Shree ShivamondaythursdayTotakashtakam
श्री तोटकाष्टकम्
About Totakashtakam
Totakashtakam (श्री तोटकाष्टकम्) is an eight-verse devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva. This revered text originates from Totakacharya (disciple of Adi Shankaracharya). Chanting this stotra with devotion is said to develop humility, surrender, and eagerness for Self-knowledge as well as teach the Advaita truth that the world is a reflection in Brahman. Additionally, it is known to exemplify supreme guru-bhakti (devotion to the teacher). This prayer is traditionally recited on Monday (Somvar) and Thursday (Guruvar) and during Guru Purnima and Maha Shivaratri to invoke divine grace. The text contains 8 verses and takes around 5 minutes to recite, fitting conveniently into a daily spiritual routine. On this page, you can read the complete Totakashtakam in Devanagari Sanskrit with English transliteration, Hindi meaning (arth), and free PDF download for offline recitation.
Reviewed & translated by Acharya Pushyadant Mishra
Stotra Path (स्तोत्र पाठ)
॥ श्री तोटकाष्टकम् ॥
विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे
महितोपनिषत्कथितार्थनिधे।
हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥१॥
करुणावरुणालय पालय मां
भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम्।
रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥२॥
भवता जनता सुहिता भविता
निजबोधविचारण चारुमते।
कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥३॥
भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां
समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता।
मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥४॥
सुकृतेऽधिकृते बहुधा भवतो
भविता समदर्शनलालसता।
अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥५॥
जगतीमविततां प्रभवप्रलयं
गततां परिवारगुणाश्रयतः।
भविता स्थिरशास्त्ररतिर्मम सा
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥६॥
जगदीशमनीशविहारमते
परिचिन्मयमेव विभान्ति जगत्।
नहि जातु मिथ्या भविता विभवे
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥७॥
महदादि जगत्प्रतिबिम्बमिदं
यदनन्तमजं परमात्मनि मे।
कृतसर्वहितं प्रवदत्प्रियतां
भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम्॥८॥
॥ इति श्रीतोटकाचार्यविरचितं तोटकाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Benefits (फल)
- ★Exemplifies supreme guru-bhakti (devotion to the teacher)
- ★Composed by Totakacharya in the unique Totaka metre
- ★Seeks refuge in Shankaracharya as the embodiment of Shiva
- ★Teaches the Advaita truth that the world is a reflection in Brahman
- ★Develops humility, surrender, and eagerness for Self-knowledge
- ★Grants discrimination (viveka) between Ishwara and Jiva
- ★Removes the ocean of delusion (moha) through Guru's grace