Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra
अंत्यजो वाधमो वापि मूर्खो वा पंडितो ऽपि वा । पञ्चाक्षरजपे निष्ठो मुच्यते पापपंजरात्
aṃtyajo vādhamo vāpi mūrkho vā paṃḍito 'pi vā | pañcākṣarajape niṣṭho mucyate pāpapaṃjarāt
Qu’il soit de naissance la plus basse ou tenu pour vil, qu’il soit ignorant ou même savant—quiconque demeure ferme dans le japa du mantra aux cinq syllabes est délivré de la cage des péchés.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it universalizes eligibility for liberation-from-sin through pañcākṣarī-japa, regardless of social status or learning.
Significance: Promises pāpa-kṣaya and moral-spiritual release through mantra-niṣṭhā; supports inclusive bhakti and the primacy of Śiva’s grace over external qualification.
Mantra: namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
FAQs
It declares the universality of Shiva’s grace: regardless of birth or learning, firm devotion expressed as Panchakshara japa burns karmic impurity and frees the soul from sin-bound bondage, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on divine anugraha (grace).
The Panchakshara mantra is a direct Saguna approach to Lord Shiva—often practiced alongside Linga worship—where the devotee focuses on Shiva as Pati (the Lord) and receives purification and upliftment through name and form-based devotion.
Steady Panchakshara mantra japa (“Namaḥ Śivāya,” traditionally with “Om” prefixed) with niṣṭhā; it may be done as daily seated repetition, and is commonly supported by rudrākṣa japa-mālā and vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) in Shaiva practice.