ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Shiva · All Mantras
Om Namah Shivaya is the great Panchakshari (five-syllable) mantra of Lord Shiva — among the most widely chanted sacred formulae in Hinduism. The five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya are held to represent the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) and the five faces of Shiva,…
Read the lines, meaning, and japa guide below →
Om Namah Shivaya is the great Panchakshari (five-syllable) mantra of Lord Shiva — among the most widely chanted sacred formulae in Hinduism. The five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya are held to represent the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) and the five faces of Shiva, while Om precedes them as the primordial sound of creation.
From Kashmir Shaivism to Tamil Nadu's temple traditions, from Himalayan sadhus to household puja rooms, this mantra unites devotees across sects. It requires no elaborate ritual — only sincere repetition with devotion — making it the foundation of Shiva bhakti for millions worldwide.
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Om — I bow to Shiva, the auspicious one. A complete surrender to the Lord who destroys ignorance and bestows inner peace.
Audio recitation will appear here once generated. You can still use the japa counter below.
Japa count
0 / 108
Target: 108 times minimum; many sadhakas chant one or more malas daily · Mala: Rudraksha mala (108 beads; five-mukhi most common)
Benefits of chanting
- •Foundation mantra for daily Shiva bhakti — simple yet profoundly effective.
- •Calms the mind and reduces anxiety when chanted with steady breath.
- •Purifies speech and thought; each syllable aligns with elemental balance.
- •Traditionally chanted during Shravan, Maha Shivaratri, and Monday vrata.
- •Accessible to all sincere devotees without elaborate initiation.
- •Pairs naturally with Rudram, Shiv Chalisa, and temple darshan.
How to chant — traditional guidance
Best day
Monday, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Shravan month
Best time
Brahma muhurta, sandhya, or Pradosha kala (twilight on trayodashi)
Japa count
108 times minimum; many sadhakas chant one or more malas daily
Mala
Rudraksha mala (108 beads; five-mukhi most common)
- ·Sit facing north or east; maintain steady posture and breath.
- ·Optional: offer bilva leaves, water abhishekam, or incense before japa.
- ·Chant aloud, whispered, or mentally — mental japa is considered highest.
- ·Wear clean clothes; avoid non-vegetarian food on intensive Monday vrata.
- ·Visit a Jyotirlinga or Shiva temple when possible to deepen sankalpa.
Common questions
Why is it called Panchakshari?
Na-ma-shi-va-ya are five (pancha) syllables (akshara) honouring Shiva. Om is added as the pranava prefix. Together they form the complete mantra of surrender to the auspicious Lord.
Can women chant Om Namah Shivaya during menstruation?
Traditions vary by region and sampradaya. Many modern teachers and temples encourage sincere japa at home regardless of cycle, while some orthodox lineages restrict formal temple ritual. Follow your family guru's guidance.
How does this differ from Maha Mrityunjaya?
Om Namah Shivaya is a short nama-mantra for general devotion and peace. Maha Mrityunjaya is a longer Vedic hymn specifically associated with healing and conquering death.
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How Daanyam computes this
Daanyam computes Mantra Library with Swiss Ephemeris (professional-grade ephemeris), Lahiri ayanāṃśa, and whole-sign houses where applicable — serving 10,000+ charts daily with ~95% agreement vs classical table checks in our audits. Classical framing draws on Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Phaladeepika, Jataka Parijata. See how we compute →
- Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — Classical Jyotish text on planetary significations and chart interpretation
- Phaladeepika — Mantreswara's treatise on predictive astrology
- Jataka Parijata — Vaidyanatha's compendium on birth chart analysis
Śivapurāṇa and Pāśupata tradition; Panchākṣarī stotra in Śaiva Āgamas; widely attested in Kedāra Khanda and Tamil Śaiva siddhānta.