Panchakshari Mantra - Lyrics, Meaning, Benefits, Download

Learn everything about this Shiva mantra that is known to help bring balance to body and mind

The "Panchakshari" Mantra (or the "five-syllable" mantra) is a soothing prayer to Lord Shiva, in which we seek to balance the five basic elements.

These elements exist both in our body and in the Universe, and this mantra seeks to bring harmony between them.

The sounds of Namah Shivaay are at the core of this mantra.

"Na" stands for the earth, "Ma" stands for the water element, "Shi" invigorates the fire element, "Va" is the element of air, and "Ya" denotes the element of space.

Panchakshari mantra is part of the Ancient Healing Chants of Shiva album.

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Table of Contents

History of the mantra

This mantra was composed by the divine spiritual guru and blessed sage Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

This is one of the thousand Rudra mantras that invoke Shiva in his fierce form Rudra.

Each verse was inspired by one syllable in the phrase Namah Shivaay. And each verse came with a prayer for balance and harmony.

It was believed that by the end of the five-syllable stotram, any devout disciple could achieve closeness in spirit with Shiva.

Lyrics of the Mantra

Nagendraharaya Trilochanaya
Bhasmangaragaya Maheshwaraya
Nityaya Suddhaya Digambaraya
Tasmai “Na” Karaya Namah Shivaya |1|


Mandakini Salila Chandana Charchitaya
Nandishwara Pramathanatha Maheswaraya
Mandara Pushpa Bahupushpa Supujitaya
Tasmai “Ma” Karaya Namah Shivaya |2|


Shivaya Gauri Vandanabja Brunda
Suryaya Dakshadhvara Nasakaya
Sri Nilakanthaya Vrshabhadhvajaya
Tasmai “Shi” Karaya namah Shivaya |3|


Vasishta Kumbhodbhava Gautamarya
Munindra Devarchita Sekharaya
Chandrarka Vaishwanara Lochanaya
Tasmai “Va” Karaya Namah Shivaya |4|


Yagya Svarupaya Jatadharaya
Pinaka Hastaya Sanatanaya
Divaya Devaya Digambaraya
Tasmai “Ya” Karaya Namah Shivaya |5|

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Meaning of the Mantra

The verse-by-verse meaning of this mantra is as follows:

Verse 1 :
Nagendraharaya Trilochanaya
Bhasmangaragaya Maheshwaraya
Nityaya Suddhaya Digambaraya
Tasmai “Na” Karaya Namah Shivaya

~
Meaning :
The One around whom the King of snakes rests as a garland, the One who has three divine eyes,
The One whose body is covered in holy ashes, the One who is All-Powerful
The Eternal One, the Purest One, who wears the vast sky and all directions as
clothes
I seek the blessings of that Lord Shiva, who is expressed in the syllable “Na”

"Na" is also a representation of the Prithvi Tattva, i.e. the earth element.


Verse 2 :
Mandakini Salila Chandana Charchitaya
Nandishwara Pramathanatha Maheswaraya
Mandara Pushpa Bahupushpa Supujitaya
Tasmai “Ma” Karaya Namah Shivaya

~
Meaning :
The One who is revered by the holy Mandakini river, the One whose form is
smeared with fragrant sandal paste,
The Lord of Nandi, and all forms of spirits; whose greatness knows no bounds,
The One adored and caressed by the Mandara and a multitude of other flowers
I seek the blessings of that Lord Shiva, who is expressed in the syllable “Ma”

"Ma" is also a representation of the Jal Tattva, i.e. the water element.


Verse 3 :
Shivaya Gauri Vandanabja Brunda
Suryaya Dakshadhvara Nasakaya
Sri Nilakanthaya Vrshabhadhvajaya
Tasmai “Shi” Karaya namah Shivaya

~
Meaning :
The Auspicious One, radiant like the Sun, the reason that the lotus-like face of
Goddess Parvati blossoms
The One who destroys all evil and shields the good,
The One whose throat is blue and whose emblem is the powerful bull
I seek the blessings of that Lord Shiva, who is expressed in the syllable “Shi”

"Shi" is also a representation of the Agni Tattva, i.e. the water element.


Verse 4 :
Vasishta Kumbhodbhava Gautamarya
Munindra Devarchita Sekharaya
Chandrarka Vaishwanara Lochanaya
Tasmai “Va” Karaya Namah Shivaya

~
Meaning :
The One worshipped by the wisest sages, like Sage Vashisha, Sage Agastya, and Sage Gautama
The Lord of celestial beings, and the Crown of the Universe
The One who has the moon, the sun, and fire as eyes
I seek the blessings of that Lord Shiva, who is expressed in the syllable “Va”

"Va" is also a representation of the Vayu Tattva, i.e. the air element.


Verse 5 :
Yagya Svarupaya Jatadharaya
Pinaka Hastaya Sanatanaya
Divaya Devaya Digambaraya
Tasmai “Ya” Karaya Namah Shivaya

~
Meaning :
The One who is incarnated in Yagna or Holy Fire,
The One with dreadlocks and holds a powerful trident in his hand,
The Divine, the Blazing, the Eternal One,
I seek the blessings of that Lord Shiva, who is expressed in the syllable “Ya”

"Ya" is also a representation of the Akasha Tattva, i.e. sky/space element.


Benefits of listening to Panchakshari Mantra

The Panchakshari mantra holds several benefits for the mind of both the chanter and the listener.

Listening to this mantra along with meditation helps you in the following ways.

Benefit 1 - Energy awareness
It distributes and strengthens our focus over the basic five elements of the body, making the person completely aware of one's energy.

Benefit 2 - Reduces fatigue
The mantra helps to stay aware and away from diseases, and also alleviates fatigue

Benefit 3 - Rejuvenates body
It rejuvenates and rebalances the chakras of the human body with each syllable and verse.

Benefit 4 - Positive energy
Regular practice can also bestow the person's life with a lot of clarity, confidence, and positive energy.

These are the primary benefits of the Panchakshari mantra. It has also been known to remove physical pain.

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