Païcäkñari mantra (Aum Namah Sivaya)

The païcäkñari mantra is taught in the Çivä puräëa as consisting of five (païca) syllables (akñara) that are (1) na, (2) ma, (3) çi, (4) vä and (5) ya. To form the mantra ‘namaù çiväya’. OM the praëava is normally not added to this otherwise it gets transformed into the çaòäkñari mantra ‘om namaù çiväya’. Çré Mahämedhänanda is of the opinion that the çaòäkñari mantra ‘om namaù çiväya’ is to be recited by the spiritual aspirants who wish to renounce all the fruits of the material world, perhaps hinting at renunciation. The païcäkñari mantra ‘namaù çiväya’ is the one that is recommended for all people by both the Çiva puräëa as well as Ädi Çaìkara. The Çivä puräëa further advises that the mantra that is to recited by those initiated is ‘namaù çiväya’ while for those who have not been initiated, the mantra is reversed and is ‘çiväya namaù’.

Sanjay Rath writes¹ , "The base of the liìgaà represents Brahma, the middle portion represents Viñëu the Lord of the three worlds (bhu, bhuva and svaù). Mahädeva is the portion just above the middle and the hemispherical top represents Sadäçiva and praëava (om). The base of the liìgaà in the form of a yoni is Mahädevé and the liìgaà is the perfect symbol of Maheçvara. Thus, worship of the liìgaà everyday is akin to worship of all the deva and devé (all deities). These five deities {Brahma, Viñëu, Mahädeva (Shiva), Sadäçiva (om) and Mahädevé (Ädi-çakti} are represented by the five parts of the symbol of OM (`) as Brahma is represented by A (A), Viñëu by U (%), Çiva by M (m), Sadäçiva by the crescent Moon called "näda" and Ädi-çakti by the dot over the crescent Moon called "bindu"2 . Thus, the sükñma (subtle) païcäkñari mantra representing the liìgaà is a - u - ma -näda - bindu (A - % - m -nad - ibNÊ) which, due to the effect of präkåti is transformed into the sthüla (material) païcäkñari mantra na – ma – çi – vä – ya. Thus, the païcäkñari mantra is the repository of all knowledge as it represents the praëava (om) in the form of a liìgaà.

Mahämedhänandanätha (better know is the Jyotiça circles as Çré Dukhiçyäm Patnaik explains that since the païcäkñari mantra is actually evolved from präkåti and is in "sthüla" (bodily) form, it blesses the worshipper with all the bounties of nature but lacks the power to give emancipation. Hence, he advises people to become strong and to give up attachment by using the çaòäkñara mantra (om namaù çiväya), which has praëava in the beginning.

This meaning of the çaòäkñara mantra has been explained by the saint and author or Rämäyaëa Çré Tulsidas as:

Translation: ‘om namaù çiväya’ - we jointly worship Gauré (Çakti) and Çaìkara (Çiva) [in the form of the liìgaà]. He is Mahädeva and the destroyer of Madana (Käma devatä or the god of love - symbolic of all desire) thereby giving mukti (freedom) from the bondage of rebirth as well as sorrow, which stems from desire. By this, he is the revered Çaìkara (çaì means maëgala or all that is good and kara means doer or benefactor)."

The proof of the païcäkñari mantra can be understood from the däridrya dahana stotra of Mahäåñi Vaçiñöha which constantly repeats "däridrya duùkha-dahanäya namaù çiväya" i.e. the remedy to remove poverty (däridrya) and sorrow (duùkha) is the païcäkñari mantra (namaù çiväya).

In view of the above clear expositions of the benefits of the païcäkñari and çaòäkñara mantras, unless a person has already chosen the spiritual path and renounced life, or has been given one of these mantra by his dikña guru, we would recommend the païcäkñari mantra as a prasiddha mantra for daily practise. This view is supported by Ädi Çaìkara in the Païcäkñari stotra.

The Çiva liìgaà is made of two parts called the yoni (base) and the liìgaà (egg shaped top). The Çiva liìgaà used for daily püja at home can be of various materials like black stone, sand stone or metals like copper, silver or crystal. Ideally the Çiva liìgaà should be chosen from the ätmakäraka planet in the chart. Sun – copper, Moon – crystal, Mars – sandstone, Mercury & Jupiter – gold, Venus – silver, Saturn & Rahu – black stone. In reality this does not make much difference and what matters is your spiritual disciplene. Often the yoni (base in the shape of the female organ) is made of metals like brass or gold (wealth) and silver (happy marriage) while the egg shaped liìgaà is made of crystal or back stone or various gems etc, that is placed inside the yoni for the prayers.

The direction of the room shall depend on the individual horoscope. The direction is known from the highest number of dots in the BAV (bhinnäñöakavarga) of the Sun, after sodhana. Fire signs indicate east, water signs indicate north, air signs indicate west and earth signs indicate south. The Çiva liìgaà established in this manner shall not only give wealth, prosperity, peace and happiness but will also cause growth in spirituality. If you are unable to do this calculation, prefer the northeast corner of the house.

The Çiva liìgaà is to be placed on a wooden table or elevated platform above the floor level. The worshipper is expected to face either east or north while performing the püja of the Çiva liìgaà. If the worshipper faces east, then the yoni of the liìgaà should be facing north and if the worshipper faces north, then the yoni should face east. Use a compass to establish the directions properly so that while worshipping, the side profile is visible.

Details of the püja can be learnt form standard literature. Sit cross-legged in sukha äsana or padma äsana. Use a rudräkña rosary of 108 beads for counting. The beads in the mälä (rosary) should be of the same variety and mixed beads should not be used for counting. Mixed beads can be used for wearing like alternate beads of gold or crystal and rudräkña.

· Touch the heart and recite the prayer for Lord Çivä as Éçänä, the teacher.

` ` ùdyay #zan devtayE nm>,

om om hådayäya içäna devatäyai namaù|

· Touch the head with the fingers of the right hand and recite the following prayer to the seer ‘vämadeva åñi’ who taught the mantra for the first time.