijāpati my abdomen.
May Mrityunjaya protect my navel and my waist be dressed in tiger deerskin.

Sakthinī pātu dīnārtasharaṇāgatavatsala: ।
Ūrū maheshvara: pātu jānunī jagadīshvara: ।।7।।
Meaning - May the affectionate Lord who takes refuge in the poor and suffering protect my thighs.
May Lord Maheshwara protect my thighs and Lord of the universe protect my knees.

Janghe pātu jagatkartā gulfau pātu gaṇādhipa: ।
Charaṇau karuṇāsindhu: sarvāangāni sadāshiva: ।।8।।
Meaning - May the creator of the universe protect my thighs, and Lord Ganadhipa protect my ankles.
His feet are the ocean of compassion and his whole body is Sadashiva.

Etāan shivabalopetāan rakṣhāan ya: sukṛutī paṭhet ।
S bhuktvā sakalān kāmān shivasāyujyamāpnuyāt ।।9।।
Meaning - Anyone who recites this mantra, which is endowed with the power of Lord Śiva, should do good deeds.
He enjoys all his desires and attains the union with Lord Shiva.

Grahabhūtapishāchādyāstrailokye vicharanti ye ।
Dūrādāshu palāyante shivanāmābhirakṣhaṇāt ।।10।।
Meaning - The planets, ghosts, ghosts and other living entities move about in the three worlds.
They flee quickly from afar by protecting the name of Lord Shiva.

Abhayankaranāmedan kavachan pārvatīpate: ।
Bhaktyā bibharti ya: kaṇṭhe tasya vashyan jagattrayam ।।11।।
Meaning - This is the shield of Lord Parvatī, known as Abhāyankara.
The three worlds are under the control of the one who carries them on his neck with devotion.

Imāan nārāyaṇa: svapne shivarakṣhāan yathāssdishat ।
Prātarutthāya yogīndro yāgnavalkyastathāslikhat ।।12।।
Meaning - This is how Lord Nārāyaṇa instructed me in my dream to protect Lord Śiva.
Yogindra Yajnavalkya got up in the morning and wrote as follows.

।।Iti shrīyāgnavalkyaproktan shivarakṣhāstotraman sampūrṇam।।
Meaning - This is the complete Shivaraksha Stotram spoken by Sri Yajnavalkya

Benefits of reciting Shiva Raksha Stotra
Shiva Raksha Stotra has deep significance in the Hindu tradition, it is believed to provide many benefits to its devotees. Some of the major benefits associated with reciting this stotra are as follows:
• Protection from diseases
• Protection from evil spirits
• Happiness and prosperity
• Fulfillment of desires
• Victory and success
• Salvation and spiritual security.

When to recite Shiv Raksha Stotra?

The Shiv Raksha Stotra can be chanted at any time, but there are certain auspicious occasions and specific circumstances when it is commonly recited:

1. Maha Shivaratri: This is the most auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many devotees chant the Shiv Raksha Stotra on Maha Shivaratri as part of their prayers and devotion to Lord Shiva.
2. Pradosh Vrat: Pradosh Vrat, observed twice a month on the 13th day of the lunar fortnight, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Chanting the Shiv Raksha Stotra during this time is considered highly beneficial.
3. During Times of Distress: Whenever facing challenges, obstacles, or danger in life, devotees often turn to the Shiv Raksha Stotra for protection and guidance from Lord Shiva.
4. Daily Devotional Practice: Many devotees incorporate the chanting of the Shiv Raksha Stotra into their daily spiritual routine, either in the morning or evening, to seek the blessings and protection of Lord Shiva.
5. Before Undertaking Important Tasks: Some people chant the stotra before beginning any significant endeavor, seeking Lord Shiva's blessings for success and protection from obstacles.

Who can recite Shiv Raksha Stotra?
Persons suffering from poor health, chronic diseases, negative emotions and other fears of enemies should regularly recite Shiva Raksha Stotra as per Vedic rules.