Nagendra Haaraye

When I was a child I would listen to my father’s incantation of ‘Nagendra Haaraye’ every morning. It was very soothing to ears and had a calming effect. I never knew what it meant but I knew it was en eulogy to Lord Shiva.
So when my friend forwarded me this video of 'M.S Subbalakshmi' singing Nagaendra Harayae I was reminded of its power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyLeBNsovQ8
Amma had a voice which connected with the god. Slowly I was taken over by the Sholka and its rendition. I became curious to know its meaning. After an hour of Google research I got some information which I am putting down here.

This is called Shiv panchakchar stotram. This was written by Jagatguru Shri Adi Shankaracharya. Panchachar mean five Letters. These letters are Na , Ma , Shi, Va, Ye which constitute the word Namah Shivaye. Shankaracharya tells that each letter in the word Namah Shivaye is in itself Shiva. So the Strota has 5 sholkas each dedicated to a letter.

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्मान्गरागाय महेश्वराय
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिग्मंबराय तस्मै 'न' काराय नमः शिवायः

मन्दाकिनी सलिल चंदन चर्चिताय नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथ महेश्वराए
मंदार पुष्प बहु पुष्प सूपुजिताय तस्मै 'म' काराय नमः शिवायः

शिवायः गौरी वज्नार्विंदे सूर्राय धक्षाध्वर नाश्काय
श्री नीलकंठाय वृशाव्ध्वजाय तस्मै 'शि' काराय नमः शिवायः

वशिष्टकुंभोद्धवगौतमार्य, मुनीन्द्रदेवाय चित्शेखराय

चंद्राक्वैश्वा नर्लोचनाय , तस्मै 'वा' काराय नमः शिवायः

यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाक हसताय सनात्नाये
दिव्याय देवाय दिगाम्बराय , तस्मै 'य' काराय नमः शिवायः

--

पंचाक्षरम इदं पुन्यम यहः पठेह शिव सनिधवो

शिवालोकमाप्नोती शिवेंसह्मोदते

इति श्रिशंकराचार्यविरिचितम श्री पंचाक्षर स्तोत्रं संपूर्णम्

I am putting down the rough English translation of this:

One who has a garland of serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose body is smeared with ash; who is the highest lord, who is eternal; who is pure, whose dress is sky; is embodied as the letter Na, I prostrate to that Lord Shiva

One whose body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and sandal paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and who is adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara; is embodied as the letter Ma, I prostrate to that Lord Shiva

One who is the resplendent sun for mother Gauri`s lotus face, who is the destroyer of Daksha`s sacrificial ritual, who is the blue necked Lord (due to the Haalahala poison), whose banner bears the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi, I prostrate to that Lord.

One who is worshipped and prayed to by great sages such as Vashishta, Kumbha, Uddhav and Gautama, whose eyes are sun, moon and the fire and who is embodied as letter ‘Va’, I prostrate to that Lord Shiva

One who is the Yaksha incarnate, whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in His hand, who has the entire sky as His attire; is embodied as the letter Ya, I prostrate to that Lord Shiva .

Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters before Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode and enjoys the eternal Bliss.