What Does
Om Hrim Namah Shivaya Mean?
Om Hrim Namah Shivaya is an ancient Sanskrit mantra, considered to invoke the spirit of both Shiva and Shakti. These personifications of masculine and feminine energy are symbolized as a divine couple, and unifying or balancing these two opposing energies is one of the ultimate goals of yoga.
Similar to the well-known mantra Om Namah Shivaya, this mantra pays reverence to Lord Shiva, symbolic of honoring the divine within. However, by incorporating Hrim, the bija or ‘seed’ mantra of Goddess energy, Om Hrim Namah Shivaya also honors sacred feminine energy, thereby uniting Shiva with Shakti.
Yogapedia Explains Om Hrim Namah Shivaya
The real power of a mantra is believed to stem from the sound vibrations created by chanting, either aloud or silently. Although mantras are not always translated directly, one popular translation of Om Hrim Namah Shivaya is:
"I bow to Supreme Consciousness, as the universal Divine resonance vibrates within my heart as Shakti, to that Consciousness who is my beloved teacher, I bow."
Additionally, the mantra can be broken down into several Sanskrit words of symbolic significance as follows:
Om – The sacred sound of the universe or divine resonance.
Hrim – The seed mantra of goddess energy, believed to lift veils of illusion.
Namah – A salutation of humility and dedication, directly translated as ‘not mine.’
Shivaya – Honouring Lord Shiva, symbolic of supreme consciousness or the divine within.
Chanting Om Hrim Namah Shivaya helps to connect practitioners to the divine energies of Shiva and Shakti, the source of all creation and feminine energy respectively.
Shakti is the power of Shiva, through which he manifests worlds, and this mantra helps practitioners to understand that these energies are ultimately one and the same.
In addition to balancing male and female energies, this manta is believed to clear the mind, relieve stress and empower the voice of those who chant it. It may also be used to activate new mala, a string of 108 beads used to count mantra recitations.
This may be carried out in a ceremony, in which Om Hrim Namah Shivaya is chanted with each bead, before bringing the mala to the heart and the third eye in order to forge a spiritual connection.
For maximum benefit, Om Hrim Namah Shivaya should be chanted 108 times daily. It may be practiced in any stable seated posture such as sukhasana (easy pose) or padmasana (lotus pose) and can be chanted at any time of day. It is important to focus on the inner vibration of this mantra whilst chanting in order to connect with the divine power within.