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OM and Namaha
Every line of the Astothram or Shahasranamam starts with Aum and ends with Namaha.
What does it mean?
Aum represents Brahman or the all-pervading Supreme Cosmic Consciousness itself. It is called 'Pranava mantra', Sacred syllable having spiritual significance and power.
In common parlance, Namaha means 'my salutation or namaskaram'. Namaha has also a deeper significance, which is more relevant in these sacred names all of which end with this word. 'Na' means no, not, or nil. 'Ma' signifies delusion which makes one identify himself with the inert body (Ego) and, thereby, subjects him to ignorance, misery and death. 'Namaha', thus, signifies the surrender of one's ego to the - Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent God in recognition of the truth that we are also a part of that supreme reality. Each of these sacred names, therefore, ends in a note of reverence, salutations and surrender.
So when we recite each line of the Astothram, we invoke Brahman by ‘AUM’ at the beginning and when we end each line with the word ‘Namaha’ we surrender our false Ego to God.
It is a promise we make 108 times in Astothram and 1000 times in Sahasranama
Every line of the Astothram or Shahasranamam starts with Aum and ends with Namaha.
What does it mean?
Aum represents Brahman or the all-pervading Supreme Cosmic Consciousness itself. It is called 'Pranava mantra', Sacred syllable having spiritual significance and power.
In common parlance, Namaha means 'my salutation or namaskaram'. Namaha has also a deeper significance, which is more relevant in these sacred names all of which end with this word. 'Na' means no, not, or nil. 'Ma' signifies delusion which makes one identify himself with the inert body (Ego) and, thereby, subjects him to ignorance, misery and death. 'Namaha', thus, signifies the surrender of one's ego to the - Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent God in recognition of the truth that we are also a part of that supreme reality. Each of these sacred names, therefore, ends in a note of reverence, salutations and surrender.
So when we recite each line of the Astothram, we invoke Brahman by ‘AUM’ at the beginning and when we end each line with the word ‘Namaha’ we surrender our false Ego to God.
It is a promise we make 108 times in Astothram and 1000 times in Sahasranama