Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 71
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
तस्मान्मंत्रान्तरांस्त्यक्त्वा सापायान् १ धिकारतः । आश्रमेत्परमां विद्यां साक्षात्पञ्चाक्षरीं बुधः । मंत्रान्तरेषु सिद्धेषु मंत्र एष न सिध्यति । सिद्धे त्वस्मिन्महामंत्रे ते च सिद्धा भवंत्युत
tasmānmaṃtrāntarāṃstyaktvā sāpāyān 1 dhikārataḥ | āśrametparamāṃ vidyāṃ sākṣātpañcākṣarīṃ budhaḥ | maṃtrāntareṣu siddheṣu maṃtra eṣa na sidhyati | siddhe tvasminmahāmaṃtre te ca siddhā bhavaṃtyuta
ฉะนั้น ผู้รู้ควรละมนตร์อื่น ๆ ตามความเหมาะสมแห่งคุณสมบัติของตน โดยเฉพาะมนตร์ที่มีโทษหรือไม่เหมาะ แล้วเข้าพึ่งพาวิทยาสูงสุด คือปัญจักษรีอันปรากฏโดยตรง แม้มนตร์อื่นจะสำเร็จแล้ว มนตร์นี้ก็ไม่สำเร็จเพราะสิ่งนั้น; แต่เมื่อมหามนตร์นี้สำเร็จ มนตร์อื่น ๆ ก็สำเร็จตามไปด้วย
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes Pañcākṣarī as ‘paramā vidyā’ and the root-mantra: perfecting it is portrayed as conferring derivative perfection upon other mantras—an integrative Śaiva hierarchy of mantras.
Mantra: नमः शिवाय
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
FAQs
It establishes the Pañcākṣarī (Namaḥ Śivāya) as the supreme, direct means to Shiva-realization: perfecting it brings inner purification and grants the fruit of other practices, aligning with the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Pati (Shiva) as the liberating Lord.
The Pañcākṣarī is the mantra-form of Shiva used in Saguna worship—especially in Linga-pūjā—where mantra, devotion, and ritual converge; the verse teaches that this central Shiva-mantra is the root-support for all subsidiary rites and mantras.
Prioritize japa and contemplation of the Pañcākṣarī (Namaḥ Śivāya), taking it as one’s main upāsanā according to eligibility; other mantras and ancillary rites become fruitful when anchored in this Mahāmantra.