The sacred teaching begins by extolling a statement of profound significance, endowed with divine qualities and pleasing to the minds of all. Its meaning is certain and deep, and it stands as the supreme utterance belonging to the Lord Himself. This mantra, easy to pronounce and potent for accomplishing all aims, is declared by the all-knowing One as “Om Namah Shivaya”—the universal invocation for all embodied beings. This mantra’s seed is the source of all knowledge. It is the primary, six-syllabled mantra, subtle and of immense import, to be understood much like the tiny seed of the banyan tree that holds within it the potential for greatness. The deity invoked by this mantra transcends the three qualities of nature, is all-knowing, and the Lord of all actions. Śiva Himself abides within the mantra as the single syllable “Om,” pervading everything. Within the mantra “Namah Shivaya,” the subtle syllables, beginning with “Ishana,” which represent the single-syllabled Brahman, are established in their proper order. In this subtle, six-syllable mantra, Shiva abides as the fivefold form of Brahman. He is present both as the signified and the signifier, directly and by His own nature: Shiva is called the signified because He is incomparable, while the mantra is remembered as His signifier. This relationship between the signified and the signifier has existed from beginningless time, just as the vast and dreadful ocean of worldly existence has flowed since eternity. In the same way, Shiva is established as the liberator from the endless cycle of worldly existence, just as a remedy is, by its very nature, the counter to disease. Shiva is remembered as the antidote to the faults of worldly existence; without the Lord of the world, all would be enveloped in darkness. Due to the insentience of Prakriti and the ignorance of Purusha, everything—from the highest principle down to the smallest atom—is insentient. None of these act on their own, for action requires an intelligent cause. The teachings of righteousness and unrighteousness, bondage and liberation, arise only from discernment. Without the all-knowing One, the original creation of beings does not happen, just as without a physician, the afflicted suffer without relief. Therefore, Sadashiva, who is beginningless, all-knowing, and complete, exists as the Lord—the savior who rescues beings from the ocean of worldly existence. He is free from beginning, middle, and end, pure by His own nature, all-knowing and complete. Shiva is to be known through the Shiva scriptures. His name is this mantra, and He is remembered as the one denoted by it. Because of the relationship between name and named, the mantra is established as the supreme Shiva. This alone is the knowledge of Shiva; this alone is the supreme state—the six-syllabled Shiva statement, “Om Namah Shivaya.” This Shaiva statement is not mere praise but an injunction, and is of the very nature of Shiva, who is all-knowing, perfectly complete, and pure by nature. He is the benefactor of the worlds—how could He speak falsely? Whatever exists, with its qualities and faults, exists by its own nature. Whatever result is complete, the all-knowing One speaks accordingly. Only one afflicted by faults such as passion and ignorance would speak untruth. But such faults do not exist in the Lord—how could He speak otherwise? What is composed by Shiva, the all-knowing and free from all faults, is a pure statement, authoritative and without doubt. Therefore, the words of the Lord are to be trusted by the wise. In matters of merit and demerit, as they truly are, one who lacks faith in them falls from grace. Whatever beautiful words have been spoken by the great sages—peaceful and wise—for the attainment of heaven and liberation, those are to be known as well-spoken. Any speech that follows attachment, aversion, falsehood, anger, desire, or craving is called harsh speech, for it leads to hell. What use is even gentle or elegant Sanskrit if it is spoken with ignorance and attachment, causing suffering in worldly existence? That speech, even if unrefined, which brings welfare when heard and casts doubt upon attachment and the like, should be known as auspicious. Though there are many mantras, none is equal anywhere to the pure mantra composed by the all-knowing Shiva. Even the Vedas and their branches, though established in the six-syllable mantra, are not equal to it; nor is any other mantra comparable. Though there are seventy million great mantras and countless subsidiary mantras, the six-syllable mantra stands distinct, like a thread among woven cloth. All the teachings about Shiva and all sources of knowledge are, in essence, commentaries on the six-syllable mantra. What is the use of many mantras or scriptures with elaborate explanations for one whose heart is established in the mantra “Obeisance to Shiva”? All that is studied, heard, or performed is accomplished by one who has firmly practiced the mantra “Obeisance to Shiva.” For one whose tongue always utters the three syllables “to Shiva,” joined with acts like salutation, their life is fruitful. Whether outcaste, lowest-born, ignorant, or learned—whoever is steadfast in reciting the five-syllable mantra is freed from the cage of sin. Thus has it been spoken by the Lord, the Trident-bearer, in response to the Goddess’s question, for the benefit of all mortals, especially the twice-born. In the Kali age, when time is corrupt, unconquerable, and hard to overcome, when the world is covered by the greatest impurity and turned away from righteousness—when the practices of caste and stage of life have declined, hardship has arisen, and all authority is in doubt or transition—when instruction has ceased and the tradition of teacher and disciple is lost, the Goddess asks: “By what means are your devotees liberated, O Great Lord?” The Lord replies: Those men of the Kali age who take refuge in my supreme, heartfelt five-syllable mantra, and who are devoted in mind, are liberated. Even those corrupted by faults of mind, speech, and body—the ungrateful, the slanderers, and the deceitful, those unable even to speak or remember—even the greedy and those with crooked minds, if their hearts are inclined toward me, my five-syllable mantra carries them across the fear of worldly existence. Thus, the Lord assures that the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” is the supreme means for liberation, transcending all obstacles, and bestowing grace upon all who sincerely take refuge in it.