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Om Namah Shivaya (Sanskrit: ॐ नमः शिवाय; IAST: ॐ Namaḥ Śivāya) is without doubt one of the hottest Hindu mantras and a very powerful mantra in Shaivism.
Its translation is “salutations (namas) to Śiva”, preceded by the paranormal syllable “Aum”. Om Namah Shivaya mantra is sung by devotees in prayers and recited by yogis in meditation. It’s related to qualities of prayer, divine-love, grace, reality and blissfulness.
Historically, it’s accepted to be a strong therapeutic mantra helpful for all bodily and psychological illnesses. Soulful recitation of this mantra brings peace to the center and pleasure to the [Ātman] or Soul. Sages contemplate that the recitation of those syllables is sound remedy for the physique and nectar for the soul [Ātman]. The character of the mantra is the calling upon the upper self; it’s the calling upon shiva, the destroyer deity, to help within the demise (destruction of ego) and rebirth achieved throughout meditation. This goes usually for mantras and chants to totally different gods, that are totally different features of the upper self.
It is usually known as Panchakshara, or Panchakshari, the “five-syllable” mantra (viz., excluding the Om). Panchakshari Mantra Namaḥ Śivāya is probably the most holy salutation to Śiva. The Panchakshara will be recited by Shiva devotees throughout pooja, Japa, Dhyana, homa and whereas smearing Vibhuti.
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