Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Mantra
Meaning, pronunciation and long-form chant of the Vaidyanath verse
Vaidyanath means 'lord of physicians', and this verse honours Shiva under that name — seated always with Girija (Parvati), his feet worshipped by gods and asuras alike. It is the verse devotees turn to in times of illness.
Jyotirlinga mantra — the Vaidyanath verse of the Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga Stotram · 2h 30m chant
Verse 9 of 12 — part of the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram — all 12 verses.
Listen
This is Spiritual Awakening's own long-form recording — the official way to listen. There is no separate audio hosted on this page.
Best suited for: Illness in the family, or a long recovery · Devotion offered on someone else's behalf · Patient, repeated practice
Sacred text
Devanagari
पूर्वोत्तरे प्रज्वलिकानिधाने सदा वसन्तं गिरिजासमेतम्। सुरासुराराधितपादपद्मं श्रीवैद्यनाथं तमहं नमामि॥
IAST transliteration
Pūrvottare Prajvalikānidhāne Sadā Vasantaṃ Girijāsametam | Surāsurārādhitapādapadmaṃ Śrīvaidyanāthaṃ Tamahaṃ Namāmi ||
Simple pronunciation
Poor-vot-ta-re Praj-va-li-kaa-nid-haa-ne Sa-daa Va-san-tam Gi-ri-jaa-sa-me-tam; Su-raa-su-raa-raa-dhi-ta-paa-da-pad-mam Shree-vaid-ya-naa-tham Ta-ma-ham Na-maa-mi
Meaning
I bow to Shri Vaidyanath, who dwells always in the north-eastern shrine of Prajvalika together with Girija (Parvati), whose lotus feet are worshipped by gods and asuras alike.
- Literal meaning
- In the north-east, in the abode of Prajvalika, ever dwelling together with Girija, his lotus-feet worshipped by gods and asuras — to that Shri Vaidyanatha I bow.
- Devotional interpretation
- The name carries the whole verse: Vaidyanath, the divine physician. He is not pictured alone but with the Goddess beside him, and worshipped by beings of every kind — a mark of how widely the devotion offered to him reaches.
Word-by-word meaning
| Word | IAST | Literal meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| पूर्वोत्तरे | pūrvottare | in the north-east | The direction in which the shrine is placed. |
| प्रज्वलिकानिधाने | prajvalikā-nidhāne | in the abode of Prajvalika | A traditional name for the shrine's site; 'prajvalikā' suggests blazing light. |
| सदा वसन्तं | sadā vasantaṃ | ever dwelling | Continuous presence, not occasional. |
| गिरिजासमेतम् | girijā-sametam | together with Girija | Girija, 'mountain-born', is Parvati — Shiva is honoured with her. |
| सुरासुर | surāsura | gods and asuras | Both sides worship him — a recurring theme of this stotra. |
| आराधितपादपद्मं | ārādhita-pāda-padmaṃ | whose lotus feet are worshipped | The feet as the point of approach for a devotee. |
| श्रीवैद्यनाथं | śrī-vaidyanāthaṃ | Shri Vaidyanath, lord of physicians | Vaidya — physician; the healing name of Shiva. |
| तमहं नमामि | tam ahaṃ namāmi | to him I bow | The verse's closing salutation. |
पूर्वोत्तरेpūrvottare
- Literal meaning
- in the north-east
- Explanation
- The direction in which the shrine is placed.
प्रज्वलिकानिधानेprajvalikā-nidhāne
- Literal meaning
- in the abode of Prajvalika
- Explanation
- A traditional name for the shrine's site; 'prajvalikā' suggests blazing light.
सदा वसन्तंsadā vasantaṃ
- Literal meaning
- ever dwelling
- Explanation
- Continuous presence, not occasional.
गिरिजासमेतम्girijā-sametam
- Literal meaning
- together with Girija
- Explanation
- Girija, 'mountain-born', is Parvati — Shiva is honoured with her.
सुरासुरsurāsura
- Literal meaning
- gods and asuras
- Explanation
- Both sides worship him — a recurring theme of this stotra.
आराधितपादपद्मंārādhita-pāda-padmaṃ
- Literal meaning
- whose lotus feet are worshipped
- Explanation
- The feet as the point of approach for a devotee.
श्रीवैद्यनाथंśrī-vaidyanāthaṃ
- Literal meaning
- Shri Vaidyanath, lord of physicians
- Explanation
- Vaidya — physician; the healing name of Shiva.
तमहं नमामिtam ahaṃ namāmi
- Literal meaning
- to him I bow
- Explanation
- The verse's closing salutation.
Translations are prepared with editorial review against the Sanskrit text, transliteration and English master meaning. Sanskrit words may carry layers of meaning that no single translation can fully express.
How to chant
Preparation
- If you are chanting for someone else, bring them to mind before the first line rather than during it.
- Sit somewhere you can stay a while; this is a verse for patience.
Pronunciation notes
- Prajvalikānidhāne — 'praj-va-li-kaa-nid-haa-ne'; the name suggests blazing light, so let it brighten slightly.
- Surāsurārādhita — four 'a' sounds in a row; keep them distinct rather than sliding through.
How many times
Traditionally chanted in longer rounds when someone is unwell — twenty-one or a full mālā of 108. Where that is too much, a daily three is a sustainable practice over weeks.
To close
End by releasing the person you were holding in mind, rather than clutching the wish tighter.
How to use the recording
Chanting along
Repeat along softly. This verse is often chanted at a sickbed, where softness matters.
Meditation
Rest on the two figures together — the physician and the Goddess beside him. Care, pictured as not solitary.
Prayer or pūjā
The verse most often chosen when praying for someone's health.
Sleep listening
Suited to broken nights; keep it very low and let it run through them.
Morning practice
A steady way to begin a day that will involve caring for someone.
Background atmosphere
Gentle in a room where someone is resting or convalescing.
Background & sourcesClassification, origin, historical context, symbolism, intentions & occasions
What kind of sacred text is this?
This is chanted as a mantra, and it helps to know exactly what it is: textually it is verse 9 of the Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga Stotram, a twelve-verse hymn in which each verse salutes one Jyotirlinga. Its protective, settling feeling comes from that devotion rather than from a limb-by-limb protective hymn. Chanted alone it stands complete as a salutation to Vaidyanath; read in sequence with the other eleven it becomes a pilgrimage in sound. You can read the whole hymn on the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram — all 12 verses page.
Origin and textual source
- Tradition / work
- Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga Stotram
- Section
- Verse 9 of 12 — the Vaidyanath verse
- Attribution
- Traditionally attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya
- Variants
- Spellings and word-splits vary slightly between printed editions of the stotra.
Historical and devotional context
Vaidyanath is one of the two Jyotirlingas whose location traditions differ: it is identified with Baidyanath Dham at Deoghar in Jharkhand, and also with Parli in Maharashtra. Both are long-established places of worship, and this page does not adjudicate between them.
Because of the name, this verse has a strong association with healing. Devotees chant it during illness in the family, and pilgrims to Deoghar traditionally carry Ganga water on foot to offer at the shrine. It is devotional practice, not a substitute for medical care.
Symbolism and inner meaning
- 'Lord of physicians': the divine imagined as one who tends rather than judges.
- Shiva with Girija: healing pictured as a presence that is not alone — care comes accompanied.
- Gods and asuras at the same feet: no one is turned away from the physician.
Traditionally associated intentions
Traditional purpose
- Salutation to Shiva as worshipped at Vaidyanath
- Devotional remembrance of the twelve Jyotirlingas
- Recitation as part of the complete stotra
Devotional intentions
- Devotion
- Surrender
- Reverence for the sacred shrines
- Inner steadiness
This recording is for
- Long-form devotional chanting
- Meditation
- Calm listening before sleep
- A quiet devotional atmosphere at home
A note on wellbeing: Devotees have chanted this verse during illness for centuries and often describe it as comforting. It is a devotional practice offered alongside — never instead of — proper medical care.
When is it traditionally chanted?
Monday (Somvār) and Pradosha
Days traditionally kept for Shiva worship. The verse may be chanted on any day with devotion — these are customs, not conditions.
Maha Shivaratri
Many devotees recite the complete twelve-verse stotra through the night of Shivaratri.
Shravan month and the kanwar journey
Pilgrims carry Ganga water on foot to Baidyanath Dham through Shravan. Note that Vaidyanath's location is held differently by different traditions.
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