Nimu Śivāya
Many of us are familiar with Nimu, the Ganapati Kulam’s avian mascot. Recently, Nimu has been aspiring towards Mantra Diksha, hoping to bless himself with the inner authority to chant the Namaḥ Śivāya mantra (SEE BELOW VIDEO). He sets a good example for us all.
Listen to Nimu’s chanting voice:
African Greys are extremely intelligent, considered to be the smartest birds on Earth.
From Merging With Siva:
LESSON 161
Pañchākshara is Perfection
Aum Namaḥ Śivāya is such a precious mantra because it is the closest sound that one can make to emulate the sounds rushing out of the Self into the mind. Chanting it is profound because it is a sound channel which you can follow to get close to the Self of your self—sort of like following a river upstream to yourself. Aum Namaḥ Śivāya can be equated with Śiva’s drum of creation, called damaru. When Aum Namaḥ Śivāya is repeated, we go through the chakras, Na-Ma Śi-Vā-Ya Aum. The Aum is in the head chakra. Within Namaḥ Śivāya is each of the elements—earth, water, fire, air and ether—which in the mind are transmuted into all-pervasive consciousness, and that is also transmuted into the great chakra way above the head at the end of the Aum. In just the breath, the space of time between the next repetition of “Aum Namaḥ Śivāya…Aum Namaḥ Śivāya…Aum Namaḥ Śivāya,” the prāṇas, having reached Paraśiva, fall back into the spiritual, mental, astral and physical worlds, blessing them all with new energy, new life and new understanding. “Namaḥ Śivāya Aum, Namaḥ Śivāya Aum, Namaḥ Śivāya Aum, Namaḥ Śivāya Aum” is the constant process of life. It is the essence of life itself. We must realize that at any given moment we are a complete Paraśiva-Satchidānanda jīva, only working on the “Maheśvara part”—on the jīva’s becoming Śiva. Paraśiva is there. Satchidānanda is there. The maturity of the purusha, of the jīva, the embodied soul, is not. Therefore, Aum Namaḥ Śivāya takes us into the reality above and beyond the relatively real. To know it is to experience it, and to experience it is to become initiated. ¶I have been performing Aum Namaḥ Śivāya for over fifty years. At first it had no meaning other than, “Wonderful, at last I got my mantra, and an assignment from my guru to perform japa regularly.” As the japa progressed, all the inner worlds opened, all the doors of the mind. All the spiritual forces were unleashed, and the ability to control them came naturally. You see, Namaḥ Śivāya Aum brings the totality of the individual to the forefront and makes it manifest in daily life. This most pragmatic mantra is found at the center of the Vedas, in the hymn known as Śrī Rudram, and Śiva is at the center of Namaḥ Śivāya Aum. As the center of the Vedas, it blends Vedānta with Siddhānta, fusing them together with the fire of realization. So, I and all Śaiva Siddhāntists are a fusion of Vedānta and Siddhānta, with all doors open of understanding of the fourteen windows, the chakras of the mind, and even more than that. ¶My satguru, Siva Yogaswami, placed great emphasis on japa, repeating the name of Śiva with concentration and feeling. This great Nātha jñānī explained, “May we not forget that mantra is life, that mantra is action, that mantra is love, and that the repetition of mantra, japa, bursts forth wisdom from within. Japa yoga is the first yoga to be performed toward the goal of jñāna. In the temple perform japa. Under the sacred tree, perform japa. I performed japa all of this life as a silent sādhana, and it is automatic now.” Siva Yogaswami enjoined his devotees: “Wear rudrāksha beads, repeat the Pañchākshara, let your heart grow soft and melt. Chant the letters five, and in love you will discover Śiva’s will. Chant so that impurities, anxieties and doubts are destroyed. All hail Namaḥ Śivāya.”
Photo: Nimu exploring the outdoors. African Grey’s are generally cautious in nature, as they spend much of their time near the ground, drinking from clay mud puddles.
10 Responses to “Nimu Śivāya”
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July 8th, 2024 at 3:28 pm
: ) love Nimu! Aum aum!
July 8th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
“AUM”!.
July 8th, 2024 at 4:36 pm
He made it ! Great bird! Aum
July 8th, 2024 at 8:30 pm
Oh beautiful deva bird Nimu boy……… I love you so much and you are so so so smart and cannot wait for more of your precious words….. beautiful boy…….loved this….. will watch it again!
July 9th, 2024 at 12:24 am
Śivāya Nimu Aum!
July 9th, 2024 at 1:43 am
Soooo BEAUTIFUL. 🙏🏻
July 9th, 2024 at 4:41 am
Wow! Pranam Nimu, the beautiful soul! NaMaSiVaYa!
Jai Gurudeva ! Jai Bodhinatha !
July 9th, 2024 at 5:19 am
Aum Namasivayam 🙏🙏🙏
July 9th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Thank you Swamis for this post.
Aum Namasivaya Nimu, the Holy Bird! Hearing Nimu reciting Namasivaya reminds me of the Thevaram by Saint Thirunavukarasar “Entha Mathavam Seithanai Nenjame” and makes me feel humbled before this Holy Bird! The chant is heavenly! Amazing lesson for Hindus.
Long Live Kailasa Paramparai!
July 9th, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Om Sivaya Dear Nimu
You are so adorable. 😘💐