Of all the stotras (hymns) written by Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya, the most popular is the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram. This stotra of Lord Shiva is based on the five-letter Mahamantra, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. It can be said without any doubt that this stotra is in fact an impeccable poetic creation of Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya.  Jagatguru Shankaracharya dedicated this five-syllable hymn to Lord Maheshwara. Today I would like to present this stotra with Bengali translation.

ओम् नमः शिवाय शिवाय नमः ओम्
ओम् नमः शिवाय शिवाय नमः ओम्

Aum namah shivaya shivaya namah aum
Aum namah shivaya shivaya namah aum

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै न_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥

nagendraharaya trilochanaya।
bhasmangaragaya mahesvaraya
nityaya suddhaya digambaraya
tasmai na karaya namah shivaya।।1।।

Meaning : He who wears the serpent’s necklace around his neck and who is adorned with three eyes, he who always adorns himself with ashes and who is Maheshwara, he who is eternal, pure and naked, I salute that god, Lord Shiva represented by the syllable ‘na’.

मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै म_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥

mandakini salila chandana charchitaya
nandisvara pramathanatha mahesvaraya
mandara pushpa bahupushpa supujitaya
tasmai ma karaya namah shivaya।।2।।

Meaning: He who is worshipped with water from the Mandakini river and smeared with sandal paste, who is the lord of Nandi and other ganas, who is famous in the name of Maheshwara and always adored with Mandara and many other flowers, I salute that god Shiva represented by the syllable, ‘ma’.

शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द_
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शि_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥

shivaya gauri vadanabja brnda
suryaya dakshadhvara nashakaya
sri nilakanthaya Vrshadhvajaya
tasmai shi karaya namah shivaya।।3।।

Meaning: He who is peace personified and who is like the Sun to the Lotus face of Gauri, who destroyed the yajna of Daksha, who has a bull symbol in his flag, I salute that god Shiva represented by the syllable, ‘shi’.

वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य_
मूनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
तस्मै व_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥

vashistha kumbhodbhava gautamarya
munindra devarchita shekharaya।
chandrarka vaishvanara lochanaya
tasmai va karaya namah shivaya॥4॥

Meaning: He who is worshipped by the great sages – Vasishtha, Agasthya and Gautama, and also by the gods, who has the sun, moon, and fire as his three eyes, I salute that god, Shiva represented by the syllable “va”.

यज्ञस्वरूपाय {यक्षस्वरूपाय} जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै य_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥

yagna svarupaya jatadharaya
pinaka hastaya sanatanaya।
divyaya devaya digambaraya
tasmai ya karaya namah shivaya॥5॥

Meaning: He who takes the form of yajna (fire sacrifice) and who has matted locks, who has the trident in his hand and who is eternal, who is divine, who is the shining one and who wears the directions themselves as dress, I salute that god, Shiva represented by the syllable “ya”.

पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसंनिधौ ।
शिवलोकमावाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥६॥

panchaksharamidam punyam yah pathechchiva।
sannidhau shivalokamavapnoti sivena saha modate॥6॥

Meaning: He who recites this Panchakshara Stotram near Lord Shiva, will attain Shiva’s abode and enjoy his bliss.

Talker: Krishna Das