There seems to be a bit of confusion about this mantra. This is not surprising. A quick search finds many flowery and colorful meanings. None of which bear any resemblance to this mantra. Shambho (Shambhu) derives from two words: Sham(Sam) - welfare, happiness, prosperity, health, and generally used to express a blessing Bhu - Earth (One of the seven worlds released by Varana) Now, we need context for Sam. When used with as an adjective to a noun (such as Earth), Sam becomes a pronoun and means 'like, same, or similar'. In this context, as the causative verb, Sam is "Causing happiness and granting prosperity". Thus, the mantra now reads: Exhaltations to Lord Siva, Great God, who is the cause of happiness and prosperity on Bhu(Earth). This is often represented as a subtle, or gentle, form of Shiva. Wrong. People like to chant this to bring happiness and prosperity into their lives. This is because they lack these things. Chanting of this mantra, calls upon the energy of Shiva (Shakti) to destroy their lives as it is today, and thus, be 'reborn' into a life of happiness and prosperity. Shiva is the destroyer of the universe. In every moment, the universe is destroyed and recreated as an experience of itself. This is Shiva in action. Gurumayi Chidvilasananda composed this specific namasankirtana on Mahashivaratri in 1988, adapting it from a traditional melody in the Darbari Kanada raga.