The Nirvanashatkam (à ¤¨à ¤¿à ¤°à ¥Âà ¤µà ¤¾à ¤£à ¤·à ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤Âà ¤®à ¥Â, ), also known as Atmashatkam (, ), is a non-dual Saivite composition consisting of six verses or à Âlokas, attributed by the early modern Advaita Vedanta tradition to Adi Shankara.
"NirvÃÂá¹Âa" can be roughly translated as complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. "ÃÂtman" is the True Self. "Shatakam" is a Sanskrit term meaning "consisting of six", used to refer to six-verse compositions in Hindu tradition.
Shankara's hagiographies (15th-17th c. CE), showing the influence of Yoga-traditions on the Advaita-tradition of that time, narrate that when Adi Shankara (8th c. CE) was eight years old, he encountered the seer Govinda Bhagavatpada. Govinda asked Shankara, "Who are you?", to which he answered with these stanzas, whereafter Govinda accepted Shankara as his disciple.
Yet, the knowledge of Shivoham<nowiki/>' (I am Shiva) is a concept from Kashmir Shaivism, as conveyed in Pratyabhijnahridayam, meaning 'recognition (pratyabhijna) of the 'heart' (hridayam)', with hridayam originating in Kaula Shaivism. As Flood explains, in the context of Kashmir Shaivism: saktopaya is related to cognition (jnana), "focusing on a pure thought construction (suddhavikalpa) that corresponds to a true state of affairs, such as "I am Siva". Tagare also mentions Sóham, establishing the consciousness that one is not different from "the Supreme Self", a method proposed by Utpala and Abhinava.
A quite lietral English translation of the composition is as follows:
Not (naham) mind, intellect, ego (manobuddhyahaá¹ kÃÂra) [is] [heart, center], not [my] state of mind (citta) [is] [heart, center].<br /> not [the] five senses, not [the] five elements [is] [heart, center].<br /> Essence (cidÃÂnandarà «paḥ), Shiva, [is] [heart, center] (à Âivo'ham)<br />
Not prÃÂá¹Âa (vital breath), not [the] five types of breath (vÃÂyus - PrÃÂá¹Âa, ApÃÂna, VyÃÂna, UdÃÂna, SamÃÂna),<br /> not [the] seven material essences, not [the] five sheaths (pañca-koà Âa).<br /> Not [the] organ of speech, not [the] organs for holding (hand), movement (feet) or excretion.<br /> Essence, Shiva [is] [heart, center].
Not [my] hatred or dislike, not [my] affiliation or liking, not [my] greed, not [my] delusion,<br /> not [my] pride or haughtiness, not [my] feelings of envy or jealousy.<br /> Not [my] duty (dharma), desire for wealth (artha), lust (kÃÂma), liberation (moká¹£a).<br /> Essence, Shiva [is] [heart, center].
Not merit (virtue), not sin.<br /> Not sukkha (wordly pleasure), not dukkha (suffering due to attachement),<br /> Not mantras, holy places, scriptures (Vedas), rituals or sacrifices (yajñas).<br /> Not [the] object being enjoyed, not the enjoyer.Form [element] of eternal consciousness and bliss, Shiva [is] [heart, center]. Essence, Shiva [is] [heart, center].
Not death, not fear, not caste-distinctions,<br /> Not father, not mother,<br /> Not birth, not relatives, not friends,<br /> Not guru, not disciple.<br /> Essence, Shiva [is] [heart, center].
[Essence, heart] [is] without erroneous thought-constructions (nirvikalpaḥ), formless-form (nirÃÂkÃÂrarà «paḥ),<br /> omnipresent (vibhutvÃÂt) and everywhere (sarvatra), [beyond] all sense-faculties (sarvendriyÃÂá¹ÂÃÂm).<br /> Not unattached, not liberated (mukti), not measurable.<br /> Essence, Shiva [is] [heart, center].
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