Mantra + Mudra Practice: Om Namah Shivaya + Prithvi Mudra

By Deidre Norman

I wanted to share this powerful Mantra + Mudra practice, as there is so much going on and it is so important for us - now more than ever - to tune in and quiet our minds. When we ground our energy down and connect with the earth element, we calm the nervous system.

Mantra: Om Namah Shivaya

"It isn’t just a chant, it’s a multiverse. This mantra can be traced back to thousands of years ago. In fact, it is hard to think about a more famous mantra in India." ~ Times of India According to Times of India: The meaning of this mantra is: "My salutations to shiva, the auspicious and gracious one." Shiva is known as the destroyer. He also symbolizes the inner self that remains intact even after everything ends. That pure consciousness. This mantra brings us on that inward journey. It brings us into stillness, so we can listen more closely to ourselves. It asks us to surrender our lower selves into our true self. Using this mantra will aid in increasing access to our silence and creative intelligence. It also enhances concentration, attention, focus and intuition. Use this Mantra with the Prithvi Mudra.

Prithvi Mudra

Prithvi means "the vast one" in Sanskrit. Prithvi is also the term used for the Earth element in Ayurveda. Some call this the Earth Mudra. We use this to balance the Earth Element in the body. (Swipe to see the Mudra)

The Practice This Mantra + Mudra practice helps us get grounded and rooted, so we can access that deep stillness. We use the Prithvi mudra to ground our energy down and the "Om Namah Shivaya" mantra to access that stillness that is always available to us, within us. You can choose to do a longer practice (8-11 minutes) or a shorter practice (3 minutes) with this Mantra + Mudra. Start with a short breath exercise while sitting in a comfortable seat with a long straight spine. Inhale to a count of 3, hold the breath for 4 counts, then exhale for 5 counts. Do this for a minute or so and then add in the mantra, silently or out loud. You have your hands in Prithvi mudra the entire time and your gaze is up and in towards the 3rd eye center. For a longer practice, first start with the Shukya Shunya breath (see below) for a minimum of 4 minutes and then silently repeat the mantra for 3 minutes (or longer). Shukya Shunya - 8 part breath. Inhale short breaths alternating nose and mouth (starting with the nose) for 8 counts and exhale short exhales out also alternating nose and mouth and beginning with the nose.

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