The Panchakshara Mantra

[Guest guest]

Specially written by Sri Neil Campbell from Shiva

Beads, UK

 

 

www.shivabeads.co.uk

 

 

 

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 uspiciousness. 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 fully 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."

 

Specially written by Sri Neil Campbell from Shiva Beads, UK

 

 

 

www.shivabeads.co.uk

 

 

 

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