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
Par lui, toute étude fut menée à son terme, tout ce qui devait être entendu fut entendu, et chaque devoir fut accompli selon la règle—car par lui fut solidement établie la pratique assidue du mantra «Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya».
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it presents mantra-abhyāsa as the functional equivalent (and culmination) of śravaṇa, adhyayana, and dharma-anuṣṭhāna.
Significance: Affirms that steadfast mantra-practice consummates the aims of learning and duty, orienting the bound soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.
Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: teaching
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.