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
จะเป็นผู้เกิดต่ำสุดหรือถูกนับว่าต่ำต้อย จะโง่เขลาหรือเป็นบัณฑิตก็ตาม ผู้ใดมั่นคงในชปะมนต์ปัญจักษร ผู้นั้นย่อมหลุดพ้นจากกรงแห่งบาปทั้งหลาย।
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.