After leaving the holy Parayakadavu village and Amritapuri ashram in Kerala, I decided to take a rest in Karunagappally and make some plans. I went to Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva Temple there, which is a beautiful temple near the KSRTC bus stand.
After learning about the temple’s myth, I realized that my choice to rest there wasn’t a coincidence. Even Lord Krishna had chosen it as a resting place.
The temple’s myth goes like this: Shiva and Krishna were walking along a narrow path. They were tired and reached Karunagappally, which used to be a forest. Krishna was asked to find a good place to rest. He found a nice spot and decided to stay there. After waiting for a long time, Shiva went to look for Krishna. Finally, Shiva found Krishna sitting in a beautiful place and wanted to sit beside him.
The temple was very beautiful. On a board, I saw the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram written in Malayalam. It is a beautiful stotram written by Adi Shankaracharya. I immediately remembered the rendition of this stotram by Soooryagayathri. She sang this when she was very young, and it is very addictive if you listen to it. I love this song very much.
Lyrics and Translation (credits: Green Message website):
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै न_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥
Naagendra-Haaraaya Tri-Locanaaya
Bhasma-Angga-Raagaaya Mahe[a-Ii]shvaraaya |
Nityaaya Shuddhaaya Dig-Ambaraaya
Tasmai Na_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||1||
Meaning:
1.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who has the most excellent of Snakes as His Garland, and Who has Three Eyes,
1.2: Whose Body is Coloured (i.e. Smeared) with Sacred Ashes and Who is the Great Lord,
1.3: Who is Eternal, Who is ever Pure and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes (signifying that He is ever Free),
1.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Na”,
The first syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै म_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥
Mandaakinii-Salila-Candana-Carcitaaya
Nandi-Iishvara-Pramatha-Naatha-Mahe[a-Ii]shvaraaya |
Mandaara-Pusspa-Bahu-Pusspa-Su-Puujitaaya
Tasmai Ma_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||2||
Meaning:
2.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is Worshipped with Waters of River Mandakini and Smeared with Sandal Paste,
2.2: Who is the Lord of Nandi and of the Ghosts and Goblins; and Who is the Great Lord,
2.3: Who is deeply Worshipped with Mandara (Arka) and many other Flowers,
2.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Ma”,
The second syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द_
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शि_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥
Shivaaya Gaurii-Vadana-Abja-Vrnda-
Suuryaaya Dakssa-Adhvara-Naashakaaya |
Shrii-Niila-Kanntthaaya Vrssa-Dhvajaaya
Tasmai Shi_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||3||
Meaning:
3.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is Auspicious and Who is like the Sun causing the Lotus-Face of Gauri (Devi Parvati) to Blossom,
3.2: Who is the Destroyer of the Sacrifice (Yagna) of Daksha (Sacrifice of Daksha),
3.3: Who has a Blue Throat and has a Bull as His Emblem,
3.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Shi”,
The third syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य_
मूनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
तस्मै व_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥
Vashissttha-Kumbhodbhava-Gautama-Aarya-
Muuni-Indra-Deva-Aarcita-Shekharaaya |
Candra-Aarka-Vaishvaanara-Locanaaya
Tasmai Va_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||4||
Meaning:
4.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is Worshipped by the Best and most Respected Sages like Vashistha, Pot-Born sage Agastya and Gautama …
4.2: … and also by the Devas, and Who is the Crown of the Universe,
4.3: Who has the Moon (Chandra), Sun (Arka) and Fire (Vaisvanara) as His Three Eyes,
4.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Va”,
The fourth syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
यज्ञस्वरूपाय {यक्षस्वरूपाय} जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै य_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥
Yajnya-Svaruupaaya {Yakssa-Svaruupaaya} Jattaa-Dharaaya
Pinaaka-Hastaaya Sanaatanaaya |
Divyaaya Devaaya Dig-Ambaraaya
Tasmai Ya_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||5||
Meaning:
5.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is the embodiment of Yagna {or Who assumed the incarnation of Yaksha} and Who bears the Matted Hairs,
5.2: Who has the Trident in His Hand and Who is Eternal,
5.3: Who is Divine, Who is the Shining One and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes (signifying that He is ever Free),
5.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Ya”,
The fifth syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.
पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसंनिधौ ।
शिवलोकमावाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥६॥
Pan.caakssaram-Idam Punnyam Yah Patthe-Shiva-Samnidhau |
Shivalokam-Aavaapnoti Shivena Saha Modate ||6||
Meaning:
6.1: Whoever Recites this Panchakshara Stotram (Hymn in praise of the five syllables of Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya) near Shiva (Lingam),
6.2: Will Attain the Abode of Shiva and enjoy His Bliss.
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