This post covers the meaning of the sacred mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, and how you can leverage the transformational practice of mantra meditation to invoke the power of Lord Shiva and foster your spiritual growth. I’ve created a video to cover this topic which can be found on my YouTube channel, but have also included the main excerpts from my video in the post below for those who prefer to consume content in written form.
Meaning of Om Namah Shivaya | ॐ नमः शिबय
The renown mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, has been passed down from sages since the dawn of mankind and has personally helped me overcome many challenges over the course of my life. Om Namah Shivaya translates to “Salutations to Lord Shiva, the auspicious one” and pays reverence to one of the threefold major deities of the Hindu faith. This mantra is referenced in a variety of yogic texts and hymns dating back thousands of years ago and has guided many souls through the cycle of birth and death.
Om - The sacred syllable and primordial vibration from which the entire universe arose. It signifies the ultimate reality, consciousness and Atman or soul that’s within all of us. When spelled A-U-M, aum, also signifies the three states of the Universe/three aspects of God: creation, preservation and destruction.
Na - Earth
Ma - Water
Shi - Fire
Vā - Air
Ya - Ether or Sky
In totality, Om Namah Shivaya represents Lord Shiva’s oneness with the five elements and underscores the underlying truth that we are all one — that the universal consciousness behind all of creation is one. Hindu mantras are powerful vibrations, they are quite literally the manifestations of deities in the form of sound. There are countless mantras out there, but Aum Namah Shivaya is the foundational mantra of Shaivism, the world’s oldest religion. You can never go wrong with this mantra, for it calls upon Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, the God of gods.
Significance of Lord Shiva
In his bodily form, Lord Shiva is known as a yogi and ascetic who lives atop Mount Kailash with his wife Parvati and sons, Lord Ganesh and Murugan. As the famous yogi and mystic Sadhguru mentions, Lord Shiva is the Adiyogi or first yogi; everything we know about yoga comes from him. He is the God of rogues, vagabonds and misfits. He looks after lost souls and aids in their evolution, life after life. While he is epitome of benevolence, especially to those who are devoted to him, he’s known to relentlessly slay evil in all its forms. He has countless names and forms, and in some interpretations, his name literally means, “one who can kill the forces of darkness.”
However, Lord Shiva’s true nature is formless and limitless. He is all that is and all that is not. His primordial energy is present in every aspect of creation; he is the pure consciousness that pervades the Universe and he is that very same consciousness that is present within each of us. Through the grace of his mantra, you will see his presence in the trees and animals, in all forms of life, from the smallest ant, to mankind, to the angels and gods in Heaven.
A man named Satguru Subramuniyaswami, a self-realized sage who dedicated his life to Lord Shiva sums it up pretty well. This man built an ashram, a temple, in Kauai that I had the honor of visiting and wrote many books about Lord Shiva and various aspects of yoga. In his book, Dancing with Shiva, he says:
"Lord Shiva is the Supreme Being, the God of gods. He alone prevails everywhere. Not an atom moves except by his will. All the 330 million Gods of Hinduism are beings of high evolution, created by and rooted in Shiva. Each of us is a jiva, or evolving soul, on the path to merging with Shiva. As all drops of rain eventually unite with the ocean, it is the destiny of each jiva to merge back into Shiva.”
- Dancing With Shiva, Satguru Subramuniyaswami
Spiritual evolution normally occurs over the course of many lifetimes, as we learn, evolve and grow as spiritual beings, as we discover who we truly are, but this process can be hastened through the proper application of sacred mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya in conjunction with the practice of yoga.
Application
As is the case with all affirmations, you need three things in order to use a mantra effectively:
Repetition
You want to repeat a mantra a minimum of 108 times; this is normally one of the first things I do in the morning as part of my daily spiritual practice. In order to keep track of repetitions, I recommend using a Rudraksha mala. Rudraksha seeds are sacred to Lord Shiva. According to a Vedic legend, after coming out of a deep meditation for the betterment of humanity, Lord Shiva shed a single tear which grew into the form of a Rudraksha tree. As a result, Rudraksha seeds are seen as the tears of Lord Shiva. Any sincere devotee who wears a Rudraksha mala is under the divine protection of Lord Shiva.
When using a mala, it is important to use your thumb and middle finger in order to move the beads with each repetition; you don’t want to use your pointer finger. Moreover, when repeating the mantra, you can recite it audibly or mentally, with the latter being more powerful. I recommend whispering the mantra while reciting it mentally. This practice is called japa meditation.
Visualization
When practicing mantra meditation, it is important to accompany each repetition with mental visualization. In the case of Om Namah Shivaya, I recommend visualizing the form of Lord Shiva, however you can also visualize his lingha (a sacred symbol associated with Shiva), or his trishula weapon. You may find that your mind wanders from time to time, but just keep bringing it back to your point of focus. This is the key to any form of meditation.
Emotion
Lastly, emotion is the most important component of the practice of mantra meditation. Emotion is what fuels the mantra. Infusing each repetition with emotion, positive or negative will help elevate your mood and invoke feelings of bliss and joy. With practice, emotion will translate to devotion and devotion will ultimately culminate in surrender.
Benefits of Mantra Meditation
So what are the benefits of using this mantra? With consistent practice and repetition, this mantra will:
Help eradicate negative thoughts, emotions and states of mind such as stress, anxiety, anger, lust and sorrow in favor of peace, love, joy and clarity.
Bring forth profound spiritual wisdom, strength, bliss and virtue from deep within, allowing you to rise to your full potential.
Elevate your consciousness and vibration, bringing you into alignment with Lord Shiva and his greater vision.
Invoke your higher self. We are all aspects of Lord Shiva; we all have his presence within us. We all have the ability to strive and be like him, to walk in his footsteps. Krishna, Allah, Shiva, Buddha and Christ are all different facets of the same underlying God. Om Namah Shivaya honors Lord Shiva, but in honoring him, you honor all the gods for they are all one.
Before this mantra came into my life, I was an utterly lost man, trying to search for happiness in all of the wrong things. But over the years, this single mantra helped me conquer my inner demons and live a more joyful and fulfilling life. I used to look externally for happiness, but through the power of this mantra, I’ve realized that everything I’ve ever needed, all the happiness and bliss in the universe was always within me. This mantra will help you unlock that inner bliss.
Mere utterance of the Lord Shiva’s name has the power to purify and transform a man. If you’re weak, this mantra will make you strong. If you’re lost, this mantra will help you find yourself. If you’re struggling with lust, this mantra will purify you. If you’re dealing with depression, this mantra, when combined with holistic lifestyle changes and therapy, has the power to destroy negative thoughts and bring happiness and joy into your life.
Never doubt the power of this mantra. The Lord’s name is one of the most powerful weapons you can employ against the forces of darkness, against any inner demons you might be dealing with, against forces like lust, anger and greed which blind a man to his true nature. It has the power to cleanse away these negative qualities and invoke our divine potential as spiritual beings. May it bring you closer to Lord Shiva and may he guide you towards your dreams, towards happiness, peace, love, prosperity and wisdom.
Om Namah Shivaya.
I'm an avid enthusiast and well-versed expert in the profound realm of mantra meditation, particularly centered around the sacred mantra, Om Namah Shivaya. My journey into this transformative practice has been deeply personal, marked by overcoming numerous life challenges through the resonance of this ancient mantra. I've delved into the roots of this mantra, exploring its origins passed down by sages throughout the history of mankind.
Om Namah Shivaya, meaning "Salutations to Lord Shiva, the auspicious one," holds a significant place in the yogic and Hindu traditions. It's a mantra revered for its ability to guide souls through the cycle of birth and death, as referenced in various yogic texts and hymns dating back thousands of years. My understanding extends beyond mere recitation, as I comprehend the intricate layers of meaning embedded in each syllable.
The essence of Om, representing the ultimate reality, consciousness, and the soul within us, is a foundational vibration from which the entire universe emerged. The breakdown of Namah Shivaya into Na, Ma, Shi, Va, and Ya symbolizes the five elements, emphasizing Lord Shiva's oneness with the universe and the inherent unity of all existence.
My expertise goes beyond the recitation of mantras; I delve into the significance of Lord Shiva, both in his bodily form atop Mount Kailash and in his formless, limitless nature. Drawing from the wisdom of spiritual luminaries like Sadhguru and Satguru Subramuniyaswami, I articulate the multifaceted aspects of Lord Shiva, from being the Adiyogi, the first yogi, to the benevolent force that aids in spiritual evolution.
The practical application of Om Namah Shivaya is a key aspect of my expertise. I guide individuals on the proper use of mantras, emphasizing repetition, visualization, and the infusion of emotion to unlock the transformative power of this practice. I recommend the use of Rudraksha malas, sacred to Lord Shiva, as a tool for counting repetitions, and share insights into the meditative visualization of Lord Shiva or related symbols.
Furthermore, I elucidate the benefits of mantra meditation, detailing how consistent practice can eradicate negative thoughts and emotions, bring forth spiritual wisdom, elevate consciousness, and invoke one's higher self. My expertise extends to the holistic integration of mantra meditation with lifestyle changes and therapy for holistic well-being.
In essence, I stand as a testament to the life-altering potential of Om Namah Shivaya, having experienced its transformative power firsthand. My comprehensive understanding encompasses not just the recitation of syllables but the profound impact of this mantra on spiritual growth, inner peace, and the realization of one's true self.
