Akshara Mala Sthuthi
Shiva Akshara Mala Stora
(The prayer of garland of alphabets
Or
The Garland which never decays)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
( This is a very popular prayer in Kerala addressed to Lord Shiva. Each verse starts with alphabets of Sanskrit in that order. Now I also find that this is also popular in Andhra. There is a You tube recording of this stotra by Sri S.P.Balasubramanyam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gymd-5GzLcw
1.Adbutha vigraha, Amaradheeswara ,
Aganitha Guna gana , amitha Shiva
Refrain to be repeated after every stanza.
Hara Samba sada Shiva, Samba sadashiva ,
Samba sada shiva , Samba shiva.
Oh Shiva with wonderful form , who is the God of the devas,
Who has countless good qualities and is the immeasurable Shiva
Refrain
Oh Destroyer, Oh perennial Shiva with Parvathi , Oh perennial Shiva with Parvathi,
Oh Perennial Shiva with Parvathi, Of Shiva with parvathi.
2.Anandamrutha , aasritha rakshaka ,
Athmananda Mahesa Shiva
Oh Nectar of joy , Oh protector of dependents ,
Oh soul of joy, Oh great God Shiva,
3.Indhu kaladhara indrdhi priya,
Sundara roopa suresa Shiva.
Oh God who wears the crescent of the moon , Oh God who is liked by Indra and others,
Oh God with pretty form , Oh Shiva who is the God of devas.
4.Eesa suresa , mahesa , jana priya,
Kesava sevitha keerthi shiva
Oh God, oh God of devas , Oh great God , Oh God liked by people,
Oh famous Shiva served by Kesava.
5.Uragadhi priya uraga vibhooshana ,
Naraka vinasa natesa Shiva
Oh God who likes snakes , who wears snake as ornament ,
Oh destroyer of hell , Oh Shiva who is the god of dancing
6.Urjitha danava nasa , parathpara,
AArjitha papa vinasa shiva
Oh killer of proud asuras, Oh divine among divines,
Oh Shiva who destroys the accumulated sins
7.Rig veda sruthi mouli vibhooshana,
Ravi chandragni trinethra shiva
Oh God who decorates his crown with Rig veda.
Oh Shiva who has three eyes of sun, moon and fire.
8.ruoupamanadhi prapancha vilakshana,
THapa nivarana thathwa shiva
Oh destroyer of the manifold worlds ,
Oh God who cures mental pains , Oh Shiva who is philosophical
9.Lliswaroopa sahasra karothama ,
Vaageeswara vara desa shiva.
Oh God who has the form of a mountain, Who has one thousand hands,
Oh God of words , Oh Shiva of blessed places
10.LLuthadheeswara roopa priya Hara,
Vedantha priya Vedhya shiva
Oh Lover of the pretty form of Lord Vishnu, oh destroyer,
Oh lover of philosophy, Oh Shiva who is studied by Vedas.
11.Yekaneka swaroopa Sada Shiva,
Bhogadhi Priya poorna shiva
Oh Perennial Shiva who is one as well as many,
Oh Complete Shiva who is interested in enjoyment
12.Iyswaryasraya chinmaya chilghana ,
Sachidananda suresa Shiva.
Oh Shiva who is the god of devas who is pure in thought,
Pure in form and the personification of pure joy.
13.Omkara Priya , uraga vibhooshana,
Hreemkara Priya, eesa Shiva,
Oh God Shiva who likes the sound “Om”,
Who wears the snake and likes the sound “hreem”.
14.Ourasa lalitha , anthaka nasana ,
Gouri sametha gireesa shiva
Oh Shiva with Goddess Parvathi , who is the god of the mountain,
Who is produced from within himself , who is the killer of enemies.
15.Ambaravasa , Chidambara nayaka,
Dumburu Narada sevya Shiva.
Oh Shiva who is served by Dumburu and Narada ,
Who lives on the sky and is the Lord of Chidambaram.
16,Aahara Priya ashta digeswara ,
Yogi hrudhi Priya vasa Shiva.
Oh Shiva who lives in minds of Yogis with love,
Who likes good food and is the Lord of all eight directions.
17.Kamalasana , Kailasa nivasaka,
Karuna sagara Kasi Shiva.
Oh Shiva of Benares who is the ocean of mercy,
Who sits on a lotus and who lives in Kailasa.
18.Khadga soola mruga jada dhanurdhara,
Vikrama roopa Viswesa Shiva
Oh shiva who is the Lord of the universe who has a valorous form,
Who holds the sword, deer , bow and sports a tuft.
19.Gangadhara hara vallabha Sankara ,
Gana hitha Sarva janesa Shiva.
Oh Shiva who is the lord of all people , who is partial to well being of Ganas,
Who carries the Ganga, who is the destroyer and is Vishnu of his consort.
20. Gathaka Panchama pathaka Nasana ,
Dheena jana Priya dheeptha Shiva.
Oh Shining Shiva who likes poor people,
Who destroys murderers bad people and debased people.
21.Ngatha swaroopananda Janasraya ,
Veda swaroopa Vedhya Shiva.
Oh Shiva who has the form of Vedas and who is studied by the Vedas,
Who likes his form like heaven and Who is depended on by all people.
22.Chanda vinasana , sakala jana Priya ,
Mandalaadheesa mahesa Shiva.
OH great God Shiva who is the king of the Country,
Who destroys cruel people and is liked by all people.
23.Chathra kireeta sukundaladhi Priya ,
Puthra Priya Bhuvanesa Shiva
Oh Shiva God of the universe who is liked by his sons,
And Who likes umbrella, crown and ornaments like ear studs.
24.Janma jaraa mruthyaadhi vinasana,
Kanmasha rahitha kaaseesa Shiva
Oh Shiva who is the God of Benares, who is without deceit,
And who is destroyer of birth, death and old age .
25.Jangarasraya brugeerati Priya,
Ongaresa Viswesa Shiva
Oh Shiva, the God of universe who is the God of “Om”,
Who depends on sound “Jam” and likes the movement of bees.
26.Jnanajnana vinasana nirmala ,
Dheena jana Priya Deeptha Shiva.
Oh Shining shiva who likes poor people ,
Who destroys wisdom and ignorance and is pure.
27.Tanka swaroopa sahasra karothama ,
Vagheeswara vara desa shiva
Oh Shiva of the blessed land who is the God of words,
Who is like a sword and who has blessed one thousand hands.
28.Takkadhyayudha sevitha sura gana,
Lavanyamrutha lasitha shiva.
Oh playful Shiva who has nectar like beauty,
Who carries weapons like rotating drum and is served by all devas
29.Damba vinasana Dundu vibhooshana,
Ambara vasa Chidesa shiva.
Oh Shiva who is god of divines who lives on the sky,
Who destroys pride and is decorated by DUndu.
30.Dam Dam Damaruka daruna nischala ,
Dundu Vinayaka sevya Shiva
Of Shiva served by Dundu Vinataka ,
Who keeps completely frozen even at the dam dam sound of Big Drum.
31.NaNa mani gana , bhooshana nirguna ,
Natha jana pootha sanadha Shiva
Oh Shiva who is also the leader of pure devotees,
Who wears many types of gems and who does not have any qualities.
32.Thathwamasyadhi vakhya swaroopa,
Nithya swaroopa nijesa shiva
Oh Shiva who is the God of truth , who has eternal form,
Who has the form of the philosophy of Vedas.
33.Sthavara jangama bhuvana vichakshana,
Thapa nivarana Thathwa shiva
Oh Philosophical Shiva who is the cure for mental pain,
Who is familiar with moving and non moving things of the world.
34.Dandhi vinasana dalitha manomaya,
Chandana lepitha charana Shiva.
Oh Venerable Shiva who has applied sandal paste ,
Who is destroyer of elephants and occupies the mind of the oppressed.
35.Darinee dhara shubha dawala vilasaka,
Dhandhadhi Priya Dhama Shiva
Oh Garlanded Shiva who likes Khubera,
Who carries the earth and shines in pure white.
36.Nalina vilochana natana manohara ,
Alikula bhooshana amitha Shiva
Oh measureless Shiva Who wears a flower garland,
Who has lotus like eyes and who is a pretty dancer.
37.Parvathi nayaka pannaga bhooshana,
Paramananda Paresa Shiva
Oh greatest God Shiva who is immersed in divine joy,
Who is the Lord of Parvathi and who wears the snake.
38.Phala vilochana bhanu kotio prabha,
Halahala dhara Amitha Shiva
Oh Greatest God Shiva, who wears halahala poison,
Who has an eye on his forehead and who shines like billions of Suns.
39.Bandha vimochana brahathee pavana ,
Skandhadhi Priya Kanaka Shiva
Oh Golden Shiva, who likes Subrahmanya and others ,
Who frees us from ties and who is greatly holy.
40.Bhhasma vilepana Bhava bhaya mochana,
Vismaya roopa viswesa Shiva
Oh Shiva who is the God of universe and has a wonderful form,
Who applies sacred ash and frees us from fear birth and death cycle.
41.Manmadha nasana Madhupana Priya ,
Charma vilepana SAkshi shiva
Oh Shiva who is a witness, who wears animal hide,
Who destroyed cupid and who likes to drink honey(alcohol)
42.Yathi jana hrudayanthaadhi nivasaka,
Vidhi vishnwadhi suresa Shiva
Oh Shiva who is God of devas and Vishnu and Brahma,
Who lives deep in the heart of sages.
43.Rameswara pura Ramana mukhambuja,
Someswara sukruthesa Shiva
Oh Friendly God Shiva who is the God of moon,
Who is the pretty faced one of the town of Rameswara.
44.Lankadheeswara sevitha sura gana,
Lavanyamrutha laasitha Shiva.
Oh playful Shiva who is the nectar of prettiness,
Who is served by the Lord of Lanka as well as devas.
45.Varadha bayankara Vasuki bhooshana,
Vanamaaladhi Vibhoosha Shiva
Oh Shiva who wears the forest garland,
Who is the fearful god of blessings and who wears Vasuki.
46.SAntha swaroopa sahasrakarothama,
Vagheeswara vara desa shiva
Oh Shiva of the blessed place , who is the God of speech,
Who has a peaceful form and who has thousand great hands.
47.Shanmukha Janaka surendra jana Priya,
Shadgunyadhi sametha Shiva.
Oh Shiva who is blessed with six qualities ,
Who s father of Lord Subrahmanya And who is liked by Indra and devas.
48.SAsararnava nava nasana saswatha ,
SAdhu jana Priya vasa shiva
Oh Shiva who lives with god fearing people,
Who destroys the sea of worldly illusion and who is stable.
49. Hara Purushothama Advaithamrutha ,
Mura ripu sevya mrudesa Shiva
Oh Shiva who is the God of joy and who is served by Lord Vishnu,
Who is the greatest Purusha who destroys and is the nectar of advaitha.
50.Laalitha bhaktha janeswara ,
Kalinateshvara kama shiva
Oh Shiva who is the king of dance along with Kali ,
Who is the God of the devotees whom he looks after.
51.Akshara mala Priya Sundara sakshath ,
SWamin Amba sametha Shiva
Oh God Shiva who is with goddess Parvathi,
Who likes this never fading garland and who is the real beauty.