Sri Shiva Dvadasha Nama Stotram

The Sri Shiva Dvadasha Nama Stotram is a short counting hymn. In three verses it gives twelve names of Shiva and numbers each one, and in two more it states what reciting them achieves.

The names, in order

Verse 1 begins prathamastu Mahadevo dvitiyastu Maheshvarah: the first is Mahadeva, the second Maheshvara. Shankara is third and Vrishabhadhvaja, the one whose banner bears the bull, is fourth. Verse 2 continues with Krittivasa, who wears an elephant hide, and Kamanganashana, who burned the body of Kama. Devadevesha, lord of the gods, is seventh and Shrikantha eighth. Verse 3 completes the count with Ishvara, Parvatipati, Rudra as the eleventh, and finally Shiva as the twelfth.

Because each name carries its number, the stotram doubles as a memory aid. That makes it easy to learn by heart.

What the closing verses say

Verse 4 sets the practice: whoever recites these twelve names trisandhyam, at dawn, noon and dusk. It then lists the gravest offences known to the dharma texts, from ingratitude and killing a cow to brahmahatya and violating the guru's bed. Verse 5 adds harming women and children and drinking liquor, and declares that even such a person is released from all sins and goes to Rudraloka.

The text does not name its source or author. Given its length, it fits easily into daily sandhya, Monday worship or Shivaratri.