Stotra · Shiva

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram

The Shiva Panchakshara Stotram praises Shiva through the five syllables of the mantra “Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya”. Each of the five verses begins with one of these syllables and ends by saluting Shiva as that syllable.

When to recite: Recited in daily Shiva worship, on Mondays and Pradosh, and on Maha Shivaratri.

Verses

1. नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
   भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
   नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
   तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥

   nāgendrahārāya trilocanāya
   bhasmāṅgarāgāya maheśvarāya |
   nityāya śuddhāya digambarāya
   tasmai nakārāya namaḥ śivāya || 1 ||

   To the one who wears the king of serpents as a garland, the three-eyed, whose body is smeared with sacred ash, the great lord, eternal, pure and clothed in the directions — to that Shiva, the syllable “Na”, salutations.

2. मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
   नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
   मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
   तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥

   mandākinīsalilacandanacarcitāya
   nandīśvarapramathanāthamaheśvarāya |
   mandārapuṣpabahupuṣpasupūjitāya
   tasmai makārāya namaḥ śivāya || 2 ||

   To the one anointed with the waters of the Ganga and sandal paste, lord of Nandi and the pramathas, worshipped with mandara and many other flowers — to that Shiva, the syllable “Ma”, salutations.

3. शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जबालसूर्याय
   दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
   श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
   तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥

   śivāya gaurīvadanābjabālasūryāya
   dakṣādhvaranāśakāya |
   śrīnīlakaṇṭhāya vṛṣadhvajāya
   tasmai śikārāya namaḥ śivāya || 3 ||

   To the auspicious one, the rising sun to the lotus face of Gauri, destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice, the blue-throated, whose banner bears the bull — to that Shiva, the syllable “Shi”, salutations.

4. वसिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्यमुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
   चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
   तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥

   vasiṣṭhakumbhodbhavagautamāryamunīndradevārcitaśekharāya |
   candrārkavaiśvānaralocanāya
   tasmai vakārāya namaḥ śivāya || 4 ||

   To the one whose head is worshipped by Vasishtha, Agastya, Gautama and the noblest sages and gods, whose eyes are the moon, sun and fire — to that Shiva, the syllable “Va”, salutations.

5. यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय
   पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
   दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
   तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥

   yakṣasvarūpāya jaṭādharāya
   pinākahastāya sanātanāya |
   divyāya devāya digambarāya
   tasmai yakārāya namaḥ śivāya || 5 ||

   To the one who appeared as a yaksha, who wears matted locks and holds the Pinaka bow, the eternal, divine, shining one clothed in the directions — to that Shiva, the syllable “Ya”, salutations.

Phalashruti

1. पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
   शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥

   pañcākṣaramidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau |
   śivalokamavāpnoti śivena saha modate ||

   Whoever recites this sacred hymn of five syllables in the presence of Shiva attains Shiva’s realm and rejoices with Shiva.