Shiva Panchakshara Stotra

Five verses by Adi Shankaracharya, each meditating on one syllable of the Panchakshara mantra "Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya".

Significance & Benefits

Grants liberation (moksha), removes all karma. Shiva's direct grace.

Full Text — Shiva Panchakshara Stotra

Verse 1

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय।नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय॥

Nagendra-Haraya Tri-Lochanaya Bhasma-Anga-Ragaya Maheshwaraya.Nityaya Shuddhaya Digambaraya Tasmai Nakaraya Namah Shivaya.

To the one who wears the king of snakes as garland, who has three eyes, who is smeared with ash, who is Maheshwara — to the eternal, pure, sky-clad one — to that Shiva represented by "Na", I bow.

Verse 2

मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय।मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय॥

Mandakini-Salila-Chandana-Charchitaya Nandishvara-Pramatha-Natha-Maheshwaraya.Mandara-Pushpa-Bahu-Pushpa-Supujitaya Tasmai Makaraya Namah Shivaya.

To the one anointed with Ganga water and sandalwood, to the Lord of Nandi and the Pramathas, to the one well-worshipped with Mandara and many flowers — to that Shiva represented by "Ma", I bow.

Verse 3

शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जबृंदसूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय।श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय॥

Shivaya Gauri-Vadana-Abja-Vrinda-Suryaya Daksha-Adhvara-Nashakaya.Shri-Nilakanthaya Vrishadhwajaya Tasmai Shikaraya Namah Shivaya.

To the auspicious one, who is like the sun to the lotus-face of Gauri, who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, who has a blue throat, whose banner bears the bull — to that Shiva represented by "Shi", I bow.

Verse 4

वसिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्यमूनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय।चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय॥

Vasistha-Kumbha-Udbhava-Gautama-Arya-Muni-Indra-Deva-Archita-Shekharaya.Chandra-Arka-Vaishvanara-Lochanaya Tasmai Vakaraya Namah Shivaya.

To the one worshipped as the crown jewel by Vasishtha, Agastya, Gautama and the great sages and gods, whose three eyes are the moon, the sun, and fire — to that Shiva represented by "Va", I bow.

Verse 5

यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय।दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय॥

Yaksha-Swarupaya Jata-Dharaya Pinaka-Hastaya Sanatanaya.Divyaya Devaya Digambaraya Tasmai Yakaraya Namah Shivaya.

To the one who assumed the form of a Yaksha, who wears matted locks, who holds the Pinaka bow, who is eternal, divine, the Lord, sky-clad — to that Shiva represented by "Ya", I bow.