Namu originates from the Sanskrit word “Namas” which means “Devotion,” and was transliterated with the two Chinese characters “Na” and “Mu,” which were pronounced similarly a long time ago. The two characters are not, therefore, used for their literal meanings, “South” and “Nothing,” nor are they thought of individually. What is used is “Namu,” two characters to represent one word, signifying “Devotion.”