Om Namah Shivaya

The five-syllable mantra of Shiva, the Panchakshari: the simplest and most chanted prayer to him. In English letters, with its meaning and what each syllable stands for.

Five syllables, after OmAbout 10 min to recitePandit review pending

Chant it aloud, softly, or in the mind. Its five syllables, Na Ma Shi Va Ya, are said to stand for the five elements that make up the world.

The mantra

  1. The mantra

    ॐ नमः शिवाय

    Om Namah Shivaya

    Om, I bow to Shiva: to the auspicious one, the self within all.

    ॐ, मैं शिव को प्रणाम करता हूँ: उस मंगलमय प्रभु को, जो सबके भीतर आत्मा बनकर बसते हैं।

Word by word

  1. Word 1

    ॐ

    Om

    The first sound, held to contain all others.

    पहली ध्वनि, जिसमें बाकी सारी ध्वनियाँ समाई हुई मानी जाती हैं।

  2. Word 2

    नमः

    Namah

    I bow; a salutation, offering oneself.

    मैं झुकता हूँ; प्रणाम, यानी स्वयं को अर्पित करना।

  3. Word 3

    शिवाय

    Shivaya

    To Shiva, the auspicious, the kind.

    शिव को, जो मंगलमय और दयालु हैं।

The five syllables

  1. Syllable 1

    न

    Na

    Earth.

    पृथ्वी।

  2. Syllable 2

    म

    Ma

    Water.

    जल।

  3. Syllable 3

    शि

    Shi

    Fire.

    अग्नि।

  4. Syllable 4

    वा

    Va

    Air.

    वायु।

  5. Syllable 5

    य

    Ya

    Space, the ether that holds the rest.

    आकाश, वह तत्व जो बाकी सबको थामे रखता है।

How to recite it

  • When · At any time, and above all on Mondays, in the month of Shravan and through the night of Maha Shivratri.
  • How · Sit still and chant it 108 times on a rudraksha mala, one bead for each recitation, letting the breath slow with it.
  • Through the day · Many also repeat it silently while walking or working, as a way of keeping Shiva in mind.