Chant the five-syllable mantra of Lord Shiva and track your malas to 108 with this free online counter.
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
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Om Namah Shivaya is the most famous and most powerful mantra of Lord Shiva. It is called the Panchakshari Mantra — the 'five-syllable' mantra (na-mah-shi-va-ya), excluding the sacred Om.
It appears in the Yajurveda's Shri Rudram and is considered the heart of the Shaiva tradition. Sages like Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Ramana Maharshi, and Swami Muktananda have all praised this mantra as complete in itself.
Each syllable corresponds to one of the five elements: Na (earth), Ma (water), Shi (fire), Va (air), Ya (ether). Chanting balances all five within the body and mind.
The primordial sound. The vibration from which the universe arose.
I bow. Salutations. Surrender.
To Shiva, the auspicious one. The source of consciousness, destroyer of illusion.
I bow to Shiva. I surrender to the auspicious supreme consciousness.
Mondays are most auspicious. Maha Shivaratri (February/March) is the night of highest potency. Daily practice in the early morning (Brahma Muhurta) or evening sandhya (twilight) is traditional.
Both forms are valid. 'Namah Shivaya' is the strict Panchakshari (5 syllables). With 'Om' it becomes Shadakshari (6 syllables). Tradition includes the Om for general chanting.
Mental chanting is universally accepted. Aloud chanting is also fine in modern practice. Follow what your tradition guides.
Panchakshari is the everyday Shiva mantra — simple, universal. Mahamrityunjaya is longer and specifically invoked for protection from death, illness, and severe danger.
Yes. There is no conflict. Both Shiva and Vishnu are aspects of the one supreme consciousness in mainstream Hindu thought.