Om Namah Shivaya is Sanskrit, the most ancient of languages. It is used as a chant in the practice of yoga meditation. There is no exact translation for these words but it is universally understood to mean something like “I honor the divinity within myself” or “I honor that which I am capable of becoming.”
As someone who was raised in a traditional Christian household, I admit that there was a time in my life when I would have felt this mantra was inconsistent with Christian teaching. After several years of intensive Bible study, however, I now understand that these words directly relate to the relationship of the believer to the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us that when a person accepts Christ, they are “Indwelt” by the Holy Spirit. The most famous and visible instance of this is illustrated in Acts 1-2 which describes the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost. This was the first time believers were “Baptized with Fire” and given accessibility to God through the Holy Spirit.
So, while many people confuse “Om Namah Shivaya” as a form of worshipping self, if you read the words again, it is really about accessing God from within the self, which is very different. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us “Do you not know that that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
As we approach Easter, I find myself dwelling on “Om Namah Shivaya”, this ancient message and reminder of God’s most intimate relationship with us. Understanding it changes my perception of the principle of “Fear of God”. In Old Testament times, people feared the retribution by God: fire and brimstone, Hell and damnation.
But now that we have Christ, everything changes. John 15:15 states “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Once you experience God within you, and feel the peace, purpose and belonging of being connected to God through Christ, “Fear of God” becomes losing that connection. People who are “In Christ” change their behaviors not out of fear but out of a desire to be and remain close to God.
John 13:20 “I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
Om Namah Shivaya – I honor the divinity within myself.
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Namaste
I honor that person in you too. And I thank you for your honoring of that person in me.
OHMYGAWD!!!Much, much too deep for me.
Aum Shantih,
Having also been raised Christian,however in the somewhat more "mystical" paradigm of the Eastern Orthodox church, this is consistent with the deep beliefs that formed my consciousness. There is a wonderful older CD entitled Om Nama Shivaya by the recording artist Laraaji. It holds the message in a contemporary chant mode beautifully....available on amazon .com along with many many other of his gorgeous, powerful creative flows. His piece "Day of Radiance" is celebrating its 30th anniversary year and was the result of collaboration with the very well known, highly regarded Brian Eno. May you enjoy all the love, light and sacred moments that surround our unified field of oneness.....Very much enjoyed your piece, clear, well-written and consistent with my learnings......Peace....Arji
hi all
even i have been brought up in a christian household and there was a time when i was wondering who is a the true GOD whether is Jesus,Allah or Om i did a lot of bible study ,koran study and Vedas,upanishad ,Gita study i have concluded that
a) They are the same as FOOD is in English ,KHANA in hindi,KHABAR in Bengali but they all mean the same thing -a material that nourishes our body same is with GOD you can call him by different names no point in saying that my GOD is true GOD and your GOD is a false GOD
a christian can donate blood to a hindu and at the same time he can get blood from a muslim
OM is the name of the vibration (humming sound ) thru which all the particles came together to form the world,ALLAH is the arabic name of GOD ,JESUS as we all know is The Christian GOD (actually he is the way to JEHOVAH)
if all of us realise this simple fact the world wud become a better place
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
Om Namah Shivaya - May the blessings of Lord Shiva be with you, and me too.
Thank you for your beautiful explanation. I was in New York for awhile studying yoga and have had to return to the Midwest where the traditional Christian world is the norm. Your words have helped me to find a way to express what I'm trying to accomplish with my living and that is accessing God without being attached to any particular denomination. I also appreciate the concept of approaching life with divine intention instead of fear.
Peace, namaste, Thank you.
The idea that we all worship the same God is attractive in some senses, but Jesus' words do not allow for Him to be included in any such grouping. The Old and New Testaments reveal Him to be Immanuel (i.e. "God with us," not "one of the gods with us.") Either He is God or He is not. But to refer to the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and "Lord Shiva" in the same way is not an option the Bible provides. I realize that while I view the Bible as authoritative, anyone reading this might not. But it would be an irresponsible and incomplete reading to conclude that the Jesus of the New Testament is the same as, or equal to, anyone else.
A Jesus that is the same as any of the world's gods by a different name, is not Jesus.
Wow! What if the bottom line analysis is that there is no religion greater than truth. Or higher than truth. Be on your path to truth and find it where you can. Speak not about how the other's religion is not the true religion -- but try to find the truths in all religion and bring those golden principles into life and living and praying and being. Fear only one thing: not loving all that you can and uplifting every sentient being around you. Every being is your concern. Uplift them all to the light. Aum Namah Shivaaya.
Yes, this is right. I chanted on my own one night, taught to me at an ashram that I was affiliated with but it then moved away. I had a very large experience of this chant. Immersed in this I could tag all aspects of my experience with biblical references. I was bewildered, amazed, shocked and in ecstasy all at the same time. There was an understanding of the trinity, respect for Christ and his baptism by the spirit and his journey through temptation and purification, there was all the prophesy and deep connection with fellow human beings. It's just amazing.
Absolutely true! There are too many judges on this Earth.
namaste, anonymous
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