Nirvana Shatkam Lyrics and Meaning
24 Mar 2024 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
Introduction to Nirvana Shatkam
Nirvana Shatkam also known as Atma Shatkam is prakarana granthi consisting of six verses. Prakarana has been defined in the Vishnu Dharmottara Purana thus: Prakarana is a text that explains some particular aspects of the sastra and deals with certain secondary questions arising out of the explanations given.
The instruction empathically conveyed by the six verses of Nirvana Shatkam is that identification with the body, mind, and senses is the root cause of all sorrow and that it should be given up and one should realize one real nature as none other than the supreme Brahman. This realization is what is known as Liberation.“Nirvana” means formless and “Shatkam” refers to the 6 verses of the composition, expressing how the true Self is beyond all definitions; it is “neither this nor that”.
History of the mantra
In these stotras, written in his supreme state of realization, Adi Shankara explains the state of wisdom and truth.
When Adi Shankara was in Kashi, he used to have his daily bath in the Ganga. One day, on his way to the Ganga, his way was blocked by a Chandala (belonging to the untouchable caste) whose job was to burn the dead bodies. Adi Shankara immediately asked him to go away. The man, instead of moving away, asked Adi Shankara `who are you?’
Adi Shankara knew that no ordinary man would ask him this question and he realized that the man in front of him was the Lord Kasinath Shiva himself. Searching for an answer to the question `Who are you?’ Adi Shankara went into a deep state of meditation. And being in the state of highest consciousness, he identified himself with the ultimate truth of life — Shivoham.
Shivoham means `I am Shiva’.
He wrote down his answers then and there and read them out. Adi Shankara mostly answered the question “Who are you” by saying what/who is not he, instead of just saying who is he! . Adi Shankara was no ordinary soul to have attained the state of `Shivoham’ at a very young age. What lies between realities and false identification is the truth. The truth, the ultimate truth is
Nirvana Shatkam in Sanskrit
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥४॥
न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥
Nirvana Shatkam in English Lyrics
mano buddhi ahankara chittani naaham
na cha shrotravjihve na cha ghraana netre
na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuhu
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
na cha prana sangyo na vai pancha vayuhu
na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshah
na vak pani-padam na chopastha payu
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau
na me vai mado naiva matsarya bhavaha
na dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham
na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajnah
aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
na me mrtyu shanka na mejati bhedaha
pita naiva me naiva mataa na janmaha
na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo
vibhut vatcha sarvatra sarvendriyanam
na cha sangatham naiva muktir na meyaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
Meaning of Each Verse of Nirvana Shatkam
I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego, or the memory. I am not the ears, the skin, the nose, or the eyes. I am neither space, earth, fire, water, nor wind. I am the form of consciousness and bliss. I am the eternal Shiva.
I am not the breath, nor the five elements. I do not matter, nor the five sheaths of consciousness, nor am I the speech, the hands, or the feet. I am the form of consciousness and bliss. I am the eternal Shiva.
There is no like or dislike in me, no greed or delusion. I know not pride or jealousy. I have no duty, no desire for wealth, lust, or liberation. I am the form of consciousness and bliss. I am the eternal Shiva.
No virtue or vice, no pleasure or pain. I need no mantras, no pilgrimage, no scriptures or rituals. I am not the experienced, nor the experience itself. I am the form of consciousness and bliss. I am the eternal Shiva
I have no fear of death, no caste or creed. I have no father, no mother, for I was never born.I am not a relative, a friend, a teacher, or a student. I am the form of consciousness and bliss.I am the eternal Shiva.
I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness. I exist everywhere, pervading all senses. I am neither attached, neither free nor captive. I am the form of consciousness and bliss. I am the eternal Shiva.
Do Listen to this Beautiful Mantra Nirvana Shatkam
Benefits of Nirvana Shatkam Mantra
- Benefit 1 – Positive vibes
Chanting and listening to Nirvana Shatkam once a day can produce extremely positive vibes around you
- Benefit 2 – Negate anxiety and depression
Recite it to deal with anxiety and depression. It serves as the best medicine to get rid of these negative emotions
- Benefit 3 – Emotional stability
You can achieve an eternal state of calmness even in stressful situations of life
- Benefit 4 – Let go of jealousy and greed
You start getting rid of unwanted attachments