Ardhanarishvara Stotram

By Adi Shankaracharya, translated by Ravi Mayavaram.

chAMpeyagaurArdha sharIrakAyai
karpUragaurArdha sharIrakAya |
dhammillakAyai cha jaTAdharAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
One half shines with golden yellow color like champeya flower and other half shines in bright white of karpura. One side of the head is adorned with a beautiful braided decoration and other sports an unkempt jataamakutam. I bow to Shivaa and Shiva in the form of Ardhanarishvara.
kasturika kumkumacharchitAyai chitArajaHpunja vicharchitAya |
kRitasmarAyai vikRitasmarAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
The left half of Ardhanarishvara which is occupied by Ambal is adorned with musk and kumkumam. The other half occupied by the Lord is smeared with ashes from the funeral pyre. The Ambal aspect is well adorned and pleasing to reflect on, the Lord's half is ill adorned (with ashes, snakes, elephant skin) is dreadful. I bow to this wonderful form, I bow to AmbA Shivaa and Lord Shiva.
jhaNatkvaNatkankaNa nUpurAyai pAdAbjarAjatphaNin UpurAya |
hemANgadAyai bhujagANgadAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
The left side of the Lord, which is occupied by ambAL is adorned with beautiful kankana (bracelets worn on the wrist) and nupura (worn at the ankle). These make very pleasing sounds when they move. The right lotus foot is adorned with a cobra as nUpura. On the left side it is made of gold and on the right side it is a snake. Such is the wonderful form of the Lord. I bow to Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva.
vishAlanIlotpalalochanAyai vikAsipa~NkeruhalochanAya |
samexaNAyai viShamexaNAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
AmbAL’s eyes are often described as long, extending upto the ears. This is indicated by the term vishala. Her eyes (left half) are long and beautiful like nilotpala flower. Lords eyes are radiant like lotus flowers. Ardhanarishvara is a beautiful combination of Shivaa and Shiva. I bow to Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva.
mandAramAlAkalitAlakAyai kapAlamAlA~NkitakandharAya |
divyAMbarAyai cha digaMbarAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
Ambal's forhead is adorned with garlands made of mandaram (hibiscus) and the Lord's neck is adorned with a garland made of skulls. SHE dresses in royal and divine clothes and HE has directions alone as HIS clothes. I bow to Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva.
aMbhodharashyAmalaku.ntalAyai taTitprabhAtAmrajaTAdharAya 
nirIshvarAyai nikhileshwarAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
HER hair is dark like water bearing clouds and HIS hair locks are coppery and radiant like a lightening SHE has none superior to HER and HE is the Lord of all. Such is the wonderful form of ArdhanArishvara. I bow to Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva.
prapa~nchasR^iShTyunmukhalAsyakAyai samastasaMhArakatANDavAya |
jagajjananyai jagadekapitre
namah shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
SHE dances in delight with captivating beauty at face of creation which springs forth from them. His dance of destruction is in fury and the cosmos subsides back in them. SHE is the mother of this world and He is the Father. Such is the wonderful nature of ArdhanArIshvara, I bow to Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva. pradIptaratnojjvalakuNDalAyai sphuranmahApannagabhUShaNAya |
shivAnvitAyai cha shivAnvitAya
namaH shivAyai cha namaH shivAya ||
HER (left half) sparkling ear ring is studded with blazing precious stones and HE (right half) is adorned with a terrifying snake as HIS ear ring. Supreme auspiciousness is the essence of both Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva. Such is the wonderful form of ArdhanArIshvara. I bow to Shri Shivaa and Lord Shiva. etatpaThedaShTakamiShTadaM yo bhaktyA
sa mAnyo bhuvi dIrghajIvI |
prApnoti saubhAgyamanantakAlaM
bhUyAt sadA tasya samastasiddiH ||
This final verse is the phala shruti of this stotram. (S)He who reads this stotram containing eight verses with bhakti will obtain all (s)he desires, honor, a long life, and all auspicious things for eternity. One who repeats it again and again will attain all powers and perfection.
| iti shrI sha~Nkara bhagavatpAda virachitam ardhanArIshwarastotram |
Thus concludes the ardhanArIshvara stotram, composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, disciple of Shri Govinda BhagavatpAda.