Part 2 - Five letter mantra of Śiva (pañcākṣara)

The Third paṭala deals elaborately with the “Śrīkaṇṭhādinyāsa’ and the sacred five-lettered mantra of Śiva with the “dhyānaṃ’ as follows:

1 Oṃ namaḥ Śivāya

Meaning–I bow to Śiva

The literal meaning of Oṃ namaḥ Śivāya is “I bow to Śiva”. Śiva, here is the supreme reality, or in other words, the inner Self. Thus, while you are chanting this mantra, you are calling for the inner self. Śiva pañcākṣarī mantra is mostly for those seeking protection and safety. It boosts the inner potential and strength, and also fills life with positive energy. It is for everyone and there is no restriction on this mantra. You can repeat it any way you want to.

2 Mahāmṛtyñjaya Mantra

Meaning–Oṃ, We Worship the Three-Eyed One, Who is Fragrant, Increasing the nourishment. From these many bondages similar to cucumbers (tied to their Creepers), May I be liberated from death (Attachment to Perishable Things) So that I am not separated from the perception of Immortality (Immortal Essence pervading everywhere).

Mahāmṛtyñjaya mantra is said to be the most powerful Śiva mantra. Unlike chanting Oṃ namaḥ Śivāya, where you can chant any time or any way you want it to, this mantra has some restrictions. As such, you need to be aware of when and how to chant it. Chantnting this mantra adds courage and other significant benefits in your life. The Sanskrit word “Mahāmṛtyñjaya” means “victory over dead”. So, if you want to overcome your fear of death and other kinds of material suffering, then this mantra is for you.

3 Rudra Mantra of Lord Śiva

This Rudra mantra is the shortcut to please Lord Śiva. It is used to get the blessing from the Lord Rudra. Chanting this Rudra mantra is used to get your wishes fulfilled by the Lord himself.

4. Gāyatrī Mantra of Lord Śiva

Meaning–Oṃ, Let me meditate on the great Puruṣa, Oh, greatest God, give me higher intellect, and let God Rudra illuminate my mind.

Everyone knows that Gāyatrī Mantra is one of the most powerful Hindu mantras, and so is the Śiva Gāyatrī Mantra. If you want peace of mind and if you want to please Śiva, you can chant the mantra.

5 Dhyāna Mantra of Śiva

Meaning–The Supreme One to cleanse the body, mind, and soul of all the stress, rejection, failure, depression and other negative forces that one faces.

If you are looking to meditate upon Śiva, then Śiva Dhyāna Mantra is for you. The mantra seeks to find forgiveness from the Lord for all the sins that we may have done in this life or the past, and thus, this mantra is also effective if you want to purify your soul and negativity in your life

6 Ekādaśa Rudra Mantra

There are 11 Mantras in total. They are:

1 Kapāli–Oṃ Hum Hum Satrustam bhanaya Hum Hum Oṃ Phat
2 Piṅgalā–Oṃ śrimn hrimn śrimsarvamaṃgalayapiṅgalaya Oṃ Namaḥ
3 Bhīma–Oṃ aim aim mano vanchitasiddhaya aim aim Oṃ
4 Virupākṣa–Oṃ rudraya roganashaya agachacha ram Oṃ Namaḥ
5 Vilohita–Oṃ śrim hrim Sam Sam hrim śrim śaṅkar shanaya Oṃ
6 Shastha–Oṃ HrimHrimSafalyayaiSiddhaye Oṃ Namaḥ
7 Ajapada–Oṃ Shrim Bam Sough Balavardhanaya Baleshwaraya Rudraya Phut Oṃ
8 Ahirbhudanya–Oṃ HramHrim Hum Samastha Graha Dosha Vinashaya Oṃ
9 Śambhu–Oṃ Gam HluamShroumGlaum Gam Oṃ Namaḥ
10 Chanda–Oṃ Chum Chandishwaraya Tejasyaya Chum Oṃ Phut
11 Bhava–Oṃ Bhavod Bhava Sambhavaya Ishta darshana Oṃ Sam Oṃ namaḥ

These Śiva mantras are the tribute to Lord Śiva in eleven different forms, Rudra Form. The effects are multiplied if you chant the Mantra that is specific to the month. However, all other mantras can be recited too. Devotees normally practice this mantra during Śiva festivals like or when Mahā Rudra-Yajña takes place.

7 Oṃ astu bhagavāna. Śiva stotram

Meaning–Oh Lord, salutations to you, Oh Lord of the Universe, Greatest of them all!

He who has three eyes (eye of omniscience), he who gives enlightenment which is beyond three (Astral, Physical & Causal) worlds, He who like fire devours all three times (Past, Present, Future) within himself, Life Time, he who ends everything, life time he who disciplines the world into order, He whose body is vast (blue like sky, oceans). Lord of all Beings, Consciousness which is untouched by the world yet everything in the world is because of him.

It deals elaborately with the “Śivanyāsa’ and this sacred five lettered mantra of lord with the “dhyānam’. One should Lord Śiva along with annexture of Śrī dakṣiṇa mūktiṛṣiḥ^[1] gāyatrī cchanda. Thus the devotee shall mention the sage,the metre and the deity controlling this mantra, its seed, Śakti, svara(vowel), Varṇa (letter). He should continuously perform the japam.

Further he should meditate beseech of earnestly to āmreśaṃ or Mahesha with glutton wise through the vool of vighter ear and to deep rember at the root of letter, also he might be meditated as to adhiśvara,^[2] vāyatha and dirghaghoṇyā.

sudīrghamukhyā saha bhārabhūrti svānāsikādakṣapuṭe ca mantrī/
tithīśvara gomukhiśaktiyuktaṃ pravinyasedvāmpuṭe vidhijñaḥ//^[3]

Similarly with long in upper right nose one should meditate to lord Śiva along with “Bhārabhūti’ and “sudīrghamukhyā’ names. In the same left side nose being with “gomukhi’ should meditate to “tithīśvara’ name.

sthāṇvīśvaraṃ vāpi ca dīrghajihvāṃ pravinyasedakṣiṇagaṇḍamūle/
haraṃ ca kuṇḍodarikāsametaṃ vinyasya mantrī nijavāmagaṇḍe//^[4]

At the cheekplace of right, mindfully meditating the name of sthāṇvīśvaraṃ and dīrghajihvāṃ and the foot of the left check, each should minutely meditate to the names of “haresha’ of “kuṇḍodarikā”.

Further in the root of right hand has to be meditated krodhīśvaraṃ^[5] along with mahākālī and at root of left hand, one should pray to “chaṇḍeśvar’, Sarasvatī mantra, there on in that regard.

dyāyennityaṃ maheśaṃ rajatgirinibhaṃ cārucandrabrtaṃsaṃ rannāphalpojjvlaṅga paraśumṛgavarābhītihastaṃvprasannam/
padmāsīnaṃ samantātstumamaragaṇai rvyāgraprakṛti vasānaṃ viśvādyaṃ viśvandyaṃ nikhilabhayaharaṃ paṅcavakraṃ trinetram//^[6]

The devotee, meditates upon the great Lord, Resembing the silver mountain, the Himalayas, putting on the beautiful moon as an ornament, the body dazzling like jewels, pleased well by holding in his four hands, the axe, the deer, the gestures for granting the boon and fearlessness. Seated on a lotus posture, eulogized by the gods all round, putting on a hide of an elephant or tiger, the first in universe adored by all, the God with five heads and three eyes dispersing the fear of everyone.

With the above “dhyāna’^[7] or concentration on the very form of the God Śiva, one has to do “japa’ or repeat the mantra for four times in lakhs of number of letters it contains followed by “homa’ or oblation of ghee sacrificial twings (“samidhi’) for one tenth times of the total number of “japaṃ’ done such as sesameseeds etc. So as to achieve,all the atribitions and eudemonism (sarvasukha) during his life span.

Meditations are two types, which one is Nirguṇa dhyāna^[8] other is Sadguṇa-dhyāna. I am the god or so called īśvar’ always relates and spiritualized, through the contemplation (dhyānaṃ) of nirguṇa. And also when he (God Śiva) is deprived of all these guṇas, and “himself he is called God Maheśvara’.

Whereas the lotus posture of Gods, viz Agni,sun and moon are combinedly worshipped or meditated by “Sadguṇa dhyānaṃ’ in the heart of devotees, in another sense whenever devotee should be meditated sattvaguṇa at that time God increases sadguṇa, he is called “God sadguṇa’, at that period God is the lord of the lokas besides being a great soul. Usually devotee is invoked prayer is offered to him with “Sadguṇa’ dhyāna.

Then “feeding to the Bāṅmanas’ fulfillment of desires in this world and for the sake of liberation in the other world. The author at the end indicates also about the meditation on the God without attributes in addition to his pleasant from with attributes.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Śaivacintāmaṇi, P-3,Śl-2

[2]:

Ibid-Śl-6

[3]:

Ibid-Śl-7

[4]:

Ibid, Śl-8

[5]:

Ibid,Śl-12

[6]:

Ibid, Śl-78

[7]:

Ibid,Śl-79

[8]:

Ibid,Śl-81