Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga

Devanagari script

पञ्चाक्षराणि क्रमशः प्रोक्तवान्पद्मयोनये । स पञ्चवदनैस्तानि गृह्णंल्लोकपितामहः

Transliteration

pañcākṣarāṇi kramaśaḥ proktavānpadmayonaye | sa pañcavadanaistāni gṛhṇaṃllokapitāmahaḥ

Translation

അവൻ ക്രമമായി പഞ്ചാക്ഷരമന്ത്രം പദ്മയോനി ബ്രഹ്മാവിന് ഉപദേശിച്ചു. ലോകപിതാമഹനായ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് അതിനെ തന്റെ അഞ്ചു മുഖങ്ങളാൽ സ്വീകരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• पञ्चाक्षराणि: the five syllables
• पञ्चाक्षराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च अक्षराणि)

• क्रमशः: in sequence
• क्रमशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in order/gradually)

• प्रोक्तवान्: (he) spoke/declared
• प्रोक्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having spoken/one who spoke’

• पद्मयोनये: to Padmayoni (Brahmā)
• पद्मयोनये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पद्मे योनिः यस्य) — ब्रह्मणे

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पञ्चवदनैः: with (his) five faces
• पञ्चवदनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च वदनानि)

• तानि: those (syllables)
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• गृह्णन्: taking/receiving
• गृह्णन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोकपितामहः: the grandsire of the worlds (Brahmā)
• लोकपितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य पितामहः) — ब्रह्मा

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account to the sages, describing Shiva’s transmission of the Pañcākṣara to Brahmā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (पञ्चाक्षर) नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva
• Panchakshara

FAQs

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

It presents the Pañcākṣara as a revealed mantra transmitted by Shiva, indicating that liberation-oriented knowledge is received through divine grace and proper initiation, not merely self-effort.

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

The five-syllable mantra is a primary Saguna upāsanā of Shiva—often practiced alongside linga worship—where mantra-japa and devotion focus the mind on Shiva as Pati, the bestower of purity and release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Pañcākṣara (commonly understood as “Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally with purity disciplines such as vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, undertaken with devotion and disciplined repetition.