Within the Shiva Purana, mantras and hymns to Lord Shiva are woven into the narrative as living instruments of devotion, instruction, and realization. The text consistently upholds the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a central current of worship, often presenting it in the context of initiation, meditation, and daily japa. Closely related are various Śiva Gāyatrī mantras, which follow the traditional Gāyatrī structure and are used for contemplative recitation, especially in rites resembling sandhyā and in specific vows. Alongside these, the Mahāmṛtyuñjaya mantra, beginning “Om Tryambakaṃ Yajāmahe…,” appears as a powerful formula for overcoming fear, illness, and the bondage of death, reflecting Shiva’s role as both destroyer and liberator.

The Purana also preserves a rich body of stotras—hymns of praise—placed at key moments in the stories of gods, sages, and devotees. These include extensive hymns in which deities such as Viṣṇu and Brahmā extol Shiva as supreme reality, enumerating his names, forms, and cosmic functions as creator, preserver, and destroyer. There are hymns glorifying the liṅga, celebrating its metaphysical significance and the fruits of its worship, as well as compositions that praise Shiva’s sacred emblems such as vibhūti, rudrākṣa, and bilva leaves. Many of these hymns function not only as poetic praise but also as practical liturgical texts, recited in daily worship, abhiṣeka, and during vows and pilgrimages.

In more technical ritual sections, the Shiva Purana sets out mūla-mantras for distinct forms of Shiva—such as Mahādeva, Rudra, Mṛtyuñjaya, and fierce manifestations like Bhairava—often accompanied by bīja-mantras and instructions for their use in pūjā and homa. There are Rudra-mantras of various syllabic lengths, including invocations like “Om Namo Bhagavate Rudrāya,” which are associated with protection, removal of obstacles, and specialized rites. Purāṇic adaptations of Rudra-arcana and Śatarudrīya-type praises also appear, echoing the spirit of the Vedic Śrī Rudram while situating it within a devotional, story-centered framework. Through these layers of mantra and stotra, the Shiva Purana presents a comprehensive liturgical universe in which narrative, theology, and practice converge around the remembrance of Shiva’s name and form.