The invocation begins with ‘Om’, the primordial sound, the vibration of which is eternal and remains as the underlying substance of all living beings and non-living things of the universe. This simply translates to ‘I bow down to Lord Shiva in prayer’. The mantra invoking the supreme God of liberation is a simple one and it reads as – It is because of this extraordinary characteristic that he is also hailed as Trinetra Dhari, the three-eyed Lord. The most striking feature of his form is perhaps his brilliant and powerful third eye, which he possesses in the middle of his forehead.
He is generally worshipped in the form of Shiva Linga, as Lingeswara. However, he himself is believed to assume all the roles, thus often representing the supreme trinity all by himself. He is hailed as Mahadeva, the Great Lord and is considered as the God of destruction and liberation. He is one among the Trimurthis, the divine trinity of Gods, who are responsible for the fundamental functional aspects of existence – creation, protection and destruction. I highly recommend trying it in sitting meditation.Shiva is one of the supreme Gods of Hinduism. It was not a miracle cure (there were to be medical interventions that worked), but it had a great and lasting effect, one that continues up to the present day. My mind, habitually anxious due to searching in vain for a cure, entered a state of great relaxation as well. It surprised me how quickly my muscles, used to being held in tension because of frequent pain, responded to the simple intonation of six syllables. I began using it many years ago, when I was struggling with frequent migraine headaches. No doubt that describes most of us on the Yoga path! I can say from experience that, at the very least, this mantra definitely has the power to relax the mind and body.
Understood thus, Om Namah Shivaya may be seen as a jumping-off place for spiritual seekers who wish to become adepts. It is the beginning on the path of Siddha Yoga, or the Yoga of Perfection of the Divine Vehicle. A very rough, non-literal translation could be something like, ‘Om and salutations to that which I am capable of becoming.’ This mantra will start one out on the path of subtle development of spiritual attainments. Notice that this does not refer to the chakras themselves which have a different set of seed sounds, but rather, the principles which govern those chakras in their place. The sounds relate directly to the principles which govern each of the first five chakras on the spine…Earth, water, fire, air, ether. In his book The Ancient Power of Sanskrit Mantra and Ceremony, Thomas Ashley-Farrand writes, Mantra is life, mantra is action, mantra is love the repetition of mantra, japa, bursts forth wisdom from within. Hindus believe that intoning the mantra in sitting meditation can “salvage the bound soul.” According to traditional Hindu wisdom, Om Namah Shivaya is considered a particularly powerful mantra. Other explanations of the syllables include references to the five elements (earth, water, fire, and air) and the five chakras. “Śi” is a reference to Lord Siva himself, and “Vā” represents his “revealing grace.” Finally, the syllable “Ya” stands for the soul. “Na” is Lord Siva’s “concealing grace ” “Ma” refers to the world. Om, of course, is believed to be the mystical sound at the heart of the universe. Śiva was actually an adjective prior to becoming a proper name it meant “auspicious,” or “friendly.” The mantra is from a prayer in the Sri Rudram Chamakam it addresses the deity Rudra, calling him “benign.” Later, Rudra would gradually become known as Shiva.Įach syllable of this mantra is filled with meaning. It translates roughly from Sanskrit into English as “Adoration to Shiva,” Shiva being the most exalted deity in the Hindu pantheon.
Śivāya ॐ नमः शिवाय, or “Om Namah Shivaya,” is perhaps the most popular mantra in the Hindu tradition.