Sri Rudram is a powerful stotram of Lord Shiva, describing the destructive aspect of the Lord. It helps us understand what to seek from God, while seeking forgiveness for sins committed, and asking for the fulfillment of wishes.  Sri Rudram Laghunyasam along with Namakam and Chamakam is a Vedic chant from Krishnya YajurVeda, Trittriya Samhita.

By chanting Namakam, the devotee takes refuge in Rudra by acknowledging his ferocity, and asks the benevolent aspect of Lord Shiva to be invoked by worshiping his various attributes.

While chanting Chamakam, the devotee asks for the fulfilment of wishes of all beings in all walks of life, including Moksha which is the ultimate goal.

Laghunyasam, a part of Sri Rudram is chanted before Namakam and Chamakam to get purified, and become fully divine. We divinize ourselves first, absorb God’s nature, become God, and then worship God. This is the purification ritual done before Sri Rudram  Namakam and Chamakam chanting.

Other reasons To Chant Sri Rudram Laghunyasam 

1. Body, mind, intellect and sense organs get polluted everyday, so we require a chant to purify them. 
   
   
2. A healthy body and mind are essential for focus, to become one with God while chanting the Namakam and Chamakam. 
   
   
3. The chanting invokes all the elements, the planets and deities as powers that exists within us and asks for nourishment of our health or any others health
   

Laghunyasa means ‘lightly placed’. As we chant Laghunyāsam, we lightly place our hands on each area of the body that we wish to nourish doing Kara Nyasa and Anga Nyasa, to enhance our awareness and healing.

Sri Rudram Laghunyasam Chanting

Sri Rudram Laghunyasam Chant consists of 7 sections. They are mentioned below and explained in the later sections

1. Lord Shiva is meditated upon with all his attributes as Eka rupa Ishvara and Vishwaroopa Ishvara.
   
   
2. We pray and ask for protection for all our organs by invoking the respective deities  of each organ, and also for a general protection around us.
   
   
3. We ask for health, and long life by linking body, senses, mind, prana and awareness. We are also reminded of that infinite Consciousness that connects us all.
   
   
4. Here, with this chant, we understand who received Sri Rudram and how it should be chanted and receive Lord Shiva’s blessing for chanting of Sri Rudram.
   
   
5. We chant and do KARA NYASA  and ANGA NYASA for establishing divinity in the hands, fingers and body parts
   
   
6. Two Dhanya sloka’s in which Lord Shiva is meditated upon as Nirguna Brahman.  Following this is Lord Ganapathi Dhyanam to remove any obstacles while chanting Sri Rudram Namakam and Chamakam.
   
   
7. Lastly we ask for blessings from Lord Shiva.
   

1. Lord Shiva is Meditated with HIS Attributes

ōṃ athātmānagṃ śivātmānag śrī rudrarūpa-ndhyāyēt ॥

suddhasphaṭika saṅkāśaṃ trinetraṃ pañca vaktrakam |
gaṅgādharaṃ daśabhujaṃ sarvābharaṇa bhūṣitam

nīlagrīvaṃ śaśāṅkāṅkaṃ nāga yaṅñopa vītinam |
vyāghra carmottarīyaṃ ca vareṇyamabhaya pradam

kamaṇḍal-vakṣa sūtrāṇāṃ dhāriṇaṃ śūlapāṇinam |
jvalantaṃ piṅgaḷajaṭā śikhā muddyota dhāriṇam

vṛṣa skandha samārūḍham umā dehārtha dhāriṇam |
amṛtenāplutaṃ śāntaṃ divyabhoga samanvitam

digdevatā samāyuktaṃ surāsura namaskṛtam |
nityaṃ ca śāśvataṃ śuddhaṃ dhruva-makṣara-mavyayam

sarva vyāpina-mīśānaṃ rudraṃ vai viśvarūpiṇam |
evaṃ dhyātvā dvijaḥ samyak tato yajanamārabhe

Here Lord Shiva is meditated upon in three different forms, Eka roopa Ishvara and Viswa roopa Ishvara and in the end as Nirguna Brahman. Depending upon the maturity of the devotee. All the three stages of Lord Shiva are meditated in Sri Rudram Laghunyasam, now let’s see the meaning of these Slokas.

The first line of the sloka says that we should meditate on the Sri Rudra form of Lord Shiva who is the embodiment of propitious and Ananda.

In the form of Eka roopa Ishvara , we look upon Lord Shiva as a person having crystal like fair complexion ‘Suddhaspatika Sankasam’, and having three eyes, ‘Trinetram’ the right eye signifying the sun, the left eye is the moon and the  third eye is the fire (Agni).  The third eye represents knowledge.

Lord Shiva is ‘Pancavaktrakam’, having five heads.  Four heads facing the four sides and the fifth head looking upwards.  The fifth head facing south of Lord Shiva is portrayed as Dakshinamurthy, the ultimate Guru conveying the supreme self-knowledge for all spiritual seekers.

śuddhasphaṭika saṅkāśaṃ trinetraṃ pañca vaktrakam |
gaṅgādharaṃ daśabhujaṃ sarvābharaṇa bhūṣitam

Lord Shiva is also holding River Ganga on this jatta and controlled and blessed the flow of Ganga to the universe and hence called Gangadaram. Ganga also represents self-knowledge. Dasabhujam, represents the ten arms of Lord Shiva spreading in all the ten directions, four cardinal and four ordinal directions and then up and down.  Lord Shiva wears lustrous ornaments in the form of  snakes! on his body, hence called Sarva bharana Bhushitam

nīlagrīvaṃ śaśāṅkāṅkaṃ nāga yaṅñopa vītinam |
vyāghra carmottarīyaṃ ca vareṇyamabhaya pradam

Lord Shiva while swallowing the poison to save the world held it in his throat and hence became blue necked, Nilagrivam. He also wore the curved moon on his head and hence called Sasankankam.  The moon represents the time principle through which we determine the time cycle from its movement, showcasing that the Lord is beyond time and has complete control over it.

nāga yaṅñopa vītinam – He is wearing another snake as sacred thread and vyāghra carmottarīyaṃ ca, a tiger skin as his dress. vareṇyam abhaya pradam  He is of the nature of Ananda, who is the goal of all the devotees and the one who removes fear and protects all.

kamaṇḍal-vakṣa sūtrāṇāṃ dhāriṇaṃ śūlapāṇinam |
jvalantaṃ piṅgaḷajaṭā śikhā muddyota dhāriṇam

Lord Shiva represents sanyasi parampara with kamandalu and aksha mala.  HE has also got ‘sulapaninam’ the weapon to destroy all the asuras. ‘Jvalantam Pingalajatta śikhā muddyota dhāriṇam’ He is the ONE who is bright and radiant and who has kept Ganga Jalam in his golden yellow colour Jata, his matted hair.

vṛṣa skandha samārūḍham umā dehārtha dhāriṇam |
amṛtenāplutaṃ śāntaṃ divyabhoga samanvitam

Lord Shiva riding on a bull is pure as amrutham and this is indicated by abhisekam, HE is of the nature of Ananda and is also known as Ardhanarishvara, the Lord who has Uma devi as the second half of HIS body. He is seated on a divine Simhasanam in the Himalayas with all the riches. 

Having seen Lord Shiva as Eka roopa,. Now Sri Rudram Laghunyasam sloka gives the second aspect, that is Vishwa roopa Ishvara.

digdevatā samāyuktaṃ surāsura namaskṛtam |
nityaṃ ca śāśvataṃ śuddhaṃ dhruva-makṣara-mavyayam

Lord Shiva is surrounded by devatas from all directions and is worshipped by all devas and asuras. He is one who is Eternal, Changeless, Pure, Motionless, Tranquil and without any Blemish.

sarva vyāpina-mīśānaṃ rudraṃ vai viśvarūpiṇam |
evaṃ dhyātvā dvijaḥ samyak tato yajanamārabhe

Lord Shiva is not only located in Kailasa but he is all-pervading in the whole cosmos as Viswaroopa Ishvara. Through these slokas, one has to meditate on Lord Shiva with all his attributes and then Rudra pooja has to be performed. 

2. Invoke Protection from Divine Beings 

Chant this portion of Sri Rudram Laghunyasam by placing the hands lightly on the parts of the body where the divine beings are invoked.

prajanane brahmā tiṣṭhatu| Brahma is at the root 
pādayor-viṣṇustiṣṭhatu | Vishnu is in my feet
hastayor-harastiṣṭhatu| Hara (Shiva’s incarnation) is in my hands
bāhvorindrastiṣṭatu | Indra is in my Shoulders
jaṭharea”agnistiṣṭhatu|Agni is in my Stomach
hṛda̍yē śivastiṣṭhatu । Shiva is in my heart
kaṇṭhē vasavastiṣṭhantu । Vasus are in my neck
vaktrē sarasvatī tiṣṭhatu । Goddess Saraswathi resides in my mouth
nāsikayō-rvāyustiṣṭhatu । Wind God Vayu is in my nose
nayanayō-śchandrādityau tiṣṭētām । Sun and Moon be in my eyes
karṇayōraśvinau tiṣṭētām । Ashvini devas are in my ears 
lalāṭē rudrāstiṣṭhantu । Lord Rudra shine on my forehead 
mūrthnyādityāstiṣṭhantu । Aditya’s are in the front portion of my head
śirasi mahādēvastiṣṭhatu । Mahadeva is in the center of my Head 
śikhāyāṃ vāmadēvāstiṣṭhatu । Vamadeva  is in the tuft of my hair
pṛṣṭhē pinākī tiṣṭhatu । Pinaki guards back of my head 
purata-śśūlī tiṣṭhatu । Sooli is on my brow in front of my head
pār​śvayō-śśivāśaṅkarau tiṣṭhētām । Goddess Parvathi and Parameshwara are on my left and right
sarvatō vāyustiṣṭhatu । Vayu, the air surrounds me from allsides and protects me
tatō bahi-ssarvatō-‘gni-rjvālāmālā-parivṛtastiṣṭhatu । After the air I am surrounded by fire 
sarvēṣvaṅgēṣu sarvā dēvatā yathāsthāna-ntiṣṭhantu । māgṃ rakṣantu ।
And let all Gods be in their respective organs within me and protect me

3. Recognize our Connection with the Infinite Consciousness

Slokas that connects God, world (elements), body, mind, intellect, heart  and sense organs and makes us one Eternal Consciousness.

agnirme vāci śritaḥ | vāgghṛdaye | hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |
Agni, the fire God nourishes my speech, Speech is connected to my heart, my heart is part of paramathma within me and that Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite consciousness.

vāyurme prāne śritaḥ | prāno hṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

The Air God is present in me as life energy is circulating within me in the form of Prana. The Prana within me be connected to my heart, My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma,  the infinite Consciousness 

sūryo me cakṣuṣi śritaḥ | cakṣurhṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

The Sun God present in my eyes nourishes my eyesight. My eyesight is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness
candramā me manasi śritaḥ | mano hṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani 

The moon deity present in me nourishes my mind. My mind is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness

diśo me śrotre śritāḥ | śrotragṁhṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

My hearing is nourished by the presiding deities of all ten directions. May my hearing be connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness. 

āpo me retasi śritāḥ | reto hṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

The deities who control the waters are present in my Vital life nourishing my seed / semen. The seed is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness.

pṛthivī me śarīre śritā | śarīragṁhṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

My body is getting nourished by the Goddess of earth present in my body. Body is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness.

oṣadhivanaspatayo me lomasu śritāḥ | lomaṇi hṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

The herbs, plants and trees of the forest are all present in the hair growing over my body. The hairs in my body are nourished by my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness.

indro me bale śritaḥ | balagṁhṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

God Indra is present in my physical strength. My strength is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma, the infinite Consciousness.

parjanyo me mūrdhni śritaḥ | mūrdhā hṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

The crown of my head is nourished by the lightening which is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma the infinite Consciousness.

īśāno me manyau śritaḥ | manyurhṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

Lord Shiva, manifesting everywhere, is present in all my feelings and nourishing it. May my feelings be connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma the infinite Consciousness.

ātmā ma ātmani śritaḥ | ātmā hṛdaye |hṛdayaṃ mayi | ahamamṛte | amṛtaṁ brahmani |

My physical identity that is present within Me is connected to my higher self. My self is connected to my heart. My heart is part of Paramatma within me and this Paramatma is within ParaBrahma the infinite Consciousness.

punarma ātmā punarāyurāgāt |punaḥ prānaḥ punarākūtamāgāt |vaiśvānaro aśmibhirvāvṛdhānaḥ |antastiṣṭhatvamṛtasya gopāḥ ǁ

Let the Atma be present in my pranas. The Pranas which have mentally visited the ultimate station itself in my body once again. Let the inner fire pervade my whole body to make me healthy and May the eternal protect me. May the God of fire flare up with the right flames and increase my strength. Let all the Gods who are the protectors of myself stand alert within me as I chant Sri Rudram

While chanting the above Sri Rudram Laghunyasam slokas, we recognize our consciousness and spread to all other beings in the universe and prepare ourselves to chant the praise of Sri Rudra who is seated in our own body.

4. RUDRA PRASHNA 

While  chanting Sri Rudram Laghunyasam, we also need to understand how Sri Rudram was originated and the chanting procedure, the below two slokas explains that

asya śrī rudrādhyāya praśna mahāmantrasya, aghōra ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭu-pChandaḥ, saṅkar​ṣaṇa mūrti svarūpō yō-‘sāvādityaḥ paramapuruṣa-ssa ēṣa rudrō dēvatā ।

Aghora is the rishi who received this vedic Sri Rudra mantra and it should be chanted in Anushtp chandaah meter, which has eight syllables in a quarter format. This chanting is about Sri Rudra who is in the form of Sankarshana, the supreme Lord responsible for creation and expansion of the universe. 

nama-śśivāyēti bījam । śivatarāyēti śaktiḥ । mahādēvāyēti kīlakam । śrī sāmba sadāśiva prasāda siddhyarthē japē viniyōgaḥ ॥

Lord Shiva in the form of Linga with Yoni as his Shakthi, represents the creation of universe. He is the Keyplayer in the creation, The chanting is done as an offering to Shri Samba Sadashiva with Parvathi , the auspicious Lord for obtaining his grace.

5. NYASA

Nyasa is the ritual done to divinize our body by touching the respective body parts as the mantra’s are chanted. There are two types of Nyasa’s kara-nyasa (done on hands) and anga-nyasa (done on body parts).

KARA NYASA (Establishment of Divinity in the Hands)

Kara (hands) NyAsas. This is done to divinize the hands and fingers. As the mantra is chanted certain hand postures and finger movements have to be done. As explained below.

ōṃ agnihōtrātmanē aṅguṣṭhābhyā-nnamaḥ ।

Mentally bow to the Thumb by moving your index finger from the down part of the thumb to the tip of the thumb.

dar​śapūrṇa māsātmanē tarjanībhyā-nnamaḥ ।

Mentally bow to the Index finger by moving your thumb from the base of your index finger to the tip of the index finger. Here I am one with God

chātur-māsyātmanē madhyamābhyā-nnamaḥ ।

Mentally bow to the middle finger by moving your thumb from the base of your middle finger to the tip of the middle finger. To purify oneself.

nirūḍha paśubandhātmanē anāmikābhyā-nnamaḥ ।

Mentally bow to the ring finger by moving your thumb from the base of your ring finger to the tip of the ring finger. Cut your Ego.

jyōtiṣṭōmātmanē kaniṣṭhikābhyā-nnamaḥ ।

Mentally bow to the little finger by moving your thumb from the base of your little finger to the tip of the little finger. To obtain ultimate purity

sarvakratvātmanē karatala karapṛṣṭhābhyā-nnamaḥ ॥

By keeping all the fingers together, move the right hand over the left hand from bottom palm to the top of the fingers,  then reverse it,  move from left hand fingers over the right hand fingers, thirdly, move the same by reversing the hand, back of the hand for both left and the right hand.

ANGA NYASAH (Divinizing the body parts)

Anga NyAsa is done to divinise the heart, the forehead, centre of the head, chest and shoulders, eyes, and the surrounding.  While chanting the mantras, certain postures and hand movements are to be performed as explained below..

 Along with chanting the mantras, certain postures and hand movements are to be performed as explained below.

agnihōtrātmanē hr̥dayāya namaḥ |

Touch your heart with all fingers and recognize the divinity in your heart and mentally bow to the heart

darśapūrṇamāsātmanē śirasē svāhā |

Touch top of your head with the right-hand palm and surrender to higher power to gain sense of inner security 

cāturmāsyātmanē śikhāyai vaṣaṭ |

Touch the crown of your head with the thumb, requesting for a Divine deity to descend upon us.

nirūḍhapaśubandhātmanē kavacāya hum |

Cross both arms placing on your chest and shoulder creating kavacha to block any external negative energies 

jyōtiṣṭōmātmanē nētratrayāya vauṣaṭ |

Touch the three eyes (right, left and third eye) at once with Index finger, ring finger and middle finger and Ignite the power of Divine vision

sarvakratvātmanē astrāya phaṭ |

Spin clockwise around your head using the right hand index and middle finger and then clap on left palm 3 times. This is to drive away the external disturbances and the bondage through a weapon activated.

bhūrbhuvassuvarōmiti digbaṁdhaḥ |

While chanting move your fingers head clockwise and as you chant, this is to secure all the quarters.
Now your body is endowed with a divinity for the worship of the divine.

6. DHYANAM (Nirguna Brahma Dhyanam)

Now that we have done Eka roopa and Vishwaroopa chanting in the beginning six slokas of Sri Rudram Laghunayasam, now we are going to Nirguna Brahman dhyanam, we are praising Lord Shiva as formless, attribute less, the absolute Nirguna Brahman, here we look upon Shiva as the very creation itself.

āpātāḷa-nabhaḥsthalānta-bhuvana-brahmāṇḍa-māvisphurat-
jyotiḥ sphāṭika-liṅga-mauḷi-vilasat-pūrṇendu-vāntāmṛtaiḥ |
astokāpluta-meka-mīśa-maniśaṃ rudrānu-vākāñjapan
dhyāye-dīpsita-siddhaye dhruvapadaṃ vipro‌உbhiṣiñce-ccivam

The Sky, Akasha in its curvature form looks like a Lingam, and it houses all the 14 lokas of Brahmanda. Lord Shiva is seen as this Akasha Lingam. Abhisheka to this Linga is done by the Full Moon rays emitting water called amruta jalam that pervades the whole cosmos on full moon day.

Worship this absolute and ultimate Lord Shiva while doing Abhishekam and chanting Sri Rudram and pray to that Changeless, Nirguna Lord Shiva for obtaining all the purusharthas (dharma, artha, kama, moksha).

brahmāṇḍa vyāptadehā bhasita himarucā bhāsamānā bhujaṅgaiḥ
kaṇṭhe kālāḥ kapardāḥ kalita-śaśikalā-ścaṇḍa kodaṇḍa hastāḥ |
tryakṣā rudrākṣamālāḥ prakaṭitavibhavāḥ śāmbhavā mūrtibhedāḥ
rudrāḥ śrīrudrasūkta-prakaṭitavibhavā naḥ prayaccantu saukhyam

This all-pervading Lord Shiva is worshiped in 11 different forms (Ekadasha Rudra), who are all smeared with Vibhutis, have snake as their ornaments, whose necks are dark in colour due to drinking poison, having moons on their heads, they are armed with bows and arrows to destroy the asuras, they are three eyed and are wearing rudraksha malas and they remove fears and grant peace to all the devotees.

The glories of all these 11 Rudra’s are mentioned in Sri Rudram Namakam and may all these Rudra’s bless us with happiness and  with all the four Purushastras. (artha, kama, dharma and moksha)

After chanting Sri Rudram Laghunyasam and Namakam, we chant Chamakam and express all our desires (material and spiritual) while asking for any purusharthas. (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha).

SRI MAHAGANAPATHI DHYANAM

Om, Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna-Patim Havaamahe
Kavim Kaviinaam-Upama-Shravastamam |
Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam Brahmannaspata
Aa Nah Shrnnvan-Uutibhih Siida Saadanam ||
Mahaganapathye Namah

This mantra is dedicated to Lord Ganesh, it is chanted to remove any obstacle while chanting Sri Rudram by praising him and requesting his presence throughout the chant.

Oh Lord of all Ganas, we offer our oblations! You are inspirer of all poets, being the wisest and the glorious among all devatas, having nature of Brahman, the Lord of the Vedas. Please be present with us while seated in the sacred alter and provide your grace. 

7. SANTHI PATHAH

Sam cha may, mayas cha may, priyas cha may, anukaamas cha may, 
Kaamas cha may,  soumanasas cha may,  bhadram cha may, sreyas cha may, Vasyas cha may,  yasas cha may, bhagas cha may, dravinam cha may, Yantha cha may, dhartas cha may, ksemas cha may,  druthis cha may, Viswam cha may, mahas cha may, samvich cha may, jnathram cha may, Suus cha may,  prasoos cha may, seeram cha may, layas cha may, hritham cha may, Amrutham cha may, ayakshmam cha may,  anamas cha may, jeevathus cha may, Deergayuthwam cha may,  anaamithram cha may, abhayam cha may, sugam cha may, Sayanam cha may, sooshaa cha may, sudhinam cha may.

With your grace, let me have all the pleasure of this world and the other worlds. Let me have the liking for the desire and get what I desire. Let me have sweet relatives, good friends, great fame, good family, success, good fortune and wealth. May I get a great Guru who guides me to the path to free myself, a Father who guards me.

Let me protect the assets, have courage to face situations, let me be good to all and get the rewards, let me become knowledgeable with Vedas and Science. Let me have the capacity to teach, inspire others including my children, capacity to work and get the work done.

Let me have wealth of cattle and ability to overcome any difficulty that comes in my path, let me carry out fire sacrifices and other good deeds and experience the results of those good deeds. May I be healthy, free from all diseases. May I have a long life.

Let all people be my friends and I will always have courage. Let me always have good conduct, good night sleep, great mornings, and a blessed day.

Conclusion

Now with Sri Rudram Laghunyasam chanting we have meditated on lord Shiva’s Eka roopa, Vishva roopa and formless Nirguna Brahman. We have divinized ourselves by protecting all our organs by inviting respective organs deities. We have been made aware of the infinite consciousness that connects to our body parts. We have also divinized our fingers and body parts and lastly we have praised Lord Shiva’s Nirguna Brahma aspect and have asked his blessings.

With this chanting of Sri Rudram Laghunyasam we are protected and have divinized ourself to chant Sri Rudram Namakam & Chamakam, with all the deities blessing and without any obstacles.