Do you know the importance of Shiva "panchakshari" in Hindu religion which gets recited daily morning by millions of people?
"Pancha" means five. "Akshara" means letter.
The mantra "Namah Shivaya" contains five letters or syllables of 'na', 'ma', 'shi', 'va' 'ya'.
This Shiva mantra refers to five slokas or hymns based on these five syllables praising the glory of Lord Shiva as well as the power of these syllables.
One who recites these lyrics daily morning (or during any period of problems), will get an instant relief from all his problems and attains moksha after his death.
I am providing the lyrics in three languages of Hindi, Telugu, and English and the full meanings of the mantra at the end of this post in the English language.
Shiva Mantra in Hindi / Sanskrit text
ओम नमः शिवाय
नागेन्द्र हाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्मांग रागाय महेश्वराय
नित्याय शुध्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (1)
मंदाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वर प्रमधः नाथ महेश्वराय
मन्दार मुख्य बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय
तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (2)
शिवाय गौरी वदनारविन्द
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वर नाशकाय
श्री नीलकंठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (3)
वशिष्ट कुम्भोद्भव गौतमादि
मुनीन्द्र देवार्चित शेखराय
चंद्रार्क वैश्वानर लोचनाय
तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (4)
यक्ष स्वरूपाय जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय
सुदिव्य देहाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (5)
पंचाक्षर मिदम् पुण्यम् , यह पठेत शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलोक मावाप्नोति शिवोन सहमोदते ॥
ओम नमो शिव पार्वतये नमः ॥
Shiva panchakshari stotram in Telugu language
శివ పంచాక్షరి స్తోత్రమ్
ఓం నమ శ్శివాయ
నాగేంద్ర హారాయ త్రిలోచనాయ
భస్మాంగ రాగాయ మహేశ్వరాయ
నిత్యాయ శుద్ధాయ దిగంబరాయ
తస్మై నకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (1)
మందాకినీ సలిల చందన చర్చితాయ
నందీశ్వర ప్రమథనాథ మహేశ్వరాయ
మందారముఖ్య బహుపుష్ప సుపూజితాయ
తస్మై మకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (2)
శివాయ గౌరీవదనారవింద
సూర్యాయ దక్షాధ్వరనాశకాయ
శ్రీ నీలకంతాయ వృషధ్వజాయ
తస్మై శికారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (3)
వశిష్ట కుంభోద్భవ గౌతమాది
మునీంద్ర దేవార్చిత శేఖరాయ
చంద్రార్క వైశ్వానర లోచనాయ
తస్మై వకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (4)
యక్షస్వరూపాయ జటాధరాయ
పినాకహస్తాయ సనాతనాయ
సుదివ్య దేహాయ దిగంబరాయ
తస్మై యకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (5)
పంచాక్షరమిదం పుణ్యం యః పటేత్ శివసన్నిధౌ
శివలోక మావాప్నోతి శివేన సహమోదతే ॥
Lord Shiva Mantra in English Text
naagEndrahaaraaya trilOchanaaya
bhasmaangaraagaaya mahEswaraaya
nityaaya sudhdhaaya digambaraaya
tasmai nakaaraaya namashshivaaya || (1)
mandaakinii salila chandana charchitaaya
nandiishwara pramatha naatha mahEshwaraaya
mandaara mukhya bahupushpa supoojitaaya
tasmai makaaraaya namashshivaaya || (2)
shivaaya gourii vadanaaravindaaya
suuryaaya dakshaadhwara naashakaaya
shri neelakhantaaya vrushadhwajjaaya
tasmai shikaaraaya namashshivaaya || (3)
vashishta kumbhOdbhhava gauthamaadi
munindra dEvaarchita shEkharaaya
chandraarka vaishwaanara lOchanaaya
tasmai vakaaraaya namashshivaaya || (4)
yakshaswaroopaaya jataadharaaya
pinaakahastaaya sanaatanaaya
sudivya dEhaaya digambaraaya
tasmai yakaaraaya namashshivaaya || (5)
panchaakshara midam punyam yah patEth shiva sannidhau
shivalOka maavaapnOti shivEna sahamOdatE ||
Meanings of the Panchakshari mantra
Stotram (1)
Nagendra haaraaya = one wearing the serpent king as a garland in his neck, trilochanaaya = three-eyed (Shiva), bhasmaanga raagaaya = one whose body is draped with ash, maheshwaraaya = greatest lord of universe, nityaaya = eternal, sudhdhaaya = purest, digambaraaya = wearing the four directions as his clothes, tasmai = to Him, nakaaraaya = embodiment of syllable "na", namashshivaaya = salutations to Shiva.
Essence: I salute to Him (Lord Shiva), who wears the serpent king in his neck, who is three-eyed; draped with ash all over his body; who is the great Lord, eternal, pure; and having the 4 directions of east, west, north, and south as his clothes; and is the embodiment of syllable 'na'.
Stotram (2)
Mandakini = river Mandakini, salila = water, Chandana = sandal powder or paste, charchitaaya = worshipped, Nandishwara = the great bull who is the gatekeeper and also carrier for Shiva, pramatha naath = lord of ghosts and spirits, mandaara = a flower name (hibiscus), mukhya = chief, bahu pushpa = lots of flowers, supoojithaaya = well worshipped
Essence: I salute Lord Shiva who is worshipped with waters of Mandakini and sandal paste and with many flowers - chief among them being hibiscus flowers, one who is the Lord of Nandi bull and all ghosts and spirits and who is the embodiment of the syllable 'ma'.
Stotram (3)
Shivaya = virtuous or auspicious, Gauri vadanaaravinda = brings joy to the face of Gauri (Parvati), sooryaya = sun, dakshaadhwara = Daksha's sacrifice, naashakaaya = destroyer, neelakanthaaya = blue-necked, vrishadhwajaaya = having a bull as the emblem of his flag,
Essence: I salute to Him who is virtuous, who is like the Sun causing Parvati's face to bloom; who is the destroyer of Daksha's yajna (sacrifice); whose neck (throat) is blue and who holds the Nandi emblem on his flag; I salute to that Shiva the embodiment of syllable "shi".
Stotram (4)
vashishta kumbhodbhava gautamaadi munindra = the great sages like Vasishta, Agasthya, and Gautama, etc. (Agastya Rishi is known as kumbhodbhava as he was believed to have born in a Kumbha/Kalash or jar); deva+archita = worshipped by angels, sekharaaya = greatest being (like a mountain), Chandra = moon, arka = sun, vaishvaanara = universal self, lochanaaya = having eyes,
Essence: I salute to Shiva who is worshipped by great sages like Vasishta, Agasthya, and Gautama and also by all the gods and angels; one who is the universal self- having the sun and the moon as his eyes.
In this context, as Shiva is believed to be three-eyed, vaishvanara may also refer to fire which is his third eye.
I salute to that Shiva who is the embodiment of syllable "va".
Stotram (5)
yaksha swaroopaaya = whose appearance is like the yaksha (the caretaker of all natural treasures);
jataadharaaya = whose hair is matted, pinaka hasthaaya = holding a pinaka or long three-headed spear (trident); sanaathanaaya = eternal being; sudivya = miraculous, divine; dEhaaya = bodied; digambaraaya = having the four directions as his clothes
Essence: I salute Shiva who looks like yaksha with his matted hair, holding the trident spear in his hand, who is an eternal being possessing a divine body that is covered by all the four directions, to Him who is the embodiment of syllable "ya".
The concluding verse
panchaksharam = 5 letters ( five syllables of na, ma, shi, va, ya and it also refers to the five hymns as above); idam = this or these; punyam = (opposite of sin) virtuous result; yah pateth = on reciting this;
shiva sannidhou = in presence of Shiva, Shiva lokam = Shiva's abode, aavaapnoti = will be in possession; Shivena= Shiva's; Saha mOdatE = to become one or attain bliss in Shiva's company.
Essence: One who recites these 5 hymns containing the five syllables of Shiva's name in His proximity, will reach Shiva's abode and possess his eternal bliss.
To know more about Shivaratri celebration and its religious or spiritual implications, you may view at this link.
"Pancha" means five. "Akshara" means letter.
The mantra "Namah Shivaya" contains five letters or syllables of 'na', 'ma', 'shi', 'va' 'ya'.
This Shiva mantra refers to five slokas or hymns based on these five syllables praising the glory of Lord Shiva as well as the power of these syllables.
One who recites these lyrics daily morning (or during any period of problems), will get an instant relief from all his problems and attains moksha after his death.
I am providing the lyrics in three languages of Hindi, Telugu, and English and the full meanings of the mantra at the end of this post in the English language.
Shiva Mantra in Hindi / Sanskrit text
ओम नमः शिवाय
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| Shiva with Parvati and Ganesha |
नागेन्द्र हाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्मांग रागाय महेश्वराय
नित्याय शुध्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (1)
मंदाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वर प्रमधः नाथ महेश्वराय
मन्दार मुख्य बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय
तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (2)
शिवाय गौरी वदनारविन्द
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वर नाशकाय
श्री नीलकंठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (3)
वशिष्ट कुम्भोद्भव गौतमादि
मुनीन्द्र देवार्चित शेखराय
चंद्रार्क वैश्वानर लोचनाय
तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (4)
यक्ष स्वरूपाय जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय
सुदिव्य देहाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ (5)
पंचाक्षर मिदम् पुण्यम् , यह पठेत शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलोक मावाप्नोति शिवोन सहमोदते ॥
ओम नमो शिव पार्वतये नमः ॥
Shiva panchakshari stotram in Telugu language
శివ పంచాక్షరి స్తోత్రమ్
ఓం నమ శ్శివాయ
నాగేంద్ర హారాయ త్రిలోచనాయ
భస్మాంగ రాగాయ మహేశ్వరాయ
నిత్యాయ శుద్ధాయ దిగంబరాయ
తస్మై నకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (1)
మందాకినీ సలిల చందన చర్చితాయ
నందీశ్వర ప్రమథనాథ మహేశ్వరాయ
మందారముఖ్య బహుపుష్ప సుపూజితాయ
తస్మై మకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (2)
శివాయ గౌరీవదనారవింద
సూర్యాయ దక్షాధ్వరనాశకాయ
శ్రీ నీలకంతాయ వృషధ్వజాయ
తస్మై శికారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (3)
వశిష్ట కుంభోద్భవ గౌతమాది
మునీంద్ర దేవార్చిత శేఖరాయ
చంద్రార్క వైశ్వానర లోచనాయ
తస్మై వకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (4)
యక్షస్వరూపాయ జటాధరాయ
పినాకహస్తాయ సనాతనాయ
సుదివ్య దేహాయ దిగంబరాయ
తస్మై యకారాయ నమశ్శివాయ ॥ (5)
పంచాక్షరమిదం పుణ్యం యః పటేత్ శివసన్నిధౌ
శివలోక మావాప్నోతి శివేన సహమోదతే ॥
Lord Shiva Mantra in English Text
naagEndrahaaraaya trilOchanaaya
bhasmaangaraagaaya mahEswaraaya
nityaaya sudhdhaaya digambaraaya
tasmai nakaaraaya namashshivaaya || (1)
mandaakinii salila chandana charchitaaya
nandiishwara pramatha naatha mahEshwaraaya
mandaara mukhya bahupushpa supoojitaaya
tasmai makaaraaya namashshivaaya || (2)
shivaaya gourii vadanaaravindaaya
suuryaaya dakshaadhwara naashakaaya
shri neelakhantaaya vrushadhwajjaaya
tasmai shikaaraaya namashshivaaya || (3)
vashishta kumbhOdbhhava gauthamaadi
munindra dEvaarchita shEkharaaya
chandraarka vaishwaanara lOchanaaya
tasmai vakaaraaya namashshivaaya || (4)
yakshaswaroopaaya jataadharaaya
pinaakahastaaya sanaatanaaya
sudivya dEhaaya digambaraaya
tasmai yakaaraaya namashshivaaya || (5)
panchaakshara midam punyam yah patEth shiva sannidhau
shivalOka maavaapnOti shivEna sahamOdatE ||
Meanings of the Panchakshari mantra
Stotram (1)
Nagendra haaraaya = one wearing the serpent king as a garland in his neck, trilochanaaya = three-eyed (Shiva), bhasmaanga raagaaya = one whose body is draped with ash, maheshwaraaya = greatest lord of universe, nityaaya = eternal, sudhdhaaya = purest, digambaraaya = wearing the four directions as his clothes, tasmai = to Him, nakaaraaya = embodiment of syllable "na", namashshivaaya = salutations to Shiva.
Essence: I salute to Him (Lord Shiva), who wears the serpent king in his neck, who is three-eyed; draped with ash all over his body; who is the great Lord, eternal, pure; and having the 4 directions of east, west, north, and south as his clothes; and is the embodiment of syllable 'na'.
Stotram (2)
Mandakini = river Mandakini, salila = water, Chandana = sandal powder or paste, charchitaaya = worshipped, Nandishwara = the great bull who is the gatekeeper and also carrier for Shiva, pramatha naath = lord of ghosts and spirits, mandaara = a flower name (hibiscus), mukhya = chief, bahu pushpa = lots of flowers, supoojithaaya = well worshipped
Essence: I salute Lord Shiva who is worshipped with waters of Mandakini and sandal paste and with many flowers - chief among them being hibiscus flowers, one who is the Lord of Nandi bull and all ghosts and spirits and who is the embodiment of the syllable 'ma'.
Stotram (3)
Shivaya = virtuous or auspicious, Gauri vadanaaravinda = brings joy to the face of Gauri (Parvati), sooryaya = sun, dakshaadhwara = Daksha's sacrifice, naashakaaya = destroyer, neelakanthaaya = blue-necked, vrishadhwajaaya = having a bull as the emblem of his flag,
Essence: I salute to Him who is virtuous, who is like the Sun causing Parvati's face to bloom; who is the destroyer of Daksha's yajna (sacrifice); whose neck (throat) is blue and who holds the Nandi emblem on his flag; I salute to that Shiva the embodiment of syllable "shi".
Stotram (4)
vashishta kumbhodbhava gautamaadi munindra = the great sages like Vasishta, Agasthya, and Gautama, etc. (Agastya Rishi is known as kumbhodbhava as he was believed to have born in a Kumbha/Kalash or jar); deva+archita = worshipped by angels, sekharaaya = greatest being (like a mountain), Chandra = moon, arka = sun, vaishvaanara = universal self, lochanaaya = having eyes,
Essence: I salute to Shiva who is worshipped by great sages like Vasishta, Agasthya, and Gautama and also by all the gods and angels; one who is the universal self- having the sun and the moon as his eyes.
In this context, as Shiva is believed to be three-eyed, vaishvanara may also refer to fire which is his third eye.
I salute to that Shiva who is the embodiment of syllable "va".
Stotram (5)
yaksha swaroopaaya = whose appearance is like the yaksha (the caretaker of all natural treasures);
jataadharaaya = whose hair is matted, pinaka hasthaaya = holding a pinaka or long three-headed spear (trident); sanaathanaaya = eternal being; sudivya = miraculous, divine; dEhaaya = bodied; digambaraaya = having the four directions as his clothes
Essence: I salute Shiva who looks like yaksha with his matted hair, holding the trident spear in his hand, who is an eternal being possessing a divine body that is covered by all the four directions, to Him who is the embodiment of syllable "ya".
The concluding verse
panchaksharam = 5 letters ( five syllables of na, ma, shi, va, ya and it also refers to the five hymns as above); idam = this or these; punyam = (opposite of sin) virtuous result; yah pateth = on reciting this;
shiva sannidhou = in presence of Shiva, Shiva lokam = Shiva's abode, aavaapnoti = will be in possession; Shivena= Shiva's; Saha mOdatE = to become one or attain bliss in Shiva's company.
Essence: One who recites these 5 hymns containing the five syllables of Shiva's name in His proximity, will reach Shiva's abode and possess his eternal bliss.
To know more about Shivaratri celebration and its religious or spiritual implications, you may view at this link.
