Pointers From Shiva Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram

1.Kshama means patience or forgiveness. It is true that only people with patience can forgive
others.
2. A thinking person only can forgive; others react.
3. All of us have done certain commissions and omissions in life. In this context, commissions
mean doing the actions, which we are not supposed to do as a sentient human being, and
omissions are the dutiful actions, which we have neglected and did not do.
4.The forgiveness poses a problem when the other person does not want to refrain from the
wrongs he or she is doing. In those cases, forgiveness does not mean approving the wrong
actions of others, rather forgiveness means not to develop hatred in ones heart on the wrong
doers so that one can either try to help them from coming out of that wrong thinking or one
can maintain ones peace of mind by praying to God to give courage to face the situation.
5. Shiva Aparadha Kshamapana stotram is a text, in which Bhagavan Adi Sankarachaya asks
forgiveness from Lord Shiva for the omissions and commissions in his life.
6. Human birth is the only birth, in which one can correct oneself to develop better values and
to lead a virtuous life by deliberate attempts. If one wastes this opportunity of human birth,
one does not when the opportunity comes again.
7.The stotram asks one to take shelter at the feet of Bhagavan and to unburden oneself from
the feelings of guilt, anger, and hatred.
8. All noble qualities like love, compassion, and sincerity are the qualities of the mind. They are
expressed physically through the actions one does in the outer world.
9. Twice born people (or Dvija) are those people who evolved from selfish nature to selfless
nature.
10. This stotram indirectly hints not to justify oneself for the mistakes or burden oneself with
guilt but to move on by seeking forgiveness from Bhagavan and with others to whomever one
has erred.
11. Detachment is not helpless or frustrated giving up, rather growing up. It is like a child giving
up toys when he or she becomes adult. With knowledge of the temporary and perishable
nature of things, one gives up the strong attachment to those things.
12.The more one holds on to temporary objects, the more one feels insecure in life. This
stotram advises to hold on to the unchanging substratum of the changing things, which is the
divinity.
13. To develop love for God, one must develop love for other human beings because the God is
the only essence of whatever one sees, feels etc.
14. When we start worship, we start with the worship of Ekaroopa Eeshwara (ones
Ishtadevata). Later, the worship evolves into the worship of Anekaroopa Eeshwara, seeing the
Ishtadevata in all beings. Finally, it culminates into Aroopa Eeshwara (I am that Shiva. That Shiva
I am).

Harih OM!