Nirvanashatakam chanted by Vani Devi

Vani Devi sings the hymn from the “Nirvanashatakam” during a satsang at the Yoga Vidya Ashram in Bad Meinberg. You can find the complete text in the Yoga Vidya Kirtan Booklet under number 404.

In the six stanzas on liberation by Jagadguru Shankaracharya, you can discover both what you are not and what your true nature is: namely, Being, Knowledge, and Bliss.

The Nirvanashatakam kirtan consists of six instructive verses on freedom - or Nirvana - written by Shankara (also Sankara or Shri Shankaracharya). In each verse, Shankara explains what we are not. We are not our body, we are not our intellect, we are not our thoughts, and we are not our prana. Instead, we are Sacchidananda (i.e., Satchidananda). Only Brahman, the Absolute, is real; everything else is a temporary dream, an illusion - Maya.

Lyrics:

Mano-buddhy-ahankara-chittani Naham

Na Cha Shrotra-jihve Na Cha Ghrana-netre /

Na Cha Vyoma-bhumir Na Tejo Na Vayuh

Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham // 1 //

Na Cha Prana-sanjno Na Vai Pancha-vayuh

Na Va Sapta-dhatur Na Va Pancha-koshah /

Na Vak Pani-padau Na Chopastha-payu

Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham // 2 //