How to Chant Mantra Om Namah Shivaya: Meaning, Benefits

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 built in his honor, making movies, thousands of people in India and all over the world wear rudraksha jewelry and repeat mantras for the greatest Shiva. What motivation do these people have? When chanting ancient mantras? How to do it to obtain maximum benefit?

About Mantra Om Namah Shivaya

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

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

When Brahma became angry, from his place between the eyebrows appeared a child, who was able to destroy all Universe with his scream. Creator calmed down the child and gave him the 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, the newborn got 11 names. In “Mahabharata,” it’s possible to find information about other names of Shiva.

Exist “Shiva-sahasranama-stotram” – ancient hymn where countless qualities of Shiva and thousands of his names exist. Another early source that talks about Rudra names and ways to repeat them was a hymn called “Rudra-sukta” (Sanskrit: श्री रुद्रम्). Hymn is part of Yajurveda – one of four Vedas. Yajurveda was compiled in the X age before our era, but worship of Mahadeva has much 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 one of the most popular mantras, dedicated to Shiva, that we find in the Yajurveda. In Rudra Sukta (Namakam 8.1) we see the words of the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” (Sanskrit: ॐ नमः शिवाय). Ancient sources of the past – Puranas talk about greatness of this mantra:

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

Mantra Om Namah Shivaya translation and meaning in English

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

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

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

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

“Greatest Shiva, my soul bows to your mercy” – one of the 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 have the same power.

The hardest way to chant the mantra is described by Swami Sivananda in his work “Japa and meditation to sound “OM”), also “Lord Shiva and his worship.” Swami Sivananda recommended waking up early in the morning, about 4:00 and after washing, taking the hands japa-mala (beads). Sivananda called mala a whip for the mind and recommended carrying it always with you, always remembering the time about the necessity to chant God names. Then recommended to sit in a specially prepared place, where there were images of Shiva, and directed your eyes and thoughts to the deity to start chant sacred name.

It is interesting to mention that to worship various deities, there is a need to have different malas. For example, Sivananda was saying that the names of Vishnu and Rama are allowed to be chanted only on mala from tulsi or neem, and for chanting Shiva, you need mala from rudraksha. It is believed that the rudraksha  is the tree of Shiva. According to legend, once Shiva dives deep in meditation with a goal, that human would stop doing sinful acts. By finishing practice, Mahadev takes a look at people, but they still did not give up sinful thoughts and activity, and then from the eyes of Shiva on earth fall down tears that turned into a plant, which got the name Rudraksha or “Tears of Rudra.”

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

By chanting the mantra until this bead, turn around the mala and continue chanting. Remember that one 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 is prepared, chant it inside you. Do not shorten the quantity of rounds, it’s not allowed to chant mantras for god Shiva today, and tomorrow start devotion for Ganesha. This is 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 is one more method to glorify Mahadev: if you will just listen to mantras for Shiva, you will gain inner peace in your soul and wellness.

Benefits of chanting the mantra Om Namah Shivaya

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

Mantra Om Namah Shivaya gives:

– Fulfillment of secret desires.
– Peace inside your soul.
– Your thoughts will become arranged.
– Shiva takes 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 whoever knows the Shiva mantra text awakens inside himself kundalini energy. Chanting mantra one time  awakens energy in the top chakra, goes down through the main channel to the root chakra, and cleanses the organism.

Generally and globally, a 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 turns to him with sincere faith. Practice mantra can be for not only one who is on the path of yoga but also that person who has never tried yoga.

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

Download various versions of Mantra Om Namah Shivaya

Darya Chudina – Shiva

Author: Nikita Zotov

Source: OUM.RU