![]() (An initiation is like the official and traditional introduction into a sacred practice) ![]() Within Siddha Yoga lineage, in particular, ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ is used during initiation. Om Namah Shivaya is a Sanskrit mantra, which can be understood as a humble salutation to Shiva “ salutations to Lord Shiva, the auspicious one“. Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय) Om Namah Shivaya Meaning It is also linked to the “Pancha Bodha Tatva”, which refers to the five aspects of God or Universal Consciousness.īut let’s get into the Om Namah Shivaya meaning, specifically. In this mantra, in particular, Na represents the water element, ma – water, si – fire, va – air and ya – ether. The significance of the number 5 comes up repeatedly in ancient texts and it has also been linked to the five elements (pancha bhoota). On a deeper level, it also contains profound subtlety in its 5 syllables and is commonly known as the “five syllable mantra”. Shaivism is a major tradition within Hinduism where Shiva is regarded as ‘The Supreme God’ and the Siva Purana is the ancient text that holds information central to the theology behind Shaivism.Īs such, God Siva is worshipped during the holy Hindu month of ‘shravan’, this is a particularly auspicious month to worship Lord Shiv, for Shiva devotees.Īnd “Om Namah Shivaya” is the powerful Hindu mantra that is offered in reverence to God Shiva. The faction that worships Shiva is called Shaivism. Some worship Brahma and others worship Vishnu. Not all factions of Hinduism regard Shiva as the most important God. The Shiva Purana scripture, one of the most sacred scriptures in Hinduism, contains chapters on Yoga and Bhakti, of which mantra is an integral part of Devotional worship. His abode is traditionally recognized as Mount Kailash, where he resided with his consort Parvarti and their children Ganesha and Kartikeya.īecause of his prominent place in Hinduism, and in Yoga, there are many rituals and devotional practices that are dedicated to him. Shiva is especially important he is also known as Adiyogi Shiva, the God of Yoga, Meditation and the Arts. Shiva is known as the destroyer, Vishnu the sustainer and Brahma the creator of the Universe. The Trimurti (holy trinity) is composed of three Gods Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Brahma. He is just one of three Gods in Hinduism, known as the holy trinity, and represents Universal Consciousness. Shiva is one of the most important figures in Hinduism and you’ve likely heard of him or seen images or figurines of him around your favorite yoga studio. In this post, I want to break down the meaning of Om Namah Shivaya, why it matters, and how to use this mantra in your own daily practice. So each mantra serves a different purpose.Īnd one of the most popular mantras of all is Om Namah Shivaya. There are a variety of mantras for an array of purposes, such as reverence for Deities, meditation and cleansing the mind. This deep level of concentration encourages a stillness of the mind and meditation can occur. Mantras are sacred sounds that form prayers, or Divine sounds, which often do not have a translatable meaning in the modern context of language.Īnd since the purpose of Yoga is to unite with the ‘Inner Self’ or the ‘True Self’ (which is void of the ego), mantra chanting can be a powerful practice that helps us reach the ultimate goal of liberation from the ego.īy chanting the mantra with full focus, the mind becomes single-pointed. One of these ancient and traditional practices is chanting mantras, which is not as well known as asana posture practice. How it was originally intended, however, is as an intricate spiritual system involving many other aspects, such as moral and ethical philosophy, energy work, ritual and meditation. In the West, however, Yoga is popular for its physical posture practice of asana sequences.Īs you can imagine, a lot of the spirituality of this practice has been lost with the rise of gym memberships and #instafamous self-proclaimed yogis. You see, yoga is a spiritual practice that is thousands of years old and originates from South Asia. If you’ve ever been to a kirtan or attended a yoga retreat in some exotic land, then you may have heard blissed out yogis chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.Īnd if you have, then you’ve been able to witness a very sacred and very special communion with Universal Consciousness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |