The Shiva Panchakshari Stotra, composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, is based on the
moolamantra of Lord Shiva "Namashivaya".
Each stanza starts with one of the five syllables: na, ma, shi, va, and ya.
Naagendrahaaraaya Trilochanaaya,
Bhasmaangaraagaaya Maheshvaraaya.
Nityaaya Shuddhaaya Digambaraaya,
Tasmai Nakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.
I bow down to Lord Shiva,
Who wears the king of snakes as a garland,
The three-eyed god, whose body is smeared with ashes,
The great lord, the eternal and pure one,
Who wears the directions as his garment,
And who is represented by the syllable "na".
Mandaakini Salila Chandana Charchitaaya,
Nandishvara Pramathanatha Maheshvaraaya.
Mandaarapushpa Bahupushhpa Supujitaaya,
Tasmai Makaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.
I bow down to Lord Shiva,
Who is worshipped with water from the Ganges (Mandakini)
And anointed with sandalwood paste (chandan),
The lord of Nandi, the lord of the host of goblins and ghosts,
The great lord, who is worshiped with Mandara and many other kinds of flowers,
And who is represented bythe syllable "ma".
Shivaaya Gauri Vadanaabjavrunda,
Suryaaya Dakshaadhvara Naashakaaya.
Shrinilakanthaaya Vrushhadhvajaaya,
Tasmai Shikaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.
I bow down to Lord Shiva,
Who is all-auspiciousness,
Who is the sun that causes the lotus face of Gauri (Parvati) to blossom,
Who is the destroyer of the yajna of Daksha,
Whose throat is blue (Nilakantha),
Whose flag bears the emblem of the bull,
And who is represented by the syllable "shi".
Vasishhtha Kumbhodbhava Gautamaarya,
Munindra Devaarchita Shekharaaya.
Chandraarkavaishvanara Lochanaaya,
Tasmai Vakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.
Vasishhtha, Agastya, Gautama, and other venerable sages,
And Indra andother gods have worshipped the head of (Shiva's linga).
I bow down to Lord Shiva,
Whose three eyes are the moon, sun and fire,
And who is represented by the syllable "va".
Yakshasvarupaaya Jataadharaaya,
Pinaakahastaaya Sanaatanaaya.
Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya,
Tasmai Yakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.
I bow down to Lord Shiva,
Who bears the form of a Yaksha,
Who has matted hair on his head,
Who bears the Pinaka bow in his hand,
The primeval lord, the brilliant god,
Who is digambara (naked),
And who is represented by the syllable "ya".