Om Namah Shivaya - Mantra Meaning, Lyrics, Significance

Om Namah Shivaya is a mantra, made of 6 syllables, full of power, divine energy, and positivity.

It has only 6 characters but has a very deep meaning. Each character offers glory toward Shiva. In Shiva Panchakshar Stotram and Shadakshar Stotram, the deep meaning of mantra explained, by knowing it we dive into a sea of the glory of Lord Shiva.

As per Shiva Puran, Om Namah Shivaya, Shiva Moola Mantra is at the time of the creation of the universe. When the universe begins, nothing is there but only Lord Shiva in divine place and they create this Mahamantra. This mantra includes every kind of knowledge, even all Vedas and Puranas are originated from this.

Shiva Moola Mantra - Om Namah Shivaya

Lyrics in English -

Om Namah Shivaya

Hindi/ Sanskrit text -

ॐ नमः शिवाय

In English, the meaning of Om Namah Shivay is:

In Hindi, it's meaning:

Detailed meaning

In the mantra, Om represents the symbol includes at starting to each mantra, without it any mantra consider as incomplete.

Om is known as Pranav mantra because it saves one from the ocean of the material world. Om has a deep meaning. It made from A, U, M, nada, and "Bindu". These five parts of Om represent five head of God Shiva.

Namah means giving respect. In Sanskrit, Namah is used to give the invocation to God.

Shivaya means for God Shiva. Shiva means Lord Shiva and "ya" is used with Namah in Sanskrit.

Om	The symbol used in every mantra
Namah	To give respect
Shivay	God Shiva

In Shiv Shadakshara Stotram, the meaning of character in mantra with an explanation is given.

It explains that "Om" is a symbol which regularly meditated by Yogi. It gives salvation, and provide material things. "Na", is bowed by Sages, Apsara, gods.

"Ma" is a form of Mahadev, who is in deep meditation; which removes huge sins.

"Shi" is which includes Shiva, peaceful, for God of the universe, who provide welfare to people.

"Va" is for Vahana (Vehicle), Vrishabha, Vedas, Vasuki as in the neck, who's left side Shakti is there.

"Ya" is the last character in Mantra. For "Ya", it is said that place where gods live, God of the universe, Maheshwar is there. Lord Shiva is a Spiritual master of all gods. I honor them.

In Shiva Panchakshar Stotram, the meaning of five characters is given. It shows about Namah Shivaya without Om.

Panchakshar stotra says for "Na", "Nagendraharaya Trilochanaya Bhasmangaragay..", which shows Shiva who has Serpent in the neck, three eyes, who has ash on the body, who is God of all, who is eternal, who is Pure, who have four directions and sky as clothes.

As the tree of banyan is in it's a seed, Om Namah Shivaya is small like a seed by numbers of characters but has great meaning as a tree of banyan has.

If one spends all life to understand, still he knows almost nothing. It is like a sea which humans can never take, if we try at our full ability, still we able to get knowledge only as a water drop.

Significance and effect of Om Namah Shivaya

Om Namah Shivay is fundamental, always Shiddha, help to attain Moksha. The whole Universe would fit inside Mahamantra.

It has significance:

• Om Namah Shivaya includes all types of spiritual powers, which calm the mind of a divine person, and give whatever he wants.
• Mantra purifies the heart of a devotee.
• Om Namah Shivaya is beneficial to our brain, It provides new ways. Things can be easily understandable.
• Who has mantra always stays in heart, he not need to read anything. He does not need to do anything because Knowledge of Vedas will come in mind. Karma has no purpose for him.
• It connects us to God Shiva. 
• Mantra is recommended by Sage and scriptures.
• Om Namah Shivaya is the voice form of Lord Shiva. They stay in this mantra, whenever devotee chant, they come there.
• Om Namah Shivaya gives protection. Devotees like Nandi, Chandra, Markendaya saved from death by Shiva's blessing. 
• Chanting Moola Mantra of Shiva will solve the diseases which are hard to solve even by medical science.
• It removes fear, anxiety and other negative thoughts. 
• Our mind thinks about God and their glory.
• One's karma improved. We stay away from bad karma. 
• Our mind automatically attracts towards divinity and devotion.
• Mantra helps to succeed in our reason to come here in this world. Truth is God. By chanting the name of Lord Shiva, we can fulfill the purpose of us.

Once Goddess Parvati asks Mahadev that how can one become free from birth and death cycle in Kaliyuga? When unrighteous spread everywhere, ancient Guru-Shishya system reach to death, how can a person connect with God?

God Shiva replies that the way to get rid of the effect of Kaliyuga is Panchakshari Vidya. After Lord Shiva describes mantra Om Namah Shivaya and says that how it can save one from the material world. They explain it's significance and some rules. Mahadev says about Nyasa and deep meaning.

Some qualities of Mantra

• Divine
• Powerful
• Spiritual
• Energetic
• Holy
• Remover of sins
• Peaceful
• Confidence giving
• Full of positivity
• Happiness giving
• Way to connect with Shiva
• Saver from death
• Devotional
• Miraculous
• Magical
• Fundamental
• Auspicious

How to chant Om Namah Shivay

In Shiva Purana's vayaviya Samhita, there is a detailed procedure to chant a mantra. I will give here some information.

First, it is not necessary to have a spiritual master (Guru), but if a master is there and they give you a mantra, it is more effective.

In Shiva Purana, three types one can get mantra and which is better is explained:

1. Mantra one gets himself, without any Guru, is called Saadhya mantra.

2. Mantra takes from Guru who doesn't achieve siddhi is called Siddha mantra.

3. Mantra taken from Guru who has achieved Siddhis is called Susadhya mantra, which gives effect immediately.

It is recommended to take mantra from Siddh Guru (Spiritual master who achieved a spiritual power of mantra).

To take it from Guru, the Diksha procedure should be followed.

Chanting it with qualities like kindness, friendliness, devotion will be good. One who recites the mantra with such qualities, he gets nearness to Mahadev, he will be immersed in them.

For correct pronouncing listen to it from the video. While you chant, speak Om for a long time as Aum...

Remembering God Shiva and Reciting it with remembering meaning will be unimaginably good. 

Continuously chanting it, 108 times or 1008 times or without counting for 10-20 minutes, will be ultimately good.

For counting, using Rudraksha mala or any malas or by finger, will be very good. 

You can also chant without counting, it is also great. But counting by Rudraksha is better because it originated from Lord Shiva's tear.

Early morning, a time of Brahmamuhurt is best for reciting.

Based on how one Chant, Japa has four types:

1. Mantra chanting with a loud voice, wrong-right pronunciation is called Vaachik Jaap.

2. Chanting in which only tongue move, the voice of slow that even the nearest person can't listen is called Upansu Japa.

3. Chanting of mantra in mind, with each character imagined word by word, and think meaning of it, is called Maanas Japa.

4. Mantra chanted with Pranayama and meditation is called Sagarbha Jaap.

As per Shiva Purana's Vayaviya Samhita, Upanshu Jaap is better than Vaachik Jaap, Maanas Jaap is better than Upanshu Japa but Sagarbha Jaap is best among this all.

If it is hard to concentrate then chant with half-open eyes, not full close nor open eyes but half-closed eyes, it will not let come any thoughts in mind, which helps to better chant.

How many times should I chant?

Om Namah Shivaya is a mantra for which there are no restrictions on specific times of counting. We can chant it once, 5 times, 11 times, as we like. But it has the significance of chanting 108 times by mala Rudraksha.

Also, Shiva Purana explains that If one chant mantra 10 thousand times daily or thousands of times in the morning and evening, he gets a position in Shivloka. And If one chant it 1008 times for a thousand days and feed to Brahmin each day, whatever he wishes he has, will be completed.

Which day mantra should be recited?

Any day for reciting is good, but some days in which chanting mantra has more effect.

Days are:

• Monday
• Shivratri
• Mahashivratri

Chanting it 108 times or 1008 times on these days will be good and very helpful. Going to Shiva Temple and worshipping Mahadev while chanting the mantra will be sources of ultimate unlimited happiness, good pleasure, and ultimate unlimited goodness.

Each time of giving Bilvapatra, chanting the Shiva Moola mantra will be good and helpful.

Conclusion

Om Namah Shivaya is a very powerful mantra that can deeply affect us. It is the easiest way to improve our life fast.

Nothing can comparable with Mahamantra Om Namah Shivay.

Om Namah Shivaya..