Aashish

Om Namah Shivay

There are several Shiva panchakshari stotras composed by various saints. This panchakshari stotra, composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, is based on the moolamantra of Lord Shiva "Namashivaya". Each stanza starts with one of the five syllables, na, ma, shi, va, and ya.

Nagendraharaya Trilochanaya
Bhasmangaragaya Maheshvaraya
Nityaya Shuddhaya Digambaraya
Tasmai Nakaraya Namah Shivaya .. 1

Salutations to Shiva, who wears the king of snakes as a garland, the three-eyed god, whose body is smeared with ashes, the great lord, the eternal and pure one, who wears the directions as his garment, and who is represented by the syllable ``na ''

Mandakini salila chandana charchitaya
Nandishvara pramathanatha Maheshvaraya
Mandarapushpa bahupushhpa supujitaya
Tasmai Makaraya Namah Shivaya .. 2

I bow to Shiva, who has been worshipped with water from the Ganga (Mandakini) and anointed with sandalwood paste, the lord of Nandi, the lord of the host of goblins and ghosts, the great lord, who is worshiped with Mandara and many other kinds of flowers, and who is represented by the syllable ``ma. ''

Shivaya Gauri vadanabjavrunda
Suryaya Dakshadhvara Nashakaya
Shrinilakanthaya Vrushhadhvajaya
Tasmai Shikaraya Namah Shivaya .. 3

Salutations to shiva, who is all-auspiciousness, who is the sun that causes the lotus face of Gauri (Parvati) to blossom, who is the destroyer of the yajna of Daksha, whose throat is blue (Nilakantha), whose flag bears the emblem of the bull, and who is represented by the syllable ``shi. ''

Vasishhtha kumbhodbhava gautamarya
Munindra devarchita shekharaya .
Chandrarkavaishvanara lochanaya
Tasmai Vakaraya Namah Shivaya .. 4

Vasishhtha, Agastya, Gautama, and other venerable sages, and Indra and other gods have worshipped the head of (Shiva's linga). I bow to that Shiva whose three eyes are the moon, sun and fire, and who is represented by the syllable ``va. ''

Yakshasvarupaya Jatadharaya
Pinakahastaya Sanatanaya
Divyaya Devaya Digambaraya
Tasmai Yakaraya Namah Shivaya .. 5

salutations to Shiva, who bears the form of a Yaksha, who has matted hair on his head, who bears the Pinaka bow in his hand, the primeval lord, the brilliant god, who is digambara (naked), and who is represented by the syllable ``ya. ''

Phalastuti
Panchaksharamidam Punyam Yah Pathechchhivasannidhau.
Shivalokamavapnoti Shivena Saha Modate.

Anyone who recites this sacred five-syllable mantra, (Namah Shivaya) near the Shiva (linga), attains the abode of Shiva and rejoices there with Shiva.


As I post this article, some thoughts cross my mind.

The cycle of Creation, Preservation and Destruction is eternal. The so-called portfolios are thus attributed to the Trinity-Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Brahma due the unfortunate curse from Narada, his son is not worshipped per say leaving space for a great controversy in the supremacy between Vishnu and Shiva.

Vishnu, Narayana is the preserver. He is called upon when ever there is imbalance of power between God and Evil, Evil being dominant.

He is the only one who takes avataar per say. (Although Rudravatars are also there but they are more a manifestation of Shiva than Shiva Himself incarnating).

However, putting it simply, He is the Preserver of the World and we all agree on that.

Brahma Dev is the creator, The "Vidhata" as we know but ironically not worshipped by Hindus. The only temple in India (will be incorrect to say the world) attributed to Him is in Pushkar, Gujrat.

His role ends after creation apart from giving some really arrogant boons to some not-so-good creatures.

So, creation is His responsiblity or to put in some other words, he is the guy who puts the process of creation in place, sets the ball rolling.

Now some thoughts that crossed my mind tonight.

Creation, Preservation and Destruction is eternal and cyclic. Everyone agrees to this. That means we could say that creation is not perfect since it creates imbalance between good and evil. If such imbalance was not there, preservation would have been unnecessary. However, the process of preservation is also imperfect because if preservation would have been perfect there would have been no need of destruction. Hmm...however, destruction is perfect because it is inevitable fact and the only stage which will re-begin the cycle.

Don't believe me- see History for your self. Dinosaurs were created, could not preserved and were destroyed and then we have Humans.

Well, so is there any scope of doubt now on the subject of supermacy of instincts, if not Godhood?

Moreover, Narayana is asleep on Sheshnag (unless he takes an avataar). Brahma is seated on the lotus unless he ocasionally speaks to give boons. Well, isn't Shiva the only one who does a bit of activity by doing tandava-motion is a vital part of life, don't you agree? :)

(Images from here and here)