Shiva Sahasranama
The Shiva sahasranama is a "list of a thousand names" of Shiva, one of the most important deities in Hinduism. In Hindu tradition a sahasranama is a type of devotional hymn (Sanskrit: stotra) listing many names of a deity. The names provide an exhaustive catalog of the attributes, functions, and major mythology associated with the figure being praised.
Versions
There are at least eight different versions of the Shiva sahasranama.[1] The version appearing in Book 13 (Anuśāsanaparvan) of the Mahabharata is considered the kernel of this tradition.[2] The eight versions analyzed by Ram Karan Sharma are:[3]
- Mahabharata 13.17.30-150 (Anuśāsanaparvan version). In the narrative, Krishna recites the 1,008 names of Shiva to Yudhisthira. Yudhisthira had asked Bhishma the names of Shiva but Bhishma admitted his ignorance and advised him to ask Krishna. The thousand names of Vishnu, or Vishnu sahasranama, also occurs in the same chapter. Some overlapping of names with the Vishnu sahasranama has led Adi Shankara to conclude that Shiva and Vishnu are both identical (Advaita).
- Linga Purana (version 1, LP 1.65.54-168) is close to the Mahabharata Anushasanaparvan version.
- Linga Purana (version 2, LP 1.98.27-159) has some passages in common with LP version 1, but also with other sources
- Shivapurana 4.35.1-131.
- Mahabharata (Śāntiparvan version). The critical edition of the Mahabharata does not include this version; it is considered part of book 12 (Śāntiparvan), but is relegated to Appendix 28 in the critical edition, representing a late addition to the text. The Gita Press edition restores it as part of the main text, as verses 12.284.68-180.
- Vayu Purana (1.30.179-284) is almost the same as the Mahabharata Śāntiparvan version.
- Brahmanda Purana (38.1.1-100) is almost the same as the Vayu Purana version.
- Mahābhāgavata Upapurana (67.1-125) appears to be of comparatively recent origin.
Hari...The Sustainer, The Destroyer.
Anantadrishti...Of infinite vision.
Mahayogi...Greatest of all Gods.
Popular names of Lord Shiva
- Aashutosh, one who fulfills wishes instantly
- Aja, Unborn
- Akshayaguna, God with limitless attributes
- Anagha, Without any fault
- Anantadrishti, of infinite vision
- Augadh, one who revels all the time
- Avyayaprabhu, Imperishable Lord
- Bhairav, Lord of terror
- Bhalanetra, one who has an eye in the forehead
- Bholenath, Kind-hearted Lord
- Bhooteshwara, Lord of ghosts and spirits
- Bhudeva, Lord of the earth
- Bhutapala, Protector of the ghosts
- Chandrapal, Master of the moon
- Chandraprakash, one who has moon as a crest
- Dayalu, Compassionate
- Devadeva, God of Gods
- Dhanadeepa, Lord of Wealth
- Dhyanadeep, Icon of meditation and concentration
- Dhyutidhara, Lord of Brilliance
- Digambara, one who has the skies as his clothes
- Durjaneeya, Difficult to be known
- Durjaya, Unvanquished
- Gangadhara, Lord of River Ganga
- Girijapati, Consort of Girija
- Gunagrahin, Acceptor of Gunas
- Gurudeva, Master of All
- Hara, Remover of Sins
- Hari, the Sustainer, the Destroyer
- Jagadisha, Master of the Universe
- Jaradhishamana, Redeemer from Afflictions
- Jatin, one who has matted hair
- Kailas, one who bestows peace
- Kailashadhipati, Lord of Mount Kailash
- Kailashnath, Master of Mount Kailash
- Kamalakshana, Lotus-eyed Lord
- Kantha, Ever-Radiant
- Kapalin, one who wears a necklace of skulls
- Khatvangin, bearer of the missile Khatvang
- Kochadaiyaan, the Lord with Long, Matted Locks of Hair
- Kundalin, one who wears earrings
- Lalataksha, one who has an eye in the forehead
- Lingadhyaksha, Lord of the Lingas
- Lingaraja, the Phallus King
- Lokankara, Creator of the Three Worlds
- Lokapal, one who takes care of the world
- Mahabuddhi, Extremely intelligent
- Mahadeva, Greatest God
- Mahakala, Lord of All Times
- Mahamaya, of great illusions
- Mahamrityunjaya, Great victor of death
- Mahanidhi, Great storehouse
- Mahashaktimaya, one who has boundless energies
- Mahayogi, Greatest of all Gods
- Mahesha, Supreme Lord
- Maheshwara, Lord of Gods
- Nagabhushana, one who has serpents as ornaments
- Nataraja, King of the art of dancing
- Nilakantha, Blue-throated
- Nityasundara, Ever beautiful
- Nrityapriya, Lover of Dance
- Omkara, Creator of OM
- Palanhaar, one who protects everyone
- Parameshwara, First among all gods
- Paramjyoti, Greatest splendor
- Pashupati, Lord of all living beings
- Pinakin, one who has a bow in his hand
- Pranava, Originator of the syllable of OM
- Priyabhakta, Favorite of the devotees
- Priyadarshana, of loving vision
- Pushkara, one who gives nourishment
- Pushpalochana, one who has eyes like flowers
- Ravilochana, having sun as the eye
- Rudraksha, the Terrible
- Sadashiva, one who has eyes like Rudra
- Sanatana, Eternal God
- Sarvacharya, Charioteer of Partha (Arjuna)
- Sarvashiva, Eternal Lord
- Sarvatapana, Preceptor of All
- Sarvayoni, Always Pure
- Sarvesh, The Lord Of All
- Sarveshwara, Scorcher of All
- Shambhu, Source of Everything
- Shankara, Lord of All Gods
- Shantah, Preceptor of Skanda
- Shiva, Abode of Joy
- Shoolin, Giver of Joy
- Shreshhtha, Lord of the moon
- Shrikantha, Always Pure
- Shrutiprakasha, one who has a trident
- Shuddhavigraha, of glorious neck
- Skandaguru, Illuminator of the Vedas
- Someshwara, one who has a pure body
- Sukhada, Bestower of happiness
- Suprita, well pleased
- Suragana, having Gods as attendants
- Sureshwara, Lord of all Gods
- Swayambhu, Self-Manifested
- Tejaswani, one who spreads illumination
- Trilochana, Three-Eyed Lord
- Trilokpati, Master of all the Three Worlds
- Tripurari, Enemy of Tripura
- Trishoolin, one who has a trident in his hands
- Umapati, Consort of Uma
- Vachaspati, Lord of Speech
- Vajrahasta, one who has a thunderbolt in his hands
- Varada, Granter of Boons
- Vedakarta, Originator of the Vedas
- Veerabhadra, Supreme Lord of the Nether World
- Vishalaksha, Wide-eyed Lord
- Vishveshwara, Lord of the Universe
- Vishwanath, Master of the Universe
- Vrishavahana, one who has bull as his vehicle
- shubhankar, a person that is adopted by a team or other group as a symbolic figure
References
- ↑ Sharma, pp. viii-ix.
- ↑ English translation: Mahabharata 13.17 translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguly (published between 1883 and 1896). This is the source for the version presented in Chidbhavananda, who refers to it being from the Mahabharata but does not explicitly clairify which of the two Mahabharata versions he is using. See Chidbhavananda, p.5.
- ↑ Sharma, pp. viii-xxviii.
- ↑ Kumar, Vijaya (2006). The Thousand Names of Shiva. Sterling Publishers.
- ↑ Jagdish Lal Shastri, Arnold Kunst (1978). Ancient Indian tradition & mythology, Volume 3. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 1404-1406.
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