Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s Vaidyanatha Ashtakam (Shiva Mantra) contains great powers, and those who chant this Ashtakam would be relieved even from dreaded diseases.
Sri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam is a wonderful hymn which was composed by the great Acharya Sri Adi Shankara, written in praise of Lord Maha Shiva, who is also called as Vaidyanatha, the Divine Doctor. Lord Shiva is considered as the king of physicians (Lord Vaidyanatha), and he is also known as Dhanvantreswarar. People must pray to Lord Vaidyanatha, in order to get relieved from illnesses. Devotees mainly those who suffer from physical and mental diseases, should recite Sri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam at least for three times in a day.
The following are the wonderful verses from the sacred Sri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam:
I salute the great Lord Shiva, Who is the king among the physicians, who is worshipped by the celestial Devas like Lord Indra, Brahma and Vishnu, who is the form of the Vedas, who is worshipped by everybody, who had once drank the terrible poison Hala Hala, who is having a blue coloured neck, and he is the one, who showers his blessings on his devotees like the vast ocean.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, Who is the king among the physicians, who contains matted hair and who holds the bright moon on his head, who has three eyes, who had killed Lord Yama and Kama, and he is the one who is very fond of his devotees, and is capable of granting various boons to his devotees.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, who is the king among the physicians, who is the master of the universe, who has destroyed Tripurantaka, who holds the divine weapons on his hands, who destroys the evil elements from the world, and who performs wonderful divine plays in the life of humans.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, who is the king among the physicians, who is capable of healing all kinds of diseases, who is highly honoured and worshipped by great sages, saints, celestials and by humans.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, who is the king among the physicians, who blesses his devotees, who likes to play the divine drum Damaru, who joyfully dances on his holy abode Kailash, who loves his beautiful consort Ma Shakti Devi, also known as Ma Annapurneswari, the goddess of food and kindness.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, who is the king among the physicians, who cannot be realised by ordinary people, whose powers are spread throughout the universe, who has a holy lotus foot which is being worshipped by celestials like Brahma, Vishnu and Indra, who is in the form of the Holy Shiva Lingam and who is always praised by his devotees by reciting his thousand names.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, who is the king among the physicians, who removes all types of sufferings caused by diseases and black magic, who dwells in sacred ash and in the Bilva Leaves, and he is the one, who also willfully dwells on the souls of the pious ones.
I salute the great Lord Shiva, who is the king among the physicians, who used to wear the divine serpent Vasuki on his neck, who is decorated by flowers, sacred ash, bilva leaves and with sandal paste and he is the one, who blesses his devotees by fulfilling their needs.
Those who sincerely recite this Ashtakam by worshipping Lord Vaidyanatha, along with his consort Ma Ambika, would get cured from all kinds of diseases, and they would lead a peaceful, happy and a highly satisfactory life.
“OM SRI VAIDYANATHAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR