This holy stotra is made of five letters and is popularly called Panchakshara: “Na Ma Si Va ya” (Om Namah Shivay). Each of these letters is considered non-different from Shiva and He is praised for His great qualities.

Nagendra haraya Trilochanaya,
Basmanga ragaya maheswaraya,
Nithyaya shudhaya digambaraya,
Tasmai nakaraya namashivaya. 1

My salutations to the vibration “Na”, which is Shiva,
Who wears the king of snakes as a garland,
Who has three eyes,
Who wears ash all over Him,
Who is the greatest Lord,
Who is eternal,
Who is the most pure, 
And who wears the directions themselves as dress.

Mandakini salila chandana charchithaya,
Nandeeswara pramadha nadha maheswaraya,
Mandra pushpa bahu pushpa supoojithaya,
Tasmai makaraya namashivaya. 2

My salutations to the vibration “Ma”, which is Shiva,
Who is bathed by waters of ganges,
Who applies sandal paste all over His body,
Who has Lord Nandi as his chiefton,
Who is the greatest Lord,
And who is worshipped by Mandhara and many other followers.

Shivaaya gowri vadanara vinda,
Sooryaya daksha dwara naasakaya,
Sri neela kantaya vrisha dwajaya,
Tasmai sikaraya namashivaya. 3

My salutations to the vibration “Si”, which is Shiva,
Who is peace personified,
Who is like Sun to the Lotus face of Gauri (Parvati),
Who destroyed the fire sacrifice of Daksha,
Who has a blue neck,
And who has a bull in his flag.

Vasishta kumbhodhbhava gowthamadhi.
Munendra devarchitha shekaraya,
Chandrarka vaiswanara lochanaya,
Tasmai vakaraya namashivaya. 4

My salutations to the vibration “Va”, which is Shiva,
Who is worshipped by great sages like
Vasishta, Agasthya and Gowtam,
As also the devas,
And who has sun, moon and fire as his three eyes.

Yaksha swaroopaya jada dharaya,
Pinaka hasthathaya sanathanaya,
Divyaya devaaya digambaraya,
Tasmai yakaraya namashivaya. 5

My salutations to the letter “Ya”, which is Shiva,
Who takes the form of Yaksha,
Who has matted hair,
Who is armed with spear,
Who is forever filled with peace,
Who is Godly,
Who is the great God,
And who wears the directions themselves as dress.

Phalasruthi

Panchaksharamidham punyam,
Ya padeth Shiva sannidhou,
Shivaloka maapnothi,
Shive na saha modathe.

Those who read these holy five letters,
In the temple of Shiva,
Will go to the abode of Shiva.