Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
Six verses for the six syllables of “Om Namah Shivaya” — Om, Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya — each one opening a different door to Shiva.
Traditional Sanskrit hymn
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Shiva Shadakshara Stotram
Son of Kali · Sacred Shiva Chants
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
ओंकारं बिन्दुसंयुक्तं नित्यं ध्यायन्ति योगिनः ।
Omkaram Bindu Samyuktam Nityam Dhyayanti Yoginah
oṅkāraṃ bindusaṃyuktaṃ nityaṃ dhyāyanti yoginaḥ
Yogis meditate always on the sound Om joined with the bindu, the point of creation;
कामदं मोक्षदं चैव ओंकाराय नमो नमः ॥ १ ॥
Kamadam Mokshadam Chaiva Omkaraya Namo Namah
kāmadaṃ mokṣadaṃ caiva oṅkārāya namo namaḥ
it grants both desires and liberation — salutations again and again to the syllable Om.
नमन्ति ऋषयो देवा नमन्त्यप्सरसां गणाः ।
Namanti Rishayo Deva Namantyapsarasam Ganah
namanti ṛṣayo devā namantyapsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ
Sages and gods bow to him; the hosts of celestial nymphs bow;
नरा नमन्ति देवेशं नकाराय नमो नमः ॥ २ ॥
Nara Namanti Devesham Nakaraya Namo Namah
narā namanti deveśaṃ nakārāya namo namaḥ
human beings bow to the lord of the gods — salutations again and again to the syllable Na.
महादेवं महात्मानं महाध्यानं परायणम् ।
Mahadevam Mahatmanam Mahadhyanam Parayanam
mahādevaṃ mahātmānaṃ mahādhyānaṃ parāyaṇam
The great god, the great soul, the great meditation, the highest refuge,
महापापहरं देवं मकाराय नमो नमः ॥ ३ ॥
Mahapapa Haram Devam Makaraya Namo Namah
mahāpāpaharaṃ devaṃ makārāya namo namaḥ
the god who removes great sins — salutations again and again to the syllable Ma.
शिवं शान्तं जगन्नाथं लोकानुग्रहकारकम् ।
Shivam Shantam Jagannatham Lokanugraha Karakam
śivaṃ śāntaṃ jagannāthaṃ lokānugrahakārakam
Auspicious, peaceful, lord of the world, who showers grace on all the worlds,
शिवमेकपदं नित्यं शिकाराय नमो नमः ॥ ४ ॥
Shivam Ekapadam Nityam Shikaraya Namo Namah
śivamekapadaṃ nityaṃ śikārāya namo namaḥ
Shiva, the one eternal word — salutations again and again to the syllable Shi.
वाहनं वृषभो यस्य वासुकिः कण्ठभूषणम् ।
Vahanam Vrishabho Yasya Vasukih Kantha Bhushanam
vāhanaṃ vṛṣabho yasya vāsukiḥ kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam
He whose vehicle is the bull, whose necklace is the serpent Vasuki,
वामे शक्तिधरं देवं वकाराय नमो नमः ॥ ५ ॥
Vame Shaktidharam Devam Vakaraya Namo Namah
vāme śaktidharaṃ devaṃ vakārāya namo namaḥ
the god who holds Shakti at his left side — salutations again and again to the syllable Va.
यत्र यत्र स्थितो देवः सर्वव्यापी महेश्वरः ।
Yatra Yatra Sthito Devah Sarvavyapi Maheshvarah
yatra yatra sthito devaḥ sarvavyāpī maheśvaraḥ
Wherever the god abides, the all-pervading great Lord,
यो गुरुः सर्वदेवानां यकाराय नमो नमः ॥ ६ ॥
Yo Guruh Sarva Devanam Yakaraya Namo Namah
yo guruḥ sarvadevānāṃ yakārāya namo namaḥ
who is the teacher of all the gods — salutations again and again to the syllable Ya.
षडक्षरमिदं स्तोत्रं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
Shadaksharam Idam Stotram Yah Pathet Shiva Sannidhau
ṣaḍakṣaramidaṃ stotraṃ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau
Whoever recites this six-syllable hymn in Shiva’s presence
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥ ७ ॥
Shivalokam Avapnoti Shivena Saha Modate
śivalokamavāpnoti śivena saha modate
reaches Shiva’s realm and rejoices with Shiva.
Ṣaḍakṣara means “six syllables”: Om Na-maḥ Śi-vā-ya. This short hymn gives one verse to each syllable, ending every verse with a salutation to it — “salutations to the syllable Om,” “to the syllable Na,” and so on.
It is the six-syllable companion to the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, which treats the five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya. Here Om is added at the start, the seed sound that yogis meditate on as the point (bindu) of all creation.
The verses are simple and easy to learn, which makes the hymn a lovely introduction to Om Namah Shivaya as a meditation rather than just a phrase.
In the Vedic Rudram, the mantra appears as namaḥ śivāya — five syllables. Adding Om in front makes it six, and many teachers say this joins the personal prayer to the cosmic sound behind everything.
Both forms are honoured. The Panchakshara hymn praises the five; this hymn praises all six.
When to chant
How many times
Once, followed by 108 repetitions of Om Namah Shivaya if you wish.
Sit before a Shiva Linga or simply close your eyes.
Chant each verse, focusing on its syllable.
After the hymn, chant Om Namah Shivaya slowly, feeling each of the six syllables.
End with silence.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
oṅkāram
om-kaa-rum.
ṣaḍakṣaram
shud-uk-sha-rum — “six syllables.”
bindu
bin-du — the point.
The music
by Son of Kali
What is the Shadakshara Stotram?
A six-verse hymn with one verse for each syllable of Om Namah Shivaya.
How is it different from the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram?
The Panchakshara hymn praises the five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya; the Shadakshara hymn adds Om at the start, making six.
What are its benefits?
The closing verse says whoever recites it near Shiva reaches Shiva’s realm and rejoices with him.