Sri Shiva Panchaakshara Strotram
naagendra-haaraaya trilochanaaya
bhasmaanga-raagaaya maheshvaraaya
nithyaaya shud-dhaaya digambaraaya
tasmai “na” kaaraaya namah shivaaya
I bow down to Siva, who is “Na” the first letter of his mystic word symbol (mantra) who has the King of snakes for a garland, the Three-eyed one, with ashes of cosmetics, the Great God, the Eternal, the Perfect one, who has the quarters of His garments.
mandaakini-salila-chandana-charchithaaya
nandheeshvara-pramatha-naatha-maheshvaraya
mandaara-pushpa-bahu-pushpa-supooji-thaaya
tasmai “ma” kaaraaya namah shivaaya
I bow down to Siva, who is “Ma”, the second letter of the mystic word-symbol ( mantra ), who is anointed with the waters of the river Mandakini at Kedar, and sandal paste, the Lord of Nandi, and of the goblins, the Great God, who is adorned with mandara and the various kind of flowers.
shivaaya gauri-vadhanabja-vrinda
sooryaaya dakshaa-dhvara-naashakaaya
sree neela-kantaaya vrishab-dhvajaya
tasmai “si” kaaraaya namah shivaaya
I bow down to Siva, who is “Si”, the third letter of the mystic word-symbol ( mantra) who is the rising sun causing to blossom the lotus – face of gauri, the Divine Mother, the destroyer of the Daksh’s Sacrifice, the Blue necked One, who has the bull for his ensign.
vasishta-kumbhod-bhava-gautham-aarya
muneendra-devaarchitha-shekharaaya
chandraarka-vaishvaanara-lochanaaya
tasmai “va” kaaraaya namah shivaaya
I bow down to Siva, who is “Va”, the fourth letter of the mystic word-symbol ( mantra), who is worshipped as the most distinguished of Gods by the great Rishis of the Aryas like Vashishta, Agastya, and Gauthama, as also by the Gods and who has the moon, sun, and the fire for His three eyes.
yagnha-svaroopaya jataa-dharaaya
pinaaka-hasthaaya sanaathanaaya
divyaaya devaaya digambaraaya
tasmai “ya” kaaraaya namah shivaaya
I bow down to Siva, who is “Ya”, the fifth letter of the mystic word-symbol ( mantra), who is the embodiment of sacrifice whose locks are matted, who wields the Ponaka-bow, the Eternal, the Divine, the Shining one, having the quarters for His garments.
panchaakshara-midham punyam
yah pateth-shiva-sannidhau
shiva-lokama-vaapnothi
shivena saha modhate
He who reads the sacred hymn of the “five letters” near Siva attains the sphere Siva and enjoys eternal bliss.