The mantra " Om Nama Shivaya"
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
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.
~~~
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