Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35
पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra
तेनाधीतं श्रुतं तेन कृतं सर्वमनुष्ठितम् । येनोन्नमश्शिवायेति मंत्राभ्यासः स्थिरीकृतः
tenādhītaṃ śrutaṃ tena kṛtaṃ sarvamanuṣṭhitam | yenonnamaśśivāyeti maṃtrābhyāsaḥ sthirīkṛtaḥ
তাঁর দ্বারাই সমস্ত অধ্যয়ন সম্পূর্ণ হয়েছে, যা শ্রবণীয় ছিল তা সবই শ্রুত হয়েছে, এবং সকল কর্তব্য যথাবিধি সম্পন্ন হয়েছে—যাঁর দ্বারা ‘ওঁ নমঃ শিবায়’ মন্ত্রাভ্যাস দৃঢ়ভাবে প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়েছে।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It declares that the essence of all scriptural learning and religious observance culminates in making the Panchākṣarī—“Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya”—a steady, lived practice, because devotion to Pati (Śiva) is the direct purifier and liberator of the bound soul (paśu).
The mantra “Namaḥ Śivāya” supports saguna upāsanā by fixing the mind on Śiva as the gracious Lord approached through name, form, and worship—commonly alongside Liṅga-pūjā—until devotion matures into inner steadiness and realization.
Regular mantra-abhyāsa (japa) of “Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya,” done daily with steadiness—ideally with focused attention, purity of conduct, and supportive Shaiva observances such as simple pūjā and remembrance of Śiva.