shiva panchakshari manthra

SHIVA PANCHAAKSHARA STOTRA

Nagendra Haaraaya Thrilochanaaya Bhasmaanga Raagaaya Maheshvaraaya Nityaaya Suddhaaya Digambaraaya Tasmai Nakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.

Meaning: I offer my humble salutations to Lord Mahesvara - who has a garland of serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose body is covered with ash (vibhuti); who is eternal; who is pure; who has the entire sky as His dress and who is embodies as the first letter Na.

Mandaakini Salila Chandana Chaarthitaaya Nandeesvara Pramatha Naatha Mahesvaraaya Mandaara Pushpa Vahu Pushpa Supoojitaaya Tasmai Makaaraaya Namah Shivaaya 

Meaning: I bow to Lord Mahesvara, who is embodied as Makaara (letter Ma), whose body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and sandal paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and who is adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara.

Shivaaya Gauri Vadana Aravinda Sooryaaya Dakshaadhvara Naashakaaya Sree Neelakantaaya Vrisha Dhvajaaya Tasmai Shikaaraaya Namah Shivaaya 

Meaning: I offer my salutations to Lord Shiva, who is the resplendent sun for mother Gauri's lotus face (sun causes the lotus flower to open up and bloom; Lord Shiva makes mother Gauri's face bloom), who is the destroyer of Daksha's sacrificial ritual, who is the blue necked Lord (due to the Haalahala poison which He agreed to consume), whose banner bears the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi 

Vasishta Kumbhodbhava Gautamaaya Muneendra Devaarchita Sekharaaya Chandraarka Vaishvaanara Lochanaaya Tasmai Vakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya 

Meaning: I prostrate before the God of Gods, who is worshipped and prayed to by great sages such as Vashishta, Agastya and Gautama, whose eyes are sun, moon and the fire and who is embodied as Vakaara (letter Va).

Yajna Swaroopaaya Jataadharaaya Pinaaka Hasthaaya Sanaatanaaya Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya Tasmai Yakaraaya Namah Shivaaya. 

Meaning: Prostrartions to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksa incarnate, whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in His hand, who has the entire sky as His attire and who is embodied as the letter Ya.

Panchaaksharam Idam Punyam Yah Pateh Shiva Sannidhau Shivaloka Mavaapnothee Shivena Saha Modathe

Meaning: Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters before Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode of His and enjoys the eternal Bliss.