श्री शिव प्रश्नावलीShiv Prashnavali from the Rudrashtakam of Shri Ramcharitmanas

What Is the Shiv Prashnavali?

This Shiv Prashnavali is built on the Rudrashtakam, the hymn of eight verses to Lord Shiva that Goswami Tulsidas placed in the Uttarkand of Shri Ramcharitmanas, where a sage sings it to please Shiva. It is one of the most recited Shiva hymns in North India, on Mondays, in the month of Shravan and at Mahashivratri.

The chart has 36 numbers. The number you choose leads to one of the eight verses or to the closing verse, nine answers in all. Each verse appears four times among the numbers, so every answer has an equal chance, and the chart is simply a way of choosing without choosing. The verse is shown in Sanskrit with its meaning and a reading of whether your matter is favourable.

Devotees also call this the Mahadev Prashnavali, Bholenath Prashnavali or Shankar Prashnavali; it is the same chart. Because every verse is shown with its meaning, the page also serves as the complete Rudrashtakam with meaning in English.

Read the full Rudrashtakam with meaning

The Eight Verses, the Closing Verse and Their Answers

1. नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपम्। विभुम् व्यापकम् ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्।
   निजम् निर्गुणम् निर्विकल्पम् निरीहम्। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासम् भजेऽहम्॥१॥
   I bow to the Lord, the very form of liberation, all-pervading, the Brahman the Vedas speak of. Resting in himself, beyond qualities and divisions, desiring nothing, the sky of consciousness clothed in the sky itself: him I worship.
   The matter rests on firm ground. Begin with a clear and quiet mind and it will hold. Nothing is asked of you here that you cannot give. (Yes)
2. निराकारमोंकारमूलम् तुरीयम्। गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशम् गिरीशम्।
   करालम् महाकालकालम् कृपालम्। गुणागारसंसारपारम् नतोऽहम्॥२॥
   Formless, the root of Om, the fourth state beyond waking, dream and sleep; beyond speech, knowledge and the senses; lord of the mountain. Fierce, the death of death itself, and yet compassionate; the home of every virtue, beyond this world: to him I bow.
   What frightens you is smaller than it looks. The one who is death to death itself is called compassionate in the same breath. Go ahead without fear. (Yes)
3. तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरम् गभीरम्। मनोभूतकोटि प्रभाश्रीशरीरम्।
   स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारुगंगा। लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजंगा॥३॥
   White as the snow mountain and deep as the sea; a body radiant beyond ten million gods of love. The lovely Ganga leaps in his matted hair, the young moon shines on his brow, and a serpent rests at his throat.
   Beauty and poison sit together here: the Ganga in the hair, the serpent at the throat. The matter is good but carries something that must be held with care. Go slowly. (Wait)
4. चलत्कुण्डलम् भ्रूसुनेत्रम् विशालम्। प्रसन्नाननम् नीलकण्ठम् दयालम्।
   मृगाधीश चर्माम्बरम् मुण्डमालम्। प्रियम् शंकरम् सर्वनाथम् भजामि॥४॥
   Earrings swinging, fine brows and wide eyes, a cheerful face, a blue throat, and kind. Clothed in the lion's skin, wearing a garland of skulls: the beloved Shankar, lord of all, I worship.
   The face is cheerful and the throat still holds the poison he drank for the world. Those who carry something for others are carried themselves. Your matter will go well, and better still if it serves more than yourself. (Yes)
5. प्रचण्डम् प्रकृष्टम् प्रगल्भम् परेशम्। अखण्डम् अजम् भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्।
   त्रयः शूलनिर्मूलनम् शूलपाणिम्। भजेऽहम् भवानीपतिम् भावगम्यम्॥५॥
   Fierce, supreme, bold, the highest lord; undivided, unborn, bright as ten million suns. With the trident in his hand he uproots the three sorrows. Husband of Bhavani, reached only through love: him I worship.
   The three pains are uprooted here. A burden you have carried for a long time is about to go. Act with boldness, for strength is on your side. (Yes)
6. कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी। सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारि।
   चिदानन्द सन्दोह मोहापहारि। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारि॥६॥
   Beyond the divisions of time, all-auspicious, the one who ends the age; the constant giver of joy to the good, destroyer of the three cities. Mass of consciousness and bliss, remover of delusion: be pleased, be pleased, Lord, conqueror of desire.
   An ending is part of this matter. Something old has to close before the new can arrive, and it should not be forced. Ask twice, as the verse does, and the answer will come in its time. (Wait)
7. न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दम्। भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम्।
   न तावत्सुखम् शान्ति सन्तापनाशम्। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम्॥७॥
   As long as people do not worship the lotus feet of Uma's lord, there is no happiness and no peace for them, in this world or the next, and no end to their burning. Be pleased, Lord, you who dwell in every living being.
   Not now. The verse says plainly that peace does not come by this road. Set the matter down, return to prayer and to your own duties, and ask again after some days. (Not now)
8. न जानामि योगम् जपम् नैव पूजाम्। नतोऽहम् सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम्।
   जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानम्। प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो॥८॥
   I know no yoga, no japa, no worship. I only bow to you, Shambhu, always and in every way. Burning in the flood of birth, old age and sorrow, protect me, Lord; I come to you in distress.
   You do not need to be expert or fully prepared. Go as you are and ask for the help you need, and the help will come. Yes, with humility. (Yes)
9. रुद्राष्टकमिदम् प्रोक्तम् विप्रेण हरतोषये।
   ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषाम् शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥
   This hymn of eight verses to Rudra was spoken by the brahmin to please Hara. Those who recite it with devotion, with them Shambhu is pleased.
   The result depends on your continuing. It is granted to steady devotion, not to a single effort. Not yet complete; keep going and it will be given. (Wait)

Rules of the Prashnavali

• Ask one question at a time.
• Do not ask the same question repeatedly.
• No more than three questions in a day.
• Read the answer with faith and reflect on it. For important decisions, also use your own judgment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Shiv Prashnavali free?

Yes. It is free, with no sign-up and no login.

Where do the verses come from?

From the Rudrashtakam in the Uttarkand of Shri Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas: its eight verses and the closing verse.

Is this the Mahadev or Bholenath prashnavali?

Yes. Shiv, Mahadev, Bholenath and Shankar are names of the same Lord, and this is the one prashnavali for all of them.

Does it give a yes or no answer?

Each answer ends with Yes, Wait or Not now, along with the verse and its meaning.

Can I ask the same question again?

By tradition, not on the same day. Ask once, with faith, and reflect on the answer.

Are the answers true?

A prashnavali is a devotional practice. Devotees read the answers with faith and find guidance in them. It is not a guarantee of any outcome.

More prashnavalis on this site

• Ram Shalaka Prashnavali: 225 letters from Shri Ramcharitmanas leading to nine chaupais
• Hanuman Prashnavali: a chakra of 49 numbers with a yes or no answer
• Sai Baba Prashnavali: 720 numbered answers
• Ganesh Prashnavali: the twelve names of Ganesha
• Durga Prashnavali: the nine forms of Navadurga
• Khatu Shyam Prashnavali: eleven names of Shyam Baba