We know the power of Panchadasi mantra.
क ए ई ल ह्रीं। ka e ī la hrīṁ |
ह स क ह ल ह्रीं। ha sa ka ha la hrīṁ |
स क ल ह्रीं॥ sa ka la hrīṁ ||
It is said that one repetition of Panchadasi mantra is equivalent to three repetitions of Turya Gāyatri mantra. Following is the Turya Gāyatri mantra.
1) ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः॥ om bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ ||
2) ॐ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं। om tat saviturvareṇyaṁ |
3) भर्गो देवस्य धीमही। bhargo devasya dhīmahī |
4) धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥ dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
5) परोरजसे सावदोम्॥ parorajase sāvadom || ||
Out of the five lines above, first line is vyāhṛti-s. Second, third and fourth lines together form the Gāyatri mantra. These lines are called first pada (pada means step), second pada and third pada. In Turya Gāyatri, fourth pada is added at the end of third pada which is the fifth line above.
परोरजसे सावदोम्॥ parorajase sāvadom ||
Parorajas means beyond the world and this can be explained as Turya state where in all the three normal states of consciousness exist. Turya state is also called witnessing consciousness. This is also explained in Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad.
First pada or vāgbhavakūṭa:
Tat – refers to Brahman (That) and this is represented by the letter ka क.
Savitur varenya is split into two savitṛ and varenya represented by the next letter ए e. Savitṛ refers to the creative aspect of Brahman and varenya means the best and adorable.
Bhargo devasya dhīmahī is represented by the letter ई ī. This pada is split into bharga + devasya + dhī + mahī. Bharga means the innermost (Self) of everything. Devasya means belonging to Brahman. Dhī means to meditate. The last part of this pada is taken to the next letter ल la.
Mahī of the previous letter and the third pada dhiyo yo na pracodayāt represent the letter ल la. Mahi means mahat or great. Dhiyo yo na pracodayāt also represent the letter ल la and is in the form prayer. This is addressed to Shiva with a prayer to inspire our mind to move towards which is beyond contemplation.
Parorajase sāvadom represent ह्रीं hrīm. Parorajase sāvadom mean beyond the word, the Supreme Light, Prakāśa, Shiva. This is beyond three gunas, the Absolute Consciousness whose abode in the heart (the Self within).
The five letters in this kūṭa represent the five primary elements of creation.
Second pada or Kāmarājakūṭa:
That is the Self or Brahman. Savitṛ vareṇyaṁ here represents two letters ह ha and स sa. ha refers to sun and sa refers to moon. These two letters represent the Divine Essence of Shiva and Śakti. These two letters also mean the Supreme Self and the individual self.
Bhargo devasya represent the letter क ka and denotes Shiva. dhī represents ह ha and referring to Shiva, which is considered as the seed letter for the next word mahi, which means the earth. Mahi refers to ल la.
Parorajase sāvadom represent ह्रीं hrīṁ. Parorajase sāvadom mean beyond the word, the Supreme Light, Prakāśa, Shiva. This is beyond three guṇa-s, the Absolute Consciousness whose abode in the heart (the Self within).
Third pada or Śaktikūṭa:
Tat Savitṛ vareṇyaṁ is represented by the first letter of this kūṭa स sa, indicating the individual soul.
Bhargo devasya dhī is represented by the letter क ka and denotes Shiva. Mahi refers to ल la, the seed letter for earth mahi.
Parorajase sāvadom represent ह्रीं hrīṁ. Parorajase sāvadom mean beyond the word, the Supreme Light, Prakāśa, Shiva. This is beyond three guṇa-s, the Absolute Consciousness whose abode in the heart (the Self within).
Thus, one repetition of Pañcadaśī mantra is equivalent to three repetitions of Turya Gāyatri. It is generally said that no mantra should be repeated more than the number of repetitions of Gāyatri mantra.
Other Important Articles:
Pancadasi Mantra - पञ्चदशी मन्त्र - Part 1
Panchadasi Mantra Explained - Part 2
Panchadasi The Supreme Mantra - Part 3






June 02, 2015 01:35 PM
sir, why all these dasa mahavidyas/avataras gayatri, rajarajeswari, one supreme goddess one mantra is enough
but why, compare with narasimha and prachangira , tara compare with sitarama avatharam, bala thripura sundari compare with balaji.
June 02, 2015 07:06 PM
It seems such different "flavors" of God are to suit our mind drenched in duality. What else. Why even bother about one supreme "Goddess" or "God", when everything is Brahman and the concept of "God" and "Others" itself is tainted with duality. In the relative order, the various forms are various manifestations of Sakthi, each endowed with a different function and path.
March 08, 2016 12:57 PM
Dear Sri. Ravi,
The Turya Gayatri Mantra - 5)परोरजसे सावदोम्॥ is given here, but elsewhere you have given it as "पारो रजसे सावदोम्॥". Which is ok, "परोरजसे" or ""पारो रजसे". Please clarify.
March 08, 2016 02:41 PM
परोरजसे सावदोम्॥ is correct.
April 30, 2016 04:57 PM
Y is world not full of ONLY Adyaksh Kalajiths ?? !!
July 25, 2016 04:26 PM
normally it is told that for persons entering the detachment stage from the grahastha and yet another pada is there for sanyasi to keepit chanting by dipping the head in water 100000times and i am told this chanting takes away all the kamakrodha and attachments.Please clarify and also let us know the other poada of gayathri for sanyasis.
August 14, 2020 03:53 AM
Namaste Poojya Guruji, towards the end of the above article it's stated - "Thus, one repetition of Pañcadaśī mantra is equivalent to three repetitions of Turya Gāyatri. It is generally said that no mantra should be repeated more than the number of repetitions of Gāyatri mantra." I was not aware of that. With a view to progress fast the count of Navakshari Mantra Japa was increased lowering the count of Gayatri Japa on these days! I guess, it's meant to cleanse the mind before practising other powerful Mantras. Does the above statement imply any negative effects having done contrary to the guidelines? What would be a natural balance or ratio to be maintained between Gayatri Mantra Japa count and Navakshari/Panchadasi Mantra Japa count? Please advise. Thank you. Pranaam.
August 14, 2020 12:01 PM
This rule is applicable only to Panchadashi and Shodashi mantras.
August 15, 2020 09:24 AM
Namaste Guruji: Thank you for your timely advise. Having completed the required count of Navakshari Mantra Japa, my Guruji will be initiating me to Panchadashi Mantra Japa on the Amavasya day*** (August 18). I feel blessed being advised at the right time. I shall conform to the traditional practices by maintaining the same counts for Gayatri Mantra Japa and Panchadasi Mantra Japa daily. Pranaam Guruji. PS: ***In this regard would you think Krishnapaksha Thrayodasi (Pradosha) a better day (Aug 16), as recommended for self-initiatives "गुरोरभावे मन्त्राणां ग्रहण क्रम मुच्यते। कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदश्यां दक्षिणामूर्ति सन्निधे॥" ? Please advise. Thank you. Pranaam.
April 11, 2024 07:04 PM
hello guruji can you please give reference with respect to pronunciation of each bija of panchadashi mantra as per timings mentioned in your article
April 11, 2024 11:04 PM
Varivasya Rahasya is the book that mentions the pronunciation of the bījas of this mantra. If you are looking for videos or audio tapes, then I am not sure we have any from our end. Try and pronounce each of the bījas clearly on their own and you will get it right. Reciting each letter of the mantras clearly, is the only accepted norm that I am aware of and follow myself.
November 02, 2026 08:11 PM
Namaskaram , can one replace Gayatri mantra japa with Panchadasi mantra in sandhya vandanam if one is initiated ?
November 02, 2026 09:11 PM
Hi Chaitanya, I am not sure, but traditionally, when a dvija is initiated into an Āgamik Sandhya, he performs it separately after Vaidiki Sandhya without mixing, or missing either.
November 03, 2026 11:11 AM
The devi bhagavata purana statement is applicable only for the ones initiated into the gayatri, as these rules are stated in the last 2 sections of the purana, which speaks only about gayatri. For the ones not initiated into Gayatri, the tantric sandhyavandan given by the Guru is the root, which should be performed before any other activities. The same statement is applicable when Lord hayagriva says "do sandhya karma before panchadasi"
November 03, 2026 11:11 AM
Dear chaitanya. No, Gayatri should not be replaced with panchadashi. In the phalasruti of Lalitha Sahasranama, lord Hayagriva explicitly states - "prātaḥ snātvā vidhānena sandhyā karma samāpya ca | pūjā gṛhaṃ tato gatvā cakra rājaṃ samarcayet || vidyāṃ japet sahasraṃ vā triśataṃ śatam eva vā | rahasya nāma sāhasram idaṃ paścāt paṭhen naraḥ ||". It means "after the morning bath, do the SANDHYA KARMA (sandhya vandanam). THEN go to the pooja room, do archanam of sri chakra. Then do the japa of panchadasi 1000 times, 300 times or atleast 100 times. Then read the Lalitha Sahasranama". So lord hayagriva himself instructs to do panchadasi japa only after doing the sandhyavandana. Also, the devi bhagavata purana states that Dvija is a tree. Gayatri is his root. Vedam is his trunk. ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE ONLY THE BRANCHES, LEAVES AND FRUITS. It also states - "chinne mūle na vṛkṣo naiva śākhāḥ | tasmāt nityaṃ prakartavyaṃ sandhyopāsanam uttamam || (When the root is cut off, there is neither the tree nor its branches. So the excellent sandhyavandanam(gayatri) should be done daily)."
November 04, 2026 01:11 PM
Namaste Sriram ji, is there a Agamic Sandhyavandam in Shrividya for non-Dvijas? Also can Lalitha Sahasranamam (just the names, no nyasa or any rituals) be recited without deeksha? what does the shashtras say about it? Thank you.
November 05, 2026 03:11 PM
Dear Stormbreaker. 1) Is there an āgamic Sandhyāvandanam in Śrīvidyā? I am unfortunately not aware of an āgamic Sandhyāvandanam, explicitly stated as such, in Śrīvidyā. "Root"/"Sandhyāvandanam" in my earlier explanation should be understood as "it helps to easily attain siddhi in the other(next stage) mantras". So in Śrīvidyā, that would be the Bālā and Gaṇapati mantras. Especially the Bālā mantra. So, although not explicitly stated, Bālā and Gaṇapati are the "Sandhyāvandanam"/"root" in Śrīvidyā, as per my limited knowledge. The instructions of Guru should be regarded as final in this matter. 2) Does Lalitā Sahasranāma (LS) need dīkṣā? In the phalaśruti of LS, Lord Hayagrīva states: "Nāvidyāvedine brūyān nābhaktāya kadācana | yathaiva gopyā śrīvidyā tathā gopyam idaṃ mune ||" (O Agastya, never reveal this to the one who is not initiated into Śrīvidyā, never reveal this to the one who is not a bhakta. Similar to how Śrīvidyā (Ṣoḍaśākṣarī) is a secret, similarly so, this is also a secret.) And also: "Yo dadāti vimūḍhātmā śrīvidyā-rahitāya ca | tasmai kupyanti yoginyaḥ so'narthaḥ su-samāhṛtaḥ ||" (The great fool who reveals this to the one who does not possess Śrīvidyā, angers the Yoginīs, hence making the revelation pointless (i.e., the Yoginīs curse the revealer and the receiver).) "Rahasya-nāma-sāhasraṃ tasmāt saṅgopayed idam |" (Hence, this secret set of 1000 names, should be kept as a secret.) And also: "Svātantryeṇa mayā noktaṃ tavāpi kalaśī-suta | Lalitā-preraṇenaiva mayoktaṃ stotram uttamam ||" (O Agastya, I have not revealed this stotra to you out of my own will. Only because of the order of Lalitā have I taught you the LS, although you are like the son of Devī.) When such is the case for Agastya, what can be said about normal humans like us! So, when we see through the scriptural lens, a person should possess Śrīvidyā (Pañcadaśākṣarī, as per Bhāskararāya's commentary), in order to chant the LS. But gurus nowadays allow reading LS after Bālā. But if someone is not initiated into atleast Bālā, LS should definitely not be chanted. LS is itself a big mantra (its nyāsa says, "Asya Śrī Lalitā Divya Sahasranāma Stotra MAHA-MANTRASYA"). Hence the restriction. Single names may be chanted as nāma-japa, any number of times. Inexhaustible benefits occur, even then. The phalaśruti of LS states: "No being in the fourteen worlds is capable of committing a sin that cannot be cleansed by a single name from the LS.", "The puṇya of doing crores of good deeds, multiplied by crores of times, is attained by singing a single name from the LS with perfection." Hence, if someone is not initiated, they should definitely select a single name out of the LS and do its japa. It is safe.
November 06, 2026 07:11 PM
Thank you for all the revealing knowledge you shared ShriRam ji. May I know any stotram, namams (ashtottara or something) that are allowed for an non-deekshit person for worship of Tripura Sundari?
November 07, 2026 10:11 AM
Namaste Stormbreaker. A non-initiate can recite the Lalitha stava raja created by the Devas. They can also recite the 25 names stotra of Lalitha (pancavimsati nama stotra). They may also chant the 16 name stotra of Matangi (sodasa nama stotra) and the 12 names stotra of varahi (dvadasa nama stotra).
November 07, 2026 12:11 PM
Thankyou SriRam ji, that is wonderful to have so many treasure of stotras for parayanam (chanting). Thankyou for sharing.