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Shiv's Panchaakshar Mantra is a Mahaa Mantra which is composed of five letters, Namah Shivaaya. A Mantra is that one or few words which remove all obstacles and miseries of one who reflects on it and bestows eternal bliss and immortality. Panchaakshar is the best among seven crores of Mantra. There are seven Skandh in Yajur Ved. There is Rudraadhyaayee in the centre of the middle Skandh (the 4th Skandh). In this Rudraadhyaayee there are one thousand Rudra Mantra for Rudra or Shiv. But Namah Shivaaya or the Shiv Panchaakshar Mantra shines in the centre of these one thousand Rudra Mantra.

Yajur Ved is the head of Parameshwar, who is the Ved Purush. Rudram which is in the middle of Yajur Ved is the face of Parameshwar, Panch Akshar is His eye, Shiv which is in the centre of the ‘Namah Shivaaya’ is the apple of the eye. He who does Jaap of this Panchaakshar is freed from births and deaths and attains eternal bliss. This is the emphatic declaration of the Ved. This Panchaakshar is the body of Lord Nataraaj. This is the abode of Lord Shiv. If you add ‘Om’ to the ‘Namah Shivaaya’ in the beginning, then it becomes Shadaakshar or six-lettered Mantra. ‘Om Namo Mahaadevaaya’ is the eight-lettered Mantra or Ashtaakshar.

Panchaakshar Mantra is of six kinds, viz.,
Sthool Panchaakshar (Namah Shivaay),
Sookshm Panchaakshar (Shivaaya Namah),
Kaaran Panchakshara (Shivaaya Shiv),
Mahaa Kaaran Panchaakshar (Shivaaya),
Mahaa Manu or Mukti Panchaakshar (Shi)

‘Namah’ means ‘Prostration’. ‘Shivaaya Namah’ means ‘Prostration unto Lord Shiv’.
The Jeev is the servant of Shiv from the Deh-Drishti.
‘Namah’ represents Jeevaatmaa.
‘Shiv’ represents Paramaatmaa.
‘Aaya’ denotes ‘Aikyam’ or identity of Jeevaatmaa and Paramatman.
Hence ‘Shivaaya Namah’ is a Mahaa Vaakya, like ‘Tat Tvwm Asi’ which signifies the identity between the individual and the supreme soul.
Pranav denotes the external form (husk) of the Lord (paddy) and Panchaakshar is the internal Swaroop (rice).
Pranav and Panchaakshar are one.
The five letters denote the five actions or Panch Kritya of the Lord, viz.,
Srishti (creation), Sthiti (preservation), Sanhaar (destruction) , Tirodhan (veiling) and Anugraha (blessing).
They also denote the five elements and all creations through the combination of the five elements.

‘Na’ represents Tirodhan;
‘Ma’ represents the Mal or impurity;
‘Shi’, Lord Shiv;
‘Va’, the Arul Shakti; and
‘Ya’, the individual soul.

Take bath or wash your face, hands and feet. Wear Bhasm and Rudraaksh Maalaa. Sit on Padmaasan or Sukhaasan, facing East or North, in a quiet place or room. Repeat silently the Panchaakshar and meditate on the form of Lord Shiv. Keep the image in the heart or space between the eyebrows.

If you practice meditation regularly, your heart will be purified. All Sanskaar and sins will be burnt in to to. You will attain Shiv-Yog-Nishthaa or Nir-Vikalp Samaadhi. You will attain the glorious Shiv-Pad or Shiv-Gati and become one with Lord Shiv. You will enjoy the eternal bliss of Shivaanand and become immortal.

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