Shiva Panchakshara Nakshatra Mala

Shiva panchakshara nakshatramala is one of the hymns composed by shree Aadi Shankara Bhagavadpaada - the great aachaarya of advaita doctrine. The hymn praises the various pastimes, deeds and attributes of lord Shiva. The hymn has two specialties. 1. The number of stanzas in this hymn is twenty seven. Twenty seven is a very significant number in Hinduism. There are twenty seven important stars which forms the month of chandramana calendar. 2. each verse of the hymn ends with "namah shivaaya." The mantra is called the panchakshari mantra (five syllable mantra) it is one of the greatest mantras. Hence the kind aacharya bhagavadpata embeds the mantra in this hymn so everyone can attain the benefits of chanting the mantra, even for those who has not been initiated with the mantra, chanting this stotra is not forbidden and there are no complex rules of austerities to chant the hymn for chanting the mantra through this hymn. By chanting this hymn once, the devotee chants the great five syllable mantra hundred and eight times and attains all the benefits of chanting it even without following the ritualistic austerities which are mandatory when you chant the mantra directly.