Statue of Shiva, the addressee of the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram

The Shiva Panchakshara Stotra (Sanskrit: शिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्र, romanized: śiva-pañcākṣara-stotra) is a stotra dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva.[1] Comprising five stanzas, it is regarded to have been composed by the philosopher Adi Shankara.

Description

The panchakshara (Sanskrit: पञ्चाक्षर) literally means "five syllables" in Sanskrit,[2] referring to the five syllables of na, ma, śi, vā, and ya. It is associated with Shiva's mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, which also contains these syllables.[3] This hymn explains the significance of these five syllables and their affiliation with the deity.[4]

According to some texts, these five syllables are regarded to represent the five elements of the human body, the chanting of which is believed to energise them. Na is associated with prithvi (earth), ma is associated with jala (water) śi is associated with agni (fire) va is associated with vayu (air), and ya is associated with akasha (space).

Adi Shankara, regarded to be the author of this work

Hymn

The first stanza of the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram is as follows:[5][6]

nāgēndrahārāya trilōcanāya
bhasmāṅgarāgāya mahēśvarāya
nityāya śuddhāya digambarāya
tasmai nakārāya namaḥ śivāya

To the one wearing a garland of the chief of serpents, to the three-eyed one
To the one with the beauty of ashes on his body, to the great lord
To the eternal, to the immaculate, to the one clothed in space
To him, to the one with the letter "na", to Shiva, salutations!

See also

References

  1. ↑ Murty, A. Suryanarayana (1978). Sri Mukhalingam Temples, Including the Worship of Lord Siva, His Attributes. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 48.
  2. ↑ Prentiss, Karen Pechilis (2000-01-06). The Embodiment of Bhakti. Oxford University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-19-535190-3.
  3. ↑ Knapp, Stephen (2012-01-01). Hindu Gods & Goddesses. Jaico Publishing House. p. 104. ISBN 978-81-8495-366-4.
  4. ↑ Ajai Kumar Chhawchharia (2021-02-19). 40= Lord Shiva Book 1 Sacred Hymns Of Lord Shiva. p. 88.
  5. ↑ Nome, Edited by (2009-08-01). Advaita Devatam God of Nonduality. Society of Abidance in Truth. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-9703667-9-5. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  6. ↑ Marga, Bhakti (2013-07-29). Atma Bhog: Bhajans of Bhakti Marga with Chords and Translations. Bhakti Marga Publications. p. 265. ISBN 978-3-940381-97-2.
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