Om Namah Shivaya is the best-known mantra of Shiva. It means “Om, salutation to Shiva”, or, as many teachers put it, “I bow to the auspicious one”. The name Shiva itself means auspicious. Without Om, the mantra has five syllables, na-ma-shi-va-ya, and is called the panchakshara, the five-syllable mantra. With Om it is counted as six.
The words are old. The phrase namah shivaya occurs in a line of the Shukla Yajurveda, in chapter 16, which belongs to the hymn to Rudra often called the Rudram or Rudradhyaya. That line is shown at the end of this page. The five-verse Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, attributed in the printed 1910 edition to Adi Shankaracharya (scholars debate which stotras are his), gives each of the syllables a verse of praise, and those verses are shown first.
You will find a short glossary of the mantra, the verses with their meanings, and guidance on chanting and pronunciation. For the hymn on its own, see Shiva Panchakshara Stotram, and for the larger festival picture, Maha Shivaratri.
The text, transliteration and meaning
The five verses below end by honouring one syllable each, in the order na, ma, shi, va, ya. The line from the Yajurveda follows after them.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Om | the primal sacred sound that opens a mantra |
| namah | salutation, a bow, 'not mine' as some teachers read it |
| shivaya | to Shiva, the auspicious one |
| na | the first syllable, honoured in the first verse |
| ma | the second syllable, honoured in the second verse |
| shi | the third syllable, honoured in the third verse |
| va | the fourth syllable, honoured in the fourth verse |
| ya | the fifth syllable, honoured in the fifth verse |
| panchakshara | the five-syllable mantra |
| shambhava | one who is a source of welfare, a name of Rudra and Shiva |
| shankara | one who makes welfare, another name of Shiva |
The syllable na
नागेन्द्रहाराय विलोचनाय
भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥
Nagendraharaya vilochanaya
Bhasmangaragaya maheshvaraya
Nityaya shuddhaya digambaraya
Tasmai nakaraya namah shivaya
MeaningSalutation to Shiva, who wears a king of serpents as a garland, has three eyes, smears his body with ash and is the great Lord, eternal, pure and sky-clad. To the syllable na, honour.
The syllable ma
मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।
मन्दारमुख्यबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै मकारमहिताय नमः शिवाय ॥
Mandakinisalilachandanacharchitaya
Nandishvarapramathanathamaheshvaraya
Mandaramukhyabahupushpasupujitaya
Tasmai makaramahitaya namah shivaya
MeaningSalutation to Shiva, anointed with water of the heavenly river and sandal, Lord of Nandi and the host of attendants, worshipped with many flowers led by the mandara. To the syllable ma, honour.
The syllable shi
शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जबृन्द-
सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।
श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥
Shivaya gaurivadanabjabrinda-
Suryaya dakshadhvaranashakaya
Shrinilakanthaya vrishadhvajaya
Tasmai shikaraya namah shivaya
MeaningSalutation to Shiva, the sun to the lotuses of Gauri's face, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, the blue-throated one with the bull banner. To the syllable shi, honour.
The syllable va
वसिष्टकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य-
मुनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय
तस्मै वकारांय नमः शिवाय ॥
Vasishtakumbhodbhavagautamarya-
Munindradevarchitashekharaya
Chandrarkavaishvanaralochanaya
Tasmai vakaramya namah shivaya
MeaningSalutation to Shiva, whose crown is worshipped by Vasishtha, Agastya, Gautama and the gods, and whose eyes are the moon, sun and fire. To the syllable va, honour.
The syllable ya
यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय
पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै यकाराय नम: शिवाय ॥
Yakshasvarupaya jatadharaya
Pinakahastaya sanatanaya
Divyaya devaya digambaraya
Tasmai yakaraya nama: shivaya
MeaningSalutation to Shiva, who took the form of a yaksha, wears matted hair, holds the Pinaka bow, and is ancient, divine and sky-clad. To the syllable ya, honour.
The words namah shivaya in the Yajurveda
Shukla Yajurveda 16.41
नमः शम्भवाय च मयोभवाय च नमः शंकराय च मयस्कराय च नमः शिवाय च शिवतराय च ॥
Namah shambhavaya cha mayobhavaya cha namah shankaraya cha mayaskaraya cha namah shivaya cha shivataraya cha
MeaningSalutation to Shambhava, the source of welfare, and to Mayobhava, the source of happiness. Salutation to Shankara, who makes welfare, and to Mayaskara, who makes happiness. Salutation to Shiva, the auspicious, and to Shivatara, the still more auspicious.
Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, pages “शिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम्” and “शुक्लयजुर्वेदः/अध्यायः १६” (a transcription of the printed book शङ्कराचार्यविरचितानि स्तोत्राणि (प्रथमः भागः), pages 131 to 132). Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse. Verse 4 prints the syllable name with a stray mark; we show the source as it stands, and the intended word is the syllable va.
When and how it is traditionally recited
Om Namah Shivaya is chanted aloud, in a whisper or silently, usually on a japa mala of 108 beads. A very common practice is to complete one round of 108, and some devotees do five rounds to match the five syllables. Mondays, the early morning and the twilight of Pradosh are popular times, and the mantra is chanted through the night of Maha Shivaratri by many.
The mantra also has a wide life outside strict ritual. People sing it in kirtan, chant it while walking, or repeat it quietly during difficult moments. Some lineages teach it through formal initiation (diksha) and ask that you follow your own teacher’s instruction, while many others share it openly. Customs differ by region and family.
What the tradition says it is for
Tradition holds that the five syllables stand for Shiva himself in sound, and teachers explain them in different ways. Some link them to the five elements, others to five of Shiva’s functions, but these readings vary between schools and are not stated in the verses on this page.
The Yajurveda line is useful because it shows the phrase is far older than the later hymns. In it, Rudra is saluted by a run of names, each pair moving from welfare to happiness to auspiciousness, and the line ends with the words namah shivaya cha shivataraya cha, to Shiva and to one yet more auspicious.
The mantra is a devotional practice. Many people find chanting calming, but it is not a medical treatment, and it does not replace medical, legal or financial advice. For festival dates see Pradosh Vrat, where Shiva worship is also observed.
Pronunciation notes
Say it as Om na-mah shi-va-ya. Each a is short, like the u in but, and the final ya is light and open. The h at the end of namah is a light echo of the vowel, almost na-ma-ha. The sh is soft, as in shine.
Om is aum, with the three sounds blended into one long hum that fades into the closing m. Keep the pace even and relaxed. When you chant on a mala, let the breath set the rhythm rather than rushing to reach the count. A teacher or trusted recording will help you hear the natural tune.
Related mantras and pages
- Shiva Panchakshara Stotram: the same five verses as a hymn on their own
- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: the Rigveda verse to the three-eyed Lord
- Rudrashtakam: a gentle hymn of surrender to Shiva
- Lingashtakam: eight verses to the linga
- Maha Shivaratri: the night when this mantra is chanted most
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does Om Namah Shivaya mean?
It means 'Om, salutation to Shiva', or 'I bow to the auspicious one'. Shiva means auspicious, and namah means a bow or salutation. Teachers draw out deeper meanings, and these differ between schools.
↳ Why is it called the panchakshara mantra?
Panchakshara means five syllables, and na-ma-shi-va-ya has five. With Om in front it is counted as six, and some teachers call it the shadakshara. Both names are in use.
↳ Is Om Namah Shivaya in the Vedas?
The phrase namah shivaya occurs in a line of the Shukla Yajurveda, chapter 16, which belongs to the hymn to Rudra. The five-syllable mantra as it is chanted today is a later, compact form of that salutation.
↳ How many times should I chant Om Namah Shivaya?
A common practice is 108 repetitions on a mala, but some people do one round, five rounds or simply chant for a set time. No number is required, and your teacher or family tradition is the best guide.
↳ Do I need initiation to chant it?
Many people chant it freely, and it is widely taught in public. Some lineages offer it through formal initiation, so if you belong to one, follow your teacher. Otherwise a quiet, sincere recitation is generally acceptable.