I have observed people doing the Panchakshara Japa.
Panchakshara is Lord Shiva‘s Holy Name , containing Five Akshras.
This is so sacred that it is hidden in the Fifht Anuvaka,protected by Five Anuvakas on either side, in the fifth stanza of Sri Rudram.
‘Sivaya Cha, Sivadharaya Cha’
Akshara means ‘unbounded words, Pancha is ‘Five ”
Lord Shiva’s five Holy Letters are Na, Ma,Si,Va, Ya.
I observed that people pronouncing namachchivaya’ in Tamil Nadu, under the impression that they are Tamilizing (?) the Pachakshara.
The Maha Mantras are letters locked ina mystical way, they will yield results only if they are pronounced properly.
In Namachchivaya the letters become six and is not even Shadakshara.(Six Letters)
The correct way is to pronounce is Namasivaya(check the phonetics of Sanskrit for Sa)
Panchakshar is to be recited with our OM;then it becomes Panchakshara.
When we add OM to this , this becomes Siva Shadakshara(Six letters of Siva)
Lord Subrahmanya’s Akshara is also Shadakshara, Sa Ra,Va, Na, Bha, Va.
This is Skanda Shadakshari.
Now let us the see the rules laid down in the Siva Purana for doing Panchakshara.
1.This Japa is to be initiated by a Guru;without being initiated by a Guru, this will have no results.
2.Vow is to be takes as to the number of times it will be recited.
3.This Japa has to be performed only at the Riverbanks, Beaches,Lord Shiva’a temple only.
4.Food can be taken only once, that too as ordained, -see Mahalaya paksha Post for Diet.
5.Counting has to be done by the fingers.
Counting must be done by the Right hand Fingers.
Start from the bottom marking of the Ring Finger. proceed clock wise through the three marks of the Little Finger,Top cut of the Middle finger ,and complete this with the Index Finger.
This shall complete ten counts.
Once you do ten, keep counting with your left fingers, starting from one.
The top portion of the Body should be covered, along with the hands, including the fingers.
Counting fingers should not be visible.
The Japa should be done in the mind,
To begin with lips may move, no sound is to come out.
One can do this Japa with Japa Mala,Spatika malaa.Pearl Mala or Rudraksha Mala.
Best results are obtained by counting with the Finegrs, followed by Rudraksha,Spatika, Japa and pearl Malas.
6.One should be seated in a posture comfortable to him(Sukasanam), onWoolen rug,Dhrapa Grass ot Deer Skin.
Best is the Dharpasana.
7.One must desist from thinking and doing eveil
One should practice austerity and Compassion.
This is correct procedure for doing Panchakshara Japa.
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