This Mantra thus denotes the Lord’s oneness with the five elements and thus, asserts that he is the universe itself. In this, ‘Na’ denotes the earth, ‘Mah’ water, ‘Shi’ fire, ‘Va’ air, and ‘Ya’ the sky, space, or the ether. This is said to signify the Pancha Bhoota Tatva, the phenomenon of the five fundamental elements of nature – the earth, water, fire, air, and space- that make up the universe. Om Nama Shivaya Significance:īut the term ‘Namah Shivaya’ has a much broader connotation. And Om emerged out of this void as the first vibration and a precursor to creation that soon followed.‘Namah’ is bowing down in salutation. And ‘Shivaya’ is Lord Shiva, who is the inner self. It is said that before the creation of the universe, there was nothing but a void there. Yes, its meaning looks quite simple, but its implications are profound.Let us try to understand the Om Namah Shivaya Mantra in greater depth now. Here, the initial term ‘Om’ itself remains a Mantra, called Pranava Mantra. The Om Namah Shivaya Mantra takes the sacred name of the Lord and offers salutations to him. The Mantra can simply mean ‘I bow down to Shiva’ or ‘I venerate Lord Shiva.’ While this Mantra is recited with great devotion and faith throughout the length and breadth of our vast land, people also chant it with slight variations, such as Om Namasivaya, or Omnamasivaya, depending on the uniqueness of the tradition and language of a particular region. This Mantra appears in Namakam in Taittriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajurveda, too, as Namah Shivaya, that is, without the first word ‘Om.’ This is a very ancient prayer that is in practice for thousands of years.

Om Namah Shivaya is a Vedic hymn that finds mention in the Sri Rudram Mantra of Yajur Veda. And this Mantra also happens to be one of the most important and powerful ones used in Shiva worship. There are innumerable Mantras, Slokas, or hymns addressed to him, but Om Namah Shivaya remains perhaps as the most fundamental of those dedicated to this supreme divinity.

Hence it is no surprise that Lord Shiva remains one of the very well worshipped Gods of our land, where innumerable temples have been constructed for him, and rituals and prayers are conducted in his honor.Īnd Om Namah Shivaya is a prayer addressed to this great Lord. And once he gets pleased with a devotee, there can virtually be no end to the benefits that he can heap on him and add to his life. Shiva is a compassionate God, who can be easily pleased by virtuous behavior and sincere devotion. Though Shiva is regarded as the God of destruction or dissolution, he terminates only to refresh, rejuvenate, and recreate. He remains as one among the trinity of Gods who perform the 3 fundamental functions of the universe – creation, protection, and destruction. Lord Shiva is a supreme God of the Hindu pantheon.

Om namah shivaya benefits