Many stotras (Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, Shiva Tandava Stotram, Mahamrityunjaya Shiva Mantra etc.) are chanted in praise of Lord Shiva, but he is most pleased with a particular stotra. The stotra is called ‘Shiv Mahimna Stotra’ or ‘Shiva Mahimna Stotram’ . It was composed by a celestial Gandharva named Pushpadanta. He was very good at music. He was the best singer of Indra’s sabha and also a devoted devotee of Shiva. Let’s know how Pushpadanta composed ‘Shiv Mahimna Stotra’.

In ancient time there was a king named Chitraratha. He made a beautiful garden. He used to pick flowers from that garden and worship Lord Shiva daily. One day Pushpadanta was passing by the garden of King Chitraratha. As he went, he was fascinated by the flowers in the garden. He quickly took the flowers from there and worshiped his adoring deity Shiva.

After that, King Chitraratha came to the garden and performed flowerless worship that day without finding a single flower. From then on it continued to be like this. The king tried hard to catch the flower-thief. But he failed. Because the Gandharvas are magical, they can do their work without their bodies being invisible.

Chitraratha made a plan one day. He spread Shiva’s Nirmalya in his garden at night. Naturally, Nirmalya also had Vilvapatra (the leaf of wood-apple tree). The next day, as usual, Puspadanta came to steal flowers and unknowingly stepped on that Vilvapatra of Shiva-nirmalya. Shiva was immediately enraged, and took away Pushpadanta’s miraculous powers. Meanwhile, realizing his mistake, Pushpadanta started praising Shiva. It was a wonderful miracle of praise. This hymn became famous in the world as Shiv Mahimna Stotra.

The stotra begins like this— mahimna parang te paramvidusho yadyasdrishi/ stutirbrahmadinampi tadavasannastji girah/ athavachya sarvah svamatiparinamabdhi grinan/ mamapyesh stotre har nirapavadah parikarah;
[Meaning:O Lord Shiva, take away all sorrows. You cannot be explained even by praising Brahma or other gods. As a result, whoever wants to describe your qualities has many flaws in his words. I begin with the prayer that you in your own virtue and grace make up for that deficiency.]

Then Pushpadanta continued to narrate his praises. And hearing that, Lord Shiva was impressed. When the hymn was finished he restored the lost power of Puspadanta. Not only that, he told Pushpadanta–“This stotra will be known as my great hymn. My infinite blessings will be showered on whoever recites this stotra with reverence. In the next world he will attain Shivalok.”

It is said that this stotra has profound value in any worship of Shiva

By Krishna Das