Five Greatest Shiva Mantras to Chant and Meditate

The five most powerful mantras of Lord Shiva are discussed here. These are to sing the glory of Lord Shiva – the supreme consciousness. Shiva – the supreme consciousness can be accessed in many ways. Shiva is the God as well as the purest vibration of the soul. With these vibrations of the five mantra you can tune with the ultimate power and truth. You can select any one of these mantra and chant according to your convenience. There is not much rules or restrictions for chanting these mantra. Only these mantra should be chanted for peace and the benefit of the humanity and the world. 

It is said that a devotee who sings it with full devotion after taking bath and wearing clean clothes, and worship  Shiva – the divine cosmic truth and beauty with Flowers, Rice, Fruits, Bel leaves, Sandalwood,  etc…and most importantly, a pure heart, Shiva blesses them with immense strength, wealth and light and they get through all problems and  removes the obstacles of life. You can chant these mantras or you can do meditation on those mantras.

1. Shiva Main Mantra

ॐ नमः शिवाय॥
Om Namah Shivaya॥

Meaning of the Om Namah Shivaya Mantra:

Om namah Shivaya is one of the most beloved mantra of Lord Shiva. It is the vibration to attune with supreme God consciousness of the Universe. The literal meaning of the mantra is:

I bow to the supreme consciousness and the supreme cosmic power of the Universe – the Lord Shiva.  

2. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat ||

Meaning of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

I worship to the “three-lotus-eyed” lord of the Universe. The enhancer of  life, fragrance and nourishment. May the Lord liberate me from the death and bandages of life, easily, just like a ripen cucumber fruit taken away from the  branches. May the Lord move me towards full life and immortality. 

Benefits of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

It is believed that Lord Shiva is easy to appease and often grants boons to the devotees who chant Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. It is sometimes known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra because it has a component of the “life-restoring” practice.  This mantra bestow longevity and immortality, prevent calamities & accidents. 

3. Rudra Gayatri Mantra

ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि
तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Mahadevaya Dhimahi
Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat॥

Meaning of Rudra Gayatri Mantra

I pray to the highest of all Gods, who lives in the heart of every living being and non-living beings. I pray to the best of all supreme power to bless me with the intellect and enlighten me with knowledge

4. Shivashtakam Mantra

प्रभुं प्राणनाथं विभुं विश्वनाथं जगन्नाथ नाथं सदानन्द भाजाम् ।
भवद्भव्य भूतॆश्वरं भूतनाथं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

गलॆ रुण्डमालं तनौ सर्पजालं महाकाल कालं गणॆशादि पालम् ।
जटाजूट गङ्गॊत्तरङ्गै र्विशालं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

मुदामाकरं मण्डनं मण्डयन्तं महा मण्डलं भस्म भूषाधरं तम् ।
अनादिं ह्यपारं महा मॊहमारं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

वटाधॊ निवासं महाट्टाट्टहासं महापाप नाशं सदा सुप्रकाशम् ।
गिरीशं गणॆशं सुरॆशं महॆशं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ ॥ 4 ॥

गिरीन्द्रात्मजा सङ्गृहीतार्धदॆहं गिरौ संस्थितं सर्वदापन्न गॆहम् ।
परब्रह्म ब्रह्मादिभिर्-वन्द्यमानं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

कपालं त्रिशूलं कराभ्यां दधानं पदाम्भॊज नम्राय कामं ददानम् ।
बलीवर्धमानं सुराणां प्रधानं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

शरच्चन्द्र गात्रं गणानन्दपात्रं त्रिनॆत्रं पवित्रं धनॆशस्य मित्रम् ।
अपर्णा कलत्रं सदा सच्चरित्रं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

हरं सर्पहारं चिता भूविहारं भवं वॆदसारं सदा निर्विकारं।
श्मशानॆ वसन्तं मनॊजं दहन्तं, शिवं शङ्करं शम्भु मीशानमीडॆ

स्वयं यः प्रभातॆ नरश्शूल पाणॆ पठॆत् स्तॊत्ररत्नं त्विहप्राप्यरत्नम् ।
सुपुत्रं सुधान्यं सुमित्रं कलत्रं विचित्रैस्समाराध्य मॊक्षं प्रयाति ॥

prabhuṃ prāṇanāthaṃ vibhuṃ viśvanāthaṃ jagannātha nāthaṃ sadānanda bhājām |
bhavadbhavya bhūteśvaraṃ bhūtanāthaṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

gaḷe ruṇḍamālaṃ tanau sarpajālaṃ mahākāla kālaṃ gaṇeśādi pālam |
jaṭājūṭa gaṅgottaraṅgai rviśālaṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

mudāmākaraṃ maṇḍanaṃ maṇḍayantaṃ mahā maṇḍalaṃ bhasma bhūṣādharaṃ tam |
anādiṃ hyapāraṃ mahā mohamāraṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

vaṭādho nivāsaṃ mahāṭṭāṭṭahāsaṃ mahāpāpa nāśaṃ sadā suprakāśam |
girīśaṃ gaṇeśaṃ sureśaṃ maheśaṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

girīndrātmajā saṅgṛhītārdhadehaṃ girau saṃsthitaṃ sarvadāpanna geham |
parabrahma brahmādibhir-vandyamānaṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

kapālaṃ triśūlaṃ karābhyāṃ dadhānaṃ padāmbhoja namrāya kāmaṃ dadānam |
balīvardhamānaṃ surāṇāṃ pradhānaṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

śaraccandra gātraṃ gaṇānandapātraṃ trinetraṃ pavitraṃ dhaneśasya mitram |
aparṇā kaḷatraṃ sadā saccaritraṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe

haraṃ sarpahāraṃ citā bhūvihāraṃ bhavaṃ vedasāraṃ sadā nirvikāraṃ|
śmaśāne vasantaṃ manojaṃ dahantaṃ, śivaṃ śaṅkaraṃ śambhu mīśānamīḍe |

Meaning of the Shivashtakam Mantra:

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who is the Lord, Who is the Lord of our lives, Who is Vibhu, Who is the Lord of the world, Who is the Lord of Vishnu (Jagannatha), Who is always dwelling in happiness, Who imparts light or shine to everything, Who is the Lord of living beings, Who is the Lord of ghosts, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who has a garland of truth around the neck, Who has a net of yoga energy of snakes around His body, Who is the destroyer of the immense-destroyer of time, Who is the lord of Ganesa, Whose matted-hair are spread-out by the presence of the waves of Ganga falling on His head, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who scatters happiness [in the world, Who is originating the universe, Who is the immense universe Himself, Who is possessing the adornment of ashes, Who is without a beginning, Who is without a measure, Who removes the greatest attachments, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who resides below a Vata (Banyan) tree, Who possesses an immense laughter, Who destroys the greatest sins, Who is always resplendent, Who is the Lord of Himalaya, various Gana and the demi-gods, Who is the great Lord, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who shares half of His body with the daughter of Himalaya, Who is situated in a mountain of bliss (Kailasa), Who is always a resort for the depressed, Who is the Atman, Who is reverred by (or Who is worthy of reverence by) Brahma and others, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who holds a skull and a trident in the hands, Who endows the desires of those who are humble to His lotus-feet, Who uses an Ox as a vehicle², Who is supreme and above various demi-gods, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who has a face like the Winter-moon, Who is the subject of happiness of Gana, Who has three eyes, Who is pure, Who is the friend of Kubera (controller of wealth), Who is the consort of Aparna (Parvati), Who has eternal characteristics, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

I pray You, Siva, Sankara, Sambhu, Who is known as Hara, Who has a garland of snakes, Who roams around the emptiness of the universe, Who is the universe, Who is the summary of the Veda (or the One discussed by Veda), Who is always detached, Who is lives in emptiness, Who is burning desires born in the mind, and Who is the Lord of everyone.

5. Shiva Lingashtakam Manta

ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गम् निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
जन्मजदुःखविनाशकलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥१॥

देवमुनिप्रवरार्चितलिङ्गम् कामदहम् करुणाकरलिङ्गम् ।
रावणदर्पविनाशनलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥२॥

सर्वसुगन्धिसुलेपितलिङ्गम् बुद्धिविवर्धनकारणलिङ्गम् ।
सिद्धसुरासुरवन्दितलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥३॥

कनकमहामणिभूषितलिङ्गम् फणिपतिवेष्टितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
दक्षसुयज्ञविनाशनलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥४॥

कुङ्कुमचन्दनलेपितलिङ्गम् पङ्कजहारसुशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
सञ्चितपापविनाशनलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥५॥

देवगणार्चितसेवितलिङ्गम् भावैर्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम् ।
दिनकरकोटिप्रभाकरलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥६॥

अष्टदलोपरिवेष्टितलिङ्गम् सर्वसमुद्भवकारणलिङ्गम् ।
अष्टदरिद्रविनाशितलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥७॥

सुरगुरुसुरवरपूजितलिङ्गम् सुरवनपुष्पसदार्चितलिङ्गम् ।
परात्परं परमात्मकलिङ्गम् तत् प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥८॥

लिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् शिवसन्निधौ ।
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥

Meaning of the Shiva Lingashtakam Manta:

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and other Devas,
Which is pure and resplendent,
And which destroys sorrows of birth.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is worshipped by great sages and devas,
Which destroyed the god of love,
Which showers mercy,
And which destroyed the pride of Ravana.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is anointed by perfumes,
Which leads to growth of wisdom,
And which is worshipped by sages, devas and asuras.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is ornamented by gold and great jewels,
Which shines with the snake being with it,
And which destroyed the Yagna of Daksha.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is adorned by sandal paste and saffron,
Which wears the garland of lotus flowers,
And which can destroy accumulated sins.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is served by gods and other beings,
Which is the doorway for devotion and good thought,
And which shines like billions of Suns.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is surrounded by eight petals,
Which is the prime reason of all riches,
And which destroys eight types of poverty.

I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is worshipped by the teacher of gods,
Which is worshipped by the best of gods,
Which is always worshipped by the flowers,
From the garden of Gods,
Which is the eternal abode,
And which is the ultimate truth.

Any one who chants the holy octet of the Lingam,
In the holy presence of Lord Shiva,
Would in the end reach the world of Shiva,
And keep him company.

Conclusion:

We have discussed the five greatest Shiva Mantras to Chant and Meditate. The five mantras are: Om Namah Shivaya,Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra,Rudra Gayatri Mantra, Shivashtakam and Lingashtakam Mantra. These mantras can be used for chanting as well as for meditation.  May the Lord Shiva Bless you with health, wealth and happiness.