In Hindu rituals, everyday prayers, elaborate ceremonies, wedding rituals, and others, there are two words used and heard. And these are part of mantras, having different meanings, and are all so powerful. ‘Namah’ and ‘Swaha’ are used before and after mantras and have meanings that are important for spiritual and religious growth. How? Read on to know.

The word ‘Namah’ basically means ‘I bow to you’. For example, ‘Om Namah Shivaay’ translates to ‘I bow to Lord Shiva’. Namah is like paying your respects to a certain deity. Be it through Om Namah Shivaay, or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. It is a form of surrendering to the Gods, to the higher powers that are around us and asking them to keep their blessings over us. Namah is an expression of self-surrender and when we chant it we are offering our respect and devotion to the Gods, bowing in front of them.

Swaha is chanted at the end of rituals, especially those that involve fire and elaborate mantras and chanting. During yagnas, hawans, and kapur (camphor) rituals, we end our offerings with ‘Swaha’. And to ‘Swaha’ something, means to offer it whole and soul, and be in complete surrender of that object, thing, or feeling. Swaha is equated to offering something to the Gods or sacrificing something, which could also be a material wish or want.
In Vedic rituals, Swaha is said when something, usually ghee or other offerings, is poured into the sacred fire.
When we say Swaha as a part of mantras, it means we are sacrificing and offering something by giving up all our attachments.

‘Namah’ is used in mantras and prayers when directly addressing a God. For example, I bow to Lord Shiva, I bow to Maa Lakshmi, I offer my salutations to Lord Vishnu and the like. In many rituals, when devotees chant mantras like ‘Sri Ganesh Namah’ or ‘Om Shri Ram Ramaya Namah’, we pray to them and accept and appreciate their greatness.
In some rituals, Namah is also used when doing Abhishekam, offering flowers to the idols, or when bowing down.

Swaha is mostly during hawans and fire rituals. When we offer something to Agni dev, we end it with ‘Swaha’, which means we are giving it to him with all our devotion, and are removing any attachment to it. When during hawans we offer ghee, or grains, or hawan samagri to the sacred fire, after the priest finishes the mantra, we offer it to the fire with the chant of ‘Swaha’.
It is believed that when you say Swaha, you are burning away your desires, attachments, or burdens in the sacred fire, leaving only pure intentions behind.

The power of ‘Namah’ is that it conveys a sense of respect and surrender spiritually. It shows your devotion to the Gods, it shows our will to bow in front of them, and shows the acceptance that they are above us in every form. The act of bowing, be it physical or mental, is one of the most humble gestures humans can make.

It is also said that when the gods hear ‘Namah’, they are pleased because it shows that the devotee is not driven by selfish desires but by pure devotion.

When Namah serves the purpose of delighting the Gods, Swaha helps remove attachments and desires. When the offering is made to the sacred, burning fire, and Swaha is chanted, it shows that the offering is being made without any ‘ulterior’ motive or expectations. This form of surrender, and the willingness to give something up, helps you detach from worldly desires, and focus on your spiritual goals.
It is believed that by saying Swaha the practitioner is metaphorically throwing their desires into the fire, allowing them to be consumed and transformed.