Sri Shiva Panchakshara Stotram is believed to be composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya in praise of Lord Shiva. It has five stanzas.
Sri Shiva Panchakshara consists of five syllables namely na, ma, shi, vaa, ya in the word “Namashivaaya”. The Stotram is about the attribute for each syllable.
The benefit of chanting this Sloka is given at the end.
This narrative contains the Devanagari and English scripts of Shiva Panchakshara Stotram and a simple English translation.
नागेन्द्र हाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्ग रागाय महेश्वराय
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥
nagendhra haaraaya thriloachanaaya Bhasmaanga raagaaya maheshwaraaya
nithyaaya shudhaaya dikambaraaya thasmai nakaaraaya namah shivaaya
Lord Shiva
-adorns the king of serpents as His garland;
-has three eyes (sun, moon and fire);
-has his body smeared with ashes;
-is the supreme Lord;
-is perennial;
-is sterile; and
-wears the directions as His clothes;
Thus, He depicts “Na” in the Mantra “Namah Shivaaya”.
मन्दाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथ महेश्वराय
मन्दार पुष्पबहु पुष्पसु पूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥
mandhaakini salilia chandhana charchithaaya nandiswara pramaThanaaTha maheshwaraaya
mandaara puShpabahu puShpasu pujithaaya thasmai makaaraaya namah shivaaya
River Ganges flows with ease on the Head of Sri Shiva;
Lord Shiva is
-smeared with sandal paste;
-the Lord of Nandi, His vahan;
-the primary leader;
-the supreme Lord; and
-worshipped with mandara flowers.
Thus, He depicts “Ma” in the Mantra “Namah Shivaaya”.
शिवाय गौरी वदनाब्ज वृन्द सूर्याय दक्षाध्वर नाशकाय
श्रीनील कण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥
shivaaya gowri vadhanaabja brundha sooryaaya dhakShaThvara nashakaaya
shreeneela kaNTaaya vruShadhvajaaya thasmai shikaaraaya namah shivaaya
Lord Shiva
-is like a Sun to the lotus face of Sri Gowri, His consort;
-had destroyed the yagna of Daksha;
-is blue necked; and
-has bull in His flag.
Thus, He depicts “Shi” in the Mantra “Namah Shivaaya”.
वशिष्ठ कुम्भोद्भव गौतमार्य मूनीन्द्र देवार्चित शेखराय
चन्द्रार्क वैश्वा नरलोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥
vashistha kumbhod-Bhava gauthamarya munindhra dhevaarchitha shekharaaya
chandraarka vaishvaanara lochanaaya thasmai vakaaraya namah shivaaya
Lord Shiva
-is ardently worshipped by Sages such as Vasishta, Agasthya and Gowthama;
-is also worshipped by Devas; and
-has Sun, Moon and the Fire as His eyes.
Thus, He depicts “Va” in the Mantra “Namah Shivaaya”.
यज्ञ स्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाक हस्ताय सनातनाय
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥
yaksha swaroopaaya jataaDharaaya pinaaka hasthaaya sanaathanaaya
dhivyaaya dhevaaya dhikambaraaya thasmai yakaaraaya namah shivaaya
Lord Shiva
-is in the form of Yaksha;
-has plaits on hair;
-holds bow and arrow in His hand;
-is permanent;
-is divine;
-is the God; and
-wears directions are garment.
Thus, He depicts “Ya” in the Mantra “Namah Shivaaya”.
पञ्चाक्षर मिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसंनिधौ
शिवलोक मावाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥६॥
panchakSharam idham puNyam yah paTech-shiva sanniDhou
shivaloka mavaapnothi shivena saha modhathe
Reading the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram with devotion in the sanctum of Lord Shiva shall entail a place in Shiva’s world and the person can happily be with Lord Shiva.
Om Nama Shivaya Namaha!!!
