The eight names of Lord Shiva---meaning and significance
The eight names of Lord Shiva---meaning and significance
The eight names of Shiva
(The Sanskrit words written in italics are the
itrans version of Devanagari words. These words are available in the Sanskrit
English Lexicon by Sir Monier Williams at
<http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/monier/>).
shiva----The word can be considered as from the root word shI which
means 'to sleep or lie
down'.
shiva means that state of Universal Consciousness where the energy
or praaNa or time is at rest.
shiva--- The word can be considered as a retroversion of the root
word 'vish'. vish means 'to enter', ' to go into'; i.e, Universal
Consciousness entering into everything or becoming everything.
So, 'shiva' means ' the Universal Consciousness in whom everything
can enter' or 'in whom everything can merge in Oneness, and where everything is
resting in Oneness'.
The eight names mentioned below express how shiva, our supreme soul
has expressed Himself in eight ways to create and control the Universe.
1. kShiti
om sarvaaya kShiti mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'sarva' which
is the form of shiva called 'kShiti'.
sarvaaya---is from the root word 'sarva' meaning 'everything'.
kShiti---means earth; kShiti is from the root
word 'kShi' or 'kha' meaning 'to wane' or 'to
decay'. So, the earth or 'kShiti' means anything which is governed by
the rule of time. It is the physicality and the consequent aging.
So, ‘sarvaaya kShiti mUrtayae shivaya namaH’, means we bow to shiva who materialized
himself as everything'.
The word kShiti is
also connected to the word akShi meaning
eye. Any visibility is a materialization or being in a dimensional frame. We
are more convinced when we see rather than when we hear. It is for this reason,
in Brihadaranyaka, it is said 'eye is the truth'. The word akShiti means
'imperishable'.
Eye or akShi is
also connected to the word akSha meaning
an 'axle' or 'axis' implying the rotational motion in space and time. The
divine eye is the 'sun' as perceived in our physical system from whom the
rotation of time and spatial rotations are created. Anything physical is
made of vision or light.
This light which we perceive is ultimately the light or revelation of
Consciousness. Thus the divine light or revealing Consciousness is self
-revealing who reveals Himself / Herself and everything.
The characteristic 'sarva' is founded in the universe as 'kShiti'.
2. jala
om bhavaaya jala mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'bhava' which
is the form of shiva called 'jala'.
bhavaaya---is from the root word 'bhava'. bhava is from the root
word bhU meaning ' to come to existence', 'to
become'.
jala means water. The word can be broken like this jala =
ja + la. 'ja' implies to 'jan' meaning to
'generate' and 'la' implies to 'laya' or
annihilation, dissolution, etc.
Thus jala means 'from whom every form is generated' and 'in
whom every form is dissolved'. This is the 'divine water' or 'ap' from
whom physicality is formed and in whom physicality dissolves. It is immediate
to the plane of physicality. It is for this reason, the idols in Hindu rituals
are made of clay and immersed in water.
It is the 'divine water
bag' for every embryo or everyone who is materialized.
The alphabet 'la' carries another meaning. It is the
alphabet for 'formation'. It is the alphabet that stands for 'materialization'.
In Sanskrit, the root of any verb is called dhaatu. dhaatu is
the root of a verb without any inflection or termination. There are ten forms
of 'la' s in Sanskrit which attribute inflections to a dhaatu or
to the root of a verb. The verbs are shaped by these 'la' s to
create different forms that represent tenses and moods. Thus 'la' is
the tool or power to activate 'verb' or to materialize. (The English word
'law' may have its root here.) They (la) are ten in numbers. Ten
is dasha in Sanskrit and the connected word dashaa means
'a state' or 'a specific materialization'.
The acquirements, satisfaction, and fulfillment of
being physical, being defined, and limited is established in this water.
When water or a liquid is placed in a container, it takes the shape of the
container. When liquid molten metal is placed in a mould or in a die, it
freezes or solidifies into that shape of the mould; so, is the capability of
the divinity to assume any shape. This is the divine water who is behind all
the formation or formed physicality. This is 'bhava'.
The characteristic 'bhava' is founded in the universe as 'jala'.
3. agni
om rudraaya agni mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'rudra' which
is the form of shiva called 'agni'.
'rudraaya' is from the root word 'rudra'. 'rudra' are those
personalities of the Universal Consciousness by whom this universe is
perceptible to us through the sensory organs (j~naanendriya) and
by whom we interact with the universe with the working organs (karmendriya).
There are five sensory organs, corresponding to the five senses (sound, touch,
vision, taste, smell).
There are corresponding five principal organs for actions (tongue, hand, feet/
legs, genitals, anus).
The relation between j~naanendriya (sensory organs) and karmendriya
(principal organs by which we work) is like this:
(i) sound---(a) ear, (b) tongue;
(ii) touch---(a) lips/skin, (b) hands;
(iii) vision---(a) eyes, (b) feet;
(iv) taste---(a) tongue, (b) genitals;
(v) smell--(a) nose, (b) anus.
{In many of our earlier publications in Slideshare and Scribd, we have
clarified how vision is related to feet/ legs or motion; that sun is the
external centre of vision (light) and motion (time) in the external space which
is our planetary system; that the seers have recited the motion/legs and eyes
of viShNu in many places in the Vedas.
Also the god Vishnu holds sudarshana chakra in
one of his hands. sudarshana
= su (nice / supreme) + darshana (vision); chakra= wheel or
rotation. Thus
from the vision of Consciousness, periodicity or motion is created. The sun is
said to be from the radiation of viShNu----viShNu
teja). Also, the eyes or the centre of vision in us play a
major role in setting the biological clock in us and this mechanism is also
related to the sun. Refer, https://www.encyclopedie-environnement.org/en/life/light-vision-biological-clocks
}
The Soul / Consciousness, the five sensory organs,
and five organs for actions make the number eleven. rudra s
are eleven in numbers (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad).
The word 'rudra' is
connected with the root word 'ru' meaning
'to rumble, to sound, to roar'. It is also connected to the word 'rud' meaning 'to
wail'. The radiance (heat /light) or expression (vision/rUpa), sound
(definition), and the acquirement (aqua/water)/ realization of the defined (naama) and
shaped (rUpa) universe are happening in the domain of rudra. The
eyes are the locations where all our feelings are illuminated and from
where the tear is shed for a gain or a loss. Revealing, radiant
Consciousness or teja leads
the rain or water (ap) or
satisfaction. Thirst leads to the satisfaction of drinking. Hunger leads to the
satisfaction of eating.
It is quoted in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, that rudra-s make the departing soul cry when the
soul leaves the body or mortality. This may be the tear out of fear or pain or
might be the tear out of joy.
rudra-s are regulating the
senses and the related activities/ functions that make our livings.
agni means 'fire or god of fire'. agni means praaNa or
active Consciousness who is burning and self manifesting. agni =
ag (agra --foremost) + ni (nI---to
lead)----who leads in front, who initiates and activates everything. agni is
the source of the senses and activities of the universe.
The characteristic 'rudra' is founded in the universe as 'agni'.
4. vaayu
om ugraaya vaayu mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'vaayu' which
is the form of shiva called 'ugra'.
vaayu means
'air'. It is from the root word 'vay' meaning
'to go'. Another word 'vaya' means
'to weave'. vaayu is
the personality of the Universal Consciousness who has connected the entire
universe by weaving the network of Consciousness and flowing in the
network. The Upanishad has addressed the Universal consciousness as a 'spider
spreading its net as well as taking it down'.
ugra means
'fierce' or 'who can immediately implement'. Here in vaayu, everything is
instantly connected and thus anything desired can instantly happen.
The alphabet 'u' implies
connectivity (union). Like the word 'yuj' means
'to join'. The alphabet 'u' is
positioned between the alphabets '
y ' and 'j' and
connecting them.
'ya' is a
semi-vowel and it refers to 'inner or internal activities, controlling inside,
etc.'.
'ja' is a
consonant, meaning 'birth, generation, revealing outside or external’. Thus the
word 'yuj' means who
is joining both inside and outside. 'u' is vaayu who is connecting
both the inner and outer world. This is the property of vaayu and is
characterized in us by 'in and out breathing'. The air flowing inside of us is
called 'aayu' or
'life span' or 'life'.
It is, for this reason, vaayu is
the god of yajur (joining) veda and the first hymn
of yajur veda addresses vaayu. It is for the
same reason the word ugra (which
is a quality of vaayu) starts
with the alphabet 'u' (connecting
alphabet).
The characteristic 'ugra' is founded in the universe as 'vaayu'.
5. aakaasha
om bhImaaya aakaasha mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'aakaasha' which
is the form of shiva called 'vIma'.
aakaasha means
the sky or the firmament.
aakaasha = aa (aatata--spread
everywhere)+ kaasha (shine,
visibility)----the base from where all the expressions emanate. Words are the
expressions of Consciousness and they emanate with radiation or
illumination. Thus there are two similar words 'rava' (sound) and 'ravi' (sun / light).
In this aakaasha,
in the sky which appears as void, all dimensions or expressions are killed and
annihilated and aakaasha
is also the origin of all expressions.
To us, it is void or inane and the majority of the expressions i.e. the stars,
galaxies, planets, etc. are appearing without life! It is huge, beyond measures
and it creates awe and fear. This is bhIma meaning
what is characterized by or draped (ma) with 'bhaya' meaning
'fear' (and implying 'void').
bhIma---bhIShaNa (formidable,
terrifying) + ma (mand--shining
/ intoxicated)----the
one who is formidable.
In this sense of 'void' and 'immenseness', we lose ourselves as we are in a
state of very limited consciousness. To the seers, this sky is
full of expressions, full of consciousness and the universe is a living entity.
Thus the seers have said:
Richo akShare parame vyoman
yasmin devah adhi vishvey niShedhuH
yastam na veda kim Richaa kariShyati
ya itatta viduH sta imey samasatey
The Rik- s (the radiating elemental words) are in the supreme
sky which is the part of the un-decaying Soul (akShara), the sky
where the deities of the universe are founded.
Those who are unaware of this, what they will do with the Rik-s (sacred words
of Vedas).
Who have known this, they find everything resolved here! (Shevtaashvatar
Upanishad).
The characteristic 'bhIma' is
founded in the universe as 'aakaasha'.
6. yajamaana
om pashupataye yajamaana mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'pashupati' which
is the form of shiva called 'yajamaana'.
pashupati----pashu (beast/animal) + pati (dominator,
ruler). So, pashupati means 'the one who is ruling or
dominating over the pashu or animals'.
pashu is connected to two words, (i) pash and
(ii) paasha. 'pash' means 'to see' and 'paasha' means
'leash or tether'.
pashu means
those who are controlled by 'surveillance' or by 'vision' and are controlled by
leash or in a specified 'orbit'. The Sun, (the divine eye as revealed in our
planetary system) who is looking at all of us, keeps the planets and us in
orbits; keeps us under 'control of time'.
We are the animals or cattle to the beings who belong to the self-revealing
plane or in the plane of divinity. We are controlled by the deities who are the
revealing and specialized formations of the Universal Consciousness. We are created
through the deities.
The controlling end is, or the plane of deities is 'ya'. The
other end, who is controlled, is 'ja'.
The word 'ja' is related to 'jaata' meaning
what is created or generated.
yajamaana means the personality of the Universal consciousness who
is known by both ya and ja or it means the
one whose measures are both ya and ja.
Both ya and ja, both the inside and the
outside are the maana or measures
/definitions of shiva or the Universal consciousness.
When we perceive the connection between both in and out, both ya and ja, we
transcend the compulsions, we also become deities free from all compulsions,
self-revealing, self-sufficient souls.
This aspect of surveillance and vision and control in orbits are represented by
the instruments called paasha and akShamaala held
in hands by many Hindu gods and goddesses.
The characteristic 'pashupati' is founded in the universe
as 'yajamaana'.
7. soma
om mahaadevaaya soma mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'mahaadevaa' which
is the form of shiva called 'soma'.
mahaadevaaya is from the root word 'mahaadeva'. mahaadeva= mahaa + deva.
mahaa is from the root word maha or mahat meaning
'magnanimous' or 'great'. The word 'maha' or 'mahat' also
implies the 'domain of heart or hRidaya', as the heart
is characterized by magnanimity or generosity. hRidaya or the heart is
also called mahad/ mahat loka or the region of abundance.
The heart is the plane that holds. Everything in Consciousness is held by
'heart' as everything in each of us is held by our heart or 'sense of
belonging'. The heart of the Universal Consciousness holds all the
deities or the divinity (and everyone) and the Universal
Consciousness who is so holding is called 'viShnu'. viShNu means praaNa
(uShmaa---warmth) who has penetrated (vish) in everything.
The deities or the revealing personalities of Universal Consciousness as a
whole belong to viShNu. Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad has said that
water is the body of the divine praaNa or viShNu and
the moon (soma) is his shine.
That the Universal Consciousness is embracing
everyone by the heart, constitutes the inner space or inner sky called antarIkSha
/ antarikSha.
This is the inner shine. All revelations are held in this praaNa; it
is praaNa expressing in praaNa. This
is moonshine and this is the elixir or soma,. This soma is
enjoyed by the deities. It is an unbound and unending flow of Consciousness
with no taint of limitation or mortality and it bears the shine of 'oneness,
innerness'. To us this soma, the flow of senses, though
intoxicating, is causing both joy and grief and is limited.
soma= saha (with) + om (om or praNava)----means
the sense or feeling that is joined with om (the un-decaying
fundamental word and the first expression of Consciousness) or praNava
(pra--perfectly + Nava---nava--new) who is ever new. There is no end
or termination of anything here--everything is felt, known, and regaled
here in unending bliss.
soma----sa (saha) + umaa. umaa is known as the shakti or
consort of shiva.
umaa---u (up or divinity) + maa (maatra or measure
or character). umaa means the goddess who bestows divinity in
everything. Thus when all our senses, our existence become associated
with divinity or what is beyond death then it is 'soma' or elixir
that we drink.
The characteristic 'mahaadeva' is founded in the universe
as 'soma'.
8. sUrya
om Ishaanaaya sUrya mUrtayae shivaaya namaH----We bow to 'Ishaana' which
is the form of shiva called 'sUrya'.
Ishaanaaya is from the root word Ishaana. Ishaana =
I (activity, energy)+ sha (shaya--lying, inactive) +
ana (praaNa, flowing or active Universal consciousness).
Ishaana---Who is lying or inactive and simultaneously controlling and
activating.
sUrya means the sun.
sUrya----- sU + Ri +ya
sU----beginning, start, origin
Ri-----Rik----the elements of the Consciousness as the source of all
'definitions and visions or shapes'.
ya---Control
sUrya----The centre of all expressions; the one from whom
all the definitions and forms (dimensions) are originating by the inherent
control.
In our system, in the physical sky, the sun is the centre of visibility and
time for all of us.
Ri also means motion. The expansion of Ri is 'ar
/ ara' which means 'spoke of a wheel' or the
representation that everything is originating from a centre.
Thus from the Universal soul or Siva at the centre, the universe is originating
and expanding, like the spokes spreading outward from the centre of a
wheel. shiva remains inactive, lying, and still is active and
activating the universe. Everything, every event is initiated from here;
everything is expressed, defined, and becomes perceptible. Everything has a name
(naama) and a form (rUpa). It is all by shiva
and shiva is the universe.
The characteristic 'Ishaana is founded in the universe
as 'sUrya'.
9. The number ‘Eight’
Eight is called aShTa in Sanskrit. The word aShTa
is from the root ash meaning ‘to reach’, ‘to pervade’. That the
Universal Soul has reached everyone, pervaded everyone, that the Universal soul
is there everywhere in the form of every entity of the universe is denoted by
the count ‘eight’ or aShTa.
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Written following the teaching of the great sage Shri.BijoyKrishna
Chattopadhyaya (1875-1945) and his principal disciple Shri.Tridibnath
Bandyopadhyaya (1923-1994).----(debkumar.lahiri@gmail.com)
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