Note :

This mantra consists of five characters  – न, म, शि, व, य । On the basis of these five characters the Shankracharya(700 AD) has constructed this prayer mantra. The devotees of Lord Shankara recite this prayer in their daily ritual/prayer or worship.

Meaning of Mantra
= The Neme or symbol of almighty Lord
नमः = salutations,
शिवाय = for the Lord Shankara
Meaning -  Salutation for the Lord  Shankara.

Meaning
Who are adore with the garland of snake at his nake, Whose body is adored with the ashes, who are three eyed, all pure ,gods of directions, and greatest among gods for whom salutations are by the  recitation of ‘न’.

Who are worshiped by the holy water of Ganga (the river), Sandal wood, Who have conquered the Kama(Desires) and god of  sex whose are adore and worship by flowers of Mandar and other fine flowers, for whom God Shankara I salute by the recitation of ‘म’.

Who are the consortium of Gauri (Goddess Parvati) who are called as the prime of creation and who are destructor of the Sacrifice rituals of Dakshaof, who has poisions inhis Throats and whose flag is Bull for whom Lord Shankara Salutions are by the recitations of ‘शि’.

Who are worshiped by the Vashistha, Kumbha, Uddhava, Gautama, Aarya, Sages and god Indra, Who resides in Mountain Kailash, Moon, Sun and Vaishvaner are the three eyes of Him, our salutations are for that lord  Shankara by the utterance ‘व’.

Who are of the form of celestial Yaksha, who adore/ Bear long hairs and Pinak(the      ), Who are of divine form God of directions to whom salutaions are by the utterence‘य’.

These are five character of recitation which are very pious, the one who recite them with the nearness to Lord Shankara he attains the world of Shankara and resides with Lord.