Shiva · mantra

Om Namah Shivaya

ॐ नमः शिवाय

oṁ namaḥ śivāya

Meaning

Salutations to Shiva — the auspicious one. Of the five syllables Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya, each purifies one element of the self, leading to the silence of Om.

Why recite it

The Panchakshara: chanted for inner peace, fearlessness and purification of body and mind.

Source

Shiva Purana / Vedic tradition