Shloka 38

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरं पंचलक्षं जपेच्छिवमनुस्मरन् । पद्मासनस्थं शिवदं गंगाचंद्र कलान्वितम्

Transliteration

paṃcākṣaraṃ paṃcalakṣaṃ japecchivamanusmaran | padmāsanasthaṃ śivadaṃ gaṃgācaṃdra kalānvitam

Translation

Remembering Śiva, one should repeat the five-syllabled mantra five hundred thousand times, meditating on the boon-giving Lord seated in the lotus posture, adorned with the Gaṅgā and the crescent-moon digit.

Word by Word

• पञ्चाक्षरम्: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः

• पञ्चलक्षम्: five hundred thousand (times)
• पञ्चलक्षम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च-लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial count) = ‘five lakhs (times)’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अनुस्मरन्: remembering/meditating upon
• अनुस्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• पद्मासनस्थम्: seated in padmāsana
• पद्मासनस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म-आसन-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पद्मासने स्थितः)

• शिवदम्: bestowing auspiciousness
• शिवदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शिवं ददाति इति)

• गङ्गाचन्द्रकलान्वितम्: endowed with the Gaṅgā and the crescent moon
• गङ्गाचन्द्रकलान्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा-चन्द्र-कला-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गया चन्द्रकलया च अन्वितः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha setting of this saṃhitā aligns with Kāśī’s Śiva as Lord of the Universe; pañcākṣara-japa is presented as a direct means to attain Śiva’s grace and auspiciousness.

Significance: Pañcākṣara-japa with dhyāna of Gaṅgādhara-Candramauli is a classic Kāśī-oriented sādhana promising śuddhi and Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented sādhana begins with disciplined pañcākṣara-japa joined to dhyāna of Saguna Śiva, the compassionate Pati who grants auspiciousness and loosens the bonds (pāśa) of the soul (paśu).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna-upāsanā—visualizing Śiva with Gaṅgā and the crescent moon—while repeating the pañcākṣara; this supports focused devotion that culminates in deeper realization of Śiva beyond form, often approached through Liṅga worship and mantra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pañcākṣara mantra japa to a fixed count (five lakhs), maintaining remembrance of Śiva and meditating on Him seated in padmāsana; it implies steady daily practice with concentrated dhyāna alongside the mantra.