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Tirumantiram, a scripture written in Tamil language, speaks of the meaning of the mantra.
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Whole Panchakshara Stotra is dedicated to this mantra.This mantra also appears in the Rudrashtadhyayi which is a part of the Shukla Yajurveda.Thus predates the use of Shiva as a proper name, in the original context being an address to Lord Rudra (later Shiva), where Shiva retains its original meaning as an adjective, meaning 'auspicious, benign, friendly', a euphemistic epithet of Rudra. This Mantra appears as 'Na' 'Ma' 'Śi' 'Vā' and 'Ya' in the Shri Rudram hymn which is a part of the Krishna Yajurveda.TM Presence of mantra in different scriptures Thus is the five-lettered form of Shiva.”: Tirumantiram 941. The Tirumantiram (a scripture in Shaiva Siddhanta Shaivism) announces, “His feet are the letter Na.
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