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Статья поступила 02.01.2025.
Prayer singing is a characteristic feature of all religions, but above all — Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.
In Hinduism, prayer chanting is mainly represented by a mantra (1). The sound of the mantra is directed at the chakras (2).
In Hindu mantras, the most important syllable is Om (Aum): Om can be an independent mantra, it sounds at the beginning of any mantra, in addition, most mantras have names starting with Om, for example, “Om Tat Sat”, “Om Namah Brahmadevaya”, “Om Namah Narayanaya”, “Om Namah Shivaya” and many others. It is believed that one of the most powerful Hindu mantras is the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”.
This mantra is first found in the Krishna Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Samhita, 4, 5–6) in the hymn “Sri Rudram”.
“Sri Rudram” is one of the greatest Vedic hymns aimed at universal benefit and the elimination of all obstacles. “Rudram” is a hymn dedicated to Rudra, the hypostasis of Shiva. In the North of India it is called “Rudraprashna” (inquiry about the mystery of Rudra) or Rudra Upanishad, in the South — “Shatarudriya” (100 names of Rudra).
The Preface to the book about this hymn says: “Among the various Vedic hymns recited daily by Vaidika (extoller of the Vedas. — A.K.), Shatarudriya ranks first. Widely known as ‘Sri Rudram’, [it is] a hymn of praise and prayer to God... The famous... mantra, ‘[Om] Namah Shivaya’, is taken from this hymn” [14, p. 4] (3).
“Om Namah Shivaya” translates as “I worship Shiva”. There are two main interpretations of this mantra: jnani (body position) and bhati (devotion, love of God).
According to jnani, the syllable Om symbolizes the destruction of Maya — illusion, the word “Namah” means the human soul — jiva, the word “Shiva” means the Universal Spirit — Paramatman, the ending “yya” indicates the coincidence of jiva and Paramatman (Shiva).