@DeepInThought4U

Hinduism is the most ancient religion in the world that has survived an onslaught of colonial subjugation, bigoted misinterpretation, and evangelical conversion attempts.  

Recently, I have encountered quite a few social media posts about Hinduism, mocking the gods/goddesses, and its religious practices.  Here is a couple from X:

Typically, the people who post these messages have a rudimentary understanding of the religion, and often have ulterior motives of the religio-political kind and the western anti-immigration rant (as above) that compels them to dig up random images or one-sided articles to support their theory of how bad the religion is.  

While Hinduism itself is not dependent on validation from any quarters as it is a self-evident, self-sufficient, and self-sustaining code of life, I still thought I should address the mind-numbing ignorance evident in such posts.  

I shall attempt to present fact-based findings from my own study of Hinduism with the hope that the first kind would find it informative and helpful in broadening their horizons, and the second would at least tone down the rhetoric, although, I suspect it is a tall order.

I am not doing this just because I need to rise to the defence of the religion I was born into.  On the contrary, I had been ignorant myself of the deeper aspects of Hindu customs and culture, thanks to the Macaulayian education system that I studied in.  I realised I needed to find out more about all religions, and undertook a comparative study of the major faiths of the world.  Through this, I have come to appreciate the beauty inherent in Hinduism vis-a-vis other religions. 

Here's a list of accusations against Hinduism that I have encountered in the social media messages.  I shall attempt to address each of them based on the observations and inferences from my own deep-dive into the tenets of Hinduism.

Hinduism is caste-based: 

Since every bigot worth his salt will rake up this issue in his rant against Hinduism, I thought I should address this first.  The caste identity was originally based on the individual vocation rather than the accident of birth.  None of the Hindu scriptures advocates discrimination based on caste; both of these - postnatal caste determination and caste-based discrimination - are later, unfortunate developments.  

The hierarchy was never meant to be rigid and the identity was always meant to be fluid, with members moving from one level to another, depending on their natural disposition and vocation.  In modern-day India, caste-based discrimination is largely confined to the smaller towns and villages.  It does not help matters that the caste-based reservation system has been institutionalized by the country's Constitution, which only serves to strengthen these divisions.   

Besides, people who throw the caste brick at us should realise that divisions are part of their own religions.  Consider these:  

You get the picture?  Adherents of these sects are often at loggerheads with each other; if God is one why do their religions have so many sects?  Not to justify divisions in society, but know it to be the nature of man to divide himself into smaller and smaller groups based on characters such as race, nationality, culture and religion - this is a universal problem, not confined to Hinduism alone. 

There are so many Hindu gods!

Yes there are; said to be about 33 crore in all (i.e., 330 million!).  But the primary underlying god is one: Brahman (or the Universal Consciousness, or the Unifying Energy).  Hinduism believes in the concept of ishtadevata (one's chosen god), which is one aspect of this unifying energy that appeals to the disposition of the worshipper.  Many families have kuladevatas (clan gods) and many villages have gramadevatas (village gods).  Even natural phenomena such as weather-related events or diseases have personified god elements.  

This might sound confusing to an uninitiated mind, but the basic principle is this: Brahman is one, but its manifestations are many.  Just look around you; the world is teeming with lifeforms of all kinds.  There are hundreds of varieties of any given species of flora or fauna.  Even among humans there are multiple races and ethnicities.  When there is so much diversity in our tiny little world, which is but a speck in the infinite cosmos, why not among gods?  Why can't the infinite energy multiply itself into smaller energies with specific attributes or functions? 

Hindus may worship many gods in many temples, but the basic underlying principle is the same.  It is this principle (the higher Self) that the atma (soul or the lower self) of a Hindu aims to merge into eventually, thus escaping the karmic cycle of life and birth.  This merger is called moksha (also called nirvana, kaivalya, nirvikalpa samadhi, the turiya state, or god-realisation).  This is possible only when one gives up attachment to the phenomenal world, and negates the ego or the lower self through sustained spiritual practices such as meditation.  

Since this is a difficult standard for an average person to aspire to, one can focus on the ishtadevata while one purifies the mind.  Therefore, the gods function as markers for seekers to focus on, or signposts while traversing the difficult path towards self-annihilation leading to moksha.  This is the path of bhakti (intense emotional devotion): the idea is to move from the formed manifestation of god to the formless Brahman.  

Hindu gods look grotesque: 

Yes, the anthropomorphised forms of our gods do appear distinct from you and I.  Some have many hands, many faces, blue/dark complexion, elephant/monkey face, etc.  They are usually accompanied by a variety of natural elements and beings: lotuses, trees, banana leaves, fruits, elephants, bulls, tigers, lions, mice, and even dogs.  Like I said, Hinduism does not discriminate against any life form for 'being dirty;' everything fits into the larger scheme of things.  

Some chief examples of our gods are:

Each deity may have several avataras (yes, the term existed long before the eponymous sci-fi film came along).  Narayana Himself manifests as Dashavatara (10 avataras): fish, tortoise, boar, man-lion, dwarf, axe-warrior, Rama, Krishna, Buddha & Kalki (yet to manifest), depending on the yugas (epochs) and their dharmic requirements.

Again, it is to do with how the gods have been conceptualised by various seekers over the millennia.  Scriptural descriptions of the physical aspects of these deities also exist, based on which, artists have imagined how the gods might have appeared to their bhaktas.  The foremost among these artists is Raja Ravi Varma, a 19th century painter of royal lineage whose lithographs of gods/goddesses adorn our pooja rooms (shrines) to this day.  Ultimately, they are the saguna (formed with physical features) manifestations of the nirguna (formless Brahman) entity. 

The contentious image in the tweets above, that of Kali - the fierce avatara of Goddess Parvathi - carries its own significance of victory of good over evil.  She manifested to kill the demons (hence the garland of skulls) and Her fervour had to be assuaged by a sleeping Shiva who She stepped on, realised Her error, and calmed down. It is through Her divine grace that the 5th century Sanskrit poet, Kalidasa achieved a state of wisdom (hence his name; 'servant of Kali'), and more recently, the 19th century Saint of Dakshineshwar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, was blessed with the divine vision of his beloved Ma Kali.  

Indeed, every feature of the physical representation of all the deities has its own relevance.  Just because they appear kitsch does not mean that they are creations of a fanciful imagination, as the tweet above suggests.  It is a bit rich coming from a culture that peddles to its children the notion that a bearded, potbellied, old man in a red suit slides down the chimney in the night to leave them presents!

Further reading: 

• For a quick lowdown, read Devdutt Pattanaik's 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art

Hindus are idolators and object-worshippers: 

What is your problem exactly with idols?  Just because it is mentioned in your scriptures that the believers should not worship Egyptian statues, you seem to have developed a deep aversion to them.  When you put up your religious symbols and sculptures of messiahs and saints, aren't they idols?  Then why single out Hinduism?

Pictures, statues and idols are the saguna (formed) representation of the one nirguna (formless) Brahman.  They are focal points for seekers to look at and concentrate their positive thoughts and prayers on.  In certain places, the origin of these images is considered to be esoteric or swayambhu (self-generated).  In such and other significant tirthsthalas (places of pilgrimage), the spiritual energy level is significantly elevated.  Combine this with certain auspicious moments, and you have a potent combination of place and time that is seeped in spiritual energy for all to benefit from - the Kumbh Mela (that's happening now, as I write this) is one such occasion.  

Temple garbhagudis (sancta sanctorum) and even pooja rooms (shrines) in homes are so repeatedly consecrated with the sound of mantras and bells, the aura of incense and aarti (fire of veneration), and the offering of fruits and naivedya (consecrated food), that they emanate divine energy that the worshippers can absorb by doing pradakshine (circumambulating the deity).  Hence the need for images and idols kept in temples and shrines.  

Since scientific studies are now confirming that everything in the universe is some form of energy, we believe this to be true about objects as well.  The equipment of war, the tools of building, the books of learning, and the gadgets of communication are all worthy of veneration.  In fact, they have special days of their own every year: Ayudha Pooja (for weapons & instruments) and Saraswati Pooja (for books and learning materials) during the Navaratri period.  

Sceptics among you should understand that the human body is made of the same materials and energies found in the universe; the panchamahabhutas (the 5 natural elements - air, water, fire, earth and ether).  The only difference between living and nonliving entities is the presence of sentience and consciousness in the former, but at the atomic level, they are all the same.  

Hindu religious practices are based in superstitions: 

What appears to be a superstition for an external person is actually rooted in some kind of logic or scientific basis.  This is often the case with most Hindu rituals.  It is just that we have been following these rituals for such a long time without questioning that we do not know their deeper significance.  Had we bothered to ask our grandparents and elders about these practices, we perhaps would have better understood them.  

Let's consider a small example.  During Sankranti, on 14th of January (that's today, when I post this), there exists the practice of consuming a high-energy mixture of groundnuts, jaggery, lentils and sesame seeds, which on the face of it, appears to be just another cultural fad.  However, the mixture provides energy to ward off the effects of seasonal change.  Sankranti is the period when the sun makes it annual northern ascent, and marks the onset of spring and the harvest season with longer days; hence the need for additional energy during this period.  

Pseudosecular rationalists who decry every Hindu ritual, conveniently overlook the ignominious fake-healing sessions organised by pastors, ritual blood-letting of animals during 'holy days,' and female genital mutilation to control the 'hypersexuality of women,' to name just a few disdainful Abrahamic practices.  

Hinduism is the most scientific religion; you only need to look at the deeper significance of the ritual to understand this.  The mental and physical health significance of yoga and other spiritual practices of Hinduism are being validated through more and more western scientific studies. 

In addition, the spiritual experience of people who have had near-death experiences and those who have undergone regression therapy are in concordance with what's already written in the Vedas and the descriptions of exalted states by rishis.

Hindu festivals are polluting: 

It is extraordinary how environmental consciousness emerges in the pseudosecular mind just before Diwali every year!  Fireworks set off during Guy Fawkes Day in the UK, Olympics opening ceremonies, and new year celebrations across the world are apparently not as polluting.  

Many Hindu festivals are nature-based; they celebrate natural events such as harvests and solstices.  Hindu festival dates are arrived at as per the lunisolar Vikram Samvat and the panchanga calendars.  They are marked by lighting of lamps, decorations with fruits and flowers, wearing new clothes, and eating a vegetarian feast.  Most Hindu festivals do not involve animal killing, which is a routine practice in Abrahamic religions so much so that during certain festivals, streets are said to be coloured in red due to the mass killing of animals.  

More recently, environment-friendly options such as green crackers and clay Ganeshas for immersion are trends that are catching on.  There is also the flexibility of focusing only on the bhakti aspect of the festival without bursting crackers or immersing idols.  

Hindu artforms are sexually disinhibited: 

They are sexually expressive, is what they are.  From the greatest treatise on sex, Vatsyayana's Kamasutra, to the erotic friezes and sculptures of the Khajuraho temple complex, to the symbolic union of the male and female sexual organs in the form of the Shivalinga, Hinduism is the most sexually expressive religion in the world.  

Before you raise your questioning brows with a self-righteous smirk on your face, ask yourself this: how did you emerge into this world?  Not through 'immaculate conception,' I take it!  There is no delicate way of saying this: you are here in your physical body because your parents had sex with each other.  Abrahamic religions are preoccupied with the notion of sin, and consider sex and eroticism  condemnable, and brush them under the carpet.  Denial and repression of sex is rampant in puritanical societies, where women are treated as sexual objects to be safeguarded by covering them up like bank vaults.  

Harnessing the sexual energy is one of the requirements of the spiritual practice of kundalini yoga, the exact technique of which is a secret known only to genuine practitioners as it is likely to be misunderstood by the ignorant. 

Hinduism is the only religion that has included sex in the 4 purusharthas (the primary goals of human existence): dharma (right action), artha (wealth & prosperity), kama (sexual and other desires), and moksha (emancipation).  

Unfortunately, Hinduism's sexual expression in the form of literature, artworks and sculptures was severely subjugated first by the radical Islamist proscription, and then by the laws based on Victorian prudery of British colonialists.  

Oh, and by the way, Hinduism is the most LGBTQ-friendly religion in the world.

Further reading: 

Kantara is turning out to be a sleeper hit, running chiefly on the fuel of word of mouth.  Very rarely do I venture into a multiplex, but when the family insisted that it was our 'national duty' to watch this film since everyone else was, just as during Dangal, I had to give in.  But of course, my grouse is about the multiplex experience, not the film per se; the film itself is first rate.  

Think of Thithi in terms of the rustic rawness, and you have it in this.  Think of Jallikattu in terms of beautifully lit night scenes in the jungle and background music, and you have them in this.  Think of the eerie jungle mystique of Churuli, and you have that here.  Think of Karnan in terms of the village being under siege and the villagers fighting back against the police/landlord, and you can see the similarity.  

But then Kantara is not confined to any of these descriptions; it stands alone in its own right as a showcase of the culture of Uttara Kannada/Malenadu/Udupi regions of Karnataka, specifically of bhuta kola, or the spirit dance/worship artform.  The situations and dialect is so true to the region, that even Kannada audiences need to read the subtitles sometimes to make sense of the drama, which comes with a smattering of Tulu, the local language.  

Kantara could have ended up like a documentary, but the makers have come up with a clever combination of intrigue, culture, spirituality and humour to keep one engrossed for the two and half hour duration of the film.  I could almost taste the ele-adike (betel leaf & nut) in my mouth as the scenes showing the natural beauty and culture of Kundapura unfolded.  And as touted, the denouement is captivating.  There are sexual innuendos and swear words throughout, which makes it difficult to classify this as a family film.    

The film is not without flaws: it could have lingered on certain moments instead of the breakneck pace we get to see, the change in the landlord's and police officer's characters could have been shown more convincingly, the mother's lament that her son is walking in the footsteps of his father is not explored fully, the entire romantic/sexual angle could have been more implicit or even eliminated, and the background music, though excellent, could have been toned down a bit, but I suspect this is down to the multiplexes jacking up the volume rather than any fault of the makers.  

Kantara goes to show what can be achieved by focusing on our indigenous culture, rather than the standard Bollywood fare that major production houses dish out.  It also demonstrates the stature of regional, especially South Indian, cinema that is growing with every outing.  Not least, this is a successful demonstration of the untapped cinematic potential of our culture, spirituality, smritis, shrutis, puranas, and itihasas, which, if Kantara's success is any indication, we will be thankfully seeing more of.   

The only blemish on Kantara is that one of its songs appears to be more than 'inspired' by another music group's song which is at least five years old.  It would be prudent for Kantara's makers to acknowledge this if they haven't done so, and give due credit to the original song's makers.  

This does not, however, diminish what Kantara otherwise achieves.  In a time when needless remakes of old classics or films from other languages are the norm - not to mention the biopics galore on every conceivable high achiever - Kantara is a rare danta kathe, or a folktale, that is remake-proof: neither is it a remake of anything else, nor can anyone remake it into another language given that it is a product of a specific local culture.  

So, well done to the entire team.  Highly recommended viewing!  

Kantara: A Legend-Chapter 1 - update November 2025

Subtlety is often the casualty at the altar of grandiosity. 

Kantara, unfortunately, has fallen prey to this phenomenon. 

Sadly, the legend has been somewhat superseded by stardom. When rousing music welcomes the hero and he mouths words such as 'did I arrive late?' upon entry - ostensibly to other characters, but really to his doting fans - you should know that stardom and onscreen persona have taken a higher position than the story. 

I believe the brief given to the makers by the producers was to reimagine the first one on a much grander scale. Only, it has ended up becoming louder and needlessly complicated. Bigger does not always mean better, and this one is certainly several notches below the first one. If only they had focused more on the actual bhuta kola tradition and the bhakti aspects. 

The plot appears fully fictitious, as opposed to partially fictitious that the first one was. This one does not add to or explain the story of the first one. 

One scene - the fight upon a disintegrating temple chariot - appears very similar to the wheel-fight scene from one of the Pirates of the Caribbean installments. The setting and plot is somewhat reminiscent of the Kannada classic, Ondanondu Kaladalli, although I must hasten to add that the latter, though dated, is far superior. 

I hope the makers resist the temptation to milk the franchise, or, at the very least, keep it subtler and relevant to the bhuta kola legend. 

Can't stand another pointless adu innondu danta kathe. 

The Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, popularly recognized by its starting phrase, Aigiri Nandini, was composed by Adi Shankaracharya.  Even though some sources attribute the stotra to Ramakrishna Kavi, with due respect to him, one would be foolish to take the attribution away from the Hero of Hinduism, given the complexity and the rhythmic beauty of the composition.

During Navratri or Dussehra, the Mother Goddess is worshipped according to the Navadurga, or the nine special attributes of the Mother Goddess, each on one of the nine nights.  The tenth day, when the Mother Goddess was victorious is celebrated as Vijayadashami.  The stotra celebrates the victory of Maa Durga over the demon king Mahishasura, in essence, the victory of good over evil. 

In this video I have broken down the phrases to facilitate proper pronunciation by those wishing to learn the stotra. 

Bhakti Sudha, the primary source for this rendition does not have one paragraph, but for the sake of completion we have included it, as given in other sources (see references below).

Resources/references/meaning:

• Bhakti Sudha, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, 24^th Edition, 2012
• https://www.greenmesg.org/stotras/durga/mahishasura_mardini_stotram.php
• https://www.devshoppe.com/blogs/articles/sri-mahishasura-mardini-stotram-with-meaning
• https://vak1969.com/2020/09/29/mahishasura-mardini-aigiri-nandini-context-meaning-learning/
• https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/mahishasuramardini-stotram-with-english-translation

Pictures: 

• https://www.indianetzone.com/photos_gallery/31/MahisasuraMardini_21480.jpg
• https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Om_symbol.svg/200px-Om_symbol.svg.png
• https://www.vedicgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/swastik-vedicgrace-foundation.jpg
• https://www.amazon.in/SHANDICRAFT-Dhunachi-Burner-Indian-Incense/dp/B07HCQLR1T

Background music: Maestro Tlakaelel, Jesse Gallagher

Such is the beauty of Sanatana Dharma that one of the chief villains of its itihasas, Ravana and his scholarly work are accorded a special status in its treasure trove of spiritual riches.  

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is one such exquisite composition by Ravana, and speaks of the Great Dance of Dissolution of Lord Shiva, the Tandava.  

It describes how Lord Shiva moves during the dance, and ends with the assurance that whoever recites this stotra will be blessed by Lord Shiva.  The famed temple figurine that represents the cosmic dance is Nataraja, one of the many manifestations of Lord Shiva.

In the video, I have broken down the lyrics to facilitate proper pronunciation, just as we did while learning to recite the shloka.

Meaning/significance/resources/references:

• https://i.stack.imgur.com/4lM8T.jpg
• https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7360/8989944738_9b76aa46e0_b.jpg
• https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/04/02/10/15/meditation-303260_640.png
• https://greenmesg.org/stotras/shiva/shiva_tandava_stotram.php
• https://vedicfeed.com/shiva-tandava-stotram-lyrics-sanskrit-and-english/
• Background music: Tratak, Jesse Gallagher

Lord Shiva, the meditative Lord of Kailasa also manifests Himself as Kala Bhairava, the dark, intense, fearsome God of Death/Time whose vehicle is the shvana – dog.  After all, Lord Shiva is the destroyer god among the Holy Trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva.  Kala Bhairaveshwara also happens to be our Kuladevata.

In the video, I have broken down the lyrics to facilitate proper pronunciation, just as we did while learning to recite the shloka.

As he did so often, that Hero of Hinduism, Adi Shankaracharya wrote this ashtakam, extolling the worldly and spiritual virtues of the Guardian Deity of Kashi, Kala Bhairava. 

Reciting this shloka is said to ward off delusion, depression and anger, and take one close to the Supreme State of Bliss. 

Meaning/significance/resources/references:

• Bhaktisudha, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, 24^th Edition, 2012
• https://greenmesg.org/stotras/shiva/kalabhairava_ashtakam.php
• https://www.artofliving.org/mahashivratri/kaal-bhairav-ashtkam
• https://www.astroved.com/articles/history-of-kala-bhairava
• Background music: Tratak, Jesse Gallagher

In 2015, I somehow managed to contract a gut infection and was admitted in the hospital for about 10 days.  During the prolonged recuperation period post-discharge, I resolved that I should do something about my health/immunity.  I decided to take up yoga lessons and enrolled myself at a local yoga teacher's class.

Since then I have been doing yoga asanas, pranayama, meditative exercises, walking, and mild weight training, while taking adequate quantity and quality of mostly vegetarian diet.  Even though I am not practising vigorous yogic asanas, I make sure I do them regularly - more than the duration or intensity, I score high on consistency.  Yoga has become a way of life, something that I do as a daily routine.  

This has kept me going since then without any adverse health event, bar an occasional upper respiratory infection, and I continue to maintain my weight and fitness at a reasonable level.    

I have also advised patients that I see to take up yoga to maintain health, and/or to reduce the symptoms of disorders such as anxiety and stress.  I have tried to modify my own medical practice by incorporating holistic healing techniques, including Ayurveda and yoga, in collaboration with a qualified practitioner.

However, I have also realised that yoga is fraught with misconceptions and scepticism.  Generally, I divide the naysayers into two broad groups: sceptics and bigots.  The former are those who are genuinely sceptical about the health benefits of yoga; that is, they want to do it, but are uncertain about the overall effect of doing yoga.  They are more trusting of allopathic medical systems, and cast a distrusting eye over anything eastern/oriental.  

Then there are the bigots, by which I mean adherents of dogmatic religions who have been brainwashed into believing that anything outside their own religious practice is worthy of condemnation and derision.  These are the incorrigibles who will go to any extent to discredit, vilify, demonize and discourage anything that is remotely sanatanic, be it yoga, consecrated food, worshipping images/idols, or wearing bindis, for that matter.  

I quote a few examples.  A few years ago, a pastor in the US famously called yoga a 'demonic' practice.  When I was working in the UK, an Egyptian-Arabic doctor colleague spoke very condescendingly of yoga, and was dismissive of its healing power. 

The Mahalakshmyashtakam, or Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam, is on octet sung in the praise of the Goddess of Grace and Prosperity, Maha Lakshmi, the Divine Consort of Maha Vishnu.

It is said to be composed by Indra, the King of Devas, and is present in the Padma Purana, one of the 18 Puranas that recount the anecdotes of Gods, Goddesses and Kings of yore.

When chanted on occasions of new beginnings, the Ashtakam is said to invoke the Goddess's blessings upon the event and its participants.  

The Ashtakam hails Goddess Lakshmi as the Mother of Universe, and makes explicit all the benefits of chanting it regularly in the Phalashruti - the final 3 stanzas of the Ashtakam.

Here's the link for the video, and the transliteration and translation of the Ashtakam:

https://youtu.be/BoHjIaISiHI

Atah Sri Mahalakshmyashtakam

अतः श्री महालक्ष्म्याष्टकम 

ಅತಃ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಷ್ಟಕಂ

This is the eight-stanza-hymn of Goddess Maha Lakshmi

Indra uvacha

इन्द्र उवाच

ಇಂದ್ರ ಉವಾಚ

Indra said

Namastestu Mahamaye Shripithe Surapujite

Shankha Chakra Gadahaste Malakshmi namostute

नमस्तेस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते

शंख चक्र गदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते

ನಮಸ್ತೇಸ್ತು ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ ಶ್ರೀಪೀಠೇ ಸುರಪೂಜಿತೇ

ಶಂಖ ಚಕ್ರ ಗದಾಹಸ್ತೇ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ 

Salutations to Mahamaya, who resides in Her Transcendental Abode, worshipped by Gods

The Bearer of Conch, Discus and Mace, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Namaste Garuda rudhe Kolasura Bhayankari

Sarva papahare Devi Mahalakshmi namostute

नमस्ते गरुडा रूढे कोलासुर भयंकरी

सर्व पापहरे देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते 

ನಮಸ್ತೇ ಗರುಡಾ ರೂಢೇ ಕೋಲಾಸುರ ಭಯಂಕರೀ

ಸರ್ವ ಪಾಪಹರೇ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ 

Salutations to One who has Garuda as vehicle, One who terrifies Kolasura

The Destroyer of all sins, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Sarvagne sarva varade sarva dushta Bhayankari

Sarva dukha hare Devi Mahalakshmi namostute

सर्वग्ने सर्व वरदे सर्व दुष्ट भयंकरी

सर्व दुःख हरे देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते 

ಸರ್ವಗ್ನೇ ಸರ್ವ ವರದೇ ಸರ್ವ ದುಷ್ಟ ಭಯಂಕರೀ

ಸರ್ವ ದುಃಖ ಹರೇ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ

Salutations to the All-Knower, the Granter of all boons, the Terrifier of wicked tendencies

The Destroyer of all sorrows, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Siddhi buddhi prade Devi bhukti mukti Pradayini

Mantra murte sada Devi Mahalakshmi namostute

सिद्धि बुद्धि प्रदे देवी भुक्ति मुक्ति प्रदायिनी

मंत्र मूर्ते सदा देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते 

ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಪ್ರದೇ ದೇವೀ ಭುಕ್ತಿ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಪ್ರದಾಯಿನಿ

ಮಂತ್ರ ಮೂರ್ತೇ ಸದಾ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ

Salutations to the Bestower of accomplishments and intelligence, worldly riches and Moksha

The One who exists subtly forever in Mantra, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Aadyanta rahite Devi Adishakti Maheshwari

Yogaje yoga sambhute Mahalakshmi namostute 

आद्यंत रहिते देवी आदिशक्ती महेश्वरी

योगजे योग समभूते महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते

ಆದ್ಯಂತ ರಹಿತೇ ದೇವೀ ಆದಿಶಕ್ತೀ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರೀ

ಯೊಗಜೇ ಯೊಗ ಸಂಭೂತೇ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ 

The One without beginning or end, the Great Goddess of Primordial Shakti

The One born of Yoga and united in Yoga, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Sthula sukhsma maha Roudre maha Shakti Mahodare

Maha papahare Devi Mahalakshmi namostute 

स्थूल सूक्ष्म महा रौद्रे महा शक्ती महोदरे 

महा पापहरे देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते

ಸ್ಥೂಲ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಮಹಾ ರೌದ್ರೇ ಮಹಾ ಶಕ್ತೀ ಮಹೋದರೇ

ಮಹಾ ಪಾಪಹರೇ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ 

The Indweller of gross and subtle forms, the Great Rudrani, the Great Shakti

The Destroyer of great sins, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Padmasana sthite Devi Para Brahma Swarupini

Parameshi jagan Matah Mahalakshmi namostute 

पद्मासन स्थिते देवी पर ब्रह्म स्वरूपिणी

परमेशी जगन मात: महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते 

ಪದ್ಮಾಸನ ಸ್ಥಿತೇ ದೇವೀ ಪರ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಸ್ವರೂಪಿಣೀ

ಪರಮೇಶೀ ಜಗನ್ ಮಾತಃ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ

The One with the Lotus Seat, the Embodiment of Supreme Brahman

The Supreme Goddess, the Mother of Universe, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Shwetambara dhare devi nanalankara bhushite

Jagat sthite jagan matah Mahalakshmi namostute 

श्वेतामबर धरे देवी नानालंकार भूषिते 

जगत स्थिते जगन मातः महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते

ಶ್ವೇತಾಂಬರ ಧರೇ ದೇವೀ ನಾನಾಲಂಕಾರ ಭೂಷಿತೇ

ಜಗತ್ ಸ್ಥಿತೇ ಜಗನ್ ಮಾತಃ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ

The One dressed in white, the One adorned with various ornaments

The One who abides in the Universe as its Mother, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi

Maha-Lakshmy-ashtakam stotram yah pathed bhakti mannaraha 

Sarva siddhi mavapnoti rajyam prapnoti sarvada

महालक्ष्माष्टकम स्तोत्रम यः पठेद भक्ति मान्नरः

सर्व सिद्धि मवाप्नोति राज्यम प्राप्नोति सर्वदा

ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಷ್ಟಕಂ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇದ್ ಭಕ್ತಿ ಮಾನ್ನರಃ 

ಸರ್ವ ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಮವಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಂ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ಸರ್ವದಾ 

One who recites the Maha Lakshmi Octet with bhakti

Accomplishes everything and gains prosperity forever 

Eka kale pathe nityam maha papa vinashanam

Dwikalam yah pathe nityam dhana dhanya samanvitaha

एक काले पठे नित्यम महा पाप विनाशनम 

द्विकालम यः पठे नित्यम धन धान्य समन्वितः

ಏಕ ಕಾಲೇ ಪಠೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಮಹಾ ಪಾಪ ವಿನಾಶನಂ

ದ್ವಿಕಾಲಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಧನ ಧಾನ್ಯ ಸಮನ್ವಿತಃ

If recited once a day, one will be absolved of great sins

If recited twice a day, one will be granted with money and grains

Trikalam yah pathe nityam maha shatru vinashanam

Mahalakshmir bhave nityam prasanna varada shubha

त्रिकालम यः पठे नित्यम महा शत्रु विनाशनम 

महालक्ष्मिर भवे नित्यम प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा 

ತ್ರಿಕಾಲಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಮಹಾ ಶತ್ರು ವಿನಾಶನಂ

ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿರ್ ಭವೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಾ ವರದಾ ಶುಭಾ 

If recited thrice a day, great enemies/inner demons will be destroyed

One attains the Grace, boons and the Auspiscious Form of Maha Lakshmi

Iti Indrah krut Sri Mahalakshmyashtakam sampurnam 

इति इन्द्रः कृत श्री महालक्ष्माष्टकम सम्पूर्णम 

ಇತಿ ಇಂದ್ರಃ ಕೃತ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಷ್ಟಕಂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣಂ

Thus ends the Indra-composed eight-stanza-hymn of Goddess Maha Lakshmi

Resources/references:

Background music: Spirit of Fire, Jesse Gallagher

Meaning & significance:

• https://greenmesg.org/stotras/lakshmi/mahalakshmi_ashtakam.php
• https://www.tamilbrahmins.com/threads/mahalakshmi-ashtakam-with-english-meaning.3706/
• https://www.siddhayoga.org/practices/chanting/hymns/mahalakshmi-stotram
• https://www.hinduismoutlook.com/mahalakshmi-ashtakam-lyrics-meaning/

Lingashtakam is an octet of hymns in the praise of Lord Shiva. 

The ashtakam is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, said to be an avatar of Lord Shiva. 

It addresses the linga aspect of Lord Shiva, that is, the physical representation of the column of Light of Creation.

Released on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri 2021, the ashtakam is known to bestow peace, fulfilment and salvation to one who chants it regularly.  

It is particularly beneficial to chant this ashtakam on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, which occurs on the 13th night/14th day of the Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar.

One can chant the ashtakam everyday before dawn or dusk, while physically/mentally focusing on the Shivalinga. 

Watch the video of Lingashtakam here:

Atah Lingashtakam

अतः लिंगाष्टकम 

ಅತಃ ಲಿಂಗಾಷ್ಟಕಂ

This is the eight-stanza-hymn of Shivalinga

Brahmamurari surarchita Lingam nirmala bhasita shobhita Lingam

Janmaja dukhavinashaka Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

ब्रह्ममुरारि सुरार्चित लिंगम निर्मल भासित शोभित लिंगम

जन्मज दुःखविनाशक लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಮುರಾರಿ ಸುರಾರ್ಚಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ನಿರ್ಮಲಭಾಸಿತ ಶೋಭಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ 

ಜನ್ಮಜ ದುಃಖವಿನಾಶಕ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

Worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and Devas; the pure, resplendent, adorned Linga

That which removes the sorrows of birth/life; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Devamuni pravararchita Lingam kamadaham karunakara Lingam

Ravanadarpa vinashana Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

देवमुनि प्रवरार्चित लिंगम कामदहम करुणाकर लिंगम

रावणदर्प विनाशन लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम

ದೇವಮುನಿ ಪ್ರವರಾರ್ಚಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಕಾಮದಹಮ್ ಕರುಣಾಕರ ಲಿಂಗಂ

ರಾವಣದರ್ಪ ವಿನಾಶನ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

Worshipped by Devas and Rishis; that which burns desires, that which is compassionate

That which destroys Ravana's pride; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Sarva sugandhi sulepita Lingam buddhi vivardhana karana Lingam

Siddhasurasura vandita Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

सर्व सुगन्धि सुलेपित लिंगम बुद्धि विवर्धन कारण लिंगम्

सिद्धसुरासुर वन्दित लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम 

ಸರ್ವ ಸುಗಂಧಿ ಸುಲೇಪಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ವಿವರ್ಧನ ಕಾರಣ ಲಿಂಗಂ

ಸಿದ್ಧಸುರಾಸುರ ವಂದಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

That which is anointed with fragrant paste; that which grants wisdom

Worshipped by Siddhas, Devas and Asuras; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Kanaka mahamani bhushita Lingam phanipati veshtita shobhita Lingam

Dakshasuyagna vinashana Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

कनक महामणि भूषित लिंगम फणिपति वेष्टित​ शोभित लिंगम

दक्षसुयज्ञ विनाशन लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम

ಕನಕ ಮಹಾಮಣಿ ಭೂಷಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಫಣಿಪತಿ ವೇಷ್ಟಿತ ಶೋಭಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ

ದಕ್ಷಸುಯಜ್ಞ ವಿನಾಶನ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

That which is decorated with gold and gems; that which is adorned with the best of serpents

That which destroyed Daksha's grand yagna; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Kunkuma chandana lepita Lingam pankajahara sushobhita Lingam

Sanchitapapa vinashana Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

कुंकुम चन्दन लेपित लिंगम पंकजहार सुशोभित लिंगम

सन्चितपाप विनाशन लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम

ಕುಂಕುಮ ಚಂದನ ಲೇಪಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಪಂಕಜಹಾರ ಸುಶೋಭಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ

ಸಂಚಿತಪಾಪ ವಿನಾಶನ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

That which is anointed with saffron and sandal; that which is decorated with lotus garlands

That which destroys accumulated sins; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Devaganarchita sevita Lingam bhavairbhaktibhireva cha Lingam

Dinakara koti prabhakara Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

देवगणार्चित सेवित लिंगम भावैर्भक्तिभिरेवच लिंगम 

दिनकर कोटि प्रभाकर लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम

ದೇವಗಣಾರ್ಚಿತ ಸೇವಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಭಾವೈರ್ಭಕ್ತಿಭಿರೇವಚ ಲಿಂಗಂ 

ದಿನಕರ ಕೋಟಿ ಪ್ರಭಾಕರ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

That which is worshipped by Devas and Ganas; that which grants emotion of bhakti

That with the splendour of crore suns; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Ashtadalopari veshtita Lingam sarvasamudbhava karana Lingam

Ashtadaridra vinashana Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

अष्टदलोपरि वेष्टित लिंगम सर्वसमुद्भव कारण लिंगम 

अष्टदरिद्र विनाशन लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम

ಅಷ್ಟದಲೋಪರಿ ವೇಷ್ಟಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಸರ್ವಸಮುದ್ಭವ​ ಕಾರಣ ಲಿಂಗಂ

ಅಷ್ಟದರಿದ್ರ ವಿನಾಶನ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

That which is surrounded by flowers of eight petals; that which is the cause of all creation

That which destroys the eight types of poverty; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Suraguru suravara pujita Lingam suravana pushpa sadarchita Lingam

Paratparam parmatmaka Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

Tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam tat pranamami Sadashiva Lingam

सुरगुरु सुरवर पूजित लिंगम सुरवन पुष्प सदार्चित लिंगम 

परात्परम परमात्मक लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम 

तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम तत प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिंगम 

ಸುರಗುರು ಸುರವರ ಪೂಜಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ ಸುರವನ ಪುಷ್ಪ ಸದಾರ್ಚಿತ ಲಿಂಗಂ 

ಪರಾತ್ಪರಂ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮಕ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ ತತ್ ಪ್ರಣಮಾಮಿ ಸದಾಶಿವ ಲಿಂಗಂ

That which is worshipped by Brihaspati and the best of Gods; that which is worshipped by Flowers from Celestial Gardens

That which is supreme to all; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

I bow to that eternal Shivalinga; I bow to that eternal Shivalinga

Lingashtakamidam punyam yah pathet Shivasannidhou

Shivalopkamavapnoti Shivena saha modate

लिंगष्टकमिदम पुण्यम यः पठेत शिव सन्निधौ

शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते 

ಲಿಂಗಾಷ್ಟಕಮಿದಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇತ್ ಶಿವಸನ್ನಿಧೌ

ಶಿವಲೋಕಮವಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ಶಿವೇನ ಸಹ ಮೋದತೇ

One who recites the eight-stanza-hymn of Shivalinga in the proximity of Lord Shiva

Attains the Abode of Lord Shiva and enjoy His Bliss forever

Or/या/ಅಥವ

Lingashtakamidam punyam pavitram papanashanam

Gnyanasiddhikaram shuddham sakshanmokshaika sadhanam

लिंगाष्टकमिदम पुण्यम पवित्रम पापनाशनम 

ज्ञानसिद्धिकरम शुद्धम साक्षान्मोक्षैक साधनम

ಲಿಂಗಾಷ್ಟಕಮಿದಂ ಪುಣ್ಯಂ ಪವಿತ್ರಂ ಪಾಪನಾಶನಂ

ಜ್ಞಾನಸಿದ್ಧಿಕರಂ ಶುದ್ಧಂ ಸಾಕ್ಷಾನ್ಮೋಕ್ಷೈಕ ಸಾಧನಂ

This eight-stanza-hymn of Shivalinga is virtuous, pure and destroyer of sins

This grants wisdom and purity, and is a means of attaining Salvation 

Iti Shrimat Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharyasya

Shri Govinda Bhagavatpujyapada shishyasya

Shri Machchankara Bhagavatah krutou

Lingashtakam sampurnam

इति श्रीमत प्रमहंस परिव्राजकाचार्यस्य​

श्री गोविन्द भगवत्पूज्यपाद शिष्यस्य 

श्री मच्छंकर भगवतः कृतौ

लिंगाष्टकम संपूर्णम 

ಇತಿ ಶ್ರೀಮತ್ ಪರಮಹಂಸ ಪರಿವ್ರಾಜಕಾಚಾರ್ಯಸ್ಯ 

ಶ್ರೀ ಗೋವಿಂದ ಭಗವತ್ಪೂಜ್ಯಪಾದ ಶಿಷ್ಯಸ್ಯ 

ಶ್ರೀ ಮಚ್ಛಂಕರ ಭಗವತಃ ಕೃತೌ

ಲಿಂಗಾಷ್ಟಕಂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣಂ

Thus ends Chief among Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharyas

Shri Govinda Bhagavadpada's disciple

Shri Adi Shankaracharya's composition

The eight-stanza-hymn of Shivalinga

References/resources:

Background music: Spirit of Fire, Jesse Gallagher