Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga
पूजयेत्पतितो वापि मूढो वा मुच्यते नरः । षडक्षरेण वा देवि तथा पञ्चाक्षरेण वा
pūjayetpatito vāpi mūḍho vā mucyate naraḥ | ṣaḍakṣareṇa vā devi tathā pañcākṣareṇa vā
โอ้เทวี แม้มนุษย์จะตกต่ำหรือหลงผิด หากบูชา (พระศิวะ) ก็ย่อมหลุดพ้น—จะด้วยมนต์ษฑักษระหรือด้วยมนต์ปัญจักษระก็ตาม
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the verse universalizes eligibility: even patita/mūḍha can be redeemed through Śiva-mantra worship.
Significance: Teaches that inner turning (mantra-bhakti) can substitute for external qualifications; pilgrimage merit is implied to be accessible through devotion.
Mantra: (pañcākṣara) नमः शिवाय; (ṣaḍakṣara) ॐ नमः शिवाय (oṃ namaḥ śivāya)
Type: panchakshara
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It declares the primacy of Śiva’s grace accessed through worship and mantra: even a person burdened by ignorance or moral fall can be purified and released from bondage by sincere Śiva-upāsanā using the five- or six-syllabled mantra.
The verse supports Saguna worship as an effective means: mantra-japa and pūjā (often performed before the Śiva-liṅga) become the doorway for Śiva’s anugraha, which burns impurities and loosens pāśa (bondage).
Regular japa of the pañcākṣara (e.g., “namaḥ śivāya”) or a ṣaḍakṣara mantra, combined with Śiva-pūjā—especially liṅga-abhiṣeka and inward remembrance—are implied as direct practices leading toward liberation.