namah Shivaya hare Hari om - meaning
namah Shivaa-ya
devotion to moving towards Shiva
hare Hari om
experience Vishnu
hare Hara bole namah Shivaa-ya
experience Shiva (&) sing aloud
hara om, Shiva om, namah om
om om om om om om om
hare om naama Shiva
fully Name
experiencing of
devotion to moving towards Shiva
hare Hari om
experience Vishnu
hare Hara bole namah Shivaa-ya
experience Shiva (&) sing aloud
hara om, Shiva om, namah om
om om om om om om om
hare om naama Shiva
fully Name
experiencing of
The Song.
These six mantras manifest in the third track of “Sanskrit Mantras Vol 1”, by Kevin James Carrol, 2017. This recording is like unto the style of Kevin’s concerts, which are entitled “chant circles”, for we (usually) sit in a circle together on the floor.
It is a good song to introduce people to Kirtan, for the different melodies that Kevin uses are attractive and evocative.
In addition, Kevin is adept at moving from one mantra to another in the song, easily and smoothly. This skill involves changing words, rhythm, melody and chord progression, to contrast the (many) different mantras available for Kirtan. These contrasts help to create a powerful atmosphere in the concert, palpable even via recording, for our healing and release of our pain. And we can experience this release and healing. Which brings us to the word-for-word translation …
It is a good song to introduce people to Kirtan, for the different melodies that Kevin uses are attractive and evocative.
In addition, Kevin is adept at moving from one mantra to another in the song, easily and smoothly. This skill involves changing words, rhythm, melody and chord progression, to contrast the (many) different mantras available for Kirtan. These contrasts help to create a powerful atmosphere in the concert, palpable even via recording, for our healing and release of our pain. And we can experience this release and healing. Which brings us to the word-for-word translation …
The Mantra Discussed.
These mantas are good ones to introduce people to mantra music. They
include two foundational Names for Deity. These are Shiva (also known as Hara) and Vishnu (also known as Hari.) These Kirtan words have profound meaning for our spiritual practice, so it’s worth while exploring them in some detail.
The Trimurti.
Shiva and Vishnu are part of an important trio in Hindu philosophy, of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. This trio is called tri-murti or three forms of Deity. These are three important Principles in Deity that can be a useful guide to our spiritual practice throughout the day and week. They can also be applied with good effect to the dynamics of the healing process.
Shiva or Hara and Letting Go of Disturbance.
In trimurti, Shiva is the principle of dissolution in Deity. When this principle is applied to the dynamics of spiritual practice, it suggests the dissolution of the old and worn out, so that new beginnings can occur. This is essential to spiritual practice : dissolving unhelpful old habits and beliefs so a new and more helpful approach can begin.
Also the dissolution of pain filled and pain driven thoughts. Consciously and purposefully disallowing unnecessary and unhelpful thought and focussing on something else. No longer identifying with them nor fuelling them. Not allowing the painful thoughts to escalate into painful emotions that invade and disrupt our mind, and thus our life.
This requires some skill and training of the mind. Training the mind to let go of the unhelpful and the unnecessary in thinking. Training the mind to reduce the insistence and persistence of such mental noise. This skill and training is best achieved thru daily meditation training, and there is a Course in Meditation on mantra-translate that discusses the Principles of such meditation training.
As the principle of dissolution, Shiva is also the dissolution and release of painful feelings. Just allowing them to be there, uncomplicated by painful thought. Not being frightened by pain. Not suppressing the feelings with painful thought, and other harmful addictions. Allowing them to subside and dissipate, according to their nature. Because we stop suppressing, denying and concealing feelings. Just feeling it with courage, without explanations, without justifications (see section A 5).
In trimurti, Shiva is the also principle of transformation and change in Deity. When this principle is applied to spiritual practice, it suggests the change from problems to solutions. Finding our way out of difficulties.
Also the transformation inside us when problems that used to drain us of vitality become challenges that stimulate our energy.
Also the transcendence from suffering or duhkha to Freedom or moksha.
Shiva as the Result of Letting Go.
In all of this, we exert effort, assert ourselves and direct our will towards letting go of disturbance; letting go of disturbing thoughts, feelings, habits and problems, as part of our purification practice. We practice diligently, patiently, and repeatedly.
The Goal of our practice is the cessation of disturbance, the immense relief when the pain of suffering ceases, and we become unburdened. Our Goal is the Presence of Deity, the Presence of Shiva. It is not really an act of our will. For while we are indeed suffering and the defilements are really troubling us, then we cannot become unburdened, and the pain will not cease. If release was an act of our will, then we would always be able to end our suffering immediately. Most of the problems of the world would never arise.
So Shiva is best understood as the result of our efforts to let go of disturbance. Shiva will come to us, sooner or later, if we persist with our purification practice. And the sooner if our practice is effective and diligent.
Much of this website is devoted to themes that can help us in our spiritual practice.
Shivaya is properly spelled Shivāya, and pronounced Shivaaya. Shivāya is the dative form of the noun Shiva, and means “moving towards Shiva.” This is important, for too often we are far from Shiva, and so it’s important to start moving towards it. And start this right now …
Vishnu or Hari and Cultivating the Qualities.
Vishnu is the principle of protection and support in Deity, in trimurti.
When this principle is applied to self care and self recovery from troubles, it suggests practising and cultivating the spiritual Qualities in daily life. Making them strong, valuing them, and giving them priority and attention in our daily life. Helping them to grow. This also means protecting our Qualities from self sabotage, from any thought, attitude, habit or belief that can damage and break up our Qualities.
However, it is very difficult to cultivate and practise the spiritual Qualities while defilements are still active, while pain still afflicts us and we are in suffering. There is an important preliminary we need to achieve first. We need to first release the pain, and allow it to dissipate.
Thus Shiva is a necessary preliminary to Vishnu. Kevin gets us to sing about Shiva first, then Hari second. Then he gets us to “sing aloud” the Principle of Shiva.
Vishnu as the Result of Development, Practice and Protection.
In purification practice, we exert effort, assert ourselves and direct our will so we can move towards Liberation or moksha. We practice diligently, patiently, and repeatedly.
Our Goal is a special experience : the experience when the spiritual Qualities are robust, resilient and radiant ; when we are radiant with joy, good will, appreciation, contentment. This experience of Liberation or moksha is not really an act of our will. If it was, then humanity would be happy and peaceful all the time.
Rather, this experience of moksha is really the Presence of Deity, the Presence of Vishnu. It is really the result of our efforts to cultivate, practice and protect the spiritual Qualities.
So Vishnu and Hari are best understood as the result of cultivation, practising and protecting. Vishnu or Hari will come to us, sooner or later, if we persist with our purification practice. And the sooner if our practice is effective.
The Western word GOD can be separated into these three Principles –
Other Meanings and Qualities of Shiva.
After the first pair of mantras about Shiva then Hari, the rest of the song is exclusively about Shiva, often as Hara. This suggests that the meaning of Shiva should not be limited to just dissolution and release of our suffering. Shiva devotees attribute many more Qualities to Shiva. These include –
include two foundational Names for Deity. These are Shiva (also known as Hara) and Vishnu (also known as Hari.) These Kirtan words have profound meaning for our spiritual practice, so it’s worth while exploring them in some detail.
The Trimurti.
Shiva and Vishnu are part of an important trio in Hindu philosophy, of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. This trio is called tri-murti or three forms of Deity. These are three important Principles in Deity that can be a useful guide to our spiritual practice throughout the day and week. They can also be applied with good effect to the dynamics of the healing process.
Shiva or Hara and Letting Go of Disturbance.
In trimurti, Shiva is the principle of dissolution in Deity. When this principle is applied to the dynamics of spiritual practice, it suggests the dissolution of the old and worn out, so that new beginnings can occur. This is essential to spiritual practice : dissolving unhelpful old habits and beliefs so a new and more helpful approach can begin.
Also the dissolution of pain filled and pain driven thoughts. Consciously and purposefully disallowing unnecessary and unhelpful thought and focussing on something else. No longer identifying with them nor fuelling them. Not allowing the painful thoughts to escalate into painful emotions that invade and disrupt our mind, and thus our life.
This requires some skill and training of the mind. Training the mind to let go of the unhelpful and the unnecessary in thinking. Training the mind to reduce the insistence and persistence of such mental noise. This skill and training is best achieved thru daily meditation training, and there is a Course in Meditation on mantra-translate that discusses the Principles of such meditation training.
As the principle of dissolution, Shiva is also the dissolution and release of painful feelings. Just allowing them to be there, uncomplicated by painful thought. Not being frightened by pain. Not suppressing the feelings with painful thought, and other harmful addictions. Allowing them to subside and dissipate, according to their nature. Because we stop suppressing, denying and concealing feelings. Just feeling it with courage, without explanations, without justifications (see section A 5).
In trimurti, Shiva is the also principle of transformation and change in Deity. When this principle is applied to spiritual practice, it suggests the change from problems to solutions. Finding our way out of difficulties.
Also the transformation inside us when problems that used to drain us of vitality become challenges that stimulate our energy.
Also the transcendence from suffering or duhkha to Freedom or moksha.
Shiva as the Result of Letting Go.
In all of this, we exert effort, assert ourselves and direct our will towards letting go of disturbance; letting go of disturbing thoughts, feelings, habits and problems, as part of our purification practice. We practice diligently, patiently, and repeatedly.
The Goal of our practice is the cessation of disturbance, the immense relief when the pain of suffering ceases, and we become unburdened. Our Goal is the Presence of Deity, the Presence of Shiva. It is not really an act of our will. For while we are indeed suffering and the defilements are really troubling us, then we cannot become unburdened, and the pain will not cease. If release was an act of our will, then we would always be able to end our suffering immediately. Most of the problems of the world would never arise.
So Shiva is best understood as the result of our efforts to let go of disturbance. Shiva will come to us, sooner or later, if we persist with our purification practice. And the sooner if our practice is effective and diligent.
Much of this website is devoted to themes that can help us in our spiritual practice.
Shivaya is properly spelled Shivāya, and pronounced Shivaaya. Shivāya is the dative form of the noun Shiva, and means “moving towards Shiva.” This is important, for too often we are far from Shiva, and so it’s important to start moving towards it. And start this right now …
Vishnu or Hari and Cultivating the Qualities.
Vishnu is the principle of protection and support in Deity, in trimurti.
When this principle is applied to self care and self recovery from troubles, it suggests practising and cultivating the spiritual Qualities in daily life. Making them strong, valuing them, and giving them priority and attention in our daily life. Helping them to grow. This also means protecting our Qualities from self sabotage, from any thought, attitude, habit or belief that can damage and break up our Qualities.
However, it is very difficult to cultivate and practise the spiritual Qualities while defilements are still active, while pain still afflicts us and we are in suffering. There is an important preliminary we need to achieve first. We need to first release the pain, and allow it to dissipate.
Thus Shiva is a necessary preliminary to Vishnu. Kevin gets us to sing about Shiva first, then Hari second. Then he gets us to “sing aloud” the Principle of Shiva.
Vishnu as the Result of Development, Practice and Protection.
In purification practice, we exert effort, assert ourselves and direct our will so we can move towards Liberation or moksha. We practice diligently, patiently, and repeatedly.
Our Goal is a special experience : the experience when the spiritual Qualities are robust, resilient and radiant ; when we are radiant with joy, good will, appreciation, contentment. This experience of Liberation or moksha is not really an act of our will. If it was, then humanity would be happy and peaceful all the time.
Rather, this experience of moksha is really the Presence of Deity, the Presence of Vishnu. It is really the result of our efforts to cultivate, practice and protect the spiritual Qualities.
So Vishnu and Hari are best understood as the result of cultivation, practising and protecting. Vishnu or Hari will come to us, sooner or later, if we persist with our purification practice. And the sooner if our practice is effective.
The Western word GOD can be separated into these three Principles –
- G for Generating or Brahma,
- O for Operating or Vishnu, and
- D for Dissolving or Shiva.
Other Meanings and Qualities of Shiva.
After the first pair of mantras about Shiva then Hari, the rest of the song is exclusively about Shiva, often as Hara. This suggests that the meaning of Shiva should not be limited to just dissolution and release of our suffering. Shiva devotees attribute many more Qualities to Shiva. These include –
- the Source of all knowledge and wisdom, especially about Right Conduct,
- as a refuge or safe place, or as the Goal in spiritual practice,
- the harmony, rhythm and dynamic motion of dance, that releases tension and guides action in life (this is Shiva as Nataraj)
- directing desire down wholesome and healthy paths,
- protecting the young and vulnerable,
- beauty, serenity, stability and appreciation for these important Qualities,
- the cessation of pain filled and pain driven thought, and the dissolution of painful feelings (this is Shiva as Hara), and
- spiritual practice, especially purification practice.
