[From “Lord Siva and His Worship” by Swami Sivananda]

I

The adorable Lord of all bliss, all love, all mercy 
The supreme light that shines in my heart 
The Lord who fed Sambandhar and Appar 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Great Ancient, the Goal of Yogis 
The Supreme Purusha that dwells in the Puri 
The Adi Deva, whom the Vedas sing of 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The pillar of light which baffled Brahma and Vishnu 
The ocean of mercy who saved Markandeya 
The Lord of Madurai whom the Pandya beat 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The supreme Teacher who taught the four 
The Adi Deva who has assumed the five 
Parama, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa and Antaryamin, 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Lord who pervades the universe 
The thread-soul, the Sutratman, 
The over-soul, the purport of Srutis 
Him I saw at the abode, of Rishis. 

The effulgence who is above the Three 
Who exists even after the Pralaya 
Who saved Kannappa and Sundarar 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

He who drank the poison and saved the world, 
He who danced at Chidambaram, 
He who shines as the Jyotirlinga 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

He who brought the jackal-horses to Pandya 
He who gave pearl-palanquin to Sambandhar 
He who is the essence of Panchakshara 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

He who dwells in Banares and Vedas, 
In Ramesvar, Arunachal and Kanchi, 
In the hearts of all beings 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

He who pleaded on behalf of Darumi 
He who dwells in Kailas with Uma 
He who restored the eyesight of Sundarar 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

II 

The Lord who gave stick to blind Appar 
The Grace who begged alms for Sundarar 
The Marga Bandhu who showed the way to Appayya Dikshitar 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Mercy who took the message to Paravai 
The Love who wrote the poem for Darumi 
The Fire that burnt Nakirar 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Lord who became a cooly at Madurai 
And carried earth for stopping the floods 
For the sake of a little sweetmeat 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Lord who created tank and garden for the devotee 
Who became the slave of His devotees 
Who sent the pearl-palanquin to Sambandhar 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The hunter who quarrelled with Arjuna 
The untouchable who debated with Sankara 
The groom who took the horses to Pandya 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Lord who has Uma as His left side 
Who is also Narayana of the milk ocean 
Who is the child sleeping on the banian leaf 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Lord who is the Holiest, the Oldest 
Who is Jyoti within the Jyoti 
Who is praised by the Devas and Rishis 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

He who is Ambalam in Chidambaram 
Who is brilliance in Arunachalam 
Who is the great thief hiding in forms 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Satguru who reveals in the Chidakasa 
Who breaks all the three bonds 
Who leads the aspirants to the land of Moksha 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis. 

The Lord who dwells in the Sahasrara 
Who is the way, the goal and the centre, 
Who is the truth in the Mahavakya 
Him I saw at the abode of Rishis.