The meanings, significance of the eight names of the Lord Shiva has been narrated in this article.

1. The eight names of Lord Shiva---meaning and significance
(Revised, November,29th
, 2020)
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'.

2. 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

3. 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 /

4. 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

5. 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').

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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'.

9. 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.

10. 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)