This phrase is a beautiful and evocative description of Lord Shiva, highlighting his various attributes and forms. It’s a lyrical expression of devotion, often found in stotrams (hymns) dedicated to him.

Breakdown

  • Lalitham: This word has multiple layers of meaning. It can mean graceful, gentle, beautiful, charming, playful, and easy or effortless. It indicates Shiva’s inherent beauty and his ability to perform even the most complex cosmic dances with grace and ease.
  • Lambodaram: This refers to “one with a large belly,” which might seem unusual for Shiva. It’s typically associated with Ganesha. Here it could symbolize Shiva’s capacity to contain the entire universe within himself, or it might allude to a specific form or story of Shiva.
  • Lalitham: Again, emphasizing Shiva’s grace, beauty, and playfulness.
  • Sadashivam: This refers to Shiva in his eternal, auspicious form. “Sada” means always or eternal, and “Shiva” means auspicious. It represents Shiva as the timeless, benevolent, and ever-present divine consciousness.
  • Lalitham: Once more, highlighting his inherent grace.
  • Chandrashekharam: This is a very common epithet for Shiva, meaning “the one who has the moon as his crest/crown.” (Chandra – moon, Shekhara – crest, crown). It refers to the crescent moon that adorns Shiva’s head, symbolizing his control over time and the cycles of creation and destruction.

Full Meaning

This phrase is a poetic expression of devotion, painting a picture of Lord Shiva as:

  • Graceful and Beautiful: The repetition of “Lalitham” emphasizes Shiva’s inherent beauty, charm, and the effortless grace with which he performs his cosmic duties.
  • All-Encompassing: “Lambodaram” (if interpreted in that context) suggests that he contains the entire universe within himself.
  • Eternally Auspicious: “Sadashivam” highlights his timeless, benevolent nature as the supreme consciousness.
  • Master of Time: “Chandrashekharam” points to his control over time, symbolized by the crescent moon on his head.

In essence, the phrase is saying: “The Graceful One, the one who (potentially) contains all, the Graceful One, the Eternally Auspicious, the Graceful One, the one who wears the moon as his crown.”

It’s a beautiful way to express reverence and love for Lord Shiva, acknowledging his multifaceted nature as both the gentle and powerful, the immanent and transcendent, the creator and the destroyer. The repetition of “Lalitham” creates a rhythmic, meditative quality, drawing the devotee deeper into contemplation of Shiva’s divine attributes.