Panchakshara Japa Practice
The ritual-practice side of Om Namah Shivaya japa - preparation, mala technique, and the meaning of each of the five syllables, drawn from Adi Shankaracharya's own Shiva Panchakshara Stotram (found at the close of the Rudrashtadhyayi itself) rather than generic mala instructions. This is distinct from the devotional Panchakshara Stotram already on this site - that is a hymn to read; this is the practice of reciting the mantra itself.
Progress
0 / 4 stepsAchaman and brief sankalp
⏱️ 2 minutes
Sip water for achaman, then state your intention simply - that you undertake this japa for the pleasure of Shiv and for clarity of mind.
Mantra:
ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। ॐ नमः शिवाय जपं करिष्ये।
Oṃ Viṣṇur Viṣṇur Viṣṇuḥ | Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya japaṃ kariṣye |
Meaning: Om, Vishnu, Vishnu, Vishnu. I shall perform japa of Om Namah Shivaya.
Understanding the five syllables
⏱️ 5-10 minutes (first time); a quick recollection on subsequent days
Before beginning the count, read (or recall) Adi Shankaracharya's own explanation of each syllable - Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya - found at the close of the Rudrashtadhyayi. Each verse closes on one syllable, building toward the complete mantra.
Mantra:
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय। नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै "न"काराय नमः शिवाय॥१॥ मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय। मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय तस्मै "म"काराय नमः शिवाय॥२॥ शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्दसूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय। श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै "शि"काराय नमः शिवाय॥३॥ वसिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्यमुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय। चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय तस्मै "व"काराय नमः शिवाय॥४॥ यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय। दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै "य"काराय नमः शिवाय॥५॥
Nāgendrahārāya trilocanāya bhasmāṅgarāgāya maheśvarāya | Nityāya śuddhāya digambarāya tasmai "na"kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||1|| Mandākinīsalilacandanacarcitāya nandīśvarapramathanāthamaheśvarāya | Mandārapuṣpabahupuṣpasupūjitāya tasmai "ma"kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||2|| Śivāya gaurīvadanābjavṛndasūryāya dakṣādhvaranāśakāya | Śrīnīlakaṇṭhāya vṛṣadhvajāya tasmai "śi"kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||3|| Vasiṣṭhakumbhodbhavagautamāryamunīndradevārcitaśekharāya | Candrārkavaiśvānaralocanāya tasmai "va"kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||4|| Yakṣasvarūpāya jaṭādharāya pinākahastāya sanātanāya | Divyāya devāya digambarāya tasmai "ya"kārāya namaḥ śivāya ||5||
Meaning: To the one garlanded with the king of serpents, three-eyed, ash-smeared, the great lord; eternal, pure, sky-clad - to him of the syllable "Na", salutation, Shivaya (1). To the one anointed with Mandakini water and sandalwood, lord of Nandi and the ganas, worshipped with mandara and countless flowers - to him of the syllable "Ma", salutation, Shivaya (2). To the sun among the lotus-faces of Gauri, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, blue-throated, bull-bannered - to him of the syllable "Shi", salutation, Shivaya (3). To the one whose crown is worshipped by Vasishtha, Agastya, Gautama and the great sages and gods, whose eyes are the moon, sun and fire - to him of the syllable "Va", salutation, Shivaya (4). To the one of yaksha-form, matted-haired, trident in hand, eternal; divine, radiant, sky-clad - to him of the syllable "Ya", salutation, Shivaya (5).
💡 Tips:
- •This is the same closing verse already confirmed on page 224 of the Rudrashtadhyayi itself, by Adi Shankaracharya
- •Notice that each verse praises a different aspect of Shiv before landing on its syllable - the five syllables are not arbitrary sounds but each carry a specific association
Begin the japa count
⏱️ 10-20 minutes for one to three rounds of 108
Holding the mala in the right hand (traditionally not touching the index finger), recite the five-syllable mantra once per bead, moving through all 108 beads without crossing the meru (the head bead) - turn the mala around and go back the other way for a second round instead.
Mantra:
ॐ नमः शिवाय।
Oṃ namaḥ śivāya |
Meaning: Om, salutation to Shiv.
💡 Tips:
- •Traditionally, the pure "Panchakshara" is the five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya alone, without the leading Om (which would make it six syllables, "Shadakshara"). Both forms are widely practised - many lineages add Om as a matter of course. Use whichever your own tradition or guru has given you; this is a genuine variation, not an error either way.
- •Start with one round (108 repetitions) daily and increase gradually rather than attempting many rounds immediately
- •Keep the mind on the meaning of the syllables occasionally, not only on completing the count
Closing dedication
⏱️ 1-2 minutes
Close with a short dedication, offering the merit of the japa to Shiv rather than claiming it for oneself.
Mantra:
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः। अनेन जपेन श्रीसाम्बसदाशिवः प्रीयताम्, न मम।
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | Anena japena śrīsāmbasadāśivaḥ prīyatām, na mama |
Meaning: Om, peace, peace, peace. By this japa, may Sri Sambasadashiva be pleased - not for my sake alone.
💡 Tips:
- •This follows the same dedication pattern used to close the Rudrabhisheka vidhis - the principle of offering the practice's fruit away from oneself runs through this entire tradition
🌟Benefits of This Vidhi
⚠️Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Rushing through the count without any attention to meaning - even occasional reflection on the five syllables keeps the practice from becoming mechanical
- •Touching the meru (head bead) while counting, or crossing over it rather than turning the mala around
- •Skipping day one's explanation of the five syllables and going straight to counting - understanding what is being recited is part of the practice, not a preamble to skip
- •Comparing your mala-count to others' - the number of rounds matters far less than consistency
💡Additional Notes
- •This practice pairs naturally with the beginner Rudrabhisheka vidhi - many practitioners do a brief abhisheka and this japa in the same sitting
- •The existing devotional Panchakshara Stotram on this site (a different, longer hymn) is worth reading separately for its own content - this vidhi is about the practice of the mantra itself, not that hymn