Om Namah Shivay is an Indian television series that aired on

DD National DD National (formerly DD1) is a state-owned public entertainment television channel in India. It is the flagship channel of Doordarshan, India's public service broadcaster, and the oldest and most widely available terrestrial television chann ...

based on Shiv Puran. The series is presumably named after the

mantra A mantra ( Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ...

Aum Namah Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya (Sanskrit , Devanagari: ; IAST: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is one of the most popular Hindu mantra, mantras and the most important mantra in Shaivism. Namah Shivaya means "O salutations to the auspicious one!", or “adoration to Lor ...

Plot

The plot centers around Lord Shiva and brings Hindu theology to life in a series of interconnected stories. The serial begins with the creation of the universe and the other Devas, then guides the viewer through Shiva's marriage to Sati, Sati's death, Shiva's marriage to Parvati, and tales of many devotional acts, demonic battles, and important religious events (such as the creation of the twelve Jyotirlinga). It ends with events covered in the '' Mahābhārata'' and the blessing of the hero Arjuna by Shiva. According to the show's introduce the material used to construct the show's plot and the script was extensive. Sources listed are the '' Vayu Puran, Shiv Maha Puran, Skand Puran, Ling Puran, Tantra Chooramani, Valmiki Ramayan, Swetashwar Upanishad, Vaman Puran, Varah Puran, Koorma Puran, Rudra Yamal Tantra, Padma Puran, Devi Bhagwat Puran,'' and '' Bhagwat Puran.'' Director

Dheeraj Kumar Dheeraj Kumar (born 1 October 1944) is an Indian actor, television producer and director. He started Creative Eye Limited, a television production house in 1986. He has acted in both Bollywood and Punjabi films, including '' Sargam'' (1979), ' ...

, a devotee of

Lord Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

, oversaw nine years of research to ensure that ''Om Namah Shivays story was complete and accurate; nonetheless, the opening credits begin with an apology for any errors that may have been made in the series.

Cast

Samar Jai Singh Samar Jai Singh (born 26 September 1966) is an Indian film actor and acting trainer. He graduated from Government Law College, but started in Indian film and television industry in 1992. Samar is an acting coach as one of the founders and dir ...

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

* Yashodhan Rana as Kama/Shiva * Manjeet Kullar as

Sati Sati or SATI may refer to: Entertainment * ''Sati'' (film), a 1989 Bengali film by Aparna Sen and starring Shabana Azmi * ''Sati'' (novel), a 1990 novel by Christopher Pike *Sati (singer) (born 1976), Lithuanian singer *Sati, a character in ''Th ...

* Gayatri Shastri as

Parvati Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...

, Nav Durga, * Jagesh Mukati as

Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva_(Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is ...

* Saurabh Agarwal as

Kartikeya Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesh ...

* Rajeshwari Sachdev as Rati * Amit Pachori as

Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...

* Anita Kulkarni / Reena Kapoor as

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Alo ...

Kishori Shahane Kishori Shahane is an Indian classical and folk dancer and actress who works in the Hindi and Marathi movies and television. - She is married to Hindi filmmaker Deepak Balraj Vij. She is a producer who helped to make a film about the life of ...

as Rajkumari Sumati * Sandeep Mohan as

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...

* Siraj Mustafa Khan as

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

* Sandeep Mehta as

Narada Narada ( sa, नारद, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage divinity, famous in Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of mind-created children of Brahma, the creator god. He ...

* Sunil Nagar as

Brahma Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...

* Mona Parekh as

Saraswati Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a g ...

* Sanjay Swaraj as Indra * Shailly Chaudhary as

Shachi Indrani (Sanskrit: इन्द्राणी, IAST: ''Indrāṇī, lit.'' Indra's queen), also known as Shachi (Sanskrit: शची, IAST: ''Śacī''), is the queen of the devas in Hinduism. Described as tantalisingly beautiful, proud and ...

, the wife of Indra * Firdaus Mevawala as

Brihaspati Brihaspati ( sa, बृहस्पति, ), also known as Guru, is a Hindu deity. In the ancient Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Brihaspati is a deity associated with fire, and the word also refers to a rishi (sage) who counsels the devas (god ...

* Santosh Shukla as

Chandra Chandra ( sa, चन्द्र, Candra, shining' or 'moon), also known as Soma ( sa, सोम), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) a ...

* Dharmendra Rana as

Varuna Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, such ...

* Priyanka as

Kaushiki Kaushiki ( sa, कौशिकी, lit=woman of the cell, translit=Kauśikī,) is a Hindu goddess, a deity who emerged from the sheath of Parvati. She was created before Parvati's conflict with the asura brothers Sumbha and Nisumbha, and was also ...

* Gautam Chaturvedi as Rajkumar Bhadrayu / Samrat

Yudhishthira ''Yudhishthira'' (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers. He is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata. He was sired by King Pandu of the Kuru Dynasty and his firs ...

* Shalini Kapoor Sagar as Karkati * Chand Dhar as

Shukracharya Shukra (Sanskrit: शुक्र, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word that means "clear" or "bright". It also has other meanings, such as the name of an ancient lineage of sages who counselled Asuras in Vedic history. In medieval mythology and Hindu as ...

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as Daksha * Kshama Raj as

Prasuti Prasuti (प्रसूति, ''Prasūti'') is the consort of Daksha and mother of many daughters by him, including the goddess Sati. Prasuti is the daughter of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa. Marriage and children Marriage of Daksha and Pr ...

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Shani Shani ( sa, शनि, ), or Shanaishchara ( sa, शनैश्चर, ), refers to the divine personification of the planet Saturn in Hinduism, and is one of the nine heavenly objects (Navagraha) in Hindu astrology. Shani is also a male Hind ...

Duryodhan Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...

/ Sindoorasura *

Rajesh Shringarpure Rajesh Shringarpure (born 29 October 1977) is an Indian film and television actor who appears in Hindi cinema and Marathi cinema.He is currently playing the role of Malhar Rao Holkar in television serial '' Punyashlok Ahilyabai'' on which is ...

as Arjuna *

Gufi Paintal Sarabjeet "Gufi" Paintal (born 4 October 1944) is an Indian actor and director. His most famous role was that of Shakuni in the TV serial Mahabharat. He is the elder brother of the noted comedian and character actor Paintal. Career Gufi Pai ...

as Shakuni *

Upasana Singh Upasana Singh (born 29 June 1975) is an Indian actress and stand-up comedian. Singh is known for her role as a deaf-mute in the 1997 film '' Judaai''. Later on, she got famous for her negative portrayal in '' Son Pari'' as Cruella/Kalipari, a ...

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* Sarvadaman D. Banerjee as Rajkumar Vrishdwaj * Kaushal Kapoor as

Andhaka In Hindu literature, Andhaka (Sanskrit: अन्धक, IAST: Andhaka; lit. "He who darkens") refers to a malevolent asura, whose pride is vanquished by Shiva and Parvati.. His story finds mention in various Hindu texts, including the '' Matsy ...

Vaquar Shaikh Vaquar Shaikh (born 9 February) is an Indian television actor. He played Rashid Ahmed Khan in '' Qubool Hai'' and has appeared in serials like '' Justujoo'' and '' Pradhanmantri''. Career Vaquar had also acted in Akbar Khan's '' Taj Mahal: ...

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* Pappu Polyester as Nandi * Kulraj Bedi as

Kumbhakarna Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, lit. ''pot-eared'') is a powerful rakshasa and younger brother of Ravana from the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Despite his gigantic size and appetite, he is described as a virtuous character an ...

* Raman Khatri as

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/ Bhasmasur * Govind Khatri as

Hiranyaksha __NOTOC__ Hiranyaksha ( sa, हिरण्याक्ष, "golden-eyed"), also known as Hiranyanetra ( sa, हिरण्यनेत्र) was an oppressive Asura who attacked the heavens and thereafter kidnapped and attempted to destroy th ...

/ Rambh * Radhakrishna butta as

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* Pankaj Kalra as Maharishi

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* Qasim Ali as

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* Navneet Chaddha as

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as Maharani Draupadi * Daman Maan as

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* Utkarsha Naik as

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/ Diti * Kandaroli as Sumali * Manish Sharma as

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* Amrit Pal as Tarakasura * Mahendra Ghule as Kamalaksha / Bhima /

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as Vidyunmali * Sanjeev Siddharth as Tarakaksha * Thayoli

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* Anil Yadav as

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* Pundai Agni Dev * Sunni

Soundtrack

Songs from many well-known Indian singers are featured in this serial; a few examples include the title song "Om Namah Shivay" (

Pandit Jasraj Pandit Jasraj (28 January 1930 – 17 August 2020) was an Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the '' Mewati gharana'' (musical apprenticeship lineage). His musical career spanned 75 years resulting in national and international fame ...

), "Rudra Rudra" (

Vinod Rathod Vinod Rathod (born 12 September 1962) is an Indian playback singer who primarily sings in Bollywood films. Rathod is the son of late classical musician, Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod. Music career His career started when Usha Khanna after listeni ...

and

Udit Narayan Udit is an Indian masculine given name that may refer to: * Udit Narayan, Bollywood playback singer * Udit Narayan (politician) (born 1960), Fijian politician of Indian descent * Udit Narayan Singh (1770–1835), Indian monarch * Udit Patel (born ...

, episode 53), and "Trikal Darsh" (episode 89), "Man Mein Ek Kamna" (episode 62), and "Maha Shivratri Aayi" ( Alka Yagnik). Sharang Dev composed music and Abhilash provided lyrics. Unity is created in the series by using the same songs for different scenes, or even the same melodies with different lyrics, to soundtrack a recurring theme or situation. For example, the creation of each Jyotirling is accompanied by a chorus of the song "Ajar Amar Shiv Shankar." "Dharm Na Janu," sung by the boy Upmanyyu in episode 58, later becomes the melody for the song "Jeevan Kya Hai," which the young Markandeya sings in episode 168; each child sings to seek Shiva's protection through prayer. Indra, Narada, and the Devatas sing "Om Shri Tripund Dhari" to ask rescue from Shiva in episode 56;

Sachi Indrani (Sanskrit: इन्द्राणी, IAST: ''Indrāṇī, lit.'' Indra's queen), also known as Shachi (Sanskrit: शची, IAST: ''Śacī''), is the queen of the devas in Hinduism. Described as tantalisingly beautiful, proud and k ...

then sings the same melody as a prayer to

Shakti In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and r ...

, "Jai Shakti Dayini Maa," in episode 100. Continuity is also created between different performers with music. For instance, the song "Maha Shivratri Aayi" is sung by Shiva's first wife Sati, and then by his second wife Parvati, both celebrating the great festival of

Maha Shivaratri Maha Shivaratri ( IAST: Mahāśivarātri) is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva. The name also refers to the night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance called Tandava. In every month of the luni-solar Hindu ...

Home video

In 2003, ''Om Namah Shivay'' was released as a two-part, 42-DVD set, distributed by Madhu Entertainment and Media. It includes an option for English subtitles and a choice of four languages for audio (

Hindi Hindi ( Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

, Telugu, and

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Om Namah Shivay (TV Series) 1997 Indian television series debuts 2001 Indian television series endings DD National original programming Indian television series about Hindu deities