Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra

Devanagari script

वेदे शिवागमे चायमुभयत्र षडक्षरेः । सर्वेषां शिवभक्तानामशेषार्थसाधकः

Transliteration

vede śivāgame cāyamubhayatra ṣaḍakṣareḥ | sarveṣāṃ śivabhaktānāmaśeṣārthasādhakaḥ

Translation

Sowohl in den Veden als auch in den Śiva-Āgamas wird dieses sechssilbige Mantra gelehrt. Für alle Śiva-Bhaktas erfüllt es jeden Zweck — weltliches Wohlergehen wie auch das höchste geistige Ziel.

Word by Word

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शिवागमे: in the Śiva-āgama (Śaiva scripture)
• शिवागमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आगमः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उभयत्र: in both places
• उभयत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/स्थानवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• षडक्षरेः: of the six-syllabled (mantra)
• षडक्षरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड् अक्षराणि यस्य/षडक्षरम्)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शिवभक्तानाम्: of Śiva’s devotees
• शिवभक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्ताः)

• अशेषार्थसाधकः: accomplisher of all aims without remainder
• अशेषार्थसाधकः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष + अर्थ + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अशेषान् अर्थान् साधयति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; the verse functions as a śāstra-pramāṇa statement: the mantra is validated by both Veda and Śivāgama.

Significance: Affirms that mantra-sādhana is universally authorized (Veda + Āgama), making every place a field for Śiva-upāsanā; supports pilgrims and householders alike.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Oṃ) namaḥ śivāya (understood); also referenced as ṣaḍakṣara when prefixed with Oṃ

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It declares the six-syllable Śiva-mantra as scripturally authoritative in both Veda and Āgama and as a complete means for Śiva-bhaktas—supporting dharma and leading to liberation through Śiva’s grace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The mantra is a direct method of approaching Śiva in worship; it naturally integrates with saguna upāsanā such as Liṅga-pūjā, where japa and offering are performed while contemplating Śiva as the compassionate Lord (Pati) who removes bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the six-syllable Śiva-mantra with devotion—ideally alongside Śiva-pūjā—serving as a daily sādhana for both inner purification and steadfast bhakti.