Shiva Maanasa Puja

The Shiva Manasa Pooja by Sri Adi Shankaracharya is a unique stotra. It in in the
form of a prayer by a devotee who imagines in his mind all the offerings and rituals
prescribed in a pooja and offers them to lord Shiva with faith and devotion. This
stotra is an eye opener to those who are fanatic about rituals as it clearly shows that
faith and intentions are more important!

Ratnaih kalpitamaasanam himajalaih snaanam cha divyaambaram

Naanaaratnavibhuushhitam mrigamadaamodaankitam chandanam.
Jaatiichampakabilvapatrarachitam pushhpam cha dhuupam tathaa
Deepam deva dayaanidhe pashupate hritkalpitam grihyataam.h [1]

I have imagined a throne of precious stones for you, cool water for you to bathe in,
divine robes adorned with many jewels, sandalwood paste mixed with musk to
anoint your body, jasmine and champaka flowers and bilva leaves, rare incense,
and a shining flame. Accept all these which I have imagined in my heart for you, o
merciful God.

Sauvarne navaratnakhandarachite paatre ghritam paayasam

Bhakshyam pajnchavidham payodadhiyutam rambhaaphalam paanakam.

Shaakaanaamayutam jalam ruchikaram karpuurakhandojjvalam

Taambuulam manasaa mayaa virachitam bhaktyaa prabho sviikuru [2]

Sweet rice in a golden bowl inlaid with the nine jewels, the five kinds of food made
from milk and curd, bananas, vegetables, sweet water scented with camphor, and
betel leaves - I have prepared all these in my mind with devotion. O lord, please
accept them.
Chhatram chaamarayoryugam vyajanakam chaadarshakam nirmalam

Veenaabherimridangakaahalakalaa giitam cha nrityam tathaa.

Saashhtaangam pranatih stutirbahuvidhaa hyetatsamastam mayaa

Sankalpena samarpitam tava vibho puujaam grihaana prabho [3]

A canopy, two yak-tail whisks, a fan and a spotless mirror, a viinaa, kettledrums, a
mridangA and a great drum, songs and dancing, full prostrations, and many kinds
of hymns - all this I offer you in my imagination. O almighty lord, accept this as my
worship of you.

Aatmaa tvam girijaa matih sahacharaah praanaah shariiram griham

Poojaa te vishhayopabhogarachanaa nidraa samaadhisthitih.
Sajnchaarah padayoh pradakshinavidhih stotraani sarvaa giro
Yadyatkarma karomi tattadakhilam shambho tavaaraadhanam.h [4]

You are my self; Paarvatii is my reason. My five praanaas are your attendants, my
body is your house, and all the pleasures of my senses are objects to use for your
worship. My sleep is your state of samaadhii. Wherever I walk I am walking
around you, everything I say is in praise of you, everything I do is in devotion to
you, o benevolent lord!

Karacharana kritam vaa kkaayajam karmajam vaa.

Shravana nayana jam vaa maa nasam vaa paraadham.
Vihita ma vihitam vaa sarvame tat kshamasva.
Jaya jaya karunaab dhe shrii mahaadeva shambho [5]

Whatever sins i have committed with my hands, feet, voice, body, actions, ears,
eyes, or mind, whether prohibited by the scriptures or not, please forgive them all.
Hail! Hail! O ocean of compassion! O great god! O benevolent lord!