FW: The Panchakshara Mantra

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Dear narasimhaye ji,

Please find the original article attached below.

Best Regards

Sreejith

The Panchakshara Mantra

 

Om Namah Shivaya

 

This mantra is said to be the heart of all the Vedas and Tantras. Namah

Shivaya is found, quite literally,in the middle of the Vedas, in the Rudram.

In the Agamas its meaning is elaborated upon. Natchintanai says that,

 

"Namah Shivaya is in truth both Agama and Veda. Namah Shivaya represents all

mantras and Tantras. Namah Shivaya is our souls, our bodies and possessions.

Namah Shivaya has becomeour sure protection."

 

It is difficult to give a clear meaning to the mantra. The easy exposition

of it would be "Om, I bow to Shiva".But this interpretation does not do it

justice. Shiva means Auspicious, so it could be said that the mantra means

bowing to the Auspiciousness. Shiva however should be understood in the

fuller context, and not in the overly simplistic picture that is typically

given in books and websites as a god of destruction.

 

In Shaivism and other Hindu systems, Shiva is the formless transcendental

Being (often called Paramashiva),the Divine source. This is the source that

rests in each and everyone. It is not a god seperate from yourself,

 

it is the core being of your self. Nothing external or seperate from you,

rather it is your heart of hearts. More important than the literal

translated meaning of this mantra is it's sound, it's vibration. Just as

with all mantras the sound of it is more important than its literal meaning.

This mantra is also known five syllabled mantra, for it consists of five

syllables, Na - Ma - Shi - Va - Ya. The start of the mantra, Om, does

constitute as a syllable because it is the Mahabija, the great seed from

which all other mantras and sounds arose. The syllables within the mantra

are said to have a range of meanings and attributes.

 

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami writes that

 

'Na is the Lord's concealing grace, Ma is the world, Shi stands for Siva, Va

is His revealing grace, Ya is the soul.'

 

He continues,

 

''The five elements, too, are embodied in this ancient formula for

invocation. Na is earth, Ma is water, Shi is fire, Va is air, and Ya is

ether, or akasha. Many are its meanings.'

 

Paramahamsa Muktananda also eloquently explains this point and tells of how

it benefits ones mind and spiritual path, he speaks of the nadi's, the

channels of pranas and the purity of mind. Repeating this mantra rids the

mind of tamas and rajas, making it suitable for lofty spiritual experience.

Muktanandaji says

 

"Underlying this mantra is a great secret. As we chant the five syllables

Namah Shivaya, the five elements that comprise the body are purified. Each

of the syllables corresponds to one of these elements: the syllable na to

the earth element, the syllable ma to the water element, the syllable shi

to the fire element, the syllable va to the air element, and the syllable ya

to the ether element. Each syllable purifies its corresponding element. As

long as the body and the mind are not completely pure, we cannot fuly

benefit from our spiritual practice. Therefore, we repeat Om Namah Shivaya

to help cleanse them."

 

In Yoga Magazine, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati expounds somewhat on the

vibrational quality of the mantra and its relationship with the main

chakras, he says

 

"When we repeat the mantra Om Namah Shivaya, for example, we are not

becoming a Shaivite, we are not adoring or worshipping a deity, but we are

stimulating the force of these different chakras. Om is the sound of ajna

chakra which is responsible for clarity, for creativity, for the intuitive

faculty of mind. Ya or Yam is the mantra of anahata, Va or Vam is the mantra

of swadhisthana. Similarly Na, Ma, Sha are different sounds or syllables

corresponding to the different chakras."

 

Subramuniyaswami again offers some elucidation on the mantra's relationship

with the chakras, and other matters such as prana and the astral. The sage

says that

 

"When "Aum Namah Sivaya" is repeated, we go through the chakras, Na Ma Si Va

Ya Aum. The Aum is in the head chakra. Within Namah Sivaya is each of the

elements--earth, water, fire,air and ether--which in the mind are transmuted

into all-pervasive consciousness, and that is also transmuted into the great

chakra way above the head at the end of the Aum. In just the breath, the

space of time between the next repetition of "Aum Namah Sivaya Aum Namah

Sivaya Aum

Namah Sivaya," the pranas, having reached Parashiva, fall back into the

spiritual, mental, astral and physical worlds, blessing them all with new

energy, new life and new understanding. "Namah Sivaya Aum, Namah Sivaya Aum,

Namah Sivaya Aum, Namah Sivaya Aum" is the constant process of life. It is

the essence of life itself."

 

It is really only in the repeating of this mantra, whether aloud or

mentally, that a true taste of what it is can be had.

 

How to Repeat the Panchakshara Mantra

 

Paramahamsa Muktananda suggests that we should ideally repeat the mantra

silently (Manasika - mental repetition) and at the same speed at which you

talk. It is also possible to coordinate it with your breath, repeating once

when you inhale and then once when you exhale. Muktananda says that if you

do it in this fashion the mantra will saturate your mind, circulate round

your body and permeate your blood cells with its vibration. He even suggests

that the walls of the room in which you daily sit to repeat it will become

infused with it. On this matter he tells of his own account, he says

 

In my ashram in India there used to be a special room where I lived for a

long time and where I meditated and repeated the mantra . Eventually I

moved into other quarters, and the room was kept locked. Several years ago,

a government official came to the ashram. He told me, "I have heard many

people say that if anyone stays in your ashram, he can get into meditation

very easily." I took him to the room, showed him inside, and told him to sit

for meditation. "What mantra should I repeat?" he asked. "If you hear a

mantra in this room, repeat that," I told him. When he came out, he said, "I

heard Om Namah Shivaya coming from the walls! The entire room was repeating

it!" Mantra is a living force. If you repeat it one-pointedly for a long

time, it will permeate your whole environment.

 

Since truly ancient times many of India's greatest sages and illuminated

ones (both men and women) have praised this mantra and the practice of japa

in general. A further insight as to why this mantra is so special is given

by Swami Subramuniyaswami, who says that it

 

"is such a precious mantra because it is the closest sound that one can make

to emulate the sounds rushing out of the Self into the mind. Chanting it is

profound because it is a sound channel which you can follow to get close to

the Self of your self [i.e. Shiva, your own Divine Essence or Higher Self]"

 

The sage Upamanyu explained its secret in that it nullifies the need for

special rituals, particular times or external needs, the sage said:

 

"If this mantra vibrates continually in your heart, then you have no need to

perform austerities, to meditate, or to practice yoga. To repeat this mantra

you need no rituals or ceremonies, nor must you repeat it at an auspicious

time or in a particular place."

 

Also put forth is the fact that this mantra is open to all. Paramahamsa

Muktananda tells that this mantra is not bound by rules and regulations, he

expounds,

 

"This mantra is free of all restrictions. It can be repeated by anyone,

young or old, rich or poor, and no matter what state a person is in, it

will purify him. The sages said, "This mantra is mysterious. Repeat it,

repeat it, repeat it."

 

This mantra is said to be the mantra that will take those who earnestly

practice it across the ocean of samsara, to the shores of realization. The

great woman saint of Kashmir, Lalla or Lal Ded, chanted this mantra and

wrote of it

 

With right knowledge, open your ears and hear how the trees sway to Om Namah

Shivaya, how the wind says Om Namah Shivaya as it blows, how water flows

with the sound Namah Shivaya. The entire universe is singing the name of

Shiva. Pay a little attention!

 

If given the chance the mantra will offer so much in return for the effort

given to it. In modern life finding the time for such practices can be

difficult. But if time can be found for activities such as tv, socializing,

etc.then if we are sincere we can find 10 minutes on most days to do japa

and repeat the mantra. Once given the opportunity to let it's worth shine

through in experience, the practitioner sees that the benefits derived, such

as stress, anxiety and negativity disappearing while peace and serenity

increase, are worth more than gold. Siva Yogaswami encouraging those who are

receptive said inspiringly:

 

"Wear rudraksha beads, repeat the Panchakshara, let your heart grow soft

and melt. Chant the letters five, and in love you will discover Siva's will.

Chant so that impurities, anxieties and doubts are destroyed."