Shri Shiva Panchakshara Stotram (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: श्रीशिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम्,

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...

: Śrī śivapañcākṣarastōtram) is a

Stotra ''Stotra'' (Sanskrit: स्तोत्र) is a Sanskrit word that means "ode, eulogy or a hymn of praise."Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'Stotra'' It is a literary genre of In ...

. Stotras are a type of popular devotional literature and are not bound by the strict rules as some other ancient Indian scriptures, such as the

Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...

. In Sanskrit literature, poetry written for praise of god is called stotras. The Panchakshara (

: पञ्चाक्षर) literally means "five letters" in Sanskrit and refers to the five holy letters Na, Ma, Śi, Vā and Ya. This is prayer to Lord

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

, and is associated with Shiva's Mantra

Om Namah Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya (Devanagari: ; IAST: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is one of the most popular Hindu mantras and the most important mantra in Shaivism. Namah Shivaya means "O salutations to the auspicious one!", or “adoration to Lord Shiva". It is cal ...

, of which Namah Shivaya is also called the Panchakshari Mantra. Shiva meditating Rishikesh

Lord

is the main deity in

Shaivism Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangi ...

school of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

. The holy word chant to worship him is made of five letters and is popularly called Panchakshara- Na, Ma, Śi, Vā, and Ya. According to Hindu traditions, the human body is considered to be made up of five elements and these holy letters represent these elements. Na Consecrates Prithvi Tattva (Earth element), Ma does the same with Jal Tattva (Water factor) Si energizes Agni Tattva (Fire element) Va energizes Vayu Tattva (Air factor) and finally Ya energizes Akasha Tattva (Sky/Space element). In this popular Stotra, each of these holy letters is considered as representing

and the Lord is praised for his great qualities. AdiShankara1

Indian philosopher Indian philosophy refers to philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent. A traditional Hindu classification divides āstika and nāstika schools of philosophy, depending on one of three alternate criteria: whether it believes the Veda ...

Adi Sankaracharya Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...

, else called Ādi Shankara Bhagavadpaad is the author of this stotra.

Stotra And Meanings

Naagendra Haaraaya TriLochanaaya, Bhasmanggaraagaaya Maheshvaraaya. Nityaaya Shuddhaaya DigAmbaraaya, Tasmay "Na"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya... Meaning: The great shiva Who has the King of Snakes as His Garland and, has Three Eyes in his face, Whose Body is Smeared with Sacred Ashes and Who is the Great Lord The supreme God. Who is Eternal, Who is ever Pure and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes, Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Na, The first syllable of the Panchakshara mantra. Mandaakini Saleela Chandana -Charchitaaya,

Nandi Nandi may refer to: People * Nandy (surname), Indian surname * Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe * Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi * Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...

ishvara-Pramatha-Naathaya-Maheshvaraaya. MandaaraPusspa-BahuPusspa-SuPujitaaya, Tasmai "Ma"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya... Meaning: Who is Worshipped with Water from the River Mandakini and Smeared with Sandal Paste, Who is the Lord of Nandi and of the Ghosts and Goblins, the Great Lord, Who is Worshipped with Mandara and Many Other Flowers, Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Ma, The second syllable of the Panchakshara mantra. Shivaaya Gauri VadanaAbjaVrnda, Suryaaya Dakshadvara Naashakaaya. Shri Neelakanntthaaya Vrissa-Dhvajaaya Tasmai "Shi"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya... Meaning: Who is Auspicious and Who is like the Sun Causing the Lotus-Face of mother Gauri to Blossom, Who is the Destroyer of the arrogance of Daksha, Who has a Blue Throat and has a Bull as His Emblem, Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Shi, The third syllable of the Panchakshara mantra. Vasishttha-Kumbhodbhava-GautamaAarya Munindra-Devaarchita-Shekharaaya, Chandraarka-Vaishvaanara-Lochanaaya Tasmai "Va"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya. Meaning: Who is Worshipped by the Best and most Respected Sages like Vasishtha, Agastya and Gautama and also by the Gods and Who is the Crown of the Universe, Who has the

Chandra Chandra ( sa, चन्द्र, Candra, shining' or 'moon), also known as Soma ( sa, सोम), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) and ...

(Moon),

Surya Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...

(Sun) and

Agni Agni (English: , sa, अग्नि, translit=Agni) is a Sanskrit word meaning fire and connotes the Vedic fire deity of Hinduism. He is also the guardian deity of the southeast direction and is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu ...

(Fire) as His Three Eyes, Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Va The fourth syllable of the Panchakshara mantra. Yadnya Svaruupaaya JataaDharaaya, Pinaaka Hastaya Sanatanaya.Sanatana means that, which has always existed and will exist forever. Divyaaya Devaaya Dig-Ambaraaya, Tasmai "Ya"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya... Meaning: Salutations to Shiva, who is the spirit of all Yagyas/Homas (fire offerings and fire worship), Who has matted hair, Who has the pināka bow in His Hand and Who is Eternal, Who is Divine, Who is the Shining One and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes (signifying that He is ever Free, Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Ya, The fifth syllable of the Panchakshara mantra. Panchaaksharamidam Punnyam Yah Patthet ShivaSamnidhau, ShivalokamAavaapnoti Shivena Saha Muudate... Meaning: Whoever Recites this Panchakshara hymn in praise of the five syllables of Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya, He is near Shiva Everytime, and Will Attain the Abode of Shiva and enjoy His Bliss.

References

External links

English Transportation
{{Worship in Hinduism Hindu devotional texts Hindu texts Chants Shaiva texts

Stotra And Meanings

See also

References

External links