Bhakta Rakshaka Shivam Stotram

Following Stotram is taken from movie BAGHEERA

Stotram

The stotra provided does not correspond to any specific, widely recognized traditional Shiva stotra like the Shiva Tandava Stotra or Rudrashtakam, but it appears to be a beautifully crafted and devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva. It vividly describes Shiva’s cosmic dance (Tandava), his forms, attributes, and his role as the destroyer of ignorance, protector of devotees, and the one who grants liberation.

Puranas and Post-Vedic Texts:

• The stotra appears to be influenced by the Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, and Skanda Purana, where Shiva is described as the protector of devotees (Bhakta Rakshaka) and the cosmic dancer (Tandava).
• The depiction of Shiva’s dance (Tandava) and his attributes like Neelakantha, Trinetra (three-eyed), and Trishuladhari (holder of the trident) are elaborately described in the Puranas.

While the Vedas provide foundational principles, such stotras are poetic creations by sages and devotees from later periods, designed to be accessible expressions of Vedic philosophy and devotion.

Meaning

The protector of the heavens and the divine companion of the gods,
Wielding a mighty staff and bearing the form of Veerabhadra, the powerful,
The destroyer of pride through his cosmic Tandava dance,
The blue-throated Rudra, the savior of all worlds.
O benevolent one, you alleviate suffering, destroy the effects of sinful deeds,
You free the bonds of ego and uplift the minds of your devotees—O Lord Shiva, I worship you.

You are the shelter of cosmic elements—air, space, and fire,
Brighter than a thousand suns, manifesting in the threefold forms of time (past, present, future).
O benevolent Maheshwara, the destroyer of pride and the bestower of all auspiciousness,
You are beyond destruction, the one who dances rhythmically to the heartbeat of creation.
The holder of the third eye on your forehead, the formless supreme,
I bow to you, O Shiva, the ultimate truth.

With the dhamaru’s rhythmic beat and reverberations, you create the sound of universal existence,
Unfathomable, beyond the grasp of the senses, and the cause of ultimate bliss in Chidambaram.
The universal benefactor, revered as the lord of a thousand serpent-headed forms,
The wielder of the trishula, subjugating death and illuminating the cosmos.
The end of delusions, conqueror of desires, Yama (death), and all fears of existence,
You, the eternal one with neither beginning nor end, cherished by devotees,
I bow to you, O Shiva, the supreme nurturer.

Key Highlights

• The stotram praises Lord Shiva as the cosmic protector, destroyer of evil, and the source of universal energy.
• It refers to Shiva’s attributes such as the Neelakantha (blue-throated) form, his Tandava dance, and his cosmic presence as the Lord of Time and Destruction.
• The rhythmic beats of the dhamaru symbolize creation, while his third eye represents wisdom and the destruction of ignorance.
• Shiva is depicted as the ultimate refuge for devotees, erasing fears and karmic cycles, and as the eternal, formless supreme being.

This stotram beautifully combines cosmic, mythological, and devotional elements, making it a profound hymn of worship for Lord Shiva.