[ Featuring Uthara Unnikrishnan ]
The Panchakshara literally means 'five letters' in Sanskrit and refers to the five holy letters Na, Ma, Shi, Va and Ya. This is a prayer to Lord Shiva written by Adi Shankaracharya, and is associated with Shiva's Mantra Om Namah Shivaya, of which Namah Shivaya is also called the Panchakshari Mantra. The five verses of this Stotra begin with the syllables Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya respectively.
Nagendraharaya Trilochanaya
The Three-Eyed Lord Who Wears The Supreme Snake As His Garland
Bhasmangaragaya Maheshwaraya
The Great Lord Whose Body Is Smeared With Sacred Ash
Nityaya Shuddhaya Digambaraya
Who Is Eternal And Ever Pure, Who Has The Four Directions As His Clothes
Tasmai Na Karaya Namah Shivaya
Salutations To That Lord, Shiva, Who Is Represented By The Syllable 'Na'
Mandakini Salila Chandana Charchitaya
He Who Is Worshipped With The Water Of River Mandakini And Smeared With Sandal Paste
Nandishwara Pramathanatha Maheshwaraya
The Great Lord Who Is The Lord Of Nandi And Of The Ghosts
Mandara Mukhya Bahupushpa Supujitaya
Who Is Worshipped With Mandara And Many Other Flowers
Tasmai Ma Karaya Namah Shivaya
Salutations To That Lord, Shiva, Who Is Represented By The Syllable 'Ma'
Shivaya Gauri Vadanaravinda Suryaya
The Auspicious Lord Who Is Like The Sun Causing The Lotus-Face Of Goddess Gauri To Blossom
Dakshadhvara Nashakaya
Who Is The Destroyer Of Daksha's Fire Sacrifice
Shri Neelakanthaya Vrishadhwajaya
Who Has A Blue Throat And Has A Bull In His Flag
Tasmai Shi Karaya Namah Shivaya
Salutations To That Lord, Shiva, Who Is Represented By The Syllable 'Shi'
Vasishtha Kumbhodbhava Gautamaadi
Who Is Worshipped By Supreme Sages Like Vashistha, The Pot-Born Sage Agastya And Gautama And Others
Muneendra Devarchita Shekharaya
... And Also By The Devas, And Who Is The Crown Of The Universe
Chandrarka Vaishwanara Lochanaya
Who Has The Moon, Sun And Fire As His Three Eyes
Tasmai Va Karaya Namah Shivaya
Salutations To That Lord, Shiva, Who Is Represented By The Syllable 'Va'
Yaksha Swaroopaya Jatadharaya
He Who Has Taken The Form Of A Divine Spirit, And Who Has Matted Hair
Pinaka Hastaya Sanatanaya
The Eternal Lord Who Has The Pinaka Bow In His Hand
Divyaya Devaya Digambaraya
The Lustrous Divine God Who Has The Four Directions As His Clothes
Tasmai Ya Karaya Namah Shivaya
Salutations To That Lord, Shiva, Who Is Represented By The Syllable 'Ya'
Panchaksharamidam Punyam Yah Pathet Shiva Sannidhau
Whoever Recites This Panchakshara Stotram Near Shiva
Shivalokam Avapnoti Shivena Saha Modate
Shall Attain The Abode Of Shiva And Enjoy His Bliss
Shivam Shivakaram Shantam
(Salutations To) The Auspicious One, Who Creates Auspiciousness, Who Is Peaceful
Shivatmanam Shivottamam
Whose Soul Is Auspiciousness, Who Is The Greatest Form Of Auspiciousness
Shivamarga Pranetaram
Who Shows The Path Of Auspiciousness
Pranamami Sada Shivam
I Salute That Eternally Auspicious Lord Shiva
