Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana
Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness
जपो नमश्शिवायेति मंत्रराजमिमं हरे । सर्वकामप्रदं दिव्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
japo namaśśivāyeti maṃtrarājamimaṃ hare | sarvakāmapradaṃ divyaṃ bhuktimuktipradāyakam
हे हरे, ‘नमः शिवाय’ हा मंत्रराज जप. तो दिव्य आहे, सर्व कामना पूर्ण करतो आणि भोग व मोक्ष दोन्ही देतो.
Lord Shiva (instructing Hari/Viṣṇu within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadashiva
It proclaims the Pañcākṣarī “Namaḥ Śivāya” as the supreme mantra whose japa purifies the bound soul (paśu), loosens bondage (pāśa), and leads to the grace of Pati (Śiva), culminating in mukti.
The mantra directly invokes Śiva in a personal, worshipful mode (saguṇa upāsanā). In Purāṇic practice it is commonly paired with Liṅga-pūjā—offering water, bilva leaves, and devotion—so mantra and symbol together focus mind and devotion on Śiva.
Daily japa of “Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with a rudrākṣa mālā and steady meditation on Śiva; it may be integrated into Liṅga worship, especially on Mondays and Mahāśivarātri, for both worldly well-being and liberation-oriented devotion.