Shiva Panchakshari Stotram
Shiva Panchakshari Stotram
शिव पञ्चाक्षरि स्तोत्रम्
ॐ नमः शिवाय शिवाय नमः ॐ
ॐ नमः शिवाय शिवाय नमः ॐ
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै "न" काराय नमः शिवाय ॥ 1 ॥
मन्दाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथ महेश्वराय ।
मन्दार मुख्य बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय
तस्मै "म" काराय नमः शिवाय ॥ 2 ॥
शिवाय गौरी वदनाब्ज बृन्द
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वर नाशकाय ।
श्री नीलकण्ठाय वृषभध्वजाय
तस्मै "शि" काराय नमः शिवाय ॥ 3 ॥
वशिष्ठ कुम्भोद्भव गौतमार्य
मुनीन्द्र देवार्चित शेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्क वैश्वानर लोचनाय
तस्मै "व" काराय नमः शिवाय ॥ 4 ॥
यज्ञ-स्वरूपाय जटाधराय [यक्ष-]
पिनाक हस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै "य" काराय नमः शिवाय ॥ 5 ॥
पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिव सन्निधौ ।
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥
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About This Stotram
Overview
The Shiva Panchakshari Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn of 5 verses, each centered on one of the five syllables (Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya) of the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya," which is the foundational mantra of Shaivism. The verses describe attributes and glories of Lord Shiva corresponding to each syllable, making the stotram a structured meditation on the mantra's meaning. Its authorship is unknown; it circulates within the broader corpus of Shaiva devotional literature.
What are the benefits of chanting Shiva Panchakshari Stotram?
- Channels the accumulated significance of the Panchakshari mantra through verse recitation
- Purifies the mind and supports removal of sins and negative karma
- Serves as a meditation aid by associating each syllable with a specific divine quality
- Supports progress toward spiritual liberation (Moksha) through sustained Shiva worship
When is the best time to recite this?
The Shiva Panchakshari Stotram is suited to morning and evening prayers. It is commonly recited during Shiva Puja, Mahashivaratri, the Shravana month, and on Mondays dedicated to Shiva.
What is the historical and traditional background?
The reverence for the Panchakshari mantra dates to the Vedic period and is elaborated in the Shaiva Agamas and Puranas. This stotram, as a verse commentary on the mantra, likely developed within oral Shaiva tradition and has no identified scripture of origin or named author. It is found in devotional compilations across multiple regional traditions. The five-syllable framework gives the text a structured quality that has made it a useful tool for both worship and meditation in Shaivite practice.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Shiva Mahimna Stotram — a longer philosophical hymn that, like this stotram, addresses the ineffable nature of Shiva's greatness
- Shivashtakam — an 8-verse ashtakam praising Shiva's qualities, also used as a daily devotional recitation