Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
विद्यास्थानं स्वकं रूपमृषिञ्छन्दो ऽधिदैवतम् । बीजं शक्तिं तथा वाक्यं स्मृत्वा पञ्चाक्षरीं जपेत् । उत्तमं मानसं जाप्यमुपांशुं चैवमध्यमम् । अधमं वाचिकं प्राहुरागमार्थविशारदाः
vidyāsthānaṃ svakaṃ rūpamṛṣiñchando 'dhidaivatam | bījaṃ śaktiṃ tathā vākyaṃ smṛtvā pañcākṣarīṃ japet | uttamaṃ mānasaṃ jāpyamupāṃśuṃ caivamadhyamam | adhamaṃ vācikaṃ prāhurāgamārthaviśāradāḥ
Indem man sich an den Sitz des heiligen Wissens, seine eigene Form, den Seher, das Metrum und die vorsitzende Gottheit erinnert – zusammen mit seiner Keimsilbe, seiner Kraft und seiner Mantra-Aussage – sollte man das fünf-silbige Mantra (Pañcākṣarī) wiederholen. Die beste Wiederholung ist die geistige; die mittlere ist die geflüsterte; und die niedrigste ist die laut gesprochene – so erklären es jene, die in der Bedeutung der Āgamas bewandert sind.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s Agamic teaching as preserved in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes orthodox mantra-vidhi (ṛṣi/chandas/devatā/bīja/śakti/vākya) for pañcākṣarī, presenting correct recollection as a safeguard that makes japa spiritually fruitful (phala-prada) rather than merely phonetic.
Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)
Type: panchakshara
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Pañcākṣarī-japa is not mere sound but a conscious Shaiva discipline: one remembers the mantra’s sacred components (ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, bīja, śakti) and then internalizes worship, with mental japa held as the purest and most transformative.
The Five-syllable mantra is a direct means of approaching Saguna Shiva as the presiding deity (adhidaivatam). By refining japa from spoken to whispered to mental, devotion moves from external ritual supports (like Linga worship) toward inward, subtle communion—while still honoring Shiva as Pati, the Lord who grants grace.
Practice Pañcākṣarī-japa with mantra-vidhi: recollect its ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, bīja and śakti, then perform japa preferably as mānasa (mental), or upāṃśu (whispered) if needed; avoid reliance on loud vācika japa as the primary mode when aiming for deeper meditation.