Pancha Pallava - the 5 posturings of a mantra

Mantra… has five “shoots” (Pancha Pallava).

1. ‘namah’
2. ‘svaha’
3. ‘vaushat’
4. ‘hum’
5. ‘phat’

A shoot, or sprout, or posturing, in this context signifies the emergent attitude with which the mantra terminates. The body of the mantra contains the seed-syllables and the name of the deity; the devotee’s disposition towards, or orientation with regard to, the deity should find articulation at the end of the mantra, and this is the “pallava”.

Without Pallava, the mantra is described as ‘naked’ (“pallavena vina mantro nagnas tu parikrir titah”). The deity is then not properly represented in the sense that the devotee has not specified how he stands with regard to the deity.

Each of the ‘shoots’ or Pallavas has its own special significance and situational relevance.

1. ‘namah’ – means prostration
2. ‘svaha’ – signifies offering
3. ‘vaushat’ – is will to be protected
4. ‘hum’ – is to drive away (evil forces)
5. ‘phat’ – is the urge to break (the obstacles) down

Source: Pg35, book- The Yantras, author – Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India; ISBN – 81-7030-118-1