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
پس دانا سالک کو اپنے استحقاق کے مطابق عیب دار یا ناموزوں دوسرے منتروں کو چھوڑ کر پرم وِدیا—ساکشات پنچاکشری—کی پناہ لینی چاہیے۔ دوسرے منتروں میں سِدھی ہو بھی جائے تو یہ منتَر اُن سے سِدھ نہیں ہوتا؛ لیکن جب یہ مہامنتَر سِدھ ہو جائے تو وہ دوسرے منتَر بھی سِدھ ہو جاتے ہیں۔
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.