Sri Vaidayanathashtakam

In this blog post I will post extraordinary and interesting subjects in Spirituality, Health and Healing from around the world and discuss even more deeper metaphysical Spiritual subjects.

Vaidyanashtakam means the song of the celestial physician.  It is said that just by listening to this song, stress and anxiety is greatly reduced for people, classically known in India.....




The Vaidyanath Temple in South India is a beautiful place of healing and inspiration. For thousands of years, mantras, prayers, rituals and good intentions, herbs, minerals and so on have gone into a huge sacred tank of water that is charged with healing energy. The atmosphere is charged with blessings by countless saints, rishis, avatars and advanced Souls.

Vaidyanath in Sanskrit means healing physician.  In this Eastern culture, the Divine is asked to take any form to help and one of them is in the form of a Celestial physician.  So Shiva comes as a celestial physician because according to the East, the Divine will take any form one wishes.  That is why one sees countless manifestations of various deities all coming from the one Source or Spirit:  the One becomes many.

The black structure you see above is a colossal Shivalingam.  It is an egg shape structure that sits in a rounded seat. It represents the Union of the male and female principles.  The female energy or Kundalini sits at the base of the spine also called (Shakti) and Shiva  sits at the crown of the head.   In meditation and in perfect healing balance, these energies unite and so the lingam represents this union with male and female parts touching.   So it is also worshipped as a symbolic stone, with the idea that these energies will awaken inside us.

When they unite permanently inside we are in a state of continuous healing and enlightenment.

It is the same principle as the Western caduceus---It is the same Kundalini that is wrapped like a serpent at the base of a pole and the two wings on the top represent the crown chakra. The serpent meets the wings at the top of the pole.  It is the same principle. Western ancient physicians as we see in ancient paintings  were well aware of these ideas, because many were enlightened physicians who could awaken others' kundalini and afford healing to others.

The net result is that people from all walks of life come here for healing. And many do receive healing for many issues and ailments according to people's testimony.

Would it not be amazing to have these sacred settings in North America as well? Not just from the Hindu tradition but all paths of sacredness. Where energy and intention from all paths charges the atmosphere to foster such healing, that goes beyond mind?

Below is the translation of this sacred song played at this temple, describing the Temple and The Divine known as Shiva in the form of a celestial physician---a very rare form that I am trying to bring to North America in healing clinics along with other aspects.

Shiva is shown in various interesting pictures and painting in this you tube. Shiva in detail is for another blog. Here he is seen as a physician and healer. All of these aspects have deep meaning and feeling.


In this You tube Shiva is seen as a physician, he is seen bathing himself with many hands which represents the ambrosia of bliss and healing and the arising of good health that descends from our crown chakra when it is awakened; he is seen with many heads and arms because as Primordial Source he is all pervasive---as the Cosmos.  He is seen dancing because through Source or "Shiva's dance,"---- Universes are born, preserved and destroyed.  He is seen wearing skins, and cobras representing detachment from the ups and downs of life and the focus on Kundalini awakening for greater healing.  He carries many ornaments and weapons to show strength and various hidden powers that are unseen within the Universe, they represent various cosmic forces. He is seen as half man and half woman in one painting because that means we have Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine in all of us...He rides a bull which represents the throat chakra.  Kundalini has to rise through the spine to cross the throat and enter the crown where Cosmic Consciousness or Shiva resides.... the bull is the gateway to cosmic consciousness because the energy has to pierce the throat to enter our head...... There is so much rich meaning but that is it here in a nutshell.

Even if we do not understand all this, the music tune is inspiring. Just hearing the syllables heals the mind and heart.

Dr. Rama


Translation and song text from the original---- you tube publication:    is below

Vaidyanathashtakam :    "bombay sisters"---are the artists of the above song


and the translation is from Raja Thatha's blog post.

Vaidhyanathashtakam

Vaidyanatha Ashtakam
(The Octet to the king of physicians.)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Lord Shiva is considered as the king among physicians. He is worshipped in this form in Purlee Vaijyanath. He is also worshipped in this form at a great temple in Tamil Nadu known as Vaitheeswaran Koil(Temple of the lord of physicians). It is believed that Lord Rama performed the cremation of the bird Jatayu in this spot.It is also believed that Lord Angaraka(planet Mars) who was afflicted by leprosy got cured in this place. It is also believed that Lord Subramanya got his trident(vel) after worshipping in this temple.
There is a temple tank called Siddha Amrutha Theertha(the all curing nectar water) in this temple. Bathing in this tank is supposed to cure all diseases. Tiru Chandu pills distributed in this temple are considerd as a cure of all diseases. This is purported to be the medicine, which Vaidyanatha gave to Angaraka to cure his illness. Pilgrims who come here to get their illness cured take this medicine after observing the following directions. They are first required to take bath in the Angasanatana Teertham on an auspicious day during the Sukla Paksha, get the Mrittika (mud) in a new pot to the temple, mix it with sacred ash and a few drops of water from Siddhamurta Teertham.
They should grind this into a paste and offer it in prayer to the Goddess and take it in with a little water from the Teertham, whereby they will be relieved of any sort of illness. After the abhishekam, the feet of Lord Subrahmanya are covered with sandal paste mixed with saffron powder in equal weight and devotees receive it as prasad.
Devotees who are desirous of getting cured of diseases are also requested to recited the Vaidyanatha Ashtakam, thrice a day.)

Balambikesa vaidyesa bava roga haredisa,
Japen nama thrayam nithyam maha roga nivaranam.
Sree rama soumithri jatayu veda,
Shadanadithya kujarchithya,
Sree neelakandaya daya mayaya,
Sree vaidyanathaya namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who is worshipped by Rama and Lakshmana,
Who is woshipped by Jatayu,
Who is worshipped by the Vedas,
Who is worshipped by Lord Subrahmanya,
Who is worshipped by the Sun God,
Who is worshipped by the Mars God,
Who is having a blue neck,
And who is the personification of mercy.

Ganga pravahendu jada dharaya,
Trilochanaya smara kala hanthre,
Samstha devairapi poojithaya,
Sree vaidyanathata namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who wears the flow of Ganges and the moon,
On his head,
Who has three eyes,
Who had killed the God of love (in the form of base lust) and death,
And who is worshipped by all devas.

Bhaktha priyaya, tripuranthakaya,
Pinakine dushta haraya nithyam,
Prathyaksha leelaya manushya loke,
Sree vaidyanathaya namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who is the lover his devotees,
Who has destroyed the three cities,
Who holds the bow called Pinaka,
Who destroys bad people daily,
And who plays in the world of humans.

Prabhootha vadadhi samastha roga,
Pranasa karthre muni vandhthithaya,
Prabhakarennd wagni vilochanaya,
Sri vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.


I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who cures all great diseases,
Like rheumatism and arthritis,
Who is saluted by great sages,
And to whom, the sun god,
Moon and God of fire are eyes.

Vakchrothra nethrangiri viheena jantho,
Vakchrothra nethrangiri sukha pradaya,
Kushtadhi sarvonnatha roga hanthre,
Sri Vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.


I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who blesses those beings,
Who have lost their speech, hearing, sight and ability to walk,
With these abilities,
And who provides cure,
For devastating diseases like leprosy.

Vedantha vedhyaya jagan mayaya,
Yogiswara dhyeya Padambujaya,
Trimurthy roopaya sahasra namne,
Sri vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.


I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who can be known through vedantha,
Who is spread through out the universe,
Who has a lotus feet ,
That is meditated upon by great sages,
Who is of the form of the holy trinity,
And who has thousand names.

Swatheertha mrudbasma brudanga bajam,
Pisacha dukha arthi bhayapahaya,
Athma swaroopaya sareera bajaam,
Sri Vaidyanaathaya namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who removes all suferings,
Caused by bad spirits, sorrows and fears,
By dip in his holy tank,
By the holy ash in the temple,
And by the mud below the neem tree of the temple,
And who is the personification of soul,
Occupying human body.

Sree neelakandaya vrushaba dwajaya,
Sarakkanda basmadhya abhi shobithaya,
Suputhradarathi subagyathaya,
Sri vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who has a blue neck,
Who has the the bull on his flag,
Who shines by flowers, sacred ash and sandal,
Who grants good children and good wife,
And who blesses us with all good luck.

Balambikesa vaidyesa bava roga haredisa,
Japen nama thrayam nithyam maha roga nivaranam.

Those who recite this prayer,
Thrice a day with devotion,
And pray the Lord Vaidyanatha,
Who is with his consort Balambika,
And who removes the fear of birth and death,
Would get cured of all great diseases.