When we face the joys and sorrows of life due to ignorance, then through spiritual knowledge, devotion, and meditation, we can attain liberation from them.
Meditation on Lord Shiva
When we, as devoted worshippers, meditate on Lord Shiva, we begin to remove inner sorrows with awareness and attain a state of Shiva-consciousness—meaning eternal supreme bliss and freedom.
It is similar to how the rising sun at dawn gradually dispels darkness and eventually eliminates it.
How to Meditate on Shiva
Although meditating on God does not require a specific place or time—you can meditate at any time—most practitioners meditate during Brahma Muhurta (the time before sunrise) and during sunset.
Brahma Muhurta is considered the best time for meditation practice. You must choose the time that suits you best so that you can meditate regularly.
Renunciates, who are the most devoted worshippers of Lord Shiva, remain constantly absorbed in meditation without needing to find time for it. However, an ordinary person can also attain progress and mastery in meditation through sincere practice.
While meditating on Shiva, one can chant Shiva’s Mahamanta “Om Namah Shivaya” or Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra “Om Tryambakam Yajamahe” or any other Shiva mantra. Among them, Shiva’s five-syllable mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” is very powerful. Devoted Shiva worshippers can make mantra chanting a supreme method of meditation.
By chanting Shiva’s mantra, we begin to remove the inner impurities that prevent us from meditating.
When a Shiva devotee deeply engages in chanting the surrender mantra of Shiva, they focus completely on the mantra, which helps quiet thoughts and emotions. As the practitioner enters deeper meditation, they merge into the mantra itself and experience inner divinity, leading to the attainment of supreme bliss.
Many devotees meditate on Shiva by visualizing a Shivalinga or chanting the mantra ‘Om’ or ‘Soham’. While reciting mantras, they practice calming their thoughts, which helps in overcoming stress and fear.
Through Shiva meditation, one quickly attains freedom from ego. When a devotee remembers Shiva, they invoke self-surrender to Param-Atman (ego-free consciousness), which dissolves the layers of ego and leads to liberation.
Methods of Meditating on Shiva
Here are some methods to deeply immerse oneself in Shiva’s meditation and dedicate oneself to Shiva, making life meaningful:
- Choose a quiet and peaceful place for meditation.
- Sit in a meditative posture (Sukhasana or Padmasana) in front of a Shivalinga.
- Join your hands and pray to Lord Shiva.
- Chant Shiva’s mantra, such as (Om Namah Shivaya, Omkara, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra).
- Focus your mind on the mantra and practice detachment from mental distractions.
- Remain absorbed in the mantra with awareness during meditation.
- Practice regularly.
- Dedicate as much time as possible to meditation.
- Conclude your meditation by bowing to Lord Shiva.
Benefits of Meditating on Shiva
Regular meditation on Lord Shiva provides devotees with amazing benefits. It leads to spiritual awareness, Self-realization, and the ultimate purpose of life—liberation (Moksha).
When we meditate on Lord Shiva, we invoke the supreme progress of the Self. Practitioners who regularly meditate free themselves from the bondage of Maya (illusion) and attain supreme bliss.
In meditation, the bondages of desires and attachments begin to dissolve, leading to ultimate freedom.
When a meditator attains perfection in meditation, they merge into Shiva; they attain oneness with the Shiva principle, which frees them from the suffering of material existence and grants them supreme and eternal spiritual bliss.
Those who continuously meditate on Shiva experience mental and physical benefits as well—stress, anxiety, and fear dissolve.
Spiritual progress also benefits mental health. Just as sunrise illuminates the world, spiritual awareness dispels mental distortions like darkness.
It also positively affects physical health by helping maintain blood pressure, supporting heart health, boosting immunity, and improving digestion.
Key Benefits of Continuous Shiva Meditation
- Attainment of spiritual awareness.
- Self-Realization.
- Freedom from material bondage and the attainment of supreme spiritual bliss.
- Progress in meditation and attainment of yogic perfection—Samadhi.
- Freedom from fear, anxiety, and stress, leading to mental peace.
- Destruction of inner enemies (desire, anger, greed, attachment, jealousy, and hatred).
- Attainment of oneness with Shiva—Satchidananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss) and Moksha.
Significance of Shiva Meditation
Those who meditate on Shiva attain Shiva and become Shiva-like. Lord Shiva is the Paramatman—the essence of all existence. Devotees who meditate on Shiva attain liberation, freeing them from the suffering of birth and death, and their Self-principle merges into Shiva.
Since Shiva is the unknowable essence yet the omniscient (all-knowing), He pervades all existence yet remains beyond it as the supreme truth and ultimate reality.
Through continuous meditation on Shiva, one dissolves the ego, attains yogic perfection—Samadhi—and ultimately becomes Shiva-conscious.