Panchakshari Stotram — Five Verses
2
Nagendra-haaraaya trilochanaaya |
Bhasmaanga-raagaaya maheshvaraaya |
Nityaaya shuddhaaya digambaraaya |
Tasmai na-kaaraaya namah shivaaya ||
Meaning: To him who wears the king of serpents as a garland; who has three eyes; whose body is smeared with ash; the Great Lord; eternal, pure, clothed in the directions — to him, who is the syllable 'na', I bow: Namah Shivaya.
Note: Each verse of the stotram is built on one syllable of the mantra — na, ma, shi, va, ya.
3
Mandaakini-salila-chandana-charchitaaya |
Nandeeshvara-pramatha-naatha-maheshvaraaya |
Mandaara-pushpa-bahu-pushpa-supoojitaaya |
Tasmai ma-kaaraaya namah shivaaya ||
Meaning: To him anointed with the waters of the Ganga and with sandal; the lord of Nandi and the ganas; worshipped with mandara and many other flowers — to him, the syllable 'ma', I bow: Namah Shivaya.
4
Shivaaya gauri-vadanaabja-vrinda |
Sooryaaya dakshaadhvara-naashakaaya |
Shri-neela-kanthaaya vrisha-dhvajaaya |
Tasmai shi-kaaraaya namah shivaaya ||
Meaning: To Shiva, the sun to the lotus-face of Gauri; destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice; the blue-throated one, whose banner bears the bull — to him, the syllable 'shi', I bow: Namah Shivaya.
Note: Neelakantha — 'blue-throated'. He drank the poison that arose from the churning of the ocean, and held it in his throat. He swallowed what would have destroyed the world — and it left a mark on him.
The Meaning of the Mantra
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Why is Om Namah Shivaya so powerful?
Meaning: It asks for nothing.
Note: Most prayers ask — for health, wealth, protection, forgiveness.
Namah Shivaya asks for nothing at all.
It only says: I bow.
That is why it is considered the highest form of prayer. It is not negotiation — it is surrender.
Chanted anywhere, at any time, by anyone. No ritual is required.