The Mantra
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Om — I bow to Shiva, the auspicious one.
ShivaMantra
Om Namah Shivaya
Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
The great five-syllable mantra of Shiva — “Om, I bow to Shiva” — one of the oldest and most widely chanted prayers in the world.
From the Shri Rudram of the Yajurveda
Listen
Om Namah Shivaya
Son of Kali · Mahashivaratri Mantras
0:006:18
- Deity
- Shiva
- Type
- Mantra
- Verses
- 1
- Language
- Sanskrit
Om Namah Shivaya Lyrics with Meaning
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
About Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya is the panchakshara, the “five-syllable” mantra: na-mah-shi-va-ya. With Om added in front it becomes six syllables, but it is still known by its five-syllable heart. It simply means “Om, I bow to Shiva” — yet for millions of people it is a complete spiritual practice in itself, repeated on a mala, sung in temples and whispered at the edge of sleep.
The words first appear in the Shri Rudram, a great hymn to Shiva inside the Yajurveda, one of the oldest scriptures in the world. In the middle of that hymn comes the line namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca — “salutations to the auspicious one, and to the most auspicious.” The phrase namaḥ śivāya at the centre of the Vedas is why the mantra is so revered.
Shiva means “the auspicious one” or “the kind one.” So the mantra is not only bowing to a god with a trident on a mountain; it is bowing to goodness itself, and to the deepest, most peaceful part of your own being. That is why Shaiva teachers say the mantra needs no special initiation to be chanted with love — it belongs to everyone.
The Stories Inside the Hymn
Five syllables, five elements
Tradition links each of the five syllables to one of the five great elements that make up the whole world: Na to earth, Ma to water, Shi to fire, Va to air and Ya to space.
Chanting Na-ma-shi-va-ya is therefore said to bring all five elements in your body and mind back into balance — moving from the heaviest (earth) to the subtlest (space), from the outer world to the silence beneath it. The Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, also on this site, gives one full verse to each syllable.
The mantra at the heart of the Vedas
The Yajurveda is often pictured as a body, with the Shri Rudram at its heart — and the words namaḥ śivāya at the very centre of the Rudram. Teachers like to say that this makes Om Namah Shivaya “the heart of the heart of the Vedas.”
It is a beautiful image of how a short, simple prayer can carry the weight of an entire scripture.
How to Chant Om Namah Shivaya
When to chant
- ✦Any time of day — it is the most open and gentle of Shiva’s mantras
- ✦Mondays, Pradosham twilight and Maha Shivaratri are especially traditional
- ✦At dawn or dusk as a short meditation
- ✦Silently, whenever the mind becomes restless
How many times
Traditionally 108 times on a rudraksha mala. Even 11 slow, attentive repetitions are a complete practice.
- 1
Sit comfortably with your back straight and let your breath slow down.
- 2
Listen to the recording once to hear the rhythm of the syllables.
- 3
Chant aloud: Om… Na-mah Shi-vaa-ya. Let the Om hum in your chest before the words begin.
- 4
After a few rounds, lower your voice to a whisper, then chant silently in the mind.
- 5
End by sitting quietly for a minute and noticing how you feel.
Pronunciation Guide
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
oṃ — Om
Start with an open “o” and close into a humming “mmm” that vibrates in the head.
ḥ — namaḥ
A soft breath after the vowel: na-ma-h. Many people let it flow straight into “shi”.
ś — śivāya
Said “sh”, not “s”: Shi-vaa-ya.
ā — śivāya
The middle “a” is long — hold it: Shi-VAA-ya.
The music
Mahashivaratri Mantras Sacred Chants of Shiva
by Son of Kali
More for Shiva
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Om Namah Shivaya mean?
It means “Om, I bow to Shiva.” Om is the sacred sound of the universe, namah means “I bow” or “salutations,” and Shivaya means “to Shiva,” the auspicious one.
Where does Om Namah Shivaya come from?
The words namah shivaya come from the Shri Rudram, a hymn to Shiva in the Yajurveda (Taittiriya Samhita). The mantra is often called the heart of the Vedas because of where it sits in that hymn.
Why is it called the Panchakshara mantra?
Panchakshara means “five syllables”: na, mah, shi, va, ya. Each syllable is traditionally linked to one of the five elements — earth, water, fire, air and space.
Can anyone chant Om Namah Shivaya?
Yes. It is traditionally regarded as open to everyone, with no initiation needed. Sincerity matters more than perfect pronunciation.
How many times should I chant Om Namah Shivaya?
108 times on a mala is the classic practice, but 11, 21 or 54 repetitions with full attention are just as meaningful. Consistency every day matters more than the number.