Soham Shivoham is a Vedantic and Shaivite affirmation translating as "I am That, I am Shiva," pointing to the non-dual identity of the individual self (jiva) with universal consciousness (Shiva or Brahman).
What is Soham Shivoham?
Soham Shivoham is not a petition or prayer directed outward, but a statement of direct recognition, an assertion of the meditator's fundamental nature. It belongs to the neti-neti ("not this, not this") inquiry tradition of Advaita Vedanta and the mahavakya (great sayings) of the Upanishads, extended through the Shaiva Advaita understanding that the supreme reality is Shiva, pure awareness itself.
Soham alone is one of the most ancient mantra-affirmations in yoga, regarded as the natural sound of the breath: "So" on the inhalation, "Ham" on the exhalation. This makes it ajapa japa, a mantra that is already being recited 21,600 times per day by every human being with every breath, whether they are aware of it or not. Adding "Shivoham" ("I am Shiva") takes the breath-awareness into direct non-dual recognition, a practice associated with the Kashmir Shaiva tradition and with teachers such as Ramana Maharshi, Swami Sivananda, and Nisargadatta Maharaj.
The phrase "Shivoham" appears explicitly in the Nirvana Shatakam, one of the most celebrated texts of Adi Shankaracharya (c. 788–820 CE), where it concludes each of its six verses with "Chidanandarupa Shivoham Shivoham", "of the nature of consciousness-bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva."
Word-by-Word Meaning
The compound meanings reveal the depth of the teaching:
- So: "that"; referring to Brahman/Shiva, the absolute universal consciousness; sound of the inhalation
- Ham: "I am" (aham contracted); the individual self; sound of the exhalation
- Soham: "I am That"; the declaration of non-dual identity between the individual and the universal
- Shiva: "the auspicious one"; in Advaita and Kashmir Shaivism, the name for pure, undivided awareness; ultimate reality
- Aham: "I"; the first person; the witness-self
- Shivoham: "I am Shiva"; direct identification with pure consciousness
Full translation: "I am That, I am Shiva"; or "That which I breathe, I am, and that is Shiva, pure awareness."
How to Pronounce Soham Shivoham
Phonetic guide: SO-hum SHI-vo-hum. "Soham", SO (long "o") + hum (the "a" in "ham" naturally reduces to a schwa "um" when chanted). "Shivoham", SHEE-vo-hum, three syllables, with a long "ee" in Shi and a long "o" in vo. In breath-synchronised practice: inhale naturally and mentally hear "So"; exhale and hear "Ham." For the extended form "Soham Shivoham," the entire phrase is matched to one full breath cycle or chanted as a slow mantra on a mala. Do not force or control the breath, allow the breath to find the mantra, not the mantra to force the breath.
Origins and Tradition
The Hamsa Upanishad (a minor Upanishad of the Atharva Veda) is the primary textual source for the Soham teaching, explaining the breath-mantra as the spontaneous japa of the life force (prana). The Vijnanabhairava Tantra (c. 9th–10th century CE, Kashmir Shaivism) contains several dharanas (concentration techniques) based on the Soham breath awareness, presenting it as a direct path to recognition of one's Shiva-nature.
Adi Shankaracharya's Nirvana Shatakam crystallised the Shivoham statement in a literary form still widely memorised and chanted today. The text proceeds by negating all false identities (body, mind, senses, emotions) and arrives at the recognition: "Chidanandarupa Shivoham Shivoham", "of the nature of consciousness and bliss, I am Shiva." This Advaitic method of inquiry is echoed in Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry (atma-vichara), where the question "Who am I?" ultimately resolves in the recognition of pure awareness, Shiva.
How to Use Soham Shivoham in Your Practice
The most natural form of this practice is breath-synchronised meditation. Sit comfortably with the spine erect. Allow the breath to settle naturally, do not control it. As you inhale, mentally hear "So"; as you exhale, mentally hear "Ham." After several minutes of this foundational awareness, expand to the full affirmation: on the inhalation "So-ham," on the exhalation "Shi-vo-ham." The practice is self-inquiry through breath, each breath a reminder of your essential nature.
Soham Shivoham can also be chanted on a mala at a slow, deliberate pace, pausing briefly between repetitions to feel the meaning resonating. The practice is suitable at any time of day, but the twilight hours, dawn and dusk, when the breath naturally shifts, are particularly potent. For yoga practitioners, integrating the mantra into pranayama (particularly nadi shodhana, alternate nostril breathing) deepens both the breath regulation and the non-dual enquiry simultaneously.
The Benefits of Chanting Soham Shivoham
The Hamsa Upanishad states that awareness of the Soham breath-mantra dissolves all accumulated karma and leads directly to liberation. The cognitive benefit of this practice is profound: by repeatedly identifying with Shiva, pure awareness, rather than with thoughts, emotions, or circumstances, the meditator gradually loosens the grip of the contracted ego-identity and accesses a stable background of peace.
Breath-synchronised mantra practice has measurable physiological effects: it slows the breathing rate, stimulates the vagus nerve, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress hormones and promoting calm clarity. The non-dual affirmation adds a philosophical dimension that supports psychological resilience, when you know yourself as awareness itself, circumstances have less power to disturb. Swami Sivananda described Soham as "the king of all mantras" precisely for this reason: it requires no rituals, no initiation, no particular belief, only breath and awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Soham Shivoham mean?
Soham means "I am That", identifying the individual self with Brahman, the universal consciousness. Shivoham means "I am Shiva", extending this recognition through the Shaiva understanding that pure awareness is Shiva. Together: "I am That, I am Shiva."
How do you pronounce Soham Shivoham?
SO-hum SHEE-vo-hum. The "a" in ham and aham softens to a schwa "um" when chanted. The "o" in So and Shivo is long and open.
How many times should you chant Soham?
As a breath mantra, Soham is naturally chanted 21,600 times per day, once per breath. As deliberate japa on a mala, 108 repetitions is traditional. As a meditation practice, 20–30 minutes of breath-synchronised awareness is deeply effective.
What tradition does Soham Shivoham come from?
It comes from the intersection of Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism. Soham is rooted in the Hamsa Upanishad; Shivoham is crystallised by Adi Shankaracharya in the Nirvana Shatakam (c. 8th century CE) and further developed in Kashmir Shaiva Tantric texts.
