Om Namah Shivaya
Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}}
Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Om Namah Shivaya (Devanagari: Template:Lang; IAST: Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya) is one of the most popular Hindu mantras and the most important mantra in Shaivism. Namah Shivaya means "O salutations to the auspicious one!", or "adoration to Lord Shiva". It is called Siva Panchakshara, or Shiva Panchakshara or simply Panchakshara meaning the "five-syllable" mantra (viz., excluding the Om) and is dedicated to Shiva. This Mantra appears as 'Na' 'Ma' 'Śi' 'Vā' and 'Ya' in the Shri Rudram Chamakam which is a part of the Krishna Yajurveda<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and also in the Rudrashtadhyayi which is a part of the Shukla Yajurveda.
The five-syllabled mantra (excluding the Oṁ) may be chanted by all persons including śūdras and cāṇḍalas; however the six-syllabled mantra (with Oṁ included) may only be spoken by dvijas.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Origin of the mantra
File:Om Namah Shivaya audio.wav The mantra without the initial Om was originally a verse in the eighth hymn of the Namakam section of the Shri Rudram, (TS 4.5.8.1) itself taken from the Taittirīya Samhita, a recension of the Black Yajurveda. It appears as, Namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca (Sanskrit: Template:Lang). The English translation of the mantra is, "Salutation to the auspicious one and to the more auspicious".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
This mantra also appears in the Rudrashtadhyayi, a part of the Shukla Yajurveda. In the Rudrashtadhyayi, it appears in the 5th chapter (also known as Namakam) verse 41.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Translations among different traditions
In Siddha Shaivism and Shaiva Siddhanta Shaivism traditions, Namah Shivaya is considered as Pancha Bodha Tatva of Lord Shiva and his universal oneness of five elements:<ref name="Veylanswami2016">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Na sound represents earth<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Ma sound represents water<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Śi sound represents fire<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Vā sound represents Pranic air<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Ya sound represents sky or ether<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
Its total meaning is that "universal consciousness is one".<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
In Shaiva Siddhanta, the five letters also represent:<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Na is the Lord's concealing grace<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Ma is the world<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Śi stands for Shiva<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Vā is His revealing grace<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
- Ya is the Ātman or soul<ref name="Veylanswami2016"/>
The Tirumantiram (a scripture in Shaiva Siddhanta) announces that "His feet are the letter Na. His navel is the letter Ma. His shoulders are the letter Śi. His mouth, the letter Vā. His radiant cranial center aloft is Ya. Thus is the five-lettered form of Shiva.": Tirumantiram 941. TM<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Template:Hinduism
In different scriptures
- The Mantra appears as 'Na' 'Ma' 'Śi' 'Vā' and 'Ya' in the Shri Rudram Chamakam which is a part of the Krishna Yajurveda. Thus predates the use of Shiva as a proper name, in the original context being an address to Lord Rudra (later Shiva), where Shiva retains its original meaning as an adjective, meaning "auspicious, benign, friendly", a euphemistic epithet of Rudra.<ref name="Veylanswami2016" />
- The mantra appears in the Rudrashtadhyayi which is a part of the Shukla Yajurveda.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Whole Panchakshara Stotra is dedicated to this mantra.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Tirumantiram, a scripture written in Tamil language, speaks of the meaning of the mantra.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
References
Template:Full citations needed Template:Reflist
Template:Shaivism Template:Worship in Hinduism Template:Hindudharma