Shiv Panchakshar Stotra (Nagendraharaya) — Lyrics with Meaning
The Shiv Panchakshar Stotra is built on the five syllables of the mantra 'Namah Shivaya' — na, ma, shi, va, ya. Each verse begins with one syllable and describes a form of Shiv. Tradition credits it to Adi Shankaracharya. It is a favourite in daily Shiv worship.
Nagendraharaya trilochanaya bhasmangaragaya maheshvaraya | Nityaya shuddhaya digambaraya tasmai nakaraya namah shivaya ||1||
Mandakinisalilachandanacharchitaya nandishvarapramathanathamaheshvaraya | Mandarapushpabahupushpasupujitaya tasmai makaraya namah shivaya ||2||
Shivaya gaurivadanabjavrinda- suryaya dakshadhvaranashakaya | Shrinilakanthaya vrishadhvajaya tasmai shikaraya namah shivaya ||3||
Vasishthakumbhodbhavagautamarya- munindradevarchitashekharaya | Chandrarkavaishvanaralochanaya tasmai vakaraya namah shivaya ||4||
Yakshasvarupaya jatadharaya pinakahastaya sanatanaya | Divyaya devaya digambaraya tasmai yakaraya namah shivaya ||5||
Panchaksharamidam punyam yah pathechchhivasannidhau | shivalokamavapnoti shivena saha modate ||6||
Meaning
Verse 1
Nagendraharaya trilochanaya bhasmangaragaya maheshvaraya | Nityaya shuddhaya digambaraya tasmai nakaraya namah shivaya ||1||
He wears the king of serpents as a garland, has three eyes, is smeared with sacred ash, is the great Lord, eternal, pure and clothed only by the directions — salutations to that Shiv, the syllable 'na'.
Verse 2
Mandakinisalilachandanacharchitaya nandishvarapramathanathamaheshvaraya | Mandarapushpabahupushpasupujitaya tasmai makaraya namah shivaya ||2||
He is bathed with Ganga water and anointed with sandal, he is the great Lord of Nandi and the Pramatha attendants, worshipped with mandar and many other flowers — salutations to that Shiv, the syllable 'ma'.
Verse 3
Shivaya gaurivadanabjavrinda- suryaya dakshadhvaranashakaya | Shrinilakanthaya vrishadhvajaya tasmai shikaraya namah shivaya ||3||
Auspicious one, the sun that makes Gauri's lotus face bloom, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, the blue-throated one whose banner bears the bull — salutations to that Shiv, the syllable 'shi'.
Verse 4
Vasishthakumbhodbhavagautamarya- munindradevarchitashekharaya | Chandrarkavaishvanaralochanaya tasmai vakaraya namah shivaya ||4||
He is worshipped by great sages like Vasishtha, Agastya and Gautama and by the gods; the moon, the sun and fire are his three eyes — salutations to that Shiv, the syllable 'va'.
Verse 5
Yakshasvarupaya jatadharaya pinakahastaya sanatanaya | Divyaya devaya digambaraya tasmai yakaraya namah shivaya ||5||
He took the form of a yaksha, wears matted hair, holds the Pinaka bow, is eternal, divine, the shining God, clothed by the directions — salutations to that Shiv, the syllable 'ya'.
Verse 6
Panchaksharamidam punyam yah pathechchhivasannidhau | shivalokamavapnoti shivena saha modate ||6||
Whoever recites this holy five-syllable hymn in Shiv's presence attains Shiv's abode and rejoices with him — so tradition says.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
Read next
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Panchakshar' mean?
Panchakshar means 'five syllables' — na, ma, shi, va, ya, which form the mantra 'Namah Shivaya'. Each verse of this hymn honours one of these syllables.
Who wrote the Shiv Panchakshar Stotra?
Tradition credits it to Adi Shankaracharya.
When should it be recited?
In daily morning or evening Shiv worship, especially on Mondays, in Sawan and on Mahashivratri. Many devotees follow it with chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya'.