The mantra " Om Nama Shivaya"

The mantra " Om Nama Shivaya"

  Om mama Shivaya by Turkantam

The mantra Om Namah Sivaya actually means "I offer to Siva a respectful invocation of His Name", and not merely "I respectfully invoke His Name".

Om Namah Shivaya mantra is sung by devotees in prayers and recited by yogis in meditation. It is associated with qualities of prayer, divine-love, grace, truth, and blissfulness.

Traditionally, it is accepted to be a powerful healing mantra beneficial for all physical and mental ailments.

Soulful recitation of this mantra brings peace to the heart and joy to the [Ātman] or Soul.

Sages consider that the recitation of these syllables is sound therapy for the body and nectar for the Soul (Ātman).

The nature of the mantra is the calling upon the higher self; it is the calling upon Shiva, the destroyer deity, to aid in the death (destruction of ego) and rebirth achieved during meditation.

This goes generally for mantras and chants to different gods, which are different aspects of the higher self.

It is called Siva Panchakshara, or Siva Panchakshari, the "five-syllable" mantra (viz., excluding the Om) dedicated to Siva. The Siva Panchakshari mantra is the most holy salutation to Śiva. The Panchakshara can be recited by Shiva devotees during pooja, Japa, Dhyana, homa and while smearing Vibhuti.

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JAPA NAMA  
by Swami Sivananda

Japa Nama is an important limb of Yoga or divine life. A mantra is divinity. Japa is the repetition of the mantra or the names of the Lord.

In Kali Yuga, practice of Japa alone can give eternal peace, bliss and immortality. Japa ultimately results in Samadhi or communion with the Lord.
    
SANKIRTAN or  KIRTAN

 Sankirtan is the singing of Lord’s names with faith and devotion.

When you sing His names, feel that Lord Hari (God) or Ishta Devata* is seated in your heart, that every name of the Lord is filled with divine potencies, that the old vicious impressions in the subconscious mind (Samskaras) and desires (Vasanas) are burnt by the power of the name and that the mind is filled with Sattva or purity, that Rajas and Tamas are completely destroyed, and that the veil of ignorance is torn down. This kind of mental attitude brings the maximum benefit of Sankirtan.

It is not the number of Japa or the length of time of Kirtan that counts for spiritual growth but it is the intensity of Bhava with which the Lord’s names are sung.

COMMENT: Ishta Devata : The form you love to adore God.  viz. Krishna, Jesus Christ  etc.)


READ about the practice with mantra
THE PRACTICE and BENEFITS of JAPA NAMA by Swami Sivananda  
Sankirtan or Kirtan - Atman Nityananda

STEPS OF SELF-REALIZATION ~ Amma

STEPS OF SELF-REALIZATION  ~ Amma

KNOWLEDGE - PRACTICE -  SATSANG

"The first step in attaining the knowledge for which one is praying when they chant these mantras is satsang: listening to spiritual talks, reading spiritual books and being in the company of spiritual seekers and, most importantly, spiritual masters. 

LESSENING OF ATTACHMENT

We need to continuously be fed by the knowledge that our true nature is the Atma and not the body, mind and intellect. Through satsang, our attachment to the asat (unreal) gradually lessens. 

DETACHMENT

Slowly as you understand that everything in the world - all worldly relationships, all worldly things - are ever-changing and impermanent, your attitude towards the world changes. We gain detachment. 

DECREASE OF DESIRES

As we become more and more detached, our desires also naturally decrease, because we know that the things of the world are impermanent and cannot bring us lasting happiness. 

STEADINESS & SERENITY OF MIND

As the desires decrease, the mind becomes less and less agitated. It obtains serenity, stillness, peace. 

SELF-REALIZATION

Then, with this stilled, subtle, penetrating mind we can finally come to realize our true nature." 

- Mata Amritanandamayi Devi - Amma

Self-realization and 'The myth of Theseus and the thread of Ariadne' ~ Atman Nityananda

The myth of Theseus and the thread of Ariadne 

Theseus had to slay the Minotaur. The Minotaur was imprisoned inside the labyrinth (maze) - a confusing, complex building constructed by Daedalus. Once somebody entered the labyrinth, it was impossible for him to leave and he was devoured by the monster. Ariadne therefore gave Theseus a spool of thread that he let unwind through the labyrinth so that he wouldn't lose his path. Theseus managed to kill the Minotaur and, using this thread, to get out of the labyrinth and to finally escape from Crete.

The labyrinth and the Minotaur represent our lower self, the low nature or shadow, the aggregation of fears, passions and suppressed and undesirable aspects of our character; the labyrinth represents the various subconscious levels of our mind in which the various aspects of ego is crystallized and the Minotaur the instinctive desires and passions and especially the sexual desire.

We are the hero Theseus that has to slay the ego (Minotaur) and Ariadne represents a reflection of our Soul or the light of awareness and our divine mother as well who always protects us and help us kill the ego and realize the Truth. The thread represents our connection with the light of awareness. We are connected with our soul when we are aware of the silent space of awareness within; this is what we call Self-awareness or Self-remembrance. We can connect with our Divine Mother by prayer, meditation, devotion, repetition of Shakti mantras and we can activate her power in us by awakening the Kundalini –Shakti.

We cannot explore and be aware of our subconscious egoic patterns if we are not capable to remain detached from the mind, its mental, emotional formations and impulses. We cannot remain detached if we have not developed a sattvic mind and self-awareness.

Self-awareness together with discrimination, dispassion, courage, determination, faith, patience, perseverance are the necessary virtues in order to slay the multi-face ego and realize our divine nature which is eternal, indestructible, peaceful and blissful.

Without devotion Self-realization is quite impossible Atman Nityananda

Without devotion Self-realization is quite impossible

Atman Nityananda

Devotion is a complete dedication of body, prana. mind and heart to God or Truth. It is love for God. It is intense longing and aspiration to realize Truth or God consciousness.

 Devotion to God takes our interest and attention from the external world and the sensory objects and directs it in our inner world, in our heart, the center of our existence. 

By gathering our attention from the outer world we stop the creation of worldly samskaras (impressions and vasanas (tendencies) and we stop to empower the egoic tendencies that already are stored in our subconscious mind (chitta), which are mainly based on desire, pride, fear and anger.

The repetition of God’s names (japa nama ), kirtan and the prayer increase the sattva guna, eliminates the rajas and tamas and dissolves gradually all egoic tendencies. Meditation and Self-enquiry direct the mind towards the source of our mind and thus the mind abandons the objects and is permeated by peace and light divine.

Thus the egoism which is fed and grows by the sensory inputs and the impressions which are created by these inputs,  gradually is thinned out and our mind becomes purer and purer reflecting more and more with clarity the divine light, peace and love.

Devotion is not only for aspirants of Bhakti yoga but also for jnana yoga aspirants. Without devotion a real progress in spiritual path is not possible. The bhaktas are devoted to a form of God while the jnanis in the impersonal truth (Atman or Brahman). For some devotion to a form is easier and for others appears more natural to be devoted to the impersonal Truth. Both lead at the same destination. The dissolution of egoic self and the realization of our essence, God or Brahman and the unity of life.

Really there are only two methods, Enquiry and devotion. One leads to the other. A devotee concentrates on God.

A seeker, follower of the Jnana-marga seeks the Self. The practice is equally difficult for both.

Since God is verily the Self, love of the Self is love of the God and that is bhakti. Jnana and Bhakti are thus one and the same.

Service, like prayers, japa and even businesss done in God’s name, lead to the highest Goal; Self-realization.

Complete effacement of the ego is necessary to conquer destiny, whether you achieve this effacement through Self enquiry or through bhakti-marga.

Self-enquiry is possible for mature minds, not for immature ones.

For the immature ones, japa nama, worship of images, pranayama, visualizing a pillar of light and similar yogic and spiritual and religious practices have been prescribed.

~ Sri Ramana Maharshi

HINTS ABOUT SADHANA (Spiritual practice) ~ Swami Sivananda

HINTS ABOUT SADHANA

by Swami Sivananda

Practise Sadhana Now 

 

This is the time when you should spend your time happily by doing regular Japa and meditation. God has given you all conveniences and opportunities. Remember Him and thank Him always.

Sing His glories. Hold Sankirtan at night with all the members of the family. Be bold. Be cheerful. Be calm. Be contented. Be good. Do good. Be pure. Be alert. Become a Jivanmukta in this very birth.

 

Do Constant Sadhana 

 

Keep your mind always busy in doing Japa, concentration, meditation, study of religious books, Satsanga or in doing something useful.

Regularity in Sadhana is of paramount importance. Remember this point always.

May you lead a contented and happy life singing the Lord’s Name at all times by doing selfless service, sharing what you have with others and by regular Japa and meditation.

 

Be Regular In Your Sadhana 

 

Keep a balanced mind always. Be cheerful and happy. 

Drive the feelings of depression and gloom at once by enquiry, singing Divine songs, prayers, chanting of Om, Pranayama, a brisk walk in the open air and thinking of the opposite quality viz., the feeling of joy. You will be happy.

Apply yourself diligently to Yoga. Employ your skill and promptness. Kill the thoughts and desires.

Do not become a fatalist. Stand like a lion. Exert. Aspire. You will attain independence.

Steady the mind. Fix it on the Lord. Plod on patiently like the farmer at his plough. Be persevering. 

This is real Sadhana. Be regular in your Sadhana. This will give you freedom, bliss, peace and immortality.

THE PRACTICE OF GOD'S REMEMBRANCE AND THE REPETITION OF HIS NAME

THE PRACTICE OF GOD'S REMEMBRANCE AND THE REPETITION OF HIS NAME

Think of God as soon as you wake up and before bedtime. Repeat his name (japa-nama) through out the day. Completely surrender to God (saranagati).

Japa-nama: repetition of a mantra, such as Om, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namah Shivaya Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Hare Krishna Hare Rama, Hari Om or Gayatri, according to your taste or inclination, from one mala (108 times) to 200 malas (21,600 times) daily. Gradually increase up to 200 malas. Set two-three times every day fixed hours to do japa-nama meditaiton

Have constant satsanga (company of wise men). Completely abandon bad company, smoking, meat and alcoholic beverages. Not develop bad habits.

Instead of japa-nama you can chant the name of God (Kirtan).

WHAT IS A MALA:. Mala beads are a string of beads used to count mantras (Sanskrit prayers) in sets of 108 repetitions. The large bead (which represents Mount Meru or Abode of the Gods) provides a starting and ending point on the mala for counting the repetitions. Mala beads are an ancient tool that was developed to keep the mind focused on the practice of meditation.