Sri Rudram: The Hymn That Invokes Shiva in All Directions

Among the thousands of Vedic hymns, Sri Rudram occupies a place of profound reverence. Found in the Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya Samhita, 4th Kanda, 5th Prapathaka), it is a hymn that praises, surrenders to, and seeks blessings from Lord Shiva—the fierce yet compassionate cosmic presence who exists in all directions and within all beings. It is often called the “Namakam–Chamakam”, and together they represent one of the most powerful prayers in the Vedic tradition.

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Sri Rudram – Namakam

(Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.5)

Anuvāka 1

ॐ नमो भगवते रुद्राय ।
नमस्ते रुद्रमन्यव उतोत इषवे नमः ।
नमस्ते अस्तु धन्वने बाहुभ्यां उत ते नमः ॥

oṃ namo bhagavate rudrāya |
namaste rudra manyava utota iṣave namaḥ |
namaste astu dhanvane bāhubhyām uta te namaḥ ||

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Anuvāka 2

यात्त इषुः शिवतम शिवं बभूव ते धनुः ।
शिवा शरव्या या तव तया नो रुद्र मृडय ॥
या ते रुद्र शिवा तनूरघोरा-ऽऽपापकाशिनी ।
तया नस्तनुवा शन्तमया गिरीशन्ताभिचाकशीहि ॥

yātta iṣuḥ śivatama śivaṃ babhūva te dhanuḥ |
śivā śaravyā yā tava tayā no rudra mṛḍaya ||
yā te rudra śivā tanūr aghorā’pāpakāśinī |
tayā nas tanuvā śantamayā girīśantābhicākaśīhi ||

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Anuvāka 3

यामिषुं गिरिशन्त हस्ते बिभर्ष्यस्तवे ।
शिवां गिरित्र तमं कुर्वन् यथा नः सुमना भव ॥
शिवेन वचसा त्वा गिरिशाच्छा वदामसि ।
यथा नः सर्वमिज्जगदयक्ष्मगं सुमना असत ॥

yāmiṣuṃ giriśanta haste bibharṣy astave |
śivāṃ giritra tamaṃ kurvan yathā naḥ sumanā bhava ||
śivena vacasā tvā giriśācchā vadāmasi |
yathā naḥ sarvamijjagadayakṣmagaṃ sumanā asat ||

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Anuvāka 4

अध्यवोचदधिवक्ता प्रथमो दैव्यो भिषक् ।
अहीश्च सर्वान् जम्भयान्त्सर्वाश्च यातुधान्यः ॥
असौ यस्ताम्रो अरुण उत बभ्रुः सुमङ्गलः ।
ये चेमाꣳ रुद्रा अभितो दिक्षु श्रिताः सहस्रशोऽवैषां हेड ईमहे ॥

adhyavocad adhivaktā prathamo daivyo bhiṣak |
ahīś ca sarvān jambhayān sarvāś ca yātudhānyaḥ ||
asau yas tāmro aruṇa uta babhruḥ sumaṅgalaḥ |
ye cemāṃ rudrā abhito dikṣu śritāḥ sahasraśo’vaiṣāṃ heḍa īmahe ||

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Anuvāka 5

असौ योऽवसर्पति नीलग्रीवो विलोहितः ।
उतैनं घोरत्र्यक्शं घोराणां मृडयाति नः ॥
नमो अस्तु नीलग्रीवाय सहस्राक्षाय मीडुषे ।
अथो ये अस्य सत्वानोऽहम् तेभ्योऽकरं नमः ॥

asau yo’vasarpati nīlagrīvo vilohitaḥ |
utainaṃ ghoratryakṣaṃ ghorāṇāṃ mṛḍayāti naḥ ||
namo’stu nīlagrīvāya sahasrākṣāya mīḍuṣe |
atho ye asya satvāno’ham tebhyo’karaṃ namaḥ ||

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Anuvāka 6

प्रमुंच धन्वनस्त्वमुभयोर्ता निर्य्युध्यतम् ।
याश्च ते हस्त इषवः परा ता भगवो वपा ॥
अव तत्य धनुरहस्त उभे सृष्टीसृजेते ।
पर ता भगवो वप तस्मान्मे भगवः परि देहि ॥

pramuñca dhanvanas tvamubhayortā niryudyatam |
yāś ca te hasta iṣavaḥ parā tā bhagavo vapā ||
ava tatya dhanur ahasta ubhe sṛṣṭī sṛjete |
para tā bhagavo vapa tasmān me bhagavaḥ pari dehi ||

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Anuvāka 7

नमस्ते अस्त्वायुधायानातताय धृष्टाय धन्वने ।
बा॑हु॒भ्यां तव धन्वने नमः ॥
परि ते धन्वनो हेतिरस्मान्व्रुणक्तु विश्वतः ।
अथो य इषुधिस्तवारे अस्मन्निधेहि तम् ॥

namaste astv āyudhāyānātatāya dhṛṣṭāya dhanvane |
bāhubhyāṃ tava dhanvane namaḥ ||
pari te dhanvano hetir asmān vruṇaktu viśvataḥ |
atho ya iṣudhis tavāre asmān nidhehi tam ||

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Anuvāka 8

नमस्ते अस्तु भगवान्विश्वेश्वराय महादेवाय त्र्यम्बकाय त्रिपुरान्तकाय ।
त्रिकाग्निकालाय कालाग्निरुद्राय नीलकण्ठाय मृत्युंजयाय ।
सर्वेश्वराय सदाशिवाय श्रीमन्महादेवाय नमः ॥

namaste astu bhagavan viśveśvarāya mahādevāya tryambakāya tripurāntakāya |
trikāgnikālāya kālāgnirudrāya nīlakaṇṭhāya mṛtyuṃjayāya |
sarveśvarāya sadāśivāya śrīmanmahādevāya namaḥ ||

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Anuvāka 9

नमः सोमाय च रुद्राय च ।
नमः प्रजापतये च हिरण्यगर्भाय च ।
नमो भूम्यै च व्योमाय च ।
नमः सोमाय च सूर्याय च ॥

\namaḥ somāya ca rudrāya ca |
namaḥ prajāpateye ca hiraṇyagarbhāya ca |
namo bhūmyai ca vyomāya ca |
namaḥ somāya ca sūryāya ca ||

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Anuvāka 10

नमोऽस्त्वग्नये च वैश्वानराय च ।
नमो वरुणाय च मरुद्भ्यश्च ।
नमोऽस्त्विन्द्राय च मित्राय च ।
नमो भगाय च पूष्णे च ॥

namo’stv agnaye ca vaiśvānaráya ca |
namo varuṇāya ca marudbhyaś ca |
namo’stv indrāya ca mitrāya ca |
namo bhagāya ca pūṣṇe ca ||

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Anuvāka 11

नमस्ते अस्तु भगवन् विश्वेश्वराय महादेवाय त्र्यम्बकाय त्रिपुरान्तकाय ।
त्रिकाग्निकालाय कालाग्निरुद्राय नीलकण्ठाय मृत्युंजयाय ।
सर्वेश्वराय सदाशिवाय श्रीमन्महादेवाय नमः ॥

namaste astu bhagavan viśveśvarāya mahādevāya tryambakāya tripurāntakāya |
trikāgnikālāya kālāgnirudrāya nīlakaṇṭhāya mṛtyuñjayāya |
sarveśvarāya sadāśivāya śrīmanmahādevāya namaḥ ||

Śrī Rudram – Chamakam

(Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.7 – 11 Anuvākas)

Anuvāka 1

अग्नाविष्णू सविता च मे
सोमश्च मे पृथि॒वी च मेऽन्तरिक्षं च मे॒ द्यौश्च मे
दिशश्च मे यश्च मे नक्षत्राणि च मे
ऋतवश्च मे मासाश्च मे पक्षा॒श्च मेऽहोरात्राणि च मे
अग्निश्च मे वायुश्च मे सूर्यश्च मे चन्द्रमाश्च मे
नक्षत्राणि च मे॒ विद्युतश्च मे मेघाश्च मे
ऋतवश्च मे हव्यकव्यम् च मे ॥

agnāviṣṇū savitā ca me
somaś ca me pṛthivī ca me’ntarikṣaṃ ca me dyaus ca me |
diśaś ca me yaś ca me nakṣatrāṇi ca me |
ṛtavaś ca me māsāś ca me pakṣāś ca me’horātrāṇi ca me |
agniś ca me vāyuś ca me sūryaś ca me candramāś ca me |
nakṣatrāṇi ca me vidyutaś ca me meghāś ca me |
ṛtavaś ca me havyakavyam ca me ||

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Anuvāka 2

अन्नं च मे पानीयं च मे
पशवश्च मे प्रजाश्च मे रयिश्च मे रयिपतिश्च मे
वाचश्च मे श्रुतं च मे ज्योतिश्च मे
सुखं च मे प्रजाच्च मे प्रजान्तिश्च मे ॥

annaṃ ca me pānīyaṃ ca me
paśavaś ca me prajāś ca me rayiś ca me rayipatiś ca me |
vācaś ca me śrutaṃ ca me jyotiś ca me |
sukhaṃ ca me prajācc ca me prajān tiś ca me ||

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Anuvāka 3

श्रीश्च मे मयश्च मे प्राणश्च मेऽपानश्च मे
व्यानश्च मे चक्षुश्च मे श्रोत्रं च मे
मनो मे वाक्च मे आत्मा च मे
परमं च मेऽधितिष्ठन्तु ॥

śrīś ca me mayaś ca me prāṇaś ca me’pānaś ca me |
vyānaś ca me cakṣuś ca me śrotraṃ ca me |
mano me vāk ca me ātmā ca me |
paramaṃ ca me’dhitiṣṭhantu ||

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Anuvāka 4

ऋक्साम यजुंश्च मे
दीक्षाश्च मे यज्ञश्च मे दक्षिणा च मे
व्रतं च मे होमश्च मे स्वधाश्च मे स्वाहाश्च मे ॥

ṛk sāma yajuṃś ca me |
dīkṣāś ca me yajñaś ca me dakṣiṇā ca me |
vrataṃ ca me homaś ca me svadhāś ca me svāhāś ca me ||

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Anuvāka 5

इष्टं च मे हुतं च मे
सुप्रजास्त्वं च मे सुपशुत्वं च मे
बहु च मे भद्रं च मे
रयिश्च मे रयिपतिश्च मे ॥

IAST:
iṣṭaṃ ca me hutaṃ ca me |
suprajāstvam ca me supaśutvam ca me |
bahu ca me bhadraṃ ca me |
rayiś ca me rayipatiś ca me ||

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Anuvāka 6

गृह्णन्तु च मे
ग्रामश्च मे नगरं च मे
वीर्यं च मे बलं च मे
ऊर्जं च मे साहो च मे ॥

gṛhṇantu ca me |
grāmaś ca me nagaraṃ ca me |
vīryaṃ ca me balaṃ ca me |
ūrjaṃ ca me saho ca me ||

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Anuvāka 7

प्रजापतिश्च मे
विश्वेदेवा च मे
धर्मश्च मे सत्यं च मे
श्रद्धा च मे योगश्च मे ॥

prajāpatiś ca me |
viśvedevā ca me |
dharmaś ca me satyaṃ ca me |
śraddhā ca me yogaś ca me ||

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Anuvāka 8

क्षत्रं च मे जनपदश्च मे
सुखं च मे घोषश्च मे
व्रजनं च मे सञ्ज्ञानं च मे
सुप्रतिष्ठितं च मे ॥

kṣatraṃ ca me janapadaś ca me |
sukhaṃ ca me ghoṣaś ca me |
vrajanaṃ ca me sañjñānaṃ ca me |
supratiṣṭhitaṃ ca me ||

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Anuvāka 9

विष्णुश्च मे रुद्रश्च मे
इन्द्रश्च मे अग्निश्च मे
वरुणश्च मे वायुश्च मे
सोमश्च मे मरुतश्च मे ॥

viṣṇuś ca me rudraś ca me |
indraś ca me agniś ca me |
varuṇaś ca me vāyuś ca me |
somaś ca me marutaś ca me ||

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Anuvāka 10

आयुश्च मे जरित्रं च मे
श्रीम च मे यशश्च मे
भागश्च मे द्रविणं च मे
यन्ता च मे धर्ता च मे ॥

āyuś ca me jaritraṃ ca me |
śrīma ca me yaśaś ca me |
bhāgaś ca me draviṇaṃ ca me |
yantā ca me dhartā ca me ||

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Anuvāka 11 (Phala Śruti)

अन्नं च मेऽन्नपतिश्च मे
गृह्णन्तु च मे गृहीपतिश्च मे
बहु च मे भवतु धनं च मे
विश्वं च मे महत्त्वं च मे ॥

annaṃ ca me’nnapatiś ca me |
gṛhṇantu ca me gṛhipatiś ca me |
bahu ca me bhavatu dhanaṃ ca me |
viśvaṃ ca me mahatvaṃ ca me ||

Structure of Sri Rudram

Sri Rudram has two main parts:

1. Namakam (11 Anuvākas):
   • Named because each stanza ends with “Namah” (salutations).
   • It addresses Rudra as present in every form—in forests, rivers, mountains, animals, people, even in weapons and storms.
   • The devotee bows to all manifestations of Rudra, recognizing divinity everywhere.
2. Chamakam (11 Anuvākas):
   • Named for the repeated use of “Cha Me” (and to me).
   • It is a prayer requesting divine blessings—strength, health, wealth, knowledge, progeny, spiritual wisdom, and liberation.
   • It teaches that both worldly and spiritual needs can be sought from Shiva.

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The Meaning of Sri Rudram

Sri Rudram is not only an invocation—it is a recognition that:

• Shiva is everywhere: In the fierce hunter, in the gentle healer, in trees, rivers, animals, and human society.
• Duality dissolves: Rudra is both destroyer and protector, terrifying and compassionate, transcendent and immanent.
• Surrender is essential: By bowing (Namah) to everything, we align our limited self with the infinite.

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Key Themes

1. Universal Omnipresence: Rudra pervades all—seen and unseen, auspicious and inauspicious.
2. Pacification: The hymn asks Rudra to turn his fierce arrows into blessings, protecting humanity.
3. Balance of Worldly and Spiritual Desires: Chamakam does not reject worldly life; it sanctifies it, showing how dharmic prosperity and moksha go hand in hand.
4. Collective Upliftment: Reciting Rudram is considered beneficial not just for the chanter but for the entire community and environment.

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Ritual & Practice

• Chanting: Traditionally recited during Rudra Abhishekam, where Lord Shiva’s linga is bathed with water, milk, honey, ghee, and other sacred offerings.
• Time: Mondays, Pradosha Kāla, Maha Shivaratri, and eclipses are considered especially powerful.
• Group Recitation: Multiple chanters together create a resonant vibration believed to purify the atmosphere and bring peace.

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Benefits of Reciting Sri Rudram

1. Spiritual Awakening: Aligns the mind with the all-pervasive Shiva, leading to realization of oneness.
2. Healing Energy: The vibrations of the chant are said to harmonize body and mind.
3. Removal of Obstacles: Invoking Shiva pacifies karmic blockages and grants protection.
4. Environmental Harmony: Ancient tradition holds that collective chanting can bring rain, fertility to the land, and balance to nature.

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Philosophical Depth

Sri Rudram reflects the heart of Vedic non-dualism (Advaita). By saluting Rudra in every aspect of creation, it dissolves the distinction between sacred and profane. Every being, every action, every phenomenon is recognized as the play of Shiva.

In this way, Sri Rudram is not only a hymn of praise but also a profound meditation on reality itself.

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Closing Thought

Sri Rudram is more than a chant—it is a spiritual journey. The Namakam teaches humility and surrender by bowing to Shiva in all directions, while the Chamakam shows the right way to seek both material and spiritual fulfillment. Together, they remind us that life itself is a field of worship, and every breath can be an offering to the Divine.

“He who is fierce as Rudra is also gentle as Shiva—the destroyer of darkness, the protector of truth, and the light within us all.”