The five-syllable mantra "Na-Mah-Shi-Va-Ya" is the heart of Shiva worship. In this stotra, Adi Shankaracharya gives one verse to each syllable. It is recited in Shiva temples from Kashi to Rameswaram.
Shiva Panchakshara Stotram: full text
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय॥१॥
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय।
मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय॥२॥
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्दसूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय॥३॥
वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्यमुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय॥४॥
यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय॥५॥
In Roman letters
Nagendra haraya trilochanaya bhasmanga ragaya maheshvaraya
Nityaya shuddhaya digambaraya tasmai nakaraya namah Shivaya (1)
Mandakini salila chandana charchitaya nandishvara pramathanatha maheshvaraya
Mandara pushpa bahu pushpa supujitaya tasmai makaraya namah Shivaya (2)
Shivaya Gauri vadanabja vrinda suryaya dakshadhvara nashakaya
Shri nilakanthaya vrishadhvajaya tasmai shikaraya namah Shivaya (3)
Vasishtha kumbhodbhava Gautamarya munindra devarchita shekharaya
Chandrarka vaishvanara lochanaya tasmai vakaraya namah Shivaya (4)
Yaksha svarupaya jatadharaya pinaka hastaya sanatanaya
Divyaya devaya digambaraya tasmai yakaraya namah Shivaya (5)
Meaning in simple words
Verse one is for "Na": Shiva wears the king of snakes as a garland, has three eyes, is smeared with ash, is the great Lord, eternal, pure and clothed only in the sky. Verse two is for "Ma", the Lord of Nandi and the ganas, worshipped with Ganga water, sandal and mandar flowers. Verse three is for "Shi", Shiva who delights Gauri, destroyed Daksha's yagya, has a blue throat and a bull on his flag. Verse four is for "Va", worshipped by sages Vasishtha, Agastya and Gautama, with the moon, sun and fire as his eyes. Verse five is for "Ya", the form of a Yaksha, with matted hair and the Pinaka bow.
How to recite it
Bathe, sit in a clean place, light a diya and read with a calm mind. For an aarti, sing together and ring the bell. Check today's panchang for the best day and time. Today's panchang.
Questions people ask
When should I recite the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram?
Mondays, Pradosh and Maha Shivratri. You can also read it on any day with faith.
Who wrote the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram?
Adi Shankaracharya (8th century).