Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the Panchakshara stotram is based on the moolmantra of Lord Shiva – “Nama Shivaya”.
Each stanza starts with the five syllables of Na, Ma, Shi, Va and Ya.
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नागेन्द्रहाराय विलोचनाय
भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ १ ॥
My salutations to the letter “Na”, which is Shiva,
Who wears as garland the king of snakes. Who has three eyes,
Who wears ash all over Him, Who is the greatest Lord,
Who is forever, Who is the cleanest,
And who wears the directions themselves his clothes.
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारमुख्यबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै मकारमहिताय नमः शिवाय ॥ २ ॥
My salutations to the letter “Ma”, which is Shiva,
Who is bathed by waters of ganges, Who applies sandal paste all over him,
Who has Lord Nandi as his chiefton, Who is the greatest lord,
And who is worshipped by Mandhara and many other flowers.
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जबृन्द-
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ ३ ॥
My salutations to the letter “Si”, which is Shiva,
Who is peace personified, Who is like Sun to the Lotus face of Gowri,
Who destroyed the fire sacrifice of Daksha,
Who has a blue neck, And who has a bull in his flag.
वसिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य-
मुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ ४ ॥
My salutations to the letter “Va”, which is Shiva,
Who is worshipped by great sages like, Vasishta, Agasthya and Gowthama,
As also the devas,
And who has sun, moon and fire as his three eyes.
यज्ञस्वरूपाय जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ ५ ॥
My salutations to the letter “Ya”, which is Shiva,
Who takes the form of Yaksha, Who has a tufted hair,
Who is armed with spear, Who is forever filled with peace, Who is godly,
Who is the great God, And who wears the directions themselves his clothes.
