SHIVA PANCHAKSHARA STROTAM
The Shiv Panchakshari Stotram is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is based on the five sacred syllables: "Na", "Ma", "Shi", "Va", "Ya", collectively known as "Namah Shivaya," which is one of the most important mantras in Shaivism. Each verse of this hymn elaborates on these syllables.
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्दसूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥
वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्यमूनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥
यज्ञस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥
पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसंनिधौ ।
शिवलोकमावाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥६॥
Verse 1 of the Shiv Panchakshari Stotram:
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै न काराय नम: शिवाय ॥
Transliteration:
Nāgendrahārāya trilōcanāya bhasmāṅgarāgāya mahēśvarāya |
nityāya śuddhāya digambarāya tasmai na kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||
Meaning of the Verse:
- Nāgendrahārāya – One who wears a garland of snakes (Nāga = snake, Indra = lord or king, Hārāya = garland).
- Trilochanāya – The three-eyed one (Tri = three, lochana = eye), referring to Shiva’s third eye, which signifies higher wisdom.
- Bhasmāṅgarāgāya – One who smears his body with sacred ash (Bhasma = ash, Aṅga = body, Rāga = adorn).
- Mahēśvarāya – The great Lord (Mahā = great, Īśvara = lord).
- Nityāya – The eternal one, beyond time and decay.
- Śuddhāya – The pure one, free from any impurity.
- Digambarāya – The one who has the sky as his clothing (Dig = direction, Ambarā = cloth), meaning Shiva is beyond materialistic needs.
- Tasmai na kārāya namaḥ śivāya – I bow to that “Na” syllable of “Namah Shivaya,” which is symbolic of Lord Shiva.
Explanation:
This verse glorifies Lord Shiva in various aspects, highlighting his qualities as the lord of serpents (who adorns him as a garland), the three-eyed god with deep spiritual insight, one who applies sacred ash, representing the transient nature of life. Shiva is eternal, pure, and beyond the limitations of materialism (hence, digambara), and in this verse, the focus is on the syllable "Na," which begins the sacred mantra "Namah Shivaya."
The hymn praises his transcendence over physical attributes and limitations, symbolizing his supreme nature in the cosmos.
Verse 2 of the Shiv Panchakshari Stotram:
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै म काराय नमः शिवाय ॥
Transliteration:
Mandākinīsalilacandanacarcitāya
Nandīśvarapramathanāthamaheśvarāya |
Mandārapuṣpabahupuṣpasupūjitāya
Tasmai ma kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||
Meaning of the Verse:
- Mandākinīsalilacandanacarcitāya – The one who is adorned with the sacred water of the Ganges (Mandākini = Ganga, Salila = water), and sandalwood paste (Candana = sandalwood, Carcita = anointed).
- Nandīśvarapramathanāthamaheśvarāya – The one who is the lord of Nandi (Nandīśvara), the leader of the divine attendants (Pramathas), and the great Lord (Maheshvara).
- Mandārapuṣpabahupuṣpasupūjitāya – The one who is worshipped with Mandara and various other divine flowers (Mandāra = celestial flower, Puṣpa = flower, Supūjita = well worshipped).
- Tasmai ma kārāya namaḥ śivāya – I bow to that “Ma” syllable of "Namah Shivaya," which is symbolic of Lord Shiva.
Explanation:
In this verse, Lord Shiva is described as being bathed in the sacred waters of the Ganges and adorned with sandalwood paste, symbolizing purity and sanctity. He is worshipped by Nandi, the divine bull, and by the host of celestial beings (Pramathas) that accompany him. Shiva is revered with Mandara flowers and other celestial blossoms, emphasizing his divine nature.
This verse honors the "Ma" syllable of the Panchakshara mantra, symbolizing the aspect of Lord Shiva that is worshipped by all beings and celebrated in divine rituals. The verse further highlights Shiva's deep connection to nature, purity, and celestial worship.
Verse 3 of the Shiv Panchakshari Stotram:
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शि काराय नम: शिवाय ॥
Transliteration:
Śivāya gaurīvadanābjavṛnda
sūryāya dakṣādhvaranāśakāya |
śrī-nīlakaṇṭhāya vṛṣadhvajāya
tasmai śi kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||
Meaning of the Verse:
- Śivāya – To Shiva, the auspicious one.
- Gaurīvadanābjavṛnda – The one who is always near the face (lotus-like face) of Goddess Gauri (Parvati) (Gauri = Parvati, Vadana = face, Abja = lotus, Vṛnda = multitude).
- Sūryāya – To the one who is radiant like the sun.
- Dakṣādhvaranāśakāya – The one who destroyed the sacrificial ritual of Daksha (Dakṣa = a powerful being, Adhvara = ritual, Nāśakāya = destroyer).
- Śrī-nīlakaṇṭhāya – The one with the blue throat (Nīlakaṇṭha = blue-throated), referring to Shiva's act of swallowing poison during the churning of the ocean.
- Vṛṣadhvajāya – The one who has the bull (Nandi) on his flag (Vṛṣa = bull, Dhvaja = flag).
- Tasmai śi kārāya namaḥ śivāya – I bow to that “Shi” syllable of "Namah Shivaya," which is symbolic of Lord Shiva.
Explanation:
This verse describes several important attributes of Lord Shiva. He is depicted as constantly residing near Goddess Parvati (Gauri) and radiant like the sun, symbolizing both his energy and his connection with the divine feminine. Shiva is also honored as the one who destroyed the yajna (sacrifice) of Daksha, which was an important mythological event where Shiva asserted his divine authority.
His title Neelakantha (blue-throated) signifies the legend in which Shiva swallowed the deadly poison during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to save the world, thus taking the poison in his throat, which turned it blue. Additionally, his flag is adorned with the image of a bull, symbolizing dharma (righteousness) and strength.
In this verse, the focus is on the syllable "Shi", representing Shiva's nature as the auspicious, protective, and powerful deity.
Verse 4 of the Shiv Panchakshari Stotram:
वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य
मुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
तस्मै व काराय नमः शिवाय ॥
Transliteration:
Vaśiṣṭha-kumbhōdbhava-gautamārya
munīndra-devārcita-śēkharāya |
candrārka-vaiśvānara-lōcanāya
tasmai va kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||
Meaning of the Verse:
- Vaśiṣṭha-kumbhōdbhava-gautamārya – The one worshipped by the sages Vashistha, Agastya (Kumbhodbhava), and Gautama (Vaśiṣṭha = a revered sage, Kumbhōdbhava = Agastya who was born from a pot, Gautama = another prominent sage).
- Munīndra-devārcita-śēkharāya – The one whose head is worshipped by the greatest of sages (Munīndra = great sages) and gods (Devārcita = worshipped by gods).
- Candrārka-vaiśvānara-lōcanāya – The one whose eyes are the moon (Candra), the sun (Arka), and fire (Vaiśvānara), symbolizing Shiva’s three eyes.
- Tasmai va kārāya namaḥ śivāya – I bow to that “Va” syllable of "Namah Shivaya," which is symbolic of Lord Shiva.
Explanation:
This verse glorifies Lord Shiva's association with revered sages like Vashistha, Agastya, and Gautama, showing that even the most enlightened beings honor and worship him. Shiva is also described as being adorned by the worship of both sages and gods, reflecting his supreme status in the cosmic order.
The mention of his three eyes—the sun, moon, and fire—represents his omniscient vision and the balance of creation, preservation, and destruction in the universe. His third eye (the fire eye) symbolizes higher perception, while the sun and moon eyes denote the balancing forces of heat and coolness, or activity and peace.
In this verse, the focus is on the syllable "Va", paying homage to Lord Shiva's role as the divine force worshipped by great sages and gods alike, and recognizing his cosmic vision.
Verse 5 of the Shiv Panchakshari Stotram:
यज्ञस्वरूपाय जितेन्द्रियाय
दिग्वाससे निर्गुणाय शिवाय ।
सिद्धाय सिद्धेश्वराय नमः
तस्मै य काराय नमः शिवाय ॥
Transliteration:
Yajña-svarūpāya jitēndriyāya
digvāsasē nirguṇāya śivāya |
Siddhāya siddhēśvarāya namaḥ
tasmai ya kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||
Meaning of the Verse:
- Yajña-svarūpāya – The one who is the very form of sacrifice (Yajña = sacrificial ritual, Svarūpa = embodiment).
- Jitēndriyāya – The one who has conquered the senses (Jita = conquered, Indriya = senses), symbolizing perfect self-control.
- Digvāsasē – The one who wears the sky as his garment (Dig = directions, Vāsasē = clothed), meaning he is beyond worldly possessions.
- Nirguṇāya – The one who is without any attributes or qualities (Nirguṇa = beyond the three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas).
- Siddhāya – The one who is the perfect being or the one who has attained spiritual perfection.
- Siddhēśvarāya – The one who is the lord of the perfected beings (Siddha = spiritually perfected being, Īśvara = lord).
- Tasmai ya kārāya namaḥ śivāya – I bow to that “Ya” syllable of "Namah Shivaya," which is symbolic of Lord Shiva.
Explanation:
This verse extols Lord Shiva as the embodiment of the sacred ritual of sacrifice, representing his role as the cosmic principle that sustains the universe through the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. Shiva is described as having complete mastery over his senses, symbolizing his transcendence over worldly desires and attachments.
He is depicted as Digvāsas, clothed only by the directions, representing his detachment from material possessions. As Nirguna, Shiva is beyond the limitations of form and qualities, emphasizing his transcendental nature. He is also hailed as Siddha, the spiritually perfect one, and Siddheshvara, the lord of all who have attained spiritual realization.
In this verse, the focus is on the syllable "Ya", acknowledging Shiva's supreme state of perfection and his status as the embodiment of the highest spiritual ideals. The verse highlights his transcendence, purity, and connection to the ultimate truth.
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