The Sanskrit term Ṣaḍakṣaramāhātmya can be transliterated into English as Sadaksaramahatmya or Shadaksharamahatmya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Ṣaḍakṣaramāhātmya (षडक्षरमाहात्म्य) or “an eulogy of the six-syllable mantra” is the name of the seventh chapter of the Agastyasaṃhitā (agastya-suīkṣṇa-saṃvāda edition), an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the worship of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān.

Description of the chapter [ṣaḍakṣaramāhātmya]: Sutīkṣṇa asks Agastya to tell him about the renowned six-syllable mantra that was revealed by Brahmā, and Agastya replies by telling a story. At Vārāṇasī (Benaras) all Śiva’s devotees were once meditating upon him. Śiva knew, however, that this action would not win for them the mukti they sought. Searching about for an answer to this problem, he encountered Brahmā who had come to Vārāṇasī for a visit, and so he asked him what could be done to help his (Śiva’s) devotees. Brahmā, of course, tells him the secret doctrine [upāya] that had been given him from Rāma. Śiva receives this instruction in the six-syllable mantra—it is the moment of a solar eclipse along the banks of the Ganges—and he remains there for several years performing penance by means of homa, dhyāna, etc. Rāma, pleased by such devotion, thereupon came down to Śiva and offered him a boon. Śiva requests that Rāma grant to Śiva’s devotees their long-sought emancipation; and, even as he is asking, his followers become one with Viṣṇu [sarve jyotirmayāssantaḥ viṣṇāveva layam gatāḥ]. Rāma offered Śiva another boon, and Śiva asks that all who die on the banks of the Ganges, whether naturally or unnaturally, be given the gift of mukti. Rāma agrees, even extending the condition to the smallest insects. Rāma adds that any who hear the six-syllable mantra, either from the lips of Brahmā or now from Śiva, will attain the highest. Also, whoever worships Him (Rāma) in an idol form using the six-syllable mantra, will achieve liberation.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Shadakshara, Mahatmya.

Full-text: Shadakshara.

Relevant text

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