Meaning of Namah Sivaayah and Om Namah Sivaayah

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The meaning of the mantra Namah Sivaayah and Om Namah Sivaayah

 

In order or grant Sayujyam to Sanaka Maharshi and others Nataraja,

Parameswara has blown the Dhakka or drum 14 times and the sounds so

emanated have formed into the Varnamala. Since these varnas are

Alphabets have come out from Akshara i.e. Parameswara only, who has

no death, these alphabets or varnas are come to be known as

Aksharamala and spread out as Chaturdasa Vidyasthanams.

 

Nruttavasaane Nataraja Rajo, Nanaada Dhakkam Nava Panchavaaram

Uddartu Kaamah, Sanakadi Siddha Netadwimarse Siva Sootrajaalam

 

# Paanini Sootram

This Paanini Sootram says how the Alphabets have come into existence.

The fifty-one letters of the Alphabet beginning from " Aa " to " Ksha "

are born in any language from Omkaram, which is also called as

Sthoola Panchakshari, while Namasivaya is called as Sookshma

Panchakshari.

 

Yajurvedam is considered as " Siras " or head among the four Vedas,

which contains " Satarudriyam " . The Panchakshari Mantra or the five

letters Mantra " Namasivayah " is in the middle of " Satarudriam " ,

in " Ashtamanuvakam " of Yajurvedam. This mantra is considered as the

greatest mantra or Moola Mantra from which all other seven crore

mantras have come out. In " Namasivayah " mantra, " Namah " speaks of the

Jeeva and " Siva " the Brahman and " Ayah " speaks of " Siva Jeevaikyam "

or " Lingaanga Sambandham " . That is why, in Saiva Siddhanta,

besides " Namah Sivayah " called as Moola Mantra is also referred to

as " Panchakshari Paravidya " . Swetaswatara Upanishad says, " Tacchiva

Aeva Kevalah " . So, this Siva sabdam is stating the " Param Jyoti

Swaroopam " . While, " Brahma Naadam " is called as " Sookshma Pranavam,

Panchakshari " , is called as " Sthoola Pranavam " , occupying in seed

form or " Beeja Roopam " , all the five directions of East, South, West,

North and

Oordhvam as " Nam, Mam, Sim, Vaam, Yam " . Again " Namah Sivaya " is

called as " Sthoola Panchakshari " and with " Aa, U, Ma, Bindu, Naadam "

put together called as " Oum " is " Sookshma Panchakshari " . This " Siva

Panchakshari " mantra from Yajurvedam is considered as head of all

mantras and is also called as " Siro Mantram " . Those, who have taken

this Panchakshari Mantra from the Guru after undergoing

the " Shadadhwa Suddhi " or cleansing ceremony are considered as

observing " Siro Vratam " , " Maha Pasupata Deeksha " or " Saiva Maha

Deeksha " and they are only entitled to know " Brahma Vidya " , says

Swetaswataropanishad, " Teshaame Vaitam Brahma Vidyaam Vadeta, Siro

Vratam Vidhi Vaidyastu Cheernam " . " Siro Vratam " does not mean

carrying fire on head as commented upon by non-saivites. Vedas and

Agamas proclaim that Panchakshari, was only existing before creation

started.

 

" Nama Sivaya " is the " Moola Mantra " , which alone is capable of

conferring full benefit to the person reciting this five letter

mantra or " Panchakshari " mantra at all times and there are no

restrictions as to time, place, caste, creed or sex.

 

Now the greatness of the six-letter mantra " Om Nama Ssivaya " is

discussed. Both the words " OM " and " Nama Sivaya " are stated in the

Vedas and hence both are Vedic mantras unlike other mantras

possessing immense power or energy stored in them and recitation of a

combination of these two mantras releases immense energy. Hence, one

should be wary in reciting this Shadakshari mantra.

 

The author says that the mantra " Siva " as well as the Panchakshari

mantra " Namah Sivaya " can be recited by each and everyone

irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sex, etc., while those who

have taken Gayatri Mantra alone, should recite Shadakshari mantra

or " Om Namah Sivaya " . The Sanyasis or the persons, who have renounced

the world, alone have right to recite " OMKARAM " and not by

householders belonging to any caste, creed or religion. The reason is

that the mantras " Om " and " Namah Sivaya " are Vedic mantras with high

power like the high-tension electricity wires a touch of which by

uninitiated persons may result in " Vipareetha Phalams " or shocks.

Since, " Namah Sivaya " mantra, which is the " Moola mantra " , is itself

powerful to confer all boons, uninitiated person should not

recite " Shadakshari mantra " , says the author, Mudigonda Nagalinga

Sastry garu in his work Dharma Sangraha, Aahnikanda, because some

Agama Sastras are objecting for

their recitation by uninitiated persons.

 

The simple meaning of the Shadakshari mantra " Om Namah Sivaya " is :

 

" Sivaya " means to Siva,

 

" Namah " means salutations to Him, " Om " means, by reciting Whose name

only once, He who can take away the Jeevas upwards. The Adharva

Siropanishad is replying to the question Sakrud

Uchaaryamaane, Oortham Praanaa Nunnamaya Teetyom? " as " Adha Kasmaad

Uchatey Omkaraha " . This Adharva Siropanishad mantra is stating, as to

why Siva is stated as " Omkaram " and gives the reply that Siva alone

can take the Jeevas upwards by reciting His name only once and

henceSiva is called as " Omkara Vachya " .

 

 

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