The Śiva Pancākśari composed by Adi Śankarā, is one of my favourite Ślōkam-s, which I have heard since my childhood. As a child, my parents used to put me to sleep by singing this ślōkam. Our culture has a such nice methods of subtly introducing ślōkā-s to children.
Śiva Pancākśari composed by Adi Śankarā.
Nāgēndrahāraya Trilocanāya Basmāngarāgāya Mahēśvarāya
Nityāya Śuddhāya Digambarāya Tasmai Nakārāya Namah Śivāya
Mandākini Śalila Candana Carchitāya Nandiśvara Pramatanātha Maheśvarāya
Mandārapuśpa bahupuśpa supūjitāya Tasmai Makārāya Namah Śivāya
Śivāya Gauri vadanābjavṛnda Sūryāya Dakśadhvara Nāśakāya
Śrinīlakaṇṭhāya Vrushadhvajāya Tasmai Śikārāya Namah Śivāya
Vasishṭha kumbhōdbhava gautamārya Munīndra dēvārchita Śekharāya
Candrārkavaiśvanara lōcanāya Tasmai Vakārāya Namah Śivāya
Yakśasvarūpāya Jaṭādharāya Pinākahastāya Sanatanāya
Divyāya Dēvāya Digambarāya Tasmai Yakārāya Namah Śivāya
Phalastuti Pancākśaramidam Puṇyam Yah Paṭheśivasannidhau.
Śivalōkamavapnoti Śivēna Saha Mōdatē.
Meaning
Salutations to Śiva, who wears the king of snakes as a garland, the three-eyed god, whose body is smeared with ashes, the great lord, the eternal and pure one, who wears the directions as his garment, and who is represented by the syllable “na” .
I bow to Śiva, who has been worshipped with water from the Gaṅga (Mandākini) and anointed with sandalwood paste, the lord of Nandi, the lord of the host of goblins and ghosts, the great lord, who is worshiped with Mandāra and many other kinds of flowers, and who is represented by the syllable “ma”.
Salutations to Śiva, who is all-auspiciousness, who is the sun that causes the lotus face of Gauri (Pārvati) to blossom, who is the destroyer of the yajna of Dakśa, whose throat is blue (Nīlakanṭha), whose flag bears the emblem of the bull, and who is represented by the syllable “śi” .
Vasiśṭha, Agastya, Gautama, and other venerable sages, and Indra and other gods have worshipped the head of (Śiva’s linga). I bow to that Śiva whose three eyes are the moon, sun and fire, and who is represented by the syllable “va”.
Salutations to Śiva, who bears the form of a Yaksha, who has matted hair on his head, who bears the Pinaka bow in his hand, the primeval lord, the brilliant god, who is Digambara (naked), and who is represented by the syllable “ya”.
Anyone who recites this sacred five-syllable mantra, (Namah Śivāya) near the Śiva (linga), attains the abode of Śiva and rejoices there with Śiva.
Here is an excellent rendition of the ŚivaPancākśari by the inimitable MS Amma
Nandini's Blog 