Om Namah Shivaya – The Mantra of Shiva
Om Namah Shivaya is one of the best-known mantras associated with Shiva. It is a simple invocation, yet it carries a depth of meaning and symbolism. For some, it is a prayer expressing devotion; for others, a meditative practice and a way of turning the mind towards the divine. The words are commonly translated as “Salutations to Shiva” or “I bow to Shiva.” In Sanskrit, namaḥ expresses reverence, respect and surrender. Shiva means “auspicious” or “benevolent” and is the name of one of the principal deities in Hinduism. The words namaḥ śivāya have their roots in the Vedic tradition. They appear in the Śrī Rudram , a hymn dedicated to Rudra, found in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā of the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda . In its eighth anuvāka , or section, we find the verse: namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca It may be translated as “Salutations to Shiva and to the One who is even more auspicious.” The five-syllable formula Namaḥ Śivāya is known as the Pañchākṣara Mantra – the mantra of five syllab...
