Om Namah Shivaya (Devanagari: ॐ नमः शिवाय; IAST: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is one of the most popular Hindu Mantra and the most important mantra in Shaivism. Namah Shivaya means “O salutations to the auspicious one!”, or “adoration to Lord Shiva”, or “universal consciousness is one”. It is called Siva Panchakshara, or Shiva Panchakshara or simply Panchakshara meaning the “five-syllable” mantra (viz., excluding the Om) and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This Mantra appears as ‘Na’ ‘Ma’ ‘Śi’ ‘Vā’ and ‘Ya’ in the Shri Rudram hymn which is a part of the Krishna Yajurveda and also in the Rudrashtadhyayi which is a part of the Shukla Yajurveda.
This mantra is present in the Shri Rudram hymn which is part of the Krishna Yajurveda. Shri Rudram hymn is taken from two chapters in fourth book of Taittiriya Samhita (TS 4.5, 4.7) of Krishna Yajurveda. Each chapter consist of eleven anuvaka or hymns. Name of both chapters are Namakam (chapter five) and Chamakam (chapter seven) respectively.The mantra appears without the initial Om in the eighth hymn of Namakam(TS 4.5.8.1) as Namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca (Sanskrit: नमः शिवाय च शिवतराय च). This means “Salutations unto Śiva the auspicious one, unto Śivatara the one than whom none more auspicious can exist
Om Namah Shivay! It isn’t just a chant, it’s a multiverse. This mantra can be traced back to thousands of years ago. In fact, it’s hard to think about a more famous mantra in India than Om Namah Shivaya. This mantra returns truly a large number of years and is the most significant type of devotion to the Shaivism group of Hinduism.
Om Namah Shivay mantra is a passage to know and understand your own self, to dedicate some time to your inner self. The sound vibration of the mantra is said to be an exceptionally purified articulation of our deepest nature.
- How does the Om Namah Shivay mantra heal you?
Om Namah Shivaya mantra tempers your Ego and animosity, it shows you the right path and mitigates worry from your overburdened mind. As per crystal gazing, this Mantra is exceptionally ground-breaking in reducing the unsafe impacts of the negative “grahas” (planets) and limits any terrible effect on your natal diagram that you may conceive from the negative impact of these planets. - How should you chant the mantra?
Ideally, you should recite this mantra multiple times. You should sit with your legs crossed– that is the Yoga position, with your back straight. As soon as you wake up, the first thing of the day and cleanse yourself with your everyday routine, sit in outdoors and take in nature. It is perfect to sit with the reciting dots and serenade the mantra multiple times. - Explain the meaning of na ma si va ya.
The mantra is said to be the five-syllable mantra, na ma si va ya; na represents earth, ma water, si fire, Va air, and ya ether. - How do you practice the Mantra?
There is no ritual or ceremony involved with the mantra. It is just a simple mantra which means that it can be performed anywhere. The only thing you need to be clear about is that you must sit in an upright position. You can chant the mantra while sitting on a chair, in a car or even in your office or school.
The chant Om Namah Shivaya is a love song, to ourselves. A love song we sing to our own deepest inner nature. In this song we recognize that we are the source, like a hologram, a piece of god that also represents the whole. In the Siddha yoga lineage (from which this chant comes) it is considered to be the king of all mantras. The intelligent field of conscious energy of which the universe is made, and concentrates into the dense form we know of as matter, is represented by the god Shiva. Shiva is the totality.
Since the ancient Siddhas did not have the language and metaphors of modern physics they represented the unified field of energy of the cosmos through the metaphors they could grasp, metaphors which allowed them to experience this vast field of conscious energy of which we are an interconnected part of. Their metaphor was the god Shiva. Through deep meditation they experienced the universe as Shiva, and themselves as Shiva. Shiva was said to dwell in the heart and be the size of a thumb and be the whole universe! When we chant this mantra we are allowing the sound vibration tune into our true self, which is a manifestation of the universal energy field condensed into the unique and precious mystery of ourselves. The sound vibration of the mantra is said to be a very pure expression of our deepest nature.
The mantra is said to be the five syllable mantra, na ma si va ya. In exploring the manifestations of the absolute the number five comes up. Five toes, fingers, senses, elements, acts etc.. Shiva is said to have five actions, to create, to maintain, to destroy, to conceal, and to gracefully reveal. This mantra purifies our actions and behaviors tuning them to the pure actions of Shiva, of the source. Our five senses of smelling, tasting, seeing, feeling, and hearing are also purified and refined. The different syllables of the chant are said to purify the five elements of our being and the chakras, or centers of subtle energies. The five elements are not literal elements like those of the periodic table, but fundamental ways that we and the world are structured. The solidity of earth, the liquidity of water, the fieriness of fire, the gaseous and invisible nature of air, and lastly ether or the quality of space. The alchemical process of chanting refines and purifies these elements or aspects of our being.
Om is said to be the heart of Lord Shiva. Om resonates in the head in the sixth chakra, located in the´ center of the forehead. It is also referred to as the third eye center. The emotional issues associated with it focus on the right to see. The sixth chakra is also the place of the guru (the one who sheds light on the darkness, another manifestation of our own deep nature) So the first part of the chant keys us into seeing the absolute on very refined levels.
Na ma si va ya. Na represents earth, ma water, si fire, va air, and ya ether. The na drops into the first chakra, the foundation place which embodies earthiness and solidity and has a lot to do with survival issues on an emotional level, the right to belong and to have. It is found at the base of the spine between the anus and genitals. The ma rises to the second chakra, represented by the water element and issues around sexuality on an emotional level, the right to feel and to desire. It is located a little below the navel. The si rises to the third chakra or jeweled city and is located in the solar plexus. The element is fire and emotional issues center around themes of personal power, the right to act and stand in one’s power. The va rises a little further to the fourth chakra or heart center. The element is air . This chakra is the first to move beyond the lower three densities of the animal soul and allows an opening to love, the right to love and be loved. The ya resonates in the fifth chakra or throat center, and is associated with the ether and space. It often deals with issues around expression, the right to speak and be heard.
In the chant the energy starts in the highest center, resting in the source and then dips down and rises up, purifying the elements, the chakras, and the emotional issues surrounding them. When I chant this mantra I often visualize myself in front of me and sing the mantra lovingly to myself.