«Om Namah Shivaya» is the simplest and most popular Shiva mantra. Anyone can chant it at any time without special rules or initiation — even mental chanting while walking is a tradition.
📖 Full text — with meaning
Tap «Roman (English) script» to see the original Devanagari text.
ॐ नमः शिवाय॥
Om Namah Shivaya ||
Salutations to Lord Shiva, the auspicious one — I surrender myself to Shiva.
🔍 Word-by-word meaning
ॐ (Om)pranava — the sound of the Supreme
नमः (Namah)salutation, surrender («not I, but You»)
शिवाय (Shivaya)to Shiva, the auspicious one
न-मः-शि-वा-यby tradition the five syllables symbolise the five elements — earth, water, fire, air and space
📿 Japa counter (mala of 108)
Tap the button for each repetition; every 108 counts as one mala (your phone vibrates). The count is saved on this device/browser.
📅 Next auspicious days (from our panchang)
23 Oct (Friday) — Pradosh Vrat
26 Oct (Monday)
2 Nov (Monday)
6 Nov (Friday) — Pradosh Vrat
7 Nov (Saturday) — Masik Shivaratri
9 Nov (Monday)
Dates are for Delhi sunrise; see today's panchang for your city.
🪔 How to chant / recite
Time: No restriction; for an anushthan, morning or Pradosh-kaal.
Mala: A rudraksha mala of 108 beads.
Count: 108 daily; more in Shravan/Maha Shivaratri; a five-lakh anushthan (panchakshara × 1 lakh) is a tradition.
Types: Vachika (aloud), upamshu (lips moving, softly) or manasika (mental) — mental japa is considered the best.
Abhishek: Chant this mantra while offering water on the Shivalinga.
🛕 Puja vidhi (step by step)
🧺 Items needed
Shivalinga or picture of Shiva-parivar
Pure water and raw milk (abhishek)
Bilva leaves (three-leaved, unbroken)
Dhatura, aak flowers (as per tradition)
White sandalwood, bhasma, akshata
Incense, ghee lamp
Fruits and sweets as bhog
Rudraksha mala (for japa)
🪷 Procedure
Bathe and wear clean clothes; clean the puja place and spread a fresh cloth on the altar (chowki).
Do achamana (sip water three times) and purify hands and mouth; sit on an asana and calm the mind.
Light a lamp of ghee or sesame oil — by tradition the lamp is kept to the deity's right.
Take water, akshata (unbroken rice) and a flower in the right hand and make the sankalpa — your name, gotra, place, date and the purpose of the puja, spoken or in the mind; then let the water fall to the ground.
First remember Shri Ganesha (Om Gam Ganapataye Namah).
Do abhishek on the Shivalinga with water, then milk (and if possible curd, ghee, honey, sugar — panchamrit), then water again, chanting «Om Namah Shivaya».
Offer white sandalwood and bhasma, akshata, bilva leaves (smooth side towards the linga), dhatura and aak flowers.
Show incense and lamp, offer bhog; then chant the mantra / recite Shiv Chalisa / Rudrashtakam.
Sing «Om Jai Shiv Omkara»; the parikrama of a Shivalinga is half — the outlet (somasutra) is not crossed.
Finally perform aarti, offer pushpanjali (flowers) and do parikrama (or turn around in your place).
Ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja, distribute the prasad and take it yourself.
⚠️ Rules & precautions
Ketaki flowers and tulsi are traditionally not offered to Shiva; turmeric-kumkum is offered to Mother Parvati, not on the linga.
Bilva leaves should be unbroken; a bilva leaf can be washed and offered again.
Monday, Pradosh (trayodashi) and Masik Shivaratri are special days for Shiva.
Water/milk offered on the linga should not fall at the feet — pour it into a plant.
🌟 Benefits (as per tradition)
A prayer for peace of mind, concentration and freedom from vices.
The simplest path of Shiva-bhakti — used in every puja, abhishek and meditation.
These are traditional beliefs described in scriptures; results are understood to depend on faith, discipline and one's own actions.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can I chant without a mala?
Yes; counting is not needed in mental japa. You can use the japa counter above for counting.
Difference between «Om Namah Shivaya» and «Namah Shivaya»?
«Namah Shivaya» is the five-syllable mantra; adding «Om» makes it six — both are popular.
