The 108 Names of Shiva | Ashtottara Shatanamavali

Cosmic Shiva

   With Maha Shivaratri just days away, it is an wonderful time to consider the significance of Maha Shivaratri and its origins. Maha Shivaratri, the Great Night of Lord Shiva, is considered the most significant observance of the year for Shiva devotees. It is the time when the transcendental silence of Shiva’s consciousness is most accessible on earth and the open-hearted devotion of humans is most powerfully received in the Divine realms. The veils that separate humans from Divine communion are pulled back on this beautiful night and spiritual practices bear sweet and lasting fruit.


   All around the world, Shiva devotees are celebrating, each according to their own regional culture and traditions. Every celebration is connected by the words of Shiva to his Beloved Parvati. Goddess Parvati asks Shiva which of the many observances performed in His name pleased him most. Shiva answers that the 14^th night of the waning moon during the month of Phalgun is his favorite day. On this day Shiva declares that during four successive cycles of the night he should be worshiped by bathing him in: 

Shiva & Parvati together in one form

Milk during the first cycle.
Curd in the second.
Ghee in the third.
Honey in the fourth. 

   Shiva also instructs that devotees should offer him bel leaves which are as precious to him as jewels and flowers; and that all fasts be broken and Brahmans fed at the conclusion of this observance. Shiva declars that the observances of Shivaratri are beyond compare.

   Goddess Parvati was deeply moved by Lord Shiva’s speech. She told it to the Gods who reported it to the priests, and in this way it became known throughout the world. This is the origin of Maha Shivaratri. An essential part of every celebration is singing the praises of Lord Shiva’s attributes and reciting his many names. Here are the 108 names of Lord Shiva.

May your Maha Shivaratri grant you moksha (liberation) and transcendental bliss!

The 108 Names of Shiva:

1	Om Shivaya Namaha	To the Auspicious One
2	Om Maheshvaraya Namaha	To the Great God Shiva
3	Om Shambhave Namaha	To the God who exists for our happiness alone
4	Om Pinakine Namaha	To Shiva, who guards the path of dharma
5	Om Shashishekharaya Namaha	To the God who wears the crescent moon in his hair
6	Om Vamadevaya Namaha	To the God who is pleasing and auspicious in every way
7	Om Virupakshaya Namaha	To the God of spotless form
8	Om Kapardine Namaha	To the Lord with thickly matted hair
9	Om Nilalohitaya Namaha	To the God splendid as the red sun at daybreak
10	Om Shankaraya Namaha	To the source of all prosperity
11	Om Shulapanaye Namaha	To the God who carries a spear
12	Om Khatvangine Namaha	To the God who carries a knurled club
13	Om Vishnuvallabhaya Namaha	To Shiva, who is dear to Lord Vishnu
14	Om Shipivishtaya Namaha	To the Lord whose form emits great rays of light
15	Om Ambikanathaya Namaha	To Ambika's Lord
16	Om Shrikantaya Namaha	To he whose throat is shining blue
17	Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namaha	To the Lord who loves His devotees like new born calves
18	Om Bhavaya Namaha	To the God who is existence itself
19	Om Sarvaya Namaha	To Shiva who is all
20	Om Trilokeshaya Namaha	To Shiva who is the Lord of all the three worlds
21	Om Shitakanthaya Namaha	To the primal soul whose throat is deep blue
22	Om Shivapriyaya Namaha	To the god who is dear to Shakti
23	Om Ugraya Namaha	To Shiva whose presence is awesome and overwhelming
24	Om Kapaline Namaha	To the God whose begging bowl is a human skull
25	Om Kamaraye Namaha	To Shiva who conquers all passions
26	Om Andhakasura Sudanaya Namaha	To the Lord who killed the asura Andhaka
27	Om Gangadharaya Namaha	To the God who holds the Ganges River in his hair
28	Om Lalatakshaya Namaha	To the Lord whose sport is creation
29	Om Kalakalaya Namaha	To Shiva who is the death of death
30	Om Kripanidhaye Namaha	To the God who is the treasure of compassion
31	Om Bhimaya Namaha	To Shiva whose strength is awesome
32	Om Parashu Hastaya Namaha	To the God who wields an axe in his hands
33	Om Mrigapanayae Namaha	To the Lord who looks after the soul in the wilderness
34	Om Jatadharaya Namaha	To Shiva who bears a mass of matted hair
35	Om Kailasavasine Namaha	To the God who abides on Mount Kailas
36	Om Kavachine Namaha	To the Lord who is wrapped in armor
37	Om Kathoraya Namaha	To Shiva who causes all growth
38	Om Tripurantakaya Namaha	To the Lord who destroyed the three demonic cities
39	Om Vrishankaya Namaha	To the God whose emblem is a bull (Nandi)
40	Om Vrishabharudhaya Namaha	To Shiva who rides a bull
41	Om Bhasmoddhulita Vigrahaya Namaha	To the Lord covered with holy ash
42	Om Samapriyaya Namaha	To the God exceedingly fond of hymns from the Sama Veda
43	Om Svaramayaya Namaha	To Shiva who creates through sound
44	Om Trayimurtaye Namaha	To the Lord who is worshiped in three forms
45	Om Anishvaraya Namaha	To the undisputed Lord
46	Om Sarvagyaya Namaha	To the God who knows all things
47	Om Paramatmane Namaha	To the Supreme Self
48	Om Somasuragni Lochanaya Namaha	To the light of the eyes of Soma, Surya and Agni
49	Om Havishe Namaha	To Shiva who receives oblations of ghee
50	Om Yagyamayaya Namaha	To the architect of all sacrificial rites
51	Om Somaya Namaha	To the Moon-glow of the mystic's vision
52	Om Panchavaktraya Namaha	To the God of the five activities
53	Om Sadashivaya Namaha	To the eternally auspicious benevolent Shiva
54	Om Vishveshvaraya Namaha	To the all-pervading ruler of the cosmos
55	Om Virabhadraya Namaha	To Shiva the foremost of heroes
56	Om Gananathaya Namaha	To the God of the Ganas
57	Om Prajapataye Namaha	To the Creator
58	Om Hiranyaretase Namaha	To the God who emanates golden souls
59	Om Durdharshaya Namaha	To the unconquerable being
60	Om Girishaya Namaha	To the monarch of the holy mountain Kailas
61	Om Girishaya Namaha	To the Lord of the Himalayas
62	Om Anaghaya Namaha	To Shiva who can inspire no fear
63	Om Bujangabhushanaya Namaha	To the Lord adorned with golden snakes
64	Om Bhargaya Namaha	To the foremost of rishis
65	Om Giridhanvane Namaha	To the God whose weapon is a mountain
66	Om Giripriyaya Namaha	To the Lord who is fond of mountains
67	Om Krittivasase Namaha	To the God who wears clothes of hide
68	Om Purarataye Namaha	To the Lord who is thoroughly at home in the wilderness
69	Om Bhagavate Namaha	To the Lord of prosperity
70	Om Pramathadhipaya Namaha	To the God who is served by goblins
71	Om Mritunjayaya Namaha	To the conqueror of death
72	Om Sukshmatanave Namaha	To the subtlest of the subtle
73	Om Jagadvyapine Namaha	To Shiva who fills the whole world
74	Om Jagadgurave Namaha	To the guru of all the worlds
75	Om Vyomakeshaya Namaha	To the God whose hair is the spreading sky above
76	Om Mahasenajanakaya Namaha	To the origin of Mahasena
77	Om Charuvikramaya Namaha	To Shiva, the guardian of wandering pilgrims
78	Om Rudraya Namaha	To the Lord who is fit to be praised
79	Om Bhutapataye Namaha	To the source of living creatures, including the Bhutas, or ghostly creatures
80	Om Sthanave Namaha	To the firm and immovable deity
81	Om Ahirbudhnyaya Namaha	To the Lord who waits for the sleeping kundalini
82	Om Digambaraya Namaha	To Shiva whose robes are the cosmos
83	Om Ashtamurtaye Namaha	To the Lord who has eight forms
84	Om Anekatmane Namaha	To the God who is the one soul
85	Om Satvikaya Namaha	To the Lord of boundless energy
86	Om Shuddha Vigrahaya Namaha	To him who is free of all doubt and dissension
87	Om Shashvataya Namaha	To Shiva, endless and eternal
88	Om Khandaparashave Namaha	To the God who cuts through the mind's despair
89	Om Ajaya Namaha	To the instigator of all that occurs
90	Om Papavimochakaya Namaha	To the Lord who releases all fetters
91	Om Mridaya Namaha	To the Lord who shows only mercy
92	Om Pashupataye Namaha	To the ruler of all evolving souls, the animals
93	Om Devaya Namaha	To the foremost of devas, demigods
94	Om Mahadevaya Namaha	To the greatest of the gods
95	Om Avyayaya Namaha	To the one never subject to change
96	Om Haraye Namaha	To Shiva who dissolves all bondage
97	Om Pashudantabhide Namaha	To the one who punished Pushan
98	Om Avyagraya Namaha	To the Lord who is steady and unwavering
99	Om Dakshadhvaraharaya Namaha	To the destroyer of Daksha's conceited sacrifice
100	Om Haraya Namaha	To the Lord who withdraws the cosmos
101	Om Bhaganetrabhide Namaha	To Shiva who taught Bhaga to see more clearly
102	Om Avyaktaya Namaha	To Shiva who is subtle and unseen
103	Om Sahasrakshaya Namaha	To the Lord of limitless forms
104	Om Sahasrapade Namaha	To the God who is standing and walking everywhere
105	Om Apavargapradaya Namaha	To the Lord who gives and takes all things
106	Om Anantaya Namaha	To the God who is unending
107	Om Tarakaya Namaha	To the great liberator of mankind
108	Om Parameshvaraya Namaha	To the great God

Making Your Devotion Powerful

      The key element for transmission  of energy (or Shakti) is silence. The devotee needs to access deep silence within their own meditation practice and carry their silence within themselves to access their own devotional power. Also, the transmission of Bhakti takes place within silence. In music it is the silence that reverberates between the sounds. In seva or selfless service it is in the welling up of the blissful feelings and the gratitude in the eyes of those who have received the seva. In dance it is the still places within the motion. In visual art it is the formless within the form. In theater it is the space between the words.

        It is the sacred works of art that endure and inspire and represent the best of what humans are capable of. In the creation and sharing of sacred art, there is a transmission of Divine energy. In this way, the devotees have imparted their most divine feelings to others and they have inspired the same devotion in others that they have cultivated in themselves. Stored within their art is the power of their devotion left for future generations.

  

      The skilled Bhakta (devotee) stirs and arouses their feelings in the activity of their devotion. Then in the stillness after the activity, they launch their devotion into the hearts of others. Whenever you can catch the deep silence within your own consciousness; in your own meditation, at the end of a song or in a moment of quietness in conversation - it is an ideal opportunity to send an impulse of devotion from your heart to another’s heart. 

[excerpted from Shiva Sai Mandir's Center for Yogic Studies Fall Vedic Studies class]

The tender words we said to one another

are stored in the secret heart of heaven,

One day like rain, they will fall and spread 

and our mystery will grow green over the world.

- Rumi