Om Namah Shivaya! You may have heard this mantra at your yoga studio or from your meditation buddy. But what does “Om Namah Shivaya” mean? And how do you use this powerful mantra? And more importantly, what can this Sanskrit mantra do for you? 

We’ve got you! We’re here to answer all your questions so you too can enjoy all the benefits of this superhero mantra, Om Namah Shivaya! 

Om

We’ve all heard it; Om is everywhere! In movies and TV shows, at yoga studios, and even little children pretending to meditate say Om. But when we say Om is everywhere, it really is. Om, or Aum as it is spelled in the East, is considered to be the sound of creation! 🤯 Primordial and ancient, this sound called Om has a profound, peaceful impact on the environment. This is why many meditators chant three Oms before every meditation.

Om is really made of three sounds– “aaa”, “uuu”, and “mmm.” Hence, the Eastern spelling– Aum. What’s really fascinating about this is that many traditions have words that include these sounds. Amen, Amin, and Shalom are all variations of the sound Om.

You can try this experiment with a deconstructed Om. With your eyes closed, take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, chant the sound “aaa” three times, with a little space in between. 
Notice if there are any sensations or vibrations in the heart region. Then do the same with the sound “uuu,” again three times. You may experience energy or vibrations in the throat area. 
Next, make the sound “mmm,” three times. Notice the vibrations are in the head. Lastly, combine all three sounds together to make the sound, Om, three times with a little gap in between. You’ll notice that meditation starts to happen right away!

Namah Shivaya

This five-syllable mantra represents the five primary elements on this planet. There is also a connection with five of the seven main chakras. Broken down syllable by syllable, here’s a simple explanation of the five syllables.

1. Na is associated with the earth element and connected to the sacral chakra (the first chakra).

2. Mah is associated with the water element and connected to the bladder and second chakra.

3. Shi is associated with the fire element and connected to digestion and the naval chakra.

4. Va is associated with the air element and is connected to the lungs and heart chakra.

5. Ya is associated with the space element and connected to the throat and fifth chakra.

You can see the importance of chanting this powerful mantra, which brings the energy through the body in an upward motion. What you cannot see is how Om Namah Shivaya calms the elements, but you can definitely sense and feel it!

Chanting Om Namah Shivaya

These five elements are the building blocks of everything in creation, including the human body, and Shiva is the master of these five elements. Whereas the word “Om” is the sound of the universe, “Om” also resonates as peace and love. So, chanting Om Namah Shivaya harmonizes the five elements in the environment. And where there is peace, love, and harmony in all the five elements, then there is bliss and joy not just within you, but also all around you.

Chanting Om Namah Shivaya and calming the five elements within us, leads the mind to silence. Silence leads to the experience of Shiva Tattva. Tattva means principle, absolute reality, and truth. In this way, everyone can access Shiva's energy through this mantra. Since this energy has the effect of quieting the mind, this mantra is an excellent way to prepare for meditation.

There are a few different ways you can chant Om Namah Shivaya. 

How to chant Om Namah Shivaya

1. The best time to chant Om Namah Shivaya is during sunrise and sunset. However, even if you miss these times, this powerful mantra will be beneficial any time of the day! 

2. Om Namah Shivaya can be chanted either aloud or in your mind silently.

3. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya 108 times in succession leads to the best experience. This can be managed easily using a mala of 108 beads to count as you repeat the mantra each time. It only takes three to four minutes to use this method.

4. You can also enjoy a guided “slow” Om Namah Shivaya chanting led by master of meditation, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This chanting style is a pranayama (breathing technique). Whether you do five, ten, or twenty minutes of this method, the effects are profound!

 

5. You can also sing Om Namah Shivaya in bhajans.

Is Shiva a person?

Shiva is depicted as a human being, often with blue skin. But Shiva is definitely not a person but a principle. It is called the Shiva Tattva, which is an all-pervading consciousness that fills up this nothingness. 

Shiva has been described as a destroyer of evil beings, the simple one, the first yogi, king of dance, greatest of all divine beings and the list of superlatives goes on and on. Shiva means that which is innocent, benevolent, beautiful, transcendental, and absolute. Describing the indescribable! 

In ancient times, the rishis (wise saints) knew it would be easier to comprehend the concept of Shiva and all that Shiva represents by giving the formless a form. His blue skin represents infinity just like the feeling of infinity you get while looking at the sky.  

Today, even astronomy tells us that 99.99% of the universe is just empty -  nothingness. This “dark matter,” is so-called because it does not reflect, absorb or emit light and hence cannot be seen - ever. 

The benefits of chanting the Om Namah Shivaya mantra

Mantras bring you back to your source. Chanting or listening to mantras produces positive and uplifting energy. Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most powerful mantras. People have been chanting this mantra for thousands of years. 

• Om Namah Shivaya infuses positive energy and removes negative energy
• It is an excellent stress-buster, helping you to relax, unwind, and let go
• Om Namah Shivaya helps you to gain control over your senses
• With regular chanting, a restless mind becomes more stable and peaceful
• Om Namah Shivaya helps you gain clarity and purpose in life 
• Chanting Om Namah Shivaya 108 times can help nullify the effects of malefic planets, as in astrology

Expanding consciousness through meditation

If you are looking for a companion practice to your O Namah Shivaya mantra chanting, look no further! SKY Breath Meditation also gives access to the experience of universal oneness. To get a small taste of SKY, attend our free introductory session by clicking the image below.

Based on knowledge talks by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with inputs from Vaidic Dharma Sansthan.