Shiv Panchakshar Stotram

Adi Shankaracharya’s hymn to Lord Shiva on the five syllables of “Namah Shivaya”, opening “Nagendraharaya trilochanaya”: one verse for each syllable. In English letters, with the meaning of every verse.

Five verses and a closing verseAbout 3 min to recite

Each verse praises Lord Shiva for one syllable of the mantra Na-ma-Shi-va-ya, in order, and ends by bowing to him as that syllable; recited together, the five verses spell out “Namah Shivaya”. The sixth verse gives the fruit of reciting it before Shiva. Reciting from memory? Hide the meaning.

The five verses

  1. Verse 1

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

    Nagendraharaya trilochanaya,
    Bhasmangaragaya Maheshvaraya,
    Nityaya shuddhaya digambaraya,
    Tasmai nakaraya namah Shivaya.

    To him who wears the king of serpents as his garland, the three-eyed one, his body smeared with sacred ash, the great Lord; eternal, pure, clothed only in the directions of space: to that Shiva who is the syllable Na, salutations.

    जो नागों के राजा को हार की तरह पहनते हैं, जिनकी तीन आँखें हैं, जिनके शरीर पर भस्म लगी है, जो महेश्वर हैं; जो नित्य हैं, शुद्ध हैं और दिशाएँ ही जिनके वस्त्र हैं, उन "न" अक्षर रूपी शिव जी को नमस्कार।

  2. Verse 2

    मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
    नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
    मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
    तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥

    Mandakini salila chandana charchitaya,
    Nandishvara pramathanatha Maheshvaraya,
    Mandara pushpa bahupushpa supujitaya,
    Tasmai makaraya namah Shivaya.

    To him who is bathed with the water of the Mandakini, the heavenly Ganga, and anointed with sandal paste; the Lord of Nandi and of the pramathas, his attendants, the great Lord; worshipped with mandara flowers and many others: to that Shiva who is the syllable Ma, salutations.

    जिनकी पूजा मन्दाकिनी, यानी स्वर्ग की गंगा, के जल और चन्दन से होती है, जो नन्दी और प्रमथ गणों के स्वामी महेश्वर हैं, और जिनकी पूजा मन्दार और बहुत से फूलों से होती है, उन "म" अक्षर रूपी शिव जी को नमस्कार।

  3. Verse 3

    शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जबृन्द-
    सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
    श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
    तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥

    Shivaya Gauri vadanabja brinda
    Suryaya Dakshadhvara nashakaya,
    Shri Nilakanthaya vrishadhvajaya,
    Tasmai shikaraya namah Shivaya.

    To Shiva, the auspicious, the sun that makes the lotus of Gauri’s face bloom; who put an end to the sacrifice of Daksha; to Shri Nilakantha, the blue-throated, whose banner bears the bull: to that Shiva who is the syllable Shi, salutations.

    जो कल्याण रूप हैं, जो गौरी जी के कमल जैसे मुख को खिलाने वाले सूर्य हैं, जिन्होंने दक्ष के यज्ञ का नाश किया, जिनका कण्ठ नीला है और जिनके ध्वज पर बैल का चिह्न है, उन "शि" अक्षर रूपी शिव जी को नमस्कार।

  4. Verse 4

    वसिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य-
    मुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
    चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
    तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥

    Vasishtha kumbhodbhava Gautamarya
    Munindra devarchita shekharaya,
    Chandrarka vaishvanara lochanaya,
    Tasmai vakaraya namah Shivaya.

    To him whose head is worshipped by Vasishtha, by Agastya, born from a pot, by Gautama and other great sages, and by the gods; whose three eyes are the moon, the sun and fire: to that Shiva who is the syllable Va, salutations.

    जिनके मस्तक की पूजा वसिष्ठ, घड़े से जन्मे अगस्त्य, गौतम और दूसरे श्रेष्ठ मुनि और देवता करते हैं, और चन्द्रमा, सूर्य और अग्नि जिनकी तीन आँखें हैं, उन "व" अक्षर रूपी शिव जी को नमस्कार।

  5. Verse 5

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

    Yaksha svarupaya jatadharaya,
    Pinaka hastaya sanatanaya,
    Divyaya devaya digambaraya,
    Tasmai yakaraya namah Shivaya.

    To him who took the form of a yaksha, who wears matted locks, who holds the bow Pinaka in his hand, the eternal one; divine, the God, clothed only in the directions of space: to that Shiva who is the syllable Ya, salutations.

    जिन्होंने यक्ष का रूप धारण किया, जो जटा रखते हैं, जिनके हाथ में पिनाक धनुष है, जो सनातन हैं; जो दिव्य हैं, देव हैं और दिशाएँ ही जिनके वस्त्र हैं, उन "य" अक्षर रूपी शिव जी को नमस्कार।

Verse 6: the fruit of reciting it

  1. Verse 6

    पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
    शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥

    Panchaksharam idam punyam yah pathech Chhiva sannidhau,
    Shivalokam avapnoti Shivena saha modate.

    Whoever recites this holy hymn of the five syllables in the presence of Shiva reaches the world of Shiva and rejoices there with him.

    जो कोई शिव जी के सामने इस पवित्र पंचाक्षर स्तोत्र का पाठ करता है, वह शिवलोक पाता है और वहाँ शिव जी के साथ आनन्द मनाता है।

How to recite it

  • When · On Mondays, at Pradosh in the evening, through the month of Shravan and on Maha Shivratri, and every morning while offering water to a linga.
  • How many times · Once is complete. Many recite it 3 or 11 times, or once before chanting “Om Namah Shivaya” on a mala.
  • With what · Before a Shiva linga, offer water or milk, sandal paste and bilva leaves, one for each verse if you wish, and light a ghee diya.
  • To close · Recite the sixth verse, “Panchaksharam idam punyam”, then chant “Om Namah Shivaya” and bow.