Swami Muktananda, on the basis of his personal experience, spoke in glowing terms about the efficacy of the panchakshari , the five-lettered mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, in inducing seekers to spontaneously delve into deep meditation. The five syllables of this mantra na, ma, shi, va and ya are the bij-aksharas or seed-letters of the five elements of creation; earth, water, fire, air and ether, of which our body is made. Flesh represents the earth; blood represents water; the body heat that helps in digesting food represents fire; the prana or life-giving force represents air; and the mind represents ether.

Constant repetition of these holy syllables, either verbally or mentally, generates powerful spiritual vibrations that render the mind pure and one-pointed, directing it inwards, leading ultimately to the awakening of the Kundalini, the spiritual energy, that lies dormant at the base of the spine, the muladhar, in each individual.