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Shiv Panchaaksharee Mantra

Vaidik Shiv Tattwa Sudhaa Nidhi:

Pranaven vinaa Mantrah soyam Panchaaksharaih Smritah
streebhi Shoodraisch Sankeerne namonto japya eva cha //
Brahmottar Khand

kim tasya bahubhirmantraih kim teerthaih kim tapodhwaraih
yasya om namah shivaayeti mantro hridaya gocharah
mantraadi raajaraajo yasya sarv vedaantashekharah
sarvagyaan nidhaanam cha so(a)yam shaiv shadaksharah
pranaven binaa Mantrah so(a)yam panchaaksharah smritah
striibhih shoodraischa sankeernaiah dhyaayate mukti kaankshibh //

From the above Shaastra Vaakya, it is evident that Trai-varnik should be initiated in Shaiv Shadaakshari ie, (Om Namah Shivaaya) and
An-adhikaaree (not legible to) of Ved should be initiated in Shiv Panchaaksharee ie, (Namah Shivaaya). The Pranav Jap Adhikaar (legibility) comes only to Ved Adhikaarees ie, the Dwij who are Upaveetaa; while Anupaveetaa (whose Upaveet Sanskaar has not been peformed) should chant only Pranav-Rahit (without Om) Panchaaksharee.

Further in the Chandra Gyaaan Tantra which details about the Shiv Panchaaksharee Jap Rahasya and Poojaa says:

sookshmam moolam bhavesya sthoolam vivaranam matam
taaredhikaar yuktastu taarayuktam manum japet
japan anadhikaareetu taaram gachchaet adhogatim
taaren tulya saaroopi so(a)yam panchaaksharo manuh
shaasanaaddevadevasya lOkaanugrahakaamkshinah

This Shaiv Tantra says that there are 2 Panchaaksharee ie., Sthool Panchaaksharee and  Sookshm Panchaaksharee --
Sookshm Panchaaksharee is Pranav (Aum), as it has 5 aspects ie, A, U, M, Naad, Kalaa.
Sthool Panchaaksharee also has 5 aspects ie, Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya.

Adhikaaree of Pranav should chant Pranav-Sahit Panchaaksharee (Om Namah Shivaaya),   and
An-adhikaaree should chant Pranav-Rahit Panchaksharee (Namah Shivaaya).

Further the Shaiv Tantra says that if the Guru initiates this great Mantra without considering the Adhikaar Bhed, he commits Dosh (sin). This sin is applicable to both Guru and Shishya.

Two Pranav
Further, Tantra Shaastra says that there are two Pranav ie, Vaidik Pranav and Taantrik Pranav. The Vaidik Pranav is "Om" whereas Taantrik Pranav is "Aum" (pronounced as Owm as one pronounces the word OWL). This is called "Praasaad Beej". The Taantrik Beej "Hreem" is also called Taantrik Pranav or Shaakt Pranav.

So, non-Dwij (Stree and Shoodra) who are not entitled to study Ved, when initiated in Shiv Panchaaksharee are either initiated in :
(1) Namah Shivaaya, or (2) Aum Namah Shivaaya, or (3) Hreem Namah Shivaaya

To utter the Shiv Panchaaksharee with Omkaar or Pranav, one should be invested with Sacred Thread.

Further for Bhajan of Shiv Panchaaksharee, it is to be noted in Mind that this Mantra comes in Krishn Yajur Ved. In Krishn Yajur Ved, this comes in the middle of Shat-Rudreeya Mantra. In Shat-Rudreeya Mantra, it comes in the middle of the Anuvaak which forms the core of Shat-Rudreeya Mantra. Which implies the "Heart of Krishn Yajur Ved" is Shat-Rudreeya and its essence is Shiv Panchaaksharee Mantra. This is a Ved Mantra which should be uttered with proper intonations. So, Pranav-Sahit Panchaaksharee should never be sung in Bhajan and should not be given to non-Dwij . If interested, they can recite Pranav-Rahit Panchaksharee means, only Namah Shivaaya - without Pranav.

Now, you asked about the discourses of Paramaachaarya regarding this Mantra. My Guru was an eye witness to one incident at Kaancheepuram. During Chaaturmaasya at Kaancheepuram, a group of disciples sought the blessings of Swaameegal and initiation from His Holiness. They were non-Dwij. Kaanchee Mahaaswaameegal gave a gracious glance and gave them Vibhooti and Kumkum as Prasaad and wrote "Namah Shivaaya" on a piece of paper and asked them to chant 10 times. Blessing them said that don't put Pranav before and can freely chant this Mantra irrespective of time and Niyam.

Even if one is still bent upon doing the Mantra without proper Guru initiations, it is up to them. They are requested to read Shiv Puraan which refers to the Adhikaar Nirnaya of Panchaaksharee (rules for eligibility of chanting Panchaakshar Mantra).

Tasmaat Shaastra Pramaan.
 

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