Shiva Panchakshari

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय । नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ Salutations to Lord Shiva, who wears the king of serpents as a garland, who has three eyes, whose body is adorned with sacred ash, who is the Great Lord, eternal, pure, and clothed in the directions (sky-clad). I bow to Him, represented by the sacred syllable "Na" in the Panchakshari Mantra. मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय । मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ Salutations to Lord Shiva, anointed with the waters of the Ganga and sandalwood paste, the Lord of Nandi and the divine attendants, worshipped with heavenly Mandara flowers and many other sacred blossoms. I bow to Him, represented by the syllable "Ma." शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय । श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ Salutations to Lord Shiva, who is like the sun to the lotus-face of Goddess Gauri, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, the blue-throated One, and whose banner bears the sacred bull. I bow to Him, represented by the syllable "Śi." वसिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य मुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय । चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ Salutations to Lord Shiva, worshipped by the great sages Vasishta, Agastya (born from the pot), Gautama, and other exalted seers and gods; whose three eyes are the Moon, the Sun, and Fire. I bow to Him, represented by the syllable "Va." यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय । दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ Salutations to Lord Shiva, who manifests in the mysterious Yaksha form, who wears matted locks, who holds the divine bow Pinaka, who is eternal, divine, and sky-clad. I bow to Him, represented by the syllable "Ya." पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ । शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥ Whoever recites this sacred Shiva Panchakshara Stotram in the presence of Lord Shiva attains the divine abode of Shiva (Shivaloka) and enjoys eternal bliss in the company of Lord Shiva. Syllable Symbolic Meaning Na (न) Earth (Prithvi), humility, removal of ego Ma (म) Water (Jala), purification, compassion Śi (शि) Fire (Agni), transformation, divine consciousness Va (व) Air (Vayu), life force, spiritual energy Ya (य) Ether (Akasha), liberation, infinite reality