Verse 1:
Om Shivaya Namah
Om Maheshwaraya Namah
Om Shambhave Namah
Om Pinakine Namah
Om Shashishekharaya Namah
Om Vamadevaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Is Forever Pure,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Lord Of Gods,
I Bow to The One Who Bestows All Prosperity,
I Bow to The One Who Holds A Bow In His Hand,
I Bow to The One Whose Hair Is Adorned With The Crescent Moon,
I Bow to The One Who Is Auspicious and Benevolent.
Verse 2:
|| Om Virupakshaya Namah
Om Kapardine Namah
Om Nilalohitaya Namah
Om Shankaraya Namah
Om Shulapanaye Namah
Om Khatvangine Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One With Slanting Eyes,
I Bow to The One Who Wears Thick Matted Hair,
I Bow to The One Visualized In Red And Blue,
I Bow to The One Who Bestows Happiness,
I Bow to The One Who Holds A Sacred Trident As A Weapon,
I Bow to The One Who Bears A Knurled Club.
Verse 3:
|| Om Vishnuvallabhaya Namah
Om Shipivishtaya Namah
Om Ambikanathaya Namah
Om Shrikanthaya Namah
Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namah
Om Bhavaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Is Close To Lord Vishnu,
I Bow to The One Who Radiates Light,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Consort of Ambika,
I Bow to The One Whose Neck Is Divine,
I Bow to The One Who Protects His Devotees,
I Bow to The One Who Is Existence.
Verse 4:
|| Om Sharvaya Namah
Om Trilokeshaya Namah
Om Shitikanthaya Namah
Om Shiva Priyaya Namah
Om Ugraya Namah
Om Kapaline Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Alleviates All Troubles,
I Bow to The One Who Is Worshipped By All The Three Worlds,
I Bow to The One Whose Neck Is White,
I Bow to The One Who Is Loved By Parvati,
I Bow to The One Who Is Fiercest,
I Bow to The One Who Wears A Garland Of Skulls.
Verse 5:
|| Om Kamaraye Namah
Om Andhakasurasudanaya Namah
Om Gangadharaya Namah
Om Lalatakshaya Namah
Om Kalakalaya Namah
Om Kripanidhaye Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Is The Enemy of Kamadeva,
I Bow to The One Who Killed The Demon Andhaka,
I Bow to The One Whose Hair Holds The Ganges,
I Bow to The One Whose Forehead Bears A Third Eye,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Death Of Death,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Epitome Of Compassion.
Verse 6:
|| Om Bhimaya Namah
Om Parashuhastaya Namah
Om Mrigapanaye Namah
Om Jatadharaya Namah
Om Kailashavasine Namah
Om Kawachine Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Whose Form Is Terrifying,
I Bow to The One Who Bears An Axe In His Hand,
I Bow to The One Who Holds A Deer In His Hands,
I Bow to The One With Dreadlocks In His Hair,
I Bow to The One Who Dwells In Kailasha,
I Bow to The One Who Wears Divine Armor.
Verse 7:
|| Om Kathoraya Namah
Om Tripurantakaya Namah
Om Vrishankaya Namah
Om Vrishabharudhaya Namah
Om Bhasmodhulitavigrahaya Namah
Om Samapriyaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Has A Powerful Body,
I Bow to The One Who Destroyed Tripurasura,
I Bow to The One Whose Flag Bears The Symbol Of the Bull,
I Bow to The One Whose Vehicle Is The Powerful Bull,
I Bow to The One Whose Body Is Smeared With Ash,
I Bow to The One Who Loves Without Prejudice.
Verse 8:
|| Om Swaramayaya Namah
Om Trayimurtaye Namah
Om Anishwaraya Namah
Om Sarvajnaya Namah
Om Paramatmane Namah
Om Somasuryagnilochanaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Resides In Sound,
I Bow to The One Who Embodies the Trimurti,
I Bow to The One Who Has No Master,
I Bow to The One Who Is All-Knowing,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Greatest Self,
I Bow to The One Whose Three Eyes Are The Sun, The Moon And Fire.
Verse 9:
|| Om Havishe Namah
Om Yajnamayaya Namah
Om Somaya Namah
Om Panchavaktraya Namah
Om Sadashivaya Namah
Om Vishveshwaraya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Is Endowed With Divine Wealth,
I Bow to The One Who Designs All Sacrificial Rites,
I Bow to The One Who Embodies Uma,
I Bow to The One Who Is The God Of The Five Acts,
I Bow to The One Who Is Eternally Auspicious,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Lord Of The Universe.
Verse 10:
|| Om Virabhadraya Namah
Om Gananathaya Namah
Om Prajapataye Namah
Om Hiranyaretase Namah
Om Durdharshaya Namah
Om Girishaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Is Fierce, Yet Peaceful,
I Bow to The One Who Reigns Over The Ganas,
I Bow to The One Who Is Worshipped By All His Empire,
I Bow to The One Who Radiates Pure Souls,
I Bow to The One who Cannot Be Defeated,
I Bow to The One Who Is Worshipped By Mountains.
Verse 11:
|| Om Girishaya Namah
Om Anaghaya Namah
Om Bujangabhushanaya Namah
Om Bhargaya Namah
Om Giridhanvane Namah
Om Giripriyaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Sleeps On Mountain Kailasha,
I Bow to The One Who Is Untouched By Impurity,
I Bow to The One Who Is Bejewelled With Golden Snakes,
I Bow to The One Who Brings An End To All Evil,
I Bow to The One Whose Great Weapon Is A Mountain,
I Bow to The One Who Is Pleased By Mountains.
Verse 12:
|| Om Krittivasase Namah
Om Purarataye Namah
Om Bhagawate Namah
Om Pramathadhipaya Namah
Om Mrityunjayaya Namah
Om Sukshmatanave Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Is Clothed In Elephant Skin,
I Bow to The One Who Destroyed the Town of Pura,
I Bow to The One Who Blesses With Prosperity,
I Bow to The One Who Is Served By Goblins,
I Bow to The One Who Defeats Death,
I Bow to The One Who Has An Agile Body.
Verse 13:
|| Om Jagadvyapine Namah
Om Jagadguruve Namah
Om Vyomakeshaya Namah
Om Mahasenajanakaya Namah
Om Charuvikramaya Namah
Om Rudraya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Resides Forever In The World,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Guru Of All Worlds,
I Bow to The One Whose Hair Spreads Across The Entire Sky,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Father Of Kartikeya,
I Bow to The One Who Guards Pious Pilgrims,
I Bow to The One Who Destroys The Pain of His Followers.
Verse 14:
|| Om Bhutapataye Namah
Om Sthanave Namah
Om Ahirbudhnyaya Namah
Om Digambaraya Namah
Om Ashtamurtaye Namah
Om Anekatmane Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Presides Over The Panchabhoota,
I Bow to The One Who Is Forever Immovable,
I Bow to The One Who Holds Kundalini Energy,
I Bow to The One Who Is Robed In The Entire Cosmos,
I Bow to The One Who With Eight Divine Forms,
I Bow to The One Who Has Countless Spirits.
Verse 15:
|| Om Satvikaya Namah
Om Shuddhavigrahaya Namah
Om Shashvataya Namah
Om Khandaparashave Namah
Om Ajaya Namah
Om Pashavimochakaya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Embodies Infinite Energy,
I Bow to The One Who Is Of Purest Soul,
I Bow to The One Who Is Without End,
I Bow to The One Who Holds A Broken Axe,
I Bow to The One Who Is Boundless,
I Bow to The One Who Sheds Away All Fetters.
Verse 16:
|| Om Mridaya Namah
Om Pashupataye Namah
Om Devaya Namah
Om Mahadevaya Namah
Om Avyayaya Namah
Om Haraye Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Gives Boundless Mercy,
I Bow to The One Who Protects Animals,
I Bow to The One Who Is the God of Gods,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Highest Divine Soul,
I Bow to The One Who Is Beyond All Change,
I Bow to The One Who Is Lord Vishnu Himself.
Verse 17:
|| Om Bhaganetrabhide Namah
Om Avyaktaya Namah
Om Dakshadhwaraharaya Namah
Om Haraya Namah
Om Pushadantabhide Namah
Om Avyagraya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Damaged The Eye of Bhaga,
I Bow to The One Who Is Unseen,
I Bow to The One Who Destroyed Daksha’s Sacrifice (Yagya),
I Bow to The One Who Liberates From All Shackles and Sins,
I Bow to The One Who Punished Pushana,
I Bow to The One Who Is Unshakeable and Immovable.
Verse 18:
|| Om Sahasrakshaya Namah
Om Sahasrapade Namah
Om Apavargapradaya Namah
Om Anantaya Namah
Om Tarakaya Namah
Om Parameshwaraya Namah ||
Meaning:
I Bow to The One Who Has Countless Forms,
I Bow to The One Who Is Omnipresent and Moves Everywhere,
I Bow to The One Who Bestows and Takes Away All Things,
I Bow to The One Who Is Eternal,
I Bow to The One Who Bestows Salvation,
I Bow to The One Who Is The Supreme Soul.
1. Introduction to the 108 Names of Shiva
The 108 Names of Lord Shiva are a sacred litany describing Shiva’s cosmic functions, metaphysical nature, symbolic forms, and compassionate role in the universe. Chanting these names is a central practice in Shaiva devotion, Vedic ritual, Tantra, and yogic sādhanā.
Each name represents a specific vibration, a cosmic principle, and a psychological or spiritual state. Together, the 108 names function as a map of consciousness, guiding the devotee from gross reality to ultimate liberation (mokṣa).
2. Historical Background
Vedic Origins
- Shiva originates in the Ṛg Veda as Rudra, the fierce yet healing deity.
- Rudra later evolves into Śiva (the Auspicious One) in the Upaniṣads, especially the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad.
Purāṇic Development
- The Śiva Purāṇa, Liṅga Purāṇa, Skanda Purāṇa, and Vāyu Purāṇa systematically present Shiva’s names and attributes.
- The 108-name format became standardized during the Gupta period (4th–6th century CE).
Tantric and Yogic Integration
- Shaiva Tantras regard the 108 names as mantra-śakti clusters, each unlocking specific energy centers (chakras).
- In Kashmir Shaivism, Shiva’s names are expressions of Cit (Pure Consciousness).
3. Significance of the Number 108
The number 108 is sacred because:
- 12 zodiac signs × 9 planets = 108
- Distance between Earth and Sun ≈ 108 × Sun’s diameter
- 108 Upaniṣads
- 108 beads in a mālā
Thus, chanting 108 names symbolizes cosmic completeness.
4. Etymology of “Śiva”
Śiva comes from the Sanskrit root śī — to remain auspicious.
Meanings include:
- Auspicious
- Benevolent
- That which is eternally pure
- Supreme Consciousness
Paradoxically, Shiva embodies both destruction and compassion, teaching transcendence beyond duality.