The Shiva Mantra is one of the most important (and most popular) chants in Hinduism and spirituality.
Used as a prayer, its focus is divine love, grace, gratitude, truth, and also joy. It is also a powerful mantra for healing all physical, mental, and spiritual ailments.
The mantra is used as a means to call your higher self. Since it is the mantra of Shiva – the destroyer – it is seen as the death of the ego, and a rebirth of the soul.
Who Is Shiva?
Shiva is one of the most important Hindu deities, and the supreme God in Shaivism. He is one of the three gods that form the holy trinity alongside Brahma and Vishnu.
He is the creator, protector, and transformer of the entire universe.
When you think of Hindu deities, Shiva is most likely the first to come to mind. He is depicted as having skin that is covered in ash, giving him either a blue, white, or purple complexion.
He has a third eye and a crescent moon on his head. He is known as the one with “matted” hair and is usually portrayed practicing yoga.
What Is the Shiva Mantra?
The Shiva Mantra is one of the simplest mantras you can say.
Om Namah Shivaya
The Shiva Mantra is a panchakshari mantra or a five-syllable mantra. In this case, the “Om” is not included and merely precedes the five holy letters, being ‘na, mah, shi, vaa and ya’.
The Shiva Mantra is thousands of years old and is known as the “great redeeming mantra.”
Chanting it is said to release us from our own ignorance. It purifies our souls, destroys all that is negative within us, and allows us to come into our true or higher states of consciousness.
The Shiva Mantra translated into English means, quite beautifully:
I honor the divinity within myself.
The Shiva Mantra has been nicknamed Nectar for the Soul.
6 Benefits of the Shiva Mantra
The Shiva Mantra is one of the most powerful. It is used for:
1) Understanding, both ourselves and the universe
2) Protection from harm
3) Purifying the spirit
4) Calming the mind of anxieties, fears, depression, and negativity
5) Invoking positive energy and harmony
Practitioners believe that chanting this mantra brings us closer to the divine, therefore making us better people and dampening our fatal flaws
How and When to Chant the Shiva Mantra
Because the Shiva Mantra is said to be so powerful, one should always proceed with caution when attempting it.
You will not get hurt when chanting it, but the spiritual effects may be overwhelming and cases of upset bought about by chanting it has been reported.
Thus, it is always best to chant the Shiva Mantra when you are most relaxed. You can chant it anytime, anywhere, as long as you are comfortable and ready to feel its effect on you.
