Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
इहोन्नमः शिवायेति मंत्रेणानेन सिद्धयः । स तस्मादधिगंतव्यः परावरविभूतये
ihonnamaḥ śivāyeti maṃtreṇānena siddhayaḥ | sa tasmādadhigaṃtavyaḥ parāvaravibhūtaye
ഇഹലോകത്തുതന്നെ ‘ഓം നമഃ ശിവായ’ എന്ന ഈ മന്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് സിദ്ധികൾ ഉദിക്കുന്നു. അതിനാൽ പരാ-അപര വിഭൂതികളുടെ പരമ പൂർണ്ണതയ്ക്കായി ഈ മന്ത്രത്തിലൂടെയേ ഭഗവാൻ ശിവനെ സാക്ഷാത്കരിക്കണം।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Frames the pañcākṣarī/ṣaḍakṣarī as a ‘portable jyotirliṅga’: mantra-japa yields siddhi and realization without dependence on place, while still honoring pilgrimage as supportive.
Mantra: (Oṃ) namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse declares the Panchākṣarī “(Oṁ) Namaḥ Śivāya” as a direct means to attain siddhi and, beyond powers, to realize Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose grace grants both worldly upliftment and liberation.
In Śaiva practice, the mantra is commonly japaed while worshipping the Śiva-liṅga (saguṇa upāsanā). The verse implies that through mantra-linked devotion and contemplation, one moves from accessible, immanent manifestations (aparā vibhūti) toward the transcendent reality of Śiva (parā vibhūti).
Regular japa of “(Oṁ) Namaḥ Śivāya” with focused remembrance of Śiva—ideally alongside liṅga-pūjā, vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) observance, and inner meditation—so that attainments mature into Śiva-realization rather than mere display of siddhis.