The Shiva Panchakshara Stotram is a most auspicious stotram (chant) composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) in praise of Lord Shiva. Each of the five verses consider, in turn, the five sacred syllables in ‘Namah Shivaya’.
Here I have made a humble, impromptu attempt at singing it. The words and translations are included below (source includes: greenmesg.org).
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै न_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥
Nagendraharaya Trilochanaya
Bhasmangaragaya Mahesvaraya |
Nityaya Shuddhaya Digambaraya
Tasmai Na Karaya Namah Shivaya ||1||
Meaning:
1.1: (I meditate on Shiva) Who has the King of Snakes as His Garland and Who has Three Eyes,
1.2: (I meditate on Shiva) Whose Body is Smeared with Sacred Ashes and Who is the Great Lord,
1.3: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is Eternal, Who is ever Pure and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes ( signifying that He is ever Free ),
1.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Na”,
The first syllable of the Panchakshara mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै म_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥
Mandaakinii Salila Chandana Charcitaaya
Nandi-Iishvara Pramatha-Naatha Mahe[a-Ii]shvaraaya |
Mandaara Pushpa Bahu-Pushpa Su-Puujitaaya
Tasmai Ma Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||2||
Meaning:
2.1: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is Worshipped with Waters from the River Mandakini and Smeared with Sandal Paste,
2.2: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is the Lord of Nandi and of the Ghosts and Goblins; Who is the Great Lord,
2.3: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is Worshipped with Mandara and Many other Flowers,
2.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Ma”,
The second syllable of the Panchakshara mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द_
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शि_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥
Shivaaya Gaurii Vadana-Abja Vrnda
Suuryaaya Dakssa-Adhvara Naashakaaya |
Shrii Niilakanntthaaya Vrsha-Dhvajaaya
Tasmai Shi Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||3||
Meaning:
3.1: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is Auspicious and Who is like the Sun Causing the Lotus-Face of Gauri (Devi Parvati) to Blossom,
3.2: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is the Destroyer of the Sacrifice (Yagnya) of Daksha,
3.3: (I meditate on Shiva) Who has a Blue Throat and has a Bull as His Emblem,
3.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Shi”,
The third syllable of the Panchakshara mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य_
मूनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
तस्मै व_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥
Vashissttha Kumbhodbhava Gautama-Aarya
Muuni-Indra Deva-Aarchita Shekharaaya |
Chandra-Aarka Vaishvaanara Lochanaaya
Tasmai Va Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||4||
Meaning:
4.1: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is Worshipped by the Best and most Respected Sages like Vashistha, (Pot-Born sage) Agastya and Gautama …
4.2: … and also by the Devas, and Who is the Crown of the Universe,
4.3: (I meditate on Shiva) Who has the Chandra (Moon), Surya (Sun) and Agni (Fire) as His Three Eyes,
4.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Va”,
The fourth syllable of the Panchakshara mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
यज्ञस्वरूपाय जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै य_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥
Yaksha-Svaruupaaya Jattaa-Dharaaya
Pinaaka Hastaaya Sanaatanaaya |
Divyaaya Devaaya Dig-Ambaraaya
Tasmai Ya Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||5||
Meaning:
5.1: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is the Embodiment of Yaksha and Who has Matted Hairs,
5.2: (I meditate on Shiva) Who has the Trident in His Hand and Who is Eternal,
5.3: (I meditate on Shiva) Who is Divine, Who is the Shining One and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes ( signifying that He is ever Free ),
5.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Ya”,
The fifth syllable of the Panchakshara mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya“.
पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसंनिधौ ।
शिवलोकमावाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥६॥
Panchaksharam-Idam Punnyam Yah Patthe-Shiva-Samnidhau |
Shivalokam-Aavaapnoti Shivena Saha Modate ||6||
Meaning:
6.1: Whoever Recites this Panchakshara (hymn in praise of the five syllables of Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya) near Shiva (Lingam),
6.2: Will Attain the Abode of Shiva and enjoy His Bliss.
See: Amazing Shiva Chants/Songs
