Om Namaḥ Shivaya is one of the most important mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva

 

Om Namaḥ Shivaya is one of the most important mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva . This Mantra appears as 'Na' 'Ma' 'Si' 'Va' and 'Ya' in the Yajurveda in the Shri Rudram hymn.

Namah Shivaya means "adoration (namas) to Lord Shiva", preceded by the devotional syllable "Om". The syllable "Ya" at the end of the mantra denotes an offering. Thus the mantra Om Namah Shivaya actually means "I offer to Shiva a respectful invocation of His Name", and not merely "I respectfully invoke His Name".

In Siddha Shaivism and Shaiva Siddhanta Shaivism tradition Nama Sivaya is considered as Pancha Bodha Tatva of Lord Shiva and his universal oneness of five elements -

"Na" sound represents earth

"Ma" sound represents water

"Si" sound represents fire

"Va" sound represents Pranic air

"Ya" sound represents sky or ether

Its total meaning is that "universal consciousness is one".

The five letters also represents -

Na is the Lord’s concealing grace

Ma is the world

Si stands for Shiva

Va is His revealing grace

Ya is the Atman or soul.

This Mantra appears as 'Na' 'Ma' 'Śi' 'Vā' and 'Ya' in the Yajurveda in the Shri Rudram hymn . Thus predates the use of Shiva as a proper name, in the original context being an address to Lord Rudra (later Shiva), where Siva retains its original meaning as an adjective, meaning "auspicious, benign, friendly", a euphemistic epithet of Rudra.

It is called Siva Panchakshara, or Shiva Panchakshara or simply Panchakshara meaning the "five-syllable" mantra ( excluding the Om) dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is the most holy salutation to Lord Shiva!

Hari Om Tat Sat ~ Om Namah Shivaya ~ Shubh Somvaar!