What is Om Namah Shivaya?
Om Namah Shivaya (ओं नमः शिवाय) is the most important mantra in Shaivism — the tradition devoted to Shiva as the supreme divine reality. It is known as the Panchakshara Mantra (five-syllable mantra: Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya) and is the Mula Mantra (root mantra) of Lord Shiva. It appears in the Shri Rudram of the Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya Samhita 4.5.8.1) — one of the oldest sacred texts in existence.
What makes this mantra extraordinary is its layered depth. On the surface it is a simple salutation. Within it, the five syllables encode the five elements of creation (earth, water, fire, air, space), the five chakras of the human energy body, and Shiva’s five cosmic acts. It is at once the simplest mantra and the most complete — the entire path of liberation encoded in six syllables.
In Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism, this mantra is considered to contain the complete teaching of liberation. The Shiva Purana declares it the greatest of all mantras. When the Panchakshara is chanted with understanding and devotion, the syllables literally purify the five elements in the body and activate the upward flow of consciousness through the chakras.
ओं नमः शिवाय
Om Na Mah Shi Va Ya
Shri Rudram · Taittiriya Samhita 4.5.8.1 · Krishna Yajurveda
Word-by-Word Meaning
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ओं | Om | Primordial sound — the vibration of Brahman itself | The Mahabija (great seed). Made of A + U + M + silence. All of creation emerges from and returns to this sound. |
| नमः | Namah | Salutation / I bow / I surrender | From √nam = to bow. The visarga (ḥ) at the end is a breathy aspiration — not a hard H. Expresses complete, loving surrender. |
| शिवाय | Shivaya | To Shiva / for Shiva / unto Shiva | Dative case of Shiva. The “-aya” suffix means “to” or “for.” Shiva = the auspicious one who pervades all existence. |
The name Shiva comes from śi (auspicious) and va (to pervade). In non-dual Shaivism, Shiva is not a deity separate from you — he is pure consciousness, the ground of all being. Namah Shivaya is therefore simultaneously “I bow to Shiva” and “I bow to my own deepest nature.”
The Five Sacred Syllables — Na Ma Shi Va Ya
Each of the five syllables (excluding Om) carries multiple simultaneous layers of meaning. The mapping to the five elements and five chakras comes from the Shaiva Siddhanta and Agamic traditions and is confirmed by numerous great masters including Paramahamsa Muktananda and Subramuniyaswami.
The Five Syllables — Complete Reference Table
| Syllable | Element | Chakra | Shiva’s Act | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| न (Na) | Earth (Prithvi) | Muladhara — Root | Tirobhava — Concealment | Concealing grace; foundation; material world |
| म (Ma) | Water (Jala) | Swadhisthana — Sacral | Srishti — Creation | Maya; flow; creativity; cosmic penance of Shiva |
| शि (Shi) | Fire (Agni) | Manipura — Solar Plexus | Samhara — Dissolution | Shiva himself; the pure one; transforming fire |
| व (Va) | Air (Vayu) | Anahata — Heart | Sthiti — Preservation | Revealing grace; breath; divine love |
| य (Ya) | Ether (Akasha) | Vishuddha — Throat | Anugraha — Grace | The individual soul; infinite space; grace |
Muktananda: “As we chant the five syllables, the five elements comprising the body are purified. Each syllable purifies its corresponding element. Therefore we repeat Om Namah Shivaya to purify the body and mind.”
Listen & Chant Along
🙏 Chant 108 times with a rudraksha mala. Best times: sunrise and sunset. Mondays and Pradosh days are most auspicious.
The Panchakshara Stotra — Adi Shankaracharya
Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE) composed a beautiful five-verse hymn in which each verse celebrates one syllable of the mantra. This is the most exquisite poetic commentary on Om Namah Shivaya ever written.
Verse 1 — The Syllable Na (न)
नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय • भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय • तस्मै न काराय नमः शिवाय।।
Naagendra-Haaraaya Tri-Lochanaya • Bhasmanga-Raagaaya Maheshwaraaya
Nityaaya Shuddhaaya Digambaraaya • Tasmai Na-Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
“To the one wearing the serpent-king as a garland, three-eyed, whose body is smeared with sacred ash, who is Maheshwara, eternal, pure, sky-clad — to that Na-syllable, I bow to Shiva.”
Verse 2 — The Syllable Ma (म)
मन्दाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय • नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथ महेश्वराय ।
मन्दारपुष्प बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय • तस्मै म काराय नमः शिवाय।।
Mandaakini-Salila Chandana-Charchitaaya • Nandeeshwara-Pramatha-Naatha Maheshwaraaya
Mandaara-Pushpa Bahu-Pushpa Supoojitaaya • Tasmai Ma-Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
“To the one bathed in Mandakini waters and anointed with sandalwood, lord of Nandi and the Prаmathas, worshipped with Mandara and many flowers — to that Ma-syllable, I bow to Shiva.”
Verse 3 — The Syllable Shi (शि)
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द • सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय • तस्मै शि काराय नमः शिवाय।।
Shivaaya Gauri-Vadana-Abja-Vrinda • Sooryaaya Daksha-Adhvara-Naashakaaya
Shri-Nila-Kanthaaya Vrisha-Dhvajaaya • Tasmai Shi-Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
“To the auspicious one who is the sun to Gauri’s lotus face, who destroyed Daksha’s sacrifice, the blue-throated Nilakantha whose banner bears the bull — to that Shi-syllable, I bow to Shiva.”
Verse 4 — The Syllable Va (व)
वसिष्ठ कुम्भोद्भव गौतमार्य • मुनीन्द्र देवार्चित शेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्क वैश्वानर लोचनाय • तस्मै व काराय नमः शिवाय।।
Vasishtha Kumbhod-Bhava Gautamaary • Muniindra Devaarchita Shekharaaya
Chandraarka Vaishvaanara Lochanaya • Tasmai Va-Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
“Worshipped by Vasishtha, Agastya and Gautama — by the greatest sages and divine beings, whose three eyes are Moon, Sun and Fire — to that Va-syllable, I bow to Shiva.”
Verse 5 — The Syllable Ya (य)
यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय • पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय • तस्मै य काराय नमः शिवाय।।
Yaksha-Swaroopaya Jata-Dharaaya • Pinaaka-Hastaaya Sanaatanaaya
Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya • Tasmai Ya-Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
“Who is the form of the Yaksha, bearing matted locks, holding the Pinaka bow, the eternal ancient one, divine, celestial, sky-clad — to that Ya-syllable, I bow to Shiva.”
Origin — The Shri Rudram
The mantra Namah Shivaya appears in the Shri Rudram in the Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajurveda (4.5.8.1), in the Namakam section. The original Vedic verse reads: Namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca — “Salutations to the auspicious one and to the most auspicious.” It also appears in the Shukla Yajurveda’s Rudrashtadhyayi (Chapter 5, verse 41).
Over centuries of Shaiva tradition, this single verse became the supreme seed-mantra. The Shiva Purana states it was present at the beginning of creation — that the entire universe arose from this sound. In Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy, the five syllables represent the five-fold cosmic process (panchakritya): creation (srishti), preservation (sthiti), dissolution (samhara), concealment (tirobhava) and grace (anugraha). Every moment of existence is the Panchakshara dancing.
Benefits of Chanting Om Namah Shivaya
Each syllable purifies its corresponding element within the body — earth, water, fire, air, ether. This simultaneous physical and subtle purification creates deep harmony and lays the foundation for all further spiritual practice.
The mantra moves energy upward through the five lower chakras — Muladhara to Vishuddha — and Om carries it to Ajna and Sahasrara. Regular chanting gradually opens and balances the entire chakra system.
The rhythm of the mantra naturally synchronises with the breath and quiets mental noise. Many practitioners report that after weeks of daily chanting, anxiety significantly decreases and mental clarity increases.
Shiva is the master of death and time — nothing is more fearsome, yet nothing more compassionate. Chanting his name builds an intimate relationship with the divine that transforms fear — including the deepest fear of death — into devotion and trust.
Universally prescribed for healing — both physical and emotional. The mantra creates a field of Shiva’s protective energy around the practitioner. The five-element purification supports the immune system and overall vitality.
The deepest purpose. Through sustained practice, the devotee gradually recognises that the Shiva being saluted is not separate from themselves. This recognition — Shivoham: I am Shiva — is liberation (moksha).
How to Chant — Step by Step
Sunrise and sunset — sandhyakala
The transitional moments between day and night mirror the mantra’s theme of moving between states of consciousness. Monday mornings are especially potent — Monday is Shiva’s most sacred day.
Sit with a straight spine facing east
The spine must be erect to allow energy to move upward through the chakras. Face east (the direction of rising light) or north (the direction of Kailash, Shiva’s divine abode).
Use a rudraksha mala — 108 repetitions
Rudraksha beads are Shiva’s beads — the Shiva Purana says they are the tears of Shiva. Using a 108-bead rudraksha mala both focuses attention and resonates with the mantra’s tradition. One bead per repetition.
Chant aloud, then whisper, then silent
Traditional practice: begin with vachika japa (aloud), progress to upanshu (whisper), then manasika (silent mental). Each level is progressively more subtle and more powerful. Silent mental repetition is the most transformative.
Synchronise with the breath
Advanced practice: chant “Om Namah” on the inhale and “Shivaya” on the exhale. Or chant each syllable Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya with successive breaths. This merges mantra with prana and deepens the practice immensely.
Feel each syllable in its chakra
As you chant Na, feel it vibrating at the base of the spine. Ma at the sacral. Shi at the navel. Va at the heart. Ya at the throat. Om at the third eye. This active awareness transforms mechanical repetition into genuine sadhana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Om Namah Shivaya mean?
Literally: “I bow to Shiva / Salutations to the auspicious one.” Om is the primordial sound of Brahman. Namah (from √nam = to bow) means salutation, reverence and surrender. Shivaya is the dative case of Shiva meaning “to Shiva” — the -aya suffix directs the salutation. At the deepest level: “I surrender my limited ego-self to Shiva — the auspicious infinite divine consciousness that is the truth of my own being.”
What does each syllable mean?
Na = earth element, Muladhara chakra, Shiva’s concealing grace. Ma = water element, Swadhisthana chakra, creation and Maya. Shi = fire element, Manipura chakra, Shiva himself. Va = air element, Anahata chakra, Shiva’s revealing grace. Ya = ether element, Vishuddha chakra, the individual soul. Together they create a complete journey from dense matter (earth) to infinite space (ether), purifying each level and activating each chakra.
What is the Panchakshara Mantra?
Panchakshara means “five syllables.” The Panchakshara Mantra is Namah Shivaya — the five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya without the Om. This is the original Vedic form from the Shri Rudram (Taittiriya Samhita 4.5.8.1). The Om Namah Shivaya form is the Shadakshari (six syllable) form from the Agamic tradition. The Shiva Purana states the Panchakshara may be chanted by everyone regardless of background.
How many times should I chant this mantra?
108 times per sitting using a rudraksha mala is traditional. Twice daily — morning and evening — is ideal. Even 11 times daily with full attention is deeply beneficial. The mantra can be chanted throughout the day as continuous japa — synchronised with the breath, with footsteps while walking, or as a background presence during daily activity. Consistency and quality of attention matter far more than quantity.
Where does Om Namah Shivaya come from?
It originates in the Shri Rudram — Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajurveda (4.5.8.1) — as Namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca (without Om). It also appears in the Shukla Yajurveda’s Rudrashtadhyayi (Ch. 5, v. 41). The Om prefix was added in the Agamic-Shaiva tradition. The Shiva Purana declares this mantra was present at the very beginning of creation.
What is the difference between Om Namah Shivaya and Namah Shivaya?
Namah Shivaya is the original five-syllable Panchakshara form from the Shri Rudram — considered accessible to everyone. Om Namah Shivaya adds the primordial Om, making it the six-syllable Shadakshari form. Some traditional texts suggested the six-syllable form with Om was for initiated twice-born practitioners. However, most modern teachers across all lineages encourage all sincere devotees to chant Om Namah Shivaya. Both forms carry identical power and lead to the same experience.