Learn Sanskrit Chant : Bho Shambho

The Sanskrit Chant 'Bho Shambo Siva Shambho' is composed by Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati ( of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam). Sung in the serene and meditative Revathi Raaga, it invokes Shiva in his cosmic dancer (Nataraja) form and creates a rhythmic vibration that uplifts the mind into devotion and meditation. The sound vibrations of “Bho” and “Sham” are considered spiritually purifying in Nada Yoga Here are the lyrics of Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho devotional song.

भो शम्भो शिव शम्भो स्वयंभो

bho shambho shiva shambho svayambho O Shambho! O Shiva! The self-existent One (Swayambhu), the source of all auspiciousness!

गङ्गाधर शङ्कर करुणाकरा मामव भव सागर तारका

gangAdhara shankara karuNAkara mAmava bhava sAgara tArakA (bho) O Lord Shankara, bearer of the sacred Ganga on your head, embodiment of compassion! O Lord, protect me — You who are the one who ferries across the ocean of worldly existence.

निर्गुण परब्रह्मस्वरूपा गमागम भूत प्रपञ्च रहिता

निज गुणनिहित नितान्त अनन्ता आनन्द अतिशय अक्षयलिङ्गा

nirguNa parabrahmasvarUpA gamAgama bhUta prapancha rahitA

nija guNanihita nitAnta anantA Ananda atishaya akshayalinga (bho) निर्गुण (nirguṇa) → without attributes or qualities (beyond sattva, rajas, tamas)

परब्रह्म (para-brahma) → the Supreme Absolute Reality

स्वरूप (svarūpa) → true form, essence अगम (agama) → beyond comprehension, unreachable by senses or intellect

आगम (āgama) → and also scriptures

भूत प्रपञ्च (bhūta prapañca) → the manifested universe made of elements

रहिता (rahitā) → free from, untouched by

“The very essence of the Supreme Absolute, beyond all attributes; Beyond perception and scriptures, untouched by the manifested universe.”

निज (nija) → one’s own, innate

गुण (guṇa) → qualities (here, divine qualities)

निहित (nihita) → established, inherent

नितान्त (nitānta) → absolute, ultimate

अनन्ता (anantā) → infinite

“Endowed with His own eternal qualities, absolutely infinite.”

आनन्द (ānanda) → bliss, supreme joy

अतिशय (atiśaya) → exceedingly, beyond measure

अक्षय (akṣaya) → undecaying, imperishable

लिङ्ग (liṅga) → the eternal mark/symbol of Shiva ( the eternal form of consciousness itself) “The imperishable Linga, overflowing with infinite bliss.”

धिमित धिमित धिमि धिमि किट किटतों तों तों तरिकिट तरिकिट किट तों

मतङ्ग मुनिवर वन्दित ईशा सर्व दिगंबर वेष्टित वेषा

नित्य निरञ्जन नित्य नटेशा ईशा सबेशा सर्वेशा 

dhimita dhimita dhimi dhimi kiTa kiTatom tom tom tarikiTa tarikiTa kiTa tom

matanga munivara vandita IshA sarva digambara veshtita veshA

nitya niranjana nitya naTeshA IshA sabeshA sarveshA (bho)

धिमित .... किट तों :  these nṛtta syllables imitate the sound of Shiva’s damaru (drum) and cosmic dance.

मतङ्ग.....सर्वेशा : O Lord who is worshipped by the great sage Mataṅga. O Lord, clad in the directions alone, with the sky as Your garment.

नित्य .... नटेशा : O Lord, master of the cosmic assembly, supreme Lord of all

The following videos by RASA web channels teaches you how to sing this song.

Many of us would like to know the swarams, because it can aid in learning the kriti. Here is a video by Neyveli Duo, and is going to help you in your musical journey: