Singing Pañcākṣarī

Method 1: Pañcākṣarī

Everyone knows the famous pañcākṣarī ‘नमः शिवाय’ (namaḥ śivāya) which represents the essence of the ākāśa tattva.

Some, more adept at the five tattva forms of the pañcākṣarī know that the jala tattva form is ‘शिवाय नमः’ (śivāya namaḥ).

Then there are the experts in mantra śāstra who know that the pañcākṣarī remains a pañcākṣarī mantra even when it becomes ॐ | नमः शिवाय (om |namaḥ śivāya) only when the praṇava ॐ (om) is treated with complete silence and while breathing inwards while the rest of the mantra is spelt out while breathing outwards. Notice a long gap between two recitations of ‘namaḥ śivāya’. This is the inhalation of ‘a-u-m-nāda-bindu’. the omkara is a pañcākṣarī !

These experts also know that the same pañcākṣarī becomes the ṣaḍākṣarī (six syllable) ॐ नमः शिवाय (om namaḥ śivāya) when the praṇava ॐ (om) is spelt explicitly with the remaining five syllables.

Method 2: Pañcākṣarī Extended Krta Chandas

But how many know of the Pañcākṣarī Rakṣa mantra? The Shiva Purāṇa teaches a mantra where the ṣaḍākṣarī is reversed to bring in the two forms of ākāśa tattva and jala tattva which are the protection of Śiva-Śaktī. The specific rakṣa mantra is a 20 syllable mantra and like the Ganga, always protects the singer by removing all evils and everything that is inauspicious.

Method 3: Pañcākṣarī Mala

This same mantra can be sung without the inner action prayer i.e. expunge ‘शुभं शुभं कुरु कुरु’ (śubhaṁ śubhaṁ kuru kuru). Listen to the audio and try singing along. Do they say ‘namaḥ’ or ‘namaha’? Now that you know what is right, share your experience in the forum.

ॐ नमः शिवाय – शिवाय नमः ॐ

om namaḥ śivāya – śivāya namaḥ om