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The Shree Rudram Chamakam is a Vaidik Stotra dedicated to Rudra, an earlier aspect of Shiv. Shree Rudram Chamakam occupies a very important place in Vaidik literature and in the practice of Vaidik Religion. It is the heart of Krishn Yajur Ved and is treasured in the centre of Taittireeya Sanhitaa. Shree Rudram is known as Rudropanishad also. Though it forms the part of Karm Kaand, it ranks at par with the Upanishad of the Gyaan Kaand. And as it is seen in all the 101 Shaakhaa of the Yajur Ved, it is called 'Shat-Rudreeyam'.

Among the Vidyaa, the Ved are supreme; in the Ved the Rudra Ekaadashee is supreme; in the Rudram the Panchaaksharee Mantra Namah Shivaaya is supreme; and in the Mantra the two letters Shiv is supreme. As by pouring water at the root of a tree, all its branches are nourished, so also by pleasing Rudra through Rudra Jap, all the Devtaa are pleased. This is the best atonement (Praayashchit) for all sins and the foremost Saadhanaa for attainment of cherished desires.

A verse in the Vaayu Puraan says: "A person reciting and applying daily the Namakam, Chamakam and the Purush Sookt is honored in the Brahm Lok." - He who ever recites Namakam and Chamakam along with PurushSookt daily will be honored in Brahm Lok.

"Namah Shivaaya" is the "Moola Mantra, which alone is capable of conferring full benefit to the person reciting this five letter Mantra or "Panchaaksharee" Mantra at all times and there are no restrictions as to time, place, caste, creed or sex. It is right that we have to learn from Guru, but if Guru is not there we can learn by our self also by making Shiv as our Guru.

If we have Shraddhaa, or we pray with all devotion nothing harm is there. No child is born with knowledge, and when a child is learning something, his pronunciation might not be correct. In the same way if we are learning something including Mantra and if we pronounce it wrongly. no will harm to come to us. So learn first then recite. Guru is needed for basic knowledge only after that we can learn by ourselves also.

Chamakam assures granting of what we ask. The creator makes no distinction between the things of the world and the other world. Both belong to him and desire born out of Virtue is really manifestation of divinity and Dharm.

Chamakam furnishes completely the ideal of human happiness and defines in the highest degree the desires and do not delimit to be asked or to be granted. Shree Rudram-Chamakam occupies a very important place in Vaidik literature and in the practice of Vaidik Religion. It is the heart of Krishn Yajur Ved and is treasured in the center of Taittireeya Sanhitaa, strictly speaking, the Rudra is a Hom or sacrifice performed in fire in honor of God Rudra. While most of the rituals relating to the other Gods stop limited to the particular purpose intended in the Karm Kaand, it was felt that the Rudram could not and should not be so confined, but put to further varied uses. Hence we find that Rudram and Chamakam are used invariably for all the Vaidik worship of Shiv in all the households and temples. The Rudram is addressed to worship Shiv, who is said to give to the devotee who seeks His Grace anything that is asked for.

It is said that Shree Rudra is a great purifier which when repeatedly chanted with devotion can expiate the worst of the sins. One can attain Bhukti or all material benefits for enjoyment of life on earth and Mukti, which is freedom from the ills of the world. The Mantra we chant are potent and full of power. But it manifests only if we chant it with full faith. If one Rudram [that is, eleven times the eleven stanzas of Namakam chanted along with one stanza of Chamakam every time by a single person] is chanted, it can free one from all childhood diseases.

Similarly:
3 Rudram can destroy imminent difficulties with which one is faced.
5 Rudram can free one from the evil effects of certain planets occupying unfavorable positions.
7 Rudras can dissolve one's greatest fear.
9 Rudram can confer the fruit of one Vaajpeya Yagya sacrifice (which is believed to bring in bountiful crop and plentiful water) and also attainment of peace of mind.
11 Rudram can bestow one with great wealth and the favor of the high and mighty.
33 Rudram can fulfill all material desires and bless one to be free of enemies. Rudram by itself is a very dynamic, highly energy-infusing Mantra. It is in a class by itself. To chant the hymn means to charge oneself internally with dynamism and elevate one self to higher levels.

One of the greatest of the Vaidik hymns, Shree Rudram is in two parts. The first part, chapter 16 of the Yajur Ved, is known as Namakam because of the repeated use of the word "Namo" in it. The second part, chapter 18 of the Yajur Ved, is known as Chamakam because of the repeated use of the word "Cha me".

Wheat, Black Gram and Barley in the Rudram Chamakam
Shree Rudram with Chamakam and Namakam from Yajur Ved gives a clue to the period of Ved. In the Chamakam it is said 'Godoomaaschame Maashaashchame; etc. If we consider Godoomaa as wheat, it was cultivated prior to black gram (Urad or Maash). Black Gram was originated from India. Wheat was one of the first plants to be cultivated. It was grown about 11,000 years ago. Archaeological analysis of wild emmer indicates that it was first cultivated in the southern Levant with finds at Iraan dating back as far as 9600 BC. There is a lot of similarity between Vaidik and Persian people, especially about the worship of Agni. However, evidence for the exploitation of wild barley (Yava) has been dated to 23,000 BCE and some say this is also true of pre-domesticated wheat. In Chamakam there is mention of Yava too. Thus, definitely the Ved are prior to this period.

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