? What is his basis (support)? What are his means (instruments,resources) ? Whole Universe), what is his gesture ? What is his body ? What is his plan If the Paramaatmaa (the Greatest Soul) creates the three worlds (ie, the Kutarko.ayaM mukharayati mohaaya jagataH || 5|| Kimaadhaaro dhaataa sR^ijati kimupaadaana iti cha |ДЄtarkyaishvarye tvayyanavasara duHstho hatadhiyaH KimiihaH ki.nkaayaH sa khalu kimupaayastribhuvanaM World are trying to destroy it by slander, which may be delightful to them Such is your greatness but certain stupid persons in this Qualities (ie, Satva, Rajas and Tamas) and three bodies (of Brahmaa, VishhNuДЄnd Mahesha). (ie, Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Saamaveda) it is distributed in the three O, Giver of Boons, your greatness is the cause of creation, maintenance,ДЄnd destruction of the whole universe this is supported by three Vedas VihantuM vyaakroshiiM vidadhata ihaike jaDadhiyaH || 4||

Trayiivastu vyastaM tisrushhu guNabhinnaasu tanushhu |ДЄbhavyaanaamasmin.h varada ramaNiiyaamaramaNiiM TavaishvaryaM yattajjagadudayaraxaapralayakR^it.h

O, Destroyer of Three Cities of the demons, thinking that my speech mayД«ecome purified by this act, my intellect (Buddhi) has become prepared to Surprise you ? (ie, the speech of even Brahaspati is worthless before you). The Vedas, which is like highest type of nectar and as sweet as honey, howД¬an even the speech of Brahaspati (Guru, or spiritual guide of gods) O, Paramaatmaa (Greatest Soul), as you are the very creator of speech of Mama tvetaaM vaaNiiM guNakathanapuNyena bhavataH Tava brahman.h kiM vaagapi suragurorvismayapadam.h | Madhusphiitaa vaachaH paramamR^itaM nirmitavataH Yet even then whose mind and speech are not attached to your this new Many qualities is it composed? Whose subject of description can it be ? And Who can praise this type of greatness of yours? With how Greatness by only saying `Neti', `Neti' (not this, not this) whileДescribing you. Even the Vedas also, having become surprised, confirm your O, Great God, so great is your majesty that it cannot be reached by speechДЄnd mind.

Pade tvarvaachiine patati na manaH kasya na vachaH || 2|| Sa kasya stotavyaH katividhaguNaH kasya vishhayaH (1)ДЄtiitaH pa.nthaanaM tava cha mahimaa vaaN^manasayoHДЄtadvyaavR^ittyaa yaM chakitamabhidhatte shrutirapi | Hence, (thinking like this ) I begin this prayer. If it is so, I should not be anД®xception. Their attempt deserve your special favour. Very limited intellect ( and I am one of them ) try to offer you a prayer, Is not able to fathom your merits ( ie, greatness ). Worthless! Because, even the utterance ( speech ) of Brahmaa and other gods The prayer to you, chanted by one who is ignorant about your greatness, is O, Lord Shiva, remover of all types of miseries, what wonder is there, if Mamaapyeshha stotre hara nirapavaadaH parikaraH || 1|| Stutirbrahmaadiinaamapi tadavasannaastvayi giraH |ДЄthaa.avaachyaH sarvaH svamatiparimaaNaavadhi gR^iNan.h MahimnaH paaraM te paramavidushho yadyasadR^ishii Let its recitation be beneficial to you as well! The recital of this stotra is very beneficial, and Shri Ramakrishna, one of the famous saints of the nineteenth century, went into samadhi just by reciting a few verses from this hymn. The legend has some basis since the name of the author is mentioned in verse number 38 of the stotraM. Lord Shiva became pleased by this StotraM, and returned Pushhpadanta's divine powers. This very prayer became well known as the `Shiva Mahimna Stotra'. In this prayer he sung the greatness of the Lord. He then designed a prayer to Lord Shiva for forgiveness. The thief Pushhpadanta, not knowing this, walked on the Shiva Nirmaalya, and by that he incurred the wrath of Lord Shiva and lost the divine power of invisibility. Shiva Nirmaalya consists of the Bilva leaves, flowers, etcetera which have been used in worshipping Lord Shiva. He tried very hard to capture the thief, but in vain, because the Gandharvas have divine power to remain invisible.ДЇinally the king spread the Shiva Nirmaalya in his garden. One day a Gandharva (Singer in the court of Indra, the Lord of the Heaven) named Pushhpadanta being fascinated by the beautiful flowers, began to steal them, as a consequence of which king Chitraratha could not offer flowers to Lord Shiva. These flowers were used every day by the king in worshipping Lord Shiva.

There were beautiful flowers in this garden. The legend about the circumstances leading to the composition of this Stotra is as follows.ДЄ king named Chitraratha had constructed a nice garden. The Shiva Mahimna Stotra is very popular among the devotees of Lord Shiva and is considered one of the best among all Stotras (or Stutis) offered to Lord Shiva. This Page is courtesy of Sanskrit Documents List.

Sampoorna shiv mahimna stotram mp3