Mantra Om Namah Shivaya

Probably one of the most popular Vedic deities – Shiva. He associates with India, Vedic culture and of course, yoga. Popularity of Mahadev grows every year. Monuments are building to his honor, making movies, thousand people in India and all over the world wear rudraksha jewelry and repeat mantra for the greatest Shiva. What motivation have these people? When chant ancient mantras? How to do it to obtain maximum benefit?

About Mantra Om Namah Shivaya

Before talking about meaning of mantra, it would be good to say a few words about Shiva. There are a few versions how our Universe were created. Scientists and religious people are discussing about this question. Everyone is sure that his point of view right.

In Vedic culture there are concept of world creation, that all Vedanta followers and schools agrees. This theory detailed explained in “Srimad Bhagavatam”. Simplified: third book of this work says that everything created from one or another part of great Brahma. Because of that this world became inhabited by human and Gods.

When Brahma became angry, from his place between eyebrows appeared child, who was able to destroy all Universe with his scream. Creator calmed down child and gave him name Rudra. According to legend, that’s how god Shiva appeared in this world, who has more than one and two names. According to scripture, newborn got 11 names. In “Mahabharata” it’s possible to find information about other names of Shiva.

Exist “Shiva-sahasranama-stotram” – ancient hymn where are listed countless qualities of Shiva and thousands of his names. More early source that talks about Rudra names and ways how to repeat them, was hymn called “Rudra-sukta” (sanskr. श्री रुद्रम्). Hymn is part of Yajurveda – one of four Vedas. Yajurveda was compiled in X age before our era, but worship of Mahadeva has much more deeper roots. Famous British and Indian indologist Ramachandra Dandekar in the time of excavations of the Harappan Empire found confirmation that before Vedic times there existed forms similar to Rudra or even more earlier his personification.

Let’s analyze meaning one of the most popular mantras, dedicated to Shiva, that we find in Yajurveda. In Rudra Sukta (Namakam 8.1) we see words of mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” (Sanskr. ॐ नमः शिवाय). Ancient sources of the past – Puranas talk about greatness of mantra:

“Namah Shivaya – this is sacred name of Lord Shiva, sum and essence of four Vedas, leads souls to sacred way, full of devotion, who chants this mantra with lightness in their heart, tears flow from their eyes.”

Mantra Om Namah Shivaya translation and meaning English

Sacred scriptures compare it equally with Gayatri-mantra and Mahamrityunjaya-mantra, sometimes call it Panchakshara-mantra (mantra of five syllables):

Na (symbolises earth),
Mah (symbolises water),
Shi (symbolises fire),
Va (symbolises air),
Ya (symbolises ether).

“I bow to Shiva” – meaning of mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”, where:

Om – symbol of creation, first sound, appeared from emptiness.
Namah – bow, symbolyzes expression of respect,
Shiva – name of Shiva,
Ya – unity of soul and Absolute.

“Greates Shiva, my soul bows to your mercy” – one of possible translations of Shiva mantra.

How to chant mantra Om Namah Shivaya

Benefit of mantra chanting – in their universality: chant names of gods can every person, regardless of gender and age. Place doesn’t matter: everywhere words of mantra has same power.

The hardest way to chant mantra described by Swami Sivananda in his work “Japa and meditation to sound “OM”), also “Lord Shiva and his worship.” Swami Sivananda recommended to wake up early morning, about 4:00 and after washing take to hands japa-mala (beads). Sivananda called mala like whip for mind and recommended to carry it always with you, that all the time remember about necessity to chant God names. Then recommended to sit in special prepared place, where was images of Shiva and directed your eyes and thoughts to deity start chant saint name.

Interesting to mention that to worship various deities there is a need to have different malas. For example, Sivananda were saying that names of Vishnu and Rama allowed to chant only on mala from tulsi or neem, and for chanting Shiva you need mala from rudraksha. It is believed, that rudraksha – it is tree of Shiva. According to legend, once Shiva dive deep in meditation having goal, that human would stop to do sinful acts. By finishing practice Mahadev take a look to people, but they still did not gave up sinful thoughts and activity, then from eyes of Shiva on earth fall down tears, that turned into plant, that got name Rudraksha or “Tears of Rudra.”

By taking mala to right hand, it should be covered with a non-transparent cloth and chant mantra, by having in mind meaning of mantra. How many times to repeat mantra? In mala there are hundred eight beads, that is one round. Quantity of rounds should be multiplied by three, optimal option is to repeat everyday 18 rounds, but how we remember, it is the most hard option, that requires times, it means not always available to most of the practitioners.

More simple option allows to chant mantra in any comfortable same time, it’s important that time should be the same. Here, as everywhere, we need regularity and stability. At the appointed hour we must take to hands mala beads and by visualizing Shiva start chant mantra. Try to chant mantra in the morning: mantras give freshness to our mind, so if we will chant it in the evening, it will be hard to fall asleep.

Try to keep hand covered. The reason, that our mind and vision would not be distracted from mantra to mala beads. Quantity of rounds in ideal situation should reach 18, but it will not be an offence if you will have energy only for one round.

Practice in any meditation posture, with time you will be able to repeat mantra by walking, but in first stages better not to do it. The most important, it’s honestly and from all soul, Shiva sees and feels falsehood: if you will do practice forcefully, it will not give results. Take a look that on mala there are bead with a thread, it’s called bead of Shiva. It symbolises great border, that is not allowed to step over.

By chanting mantra until this bead, turn around mala and continue chanting. Remember, that oe full chant of mantra is one bead. Do not eat sounds. In the beginning chant mantras loudly, with time it’s possible to do it by whispering and when your mind will be prepared, chant it inside you. Do not shorten quantity of rounds, it’s not allowed to chant mantra for god Shiva today, and tomorrow start devotion for Ganesha. This expressed as disrespect and deities will not help us.

Chanting mantras is called Japa-yoga (Japa meditation). It’s hard and not easy practice, that you should take maximum seriously. There are one more method to glorify Mahadev: if you will just listen mantras for Shiva, you will gain inner peace in your soul and wellness.

Benefits of chanting mantra Om Namah Shivaya

Shiva-puranas claims that the one who regularly repeats this mantra, opens siddhas, learns how to control nature powers. But how to do it with mantrayana knows only Shiva… Also Mahadev guarantees protection of enemies for those who chants his mantra, not only in this, but also in other worlds. According to texts, mentioned before, by hearing words of mantra all demons hides in fear.

Mantra Om Namah Shivaya gives:

– Fulfillment of secret desires.
– Peace inside your soul.
– Your thoughts will become arranged.
– Shiva take care of you and protects you.
– Acquire any of ten thousand blessings, including physical and spiritual health, wisdom and prosperity.

– Develops intelligence.

In addition, it is considered, that who knows Shiva mantra text, awakens inside himself kundalini energy. Chanting mantra one time energy awakens in top chakra, goes down through main channel to rood chakra, cleanses organism.

Generally and globally mantra gives moksha and liberation and benefits in worldly life. It’s a mistake to believe that Shiva patronizes only those who practice hatha yoga. Mercy of Mahadeva applies to everyone, who turn to him with sincere faith. To practice mantra can not only one who on the path of yoga, but also that person who never tried yoga.

Practice of chanting mantras – not easy way to fulfill desires, not magic wand, but hard work, that can look even boring from outside, but this practice are able to take your life to a new level, come to understanding that world and Universe is much more wider than it can look for us. The most important – do not be scared to make mistakes. If your mistake will be consequence of your sincere efforts, Mahadev will not keep anger but with pleasure listen to one more voice, who sing a song about great Shiva.

Download various versions of Mantra Om Namah Shivaya

Darya Chudina – Shiva

Author: Nikita Zotov

Source: OUM.RU