The word ‘mantra’ means “mananat trayate iti mantra” . Mananam means to
reflect , to dwell upon the meaning of something . Trayate means to
protect . Thus , mantra means –“that which protects you upon reflection
of its meaning”. Om Namah Shivaya is
called the Panchakshari mantra because the mantra is composed of five
(pancha) syllables (akshara) - ‘na’ , ‘ma’ , ‘shi’ , ‘va’ , ‘ya’ .
In Sanskrit , Om means avati , or rakshati . Rakshati means “one who protects and sustains” . Thus , Om is the name of the Ishvara (the Lord ) who protects and sustains everything . Om , as a sound symbol , also indicates auspiciousness (mangalam) and is chanted at the beginning of prayers and religious studies .
‘Namah’ means salutations , prostrations . ‘Shiva’ means auspiciousness (mangalam) . The name ‘Shiva’ is considered to be the most auspicious . Thus , the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” means – “ The one who eliminates all inauspiciousness , to that auspicious one , I offer my prostrations ” .
The Panchakshari mantra is also known as saranagati mantra . Saranagati means surrender . We surrender to the order of the laws of Ishvara - the universal law of dharma and the universal law of karma .
Every time we chant "Om Namah Shivaya" , we surrender to the law of karma , meaning whatever happens in our lives will take place according to the law of karma alone . So , we must never refuse or resist to accept karma-phalam ( the results of our actions ) . Whatever happens in our lives is Shiva prasadam or Ishvara prasadam . Vibudhi is not to be looked upon as useless ash and pongal is not to be looked at with relish . We must accept both with the same attitude – that it is Ishvara prasadam . There must be no dwesha (hatred , aversion) towards vibudhi and no raga (liking , attachment) towards pongal . We welcome everything we encounter in life . Welcoming experiences is one thing . Accomodating experiences is another thing , particularly with respect to family . We must accept our family members as they are .
We do what is to be done at a given time , place and situation (svadharma) and accept the results (karma-phalam) as Ishvara prasadam . This is saranagati , which results in shanti (peace) .
Om Namah Shivaya .
In Sanskrit , Om means avati , or rakshati . Rakshati means “one who protects and sustains” . Thus , Om is the name of the Ishvara (the Lord ) who protects and sustains everything . Om , as a sound symbol , also indicates auspiciousness (mangalam) and is chanted at the beginning of prayers and religious studies .
‘Namah’ means salutations , prostrations . ‘Shiva’ means auspiciousness (mangalam) . The name ‘Shiva’ is considered to be the most auspicious . Thus , the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” means – “ The one who eliminates all inauspiciousness , to that auspicious one , I offer my prostrations ” .
The Panchakshari mantra is also known as saranagati mantra . Saranagati means surrender . We surrender to the order of the laws of Ishvara - the universal law of dharma and the universal law of karma .
Every time we chant "Om Namah Shivaya" , we surrender to the law of karma , meaning whatever happens in our lives will take place according to the law of karma alone . So , we must never refuse or resist to accept karma-phalam ( the results of our actions ) . Whatever happens in our lives is Shiva prasadam or Ishvara prasadam . Vibudhi is not to be looked upon as useless ash and pongal is not to be looked at with relish . We must accept both with the same attitude – that it is Ishvara prasadam . There must be no dwesha (hatred , aversion) towards vibudhi and no raga (liking , attachment) towards pongal . We welcome everything we encounter in life . Welcoming experiences is one thing . Accomodating experiences is another thing , particularly with respect to family . We must accept our family members as they are .
We do what is to be done at a given time , place and situation (svadharma) and accept the results (karma-phalam) as Ishvara prasadam . This is saranagati , which results in shanti (peace) .
Om Namah Shivaya .
No comments:
Post a Comment