I BOW DEEPLY TO THE DIVINE LIGHT THAT RESIDES WITHIN.

Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most ancient and powerful mantras, originating from the Yajurveda and the Shiva Purana, with roots spanning thousands of years.

This mantra is deeply connected to Shiva – the deity of transformation and destruction, symbolizing the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth and it encourages us to clear away the old and make space for the new.

In Hindu tradition, Shiva is portrayed as the meditative ascetic, dwelling in solitude on Mount Kailash, who got lost in contemplation. Yet, his role as the destroyer is not one of chaos, but one of clarity – dissolving the illusion and ignorance, and removing the barriers that separate us from our truest selves. He reminds us of oneness.

Om Namah Shivaya serves as a reminder to honor this transformative energy within us. It’s a prayer to release the ego, fear, and attachment, and to return to the pure, divine essence of who we truly are.

Shiva is also the Hindu god who represents dance. But not just any dance…

The Tandavam Dance of Destruction and Creation:

Shiva, retreating to the sacred mountain of Kailash, entered into deep meditation. When he opened his third eye, the fog of ignorance began to clear, but the transformation was not yet complete, so Shiva rose from his meditation and began his powerful Tandava dance. Shiva, retreating to the sacred mountain of Kailash, entered into deep meditation. When he opened his third eye, the fog of ignorance began to clear, but the transformation was not yet complete, so Shiva rose from his meditation and began his powerful Tandava dance. Shiva held Agni (fire) needed to build “tapas” to burn away that which does not serve and the mudra of Abhaya – fearlessness.

As Shiva danced, though each step seemed destructive, it was filled with grace. He reminded the world that destruction is a necessary part of transformation, for new life to flourish. After his dance, peace returned to the earth, opening hearts of the humans.

The essence of chanting Om Namah Shivaya is the recognition that we are all capable of transformation at any moment, even accompanied by fear, loss, or uncertainty. Use it as your amulet, chanting it softly whenever you need it, allowing it to ground you in the knowledge that everything in life is part of a sacred cycle – birth, death, rebirth / creastion, destruction, the new (evolved). May it always be a gentle reminder that even the most difficult moments become opportunities for growth, shedding old layers and stepping more fully into your most authentic self.

MEANINGS OF THE COMPONENTS

• Om: The primordial sound of the vibration of the universe.
• Na: Represents earth, grounding us and reminding of our origins.
• Mah: Represents water, symbolising the fluidity of emotions and the act of letting go.
• Shi: Represents fire, portraying transformation and the power to destroy illusions.
• Va: Represents air, serving as a reminder of the ever-present life force and the breath essential to sustaining life.
• Ya: Represents ether and the boundless nature of existence.

BRING IT INTO YOUR LIFE • music & chants

Here’s a few covers of the Om Namah Shivaya mantra that you can listen to while cooking, driving, to end your practice with, or really anytime during your day: