panchabrahma mantras
Lord Shiva with five faces is called Panchabrahma, Five faces represents five directions for each face (personality) worship with different mantras These Mantras can be used to worship Lord Shiva and his five personalities.
Sadyojata:West Face
West is called as “Paschima or Pratyak”. The soul is called as “Pratyagaatma”. “Sadyaha which means just now and Jataha means now born. Shiva makes his presence felt through the countless souls being born. Hence the apt name 'Sadyojata'. This shows the creative aspect of Parameshvara. Since the very existence of any being starts from its birth, the Sadyosata aspect of Lord Shiva is prayed first.
Mantra
सद्योजातं प्रपद्यामि सद्योजाताय वै नमो नमः।
भवे भवे नाति भवे भवस्व मां भवोद्भवाय नमः॥
sadyojātaṁ prapadyāmi sadyojātāya vai namo namaḥ
bhave bhave nāti bhave bhavasva māṁ bhavodbhavāya namaḥ
"O! Lord ! Sadyojaata I take refuge in the First Born, never give me desires which are the reason for this countless births and deaths. Please Bless me with the motive for liberation. My prayers to Sadyosata”.
Prayer
शिवम् शान्तं जगन्नाथं लोकानुग्रह कारणम्
शिवम् एकं परं वन्दे शिकाराय नमोनमः||
Shivam Shaantam Jagannatham Loka Anugraha Kaaranam
Shivam Ekam Param Vande Shikaaraaya Namo Namaha
Vamadeva:North Face
The term Vama means Left or innocent. If we stand facing east, North direction is to our left. Hence the north facing Shiva is worshipped as “Vaama Deva”. The left of a person is representative of the Shakti aspect. It represents “Maya and the feminine strength and beauty”, Hence in Ardha Nareeshwara aspect, we find the goddess on the left side.
Mantra
वामदेवायनमो ज्येष्ठाय नमः श्रेष्ठाय
नमो रुद्राय नमः कालाय नमः।
कलविकरणाय नमो बलविकरणाय नमो बलाय नमो बलप्रमथनाय नमः।
सर्वभूतदमनाय नमो मनोन्मनाय नमः॥
vāmadevāya namo jyeṣṭhāya namaḥ śreṣṭhāya
namo rudrāya namaḥ kālāya namaḥ
kalavikaraṇāya namo balavikaraṇāya namo balāya namo
balapramathanāya namaḥ sarvabhūtadamanāya namo manonmanāya namaḥ
I bow to the beautiful Vaama Deva is more ancient that the world’s creation, the Eldest; to the Best, to Rudra and to Time,
I bow to the Incomprehensible, to Strength,
To the Causer of various forces, and to the Extender of Strength.
I bow to the Subduer of all beings, and to the One who kindles the Light.
prayer
वाहनं वृषभो यस्य वसुखी कण्ठ भूषणं
वामे शक्ति धरं वन्दे वकाराय नमोनमः||
Vaahanam Vrushabho Yasya
Vasukihi Kantha Bhushanam
Vaame Shati Dharam Vande
Va Kaaraaya Namo Namaha
Aghora:South Face
If we stand facing east, south is our right. Hence right side is called as “Bala”. As important as right hand is for humans, The South face is important to Lord Shiva. This is also famously known as “Dakshina Murthy”.
Mantra
अघोरेभ्योऽथ घोरेभ्यो अघोरघोरेतरेभ्यः।
सर्वेभ्यो सर्व सर्वेभ्यो नमस्ते अस्तु रुद्र रूपेभ्यः॥
aghorebhyo'tha ghorebhyo aghoraghoretarebhyaḥ
sarvataḥ śarvaḥ sarvebhyo namaste rudra rūpebhyaḥ
I bow to those not terrible and those who are terrible,
And to those who are both terrible and not terrible.
Everywhere and always, Śarva, I bow to all Thy Rudra forms.
prayer
महादेवं महात्मानं महा पातक नाशनं
महा पाप हरंवन्दे मकाराय नमोनमः||
Mahadevam Mahatmanam
Maha Paataka Nashanam
Maha Paapa HaramVande
Makaaraaya Namo Namaha
Tatpuruṣa:East Face
The word “Tat” represents Paramatma. Tatpurusha means Saguna filled Para Brahma form. This is a important face of Parama Shiva. The form of Shiva that is in meditation and Blessing the world – is this face. Hence this eastern face is considered as the first face. The word “Tatpurusha” means “his person”. One who is always behind a person to protect is Tatpurusha.
Mantra
तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि।
तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
tatpuruṣāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhīmahi
tanno rudraḥ pracodayāt
May we know that Supreme Person
And mediate on that Great God,
May Rudra impel us!
prayer
नमस्ते देव देवेश नमस्ते परमेश्वर
नमस्ते वृषभारूध नकाराय नमोनमः||
Namaste Deva Devesha
Namaste Parameshvara
Namaste Vrushabharuudha
Na Kaaraaya Namo Namaha
Ishana:skyward face
Which means it is on top of the other four faces which face the four directions. This fifth face of Shiva represents the creation – balance – annihilation energies and control and chaos energies. Eeshna face of Shiva which is skywards indicates the total encompassing energy of Lord Shiva.
Mantra
ईशान सर्वविद्यानामीश्वरः सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मादिपति ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिर्।
ब्रह्मा शिवो मे अस्तु सदाशिवोम्॥
īśāna sarvavidyānāmīśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ brahmādipati brahmaṇo'dhipatir
brahmā śivo me astu sa eva sadāśiva om
Ruler of all knowledge, Master of all beings,
Commander of all study and devotion,
That God Auspicious to me,
Be He just so, the Ever-Auspicious Om.
Prayer
यत्र कुत्र स्थितो देवं सर्व व्यापि नमिश्वर
यल्लिङ्गं पूजयेन्नित्यं यकाराय नमोनमः||
Yatra Kutra Sthitam Devam Sarva Vyaapi Namishvaram
Yallingam Puujayeennithyam Ya Kaaraaya Namo Namaha