ardha nārīśvara aṣṭakam

Salutations to the Goddess whose half-body is radiant like the golden Champaka flower, and to the Lord whose half-body is white like camphor; salutations to the One adorned with beautiful braided hair, and to the One who wears matted locks; I bow to Shivaa (the Goddess) and to Shiva (the Lord).

Salutations to the Goddess anointed with musk and saffron, and to the Lord smeared with the ashes of the funeral pyre; salutations to the One who represents the beautiful bloom of love, and to the One who destroyed the god of love; I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.

Salutations to the Goddess whose anklets and bracelets chime melodiously, and to the Lord who wears serpents as anklets upon His lotus feet; salutations to the One adorned with golden armlets, and to the One wearing serpents as armlets; I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.

Salutations to the Goddess with eyes like large blue lotuses, and to the Lord with eyes like full-blown lotus petals; salutations to the One with balanced, lotus-like eyes, and to the Lord with three (uneven) eyes; I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.

Salutations to the Goddess whose hair is adorned with a garland of Mandara flowers, and to the Lord whose neck is marked by a garland of skulls; salutations to the One dressed in divine raiment, and to the Lord who is sky-clad (unclothed); I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.

Salutations to the Goddess whose hair is dark like rain-bearing clouds, and to the Lord whose matted locks are tinted with the radiance of lightning; salutations to the One who is the independent Supreme Goddess, and to the Lord who is the Master of the entire universe; I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.

Salutations to the Goddess whose graceful Lasya dance is intent upon the creation of the world, and to the Lord whose Tandava dance causes the dissolution of all; salutations to the Mother of the world, and to the sole Father of the universe; I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.

Salutations to the Goddess wearing earrings brightened by radiant gems, and to the Lord adorned with hissing, great serpents; salutations to the Goddess who is ever-united with Shiva, and to the Lord who is ever-united with Shivaa; I bow to Shivaa and to Shiva.