108 Names of Shiva: The Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Mahadeva
The 108 names of Lord Shiva — known as the Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali — are chanted in temples and homes across India during daily worship, abhisheka rituals, and especially on Mondays and Mahashivratri. Each name is a concentrated description of Shiva’s infinite nature, qualities, and cosmic functions.
In Hindu devotional practice, the recitation of a deity’s 108 names (ashtottara shatanamavali) is considered one of the most powerful forms of worship. The number 108 is itself sacred: it is the product of 12 zodiacal houses and 9 planets in Vedic astrology; it corresponds to the 108 Upanishads; it equals the number of marmas (vital energy points) in the human body according to Ayurveda; and it is the ratio of the Sun’s distance from Earth to the Sun’s diameter. For Shiva specifically, 108 names barely scratch the surface — the Shiva Sahasranama lists a thousand names, and tradition holds that Shiva’s names are truly infinite, as infinite as his nature.
Understanding Shiva Through His Names
Shiva is simultaneously the most ascetic and the most intimate of the great Hindu deities. His names reflect this paradox: he is the destroyer (Hara) and the giver of joy (Shambhu); the one who is impossible to approach (Durvasa in character) and the one who is moved by the simplest devotion (Ashutosh — one pleased easily). Studying his names is not merely linguistic exercise but a form of meditation on cosmic reality. The names cluster around several themes:
| Theme | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Greatness | Mahadeva, Maheshvara, Parameshvara | The greatest of gods, the supreme lord |
| The Destroyer | Hara, Rudra, Kala, Mahakala | One who removes; fierce; time itself |
| The Auspicious | Shiva, Shambhu, Shankara, Mangalaya | Auspiciousness, joy, giver of bliss |
| The Ascetic | Tapasvi, Yogishvara, Munindra, Digambara | One clothed in sky, lord of yogis |
| The Blue-Throated | Neelakantha, Vishakantha, Krittivasas | Who swallowed poison; wears elephant hide |
| Three Eyes | Tryambaka, Trilochana, Mahanethra | The three-eyed, seeing all three times |
| The River Bearer | Gangadhara, Jatadhari, Umapati | Bearer of Ganga, consort of Uma/Parvati |
| Lord of Kailash | Kailashanatha, Girishaya, Shailendra | Dweller on mountain, lord of Kailash |
The 108 Names: Complete List with Meanings
The following are the authentic 108 names as compiled in the Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali, with Sanskrit transliteration and meaning:
1. Om Shivaya Namah — Shiva: The auspicious one, the pure, the eternal
2. Om Maheshvaraya Namah — Maheshvara: The supreme lord of all
3. Om Shambhave Namah — Shambhu: One who gives happiness to all beings
4. Om Pinakine Namah — Pinaki: Wielder of the Pinaka bow (used to destroy Tripura)
5. Om Shashishekharaya Namah — Shashishekhara: One who wears the crescent moon on his head
6. Om Vamadevaya Namah — Vamadeva: The beautiful god; one of Shiva’s five faces
7. Om Virupakshaya Namah — Virupaksha: One with unusual or auspicious eyes (the third eye)
8. Om Kapardine Namah — Kapardi: One with matted, tufted hair (jata)
9. Om Nilalohitaya Namah — Nilalohita: Blue-throated and red-bodied; who drank halahala poison
10. Om Shankaraya Namah — Shankara: Giver of prosperity and bliss to all
11. Om Shulapanaye Namah — Shulapani: Bearer of the trident (trishula)
12. Om Khatvangine Namah — Khatvanga: Bearer of the skull staff (khatvanga)
13. Om Vishnuvallabhaya Namah — Vishnuvallabha: Beloved friend of Vishnu
14. Om Shipivishtaya Namah — Shipivishta: One who entered all beings as the inner self
15. Om Ambikanathaya Namah — Ambikanatha: Lord of Ambika (Parvati)
16. Om Shrikanthaya Namah — Shrikantha: One with a beautiful throat (or blue throat of poison)
17. Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namah — Bhaktavatsala: One who is tender toward devotees
18. Om Bhavaya Namah — Bhava: Existence itself; the ground of all being
19. Om Sharvaya Namah — Sharva: The archer; destroyer of evil
20. Om Trilokeshaya Namah — Trilokesh: Lord of the three worlds (earth, sky, underworld)
21. Om Shitikanthaya Namah — Shitikantha: The white or pale-throated one (blue-white throat)
22. Om Shivapriyaya Namah — Shivapriya: Dear to the auspicious; beloved of Shakti
23. Om Ugraya Namah — Ugra: The ferocious, the terrible, the powerful
24. Om Kapoline Namah — Kapoli: Beautiful-cheeked, with beautiful temples
25. Om Kamaraye Namah — Kamari: Enemy and destroyer of Kama (god of desire)
26. Om Andhakasurasudanaya Namah — Andhakasura destroyer: One who killed the demon Andhaka
27. Om Gangadharaya Namah — Gangadhara: Bearer of the sacred Ganga in his matted hair
28. Om Lalatakshaya Namah — Lalataksha: One whose forehead is an eye (the third eye)
29. Om Kalachaya Namah — Kalaksha: One with eye of time; witness of all temporal events
30. Om Krupanidhanaya Namah — Krupanidhana: Treasure-house of compassion
31. Om Bhimaya Namah — Bhima: The terrible, the fierce, the awe-inspiring
32. Om Parashuhataya Namah — Parashuhata: One who wields the axe
33. Om Mrugapanaye Namah — Mrugapani: One who holds a deer in hand (symbol of the wandering mind tamed)
34. Om Jatadharaya Namah — Jatadhari: Bearer of matted hair (jata), symbol of asceticism
35. Om Kailashavasine Namah — Kailashavasi: Resident of Mount Kailash
36. Om Kavachine Namah — Kavachi: One protected by divine armour
37. Om Kathoraya Namah — Kathora: The firm, unyielding, hard as diamond
38. Om Tripurantakaya Namah — Tripurantaka: Destroyer of the three flying cities of the Asuras
39. Om Vrishankaya Namah — Vrishanka: One whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)
40. Om Vrishabharudhaya Namah — Vrishabharudha: One who rides the bull Nandi
41. Om Bhasmodhulitavigrahaya Namah — Bhasmodhulitavigraha: One whose form is smeared with sacred ash (bhasma)
42. Om Samapriyaya Namah — Samapriya: Fond of Samaveda music and melodies
43. Om Svaramayaya Namah — Svaramaya: One made of pure sound/music
44. Om Trayimurtaye Namah — Trayimurti: One who embodies the three Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur)
45. Om Anishvaraya Namah — Anishvara: Who has no lord above him; the self-existent
46. Om Sarvagyaya Namah — Sarvagya: Omniscient; knower of all things
47. Om Paramatmane Namah — Paramatma: The supreme self; universal consciousness
48. Om Somasuryagnilochanaya Namah — Somasuryagnilochan: One whose three eyes are Moon, Sun, and Fire
49. Om Havishaya Namah — Havisha: Recipient of all sacrificial oblations
50. Om Yagnabhoktre Namah — Yagnabhoktri: The enjoyer of all yagnas (sacrifices)
51. Om Somaya Namah — Soma: The Moon god; the nectar; the immortal
52. Om Panchavaktraya Namah — Panchavaktra: Five-faced — Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha, Ishana
53. Om Sadashivaya Namah — Sadashiva: The eternally auspicious; the transcendent Shiva beyond all manifestation
54. Om Vishveshvaraya Namah — Vishveshvara: Lord of the universe (the name at Kashi)
55. Om Virabhadraya Namah — Virabhadra: The heroic auspicious one (fierce warrior form)
56. Om Gananathaya Namah — Gananatha: Lord of the Ganas (Shiva’s attendants and followers)
57. Om Prajapataye Namah — Prajapati: Lord of all beings and progenitors
58. Om Hiranyaretase Namah — Hiranyaretas: One of golden seed (cosmic generative principle)
59. Om Durdharshaya Namah — Durdharsha: Unconquerable; one impossible to vanquish
60. Om Girishaya Namah — Girisha: Lord of the mountains; master of Kailash
61. Om Girishaya Namah (Girirajai) — Giriraj: King of mountains
62. Om Anaghaya Namah — Anagha: Sinless; without blemish; pure
63. Om Bhujangas Bhujanabhushana — Bhujangabhushana: Adorned with serpents (Naga Bhushana)
64. Om Bhargaya Namah — Bharga: Effulgent; radiant; destroyer of sins
65. Om Giridhanvane Namah — Giridhanvan: Whose bow is the mountain Meru
66. Om Giripriyaya Namah — Giripriya: Lover of mountains; fond of mountain retreats
67. Om Krittivasase Namah — Krittivasas: One clothed in elephant hide or tiger skin
68. Om Purarataye Namah — Purarati: Enemy of the three cities (Tripurantaka again)
69. Om Bhagavate Namah — Bhagavat: The divine one; possessor of all excellences
70. Om Pramathadhipaya Namah — Pramathadhipa: Lord of the Pramatha ganas
71. Om Mrityunjayaya Namah — Mrityunjaya: Conqueror of death; one who overcomes Kala
72. Om Sukshmaya Namah — Sukshma: The subtle; one beyond all gross perception
73. Om Jagadvyapine Namah — Jagadvyapi: Pervader of the entire universe
74. Om Jagadgurave Namah — Jagadguru: Teacher of the entire world
75. Om Vyomakeshaya Namah — Vyomakesha: One whose hair is the sky/cosmos
76. Om Mahasenajanakaya Namah — Mahasenajanaka: Father of Mahasena (Kartikeya/Skanda)
77. Om Charuvikramaya Namah — Charuvikrama: One of beautiful valor
78. Om Rudraya Namah — Rudra: The roarer; fierce form; one who causes tears
79. Om Bhutatmane Namah — Bhutatma: Soul of all beings; inner self of all existence
80. Om Bhutabhavanaya Namah — Bhutabhavana: Creator and nourisher of all beings
81. Om Kshetrajnaya Namah — Kshetrajna: Knower of all fields (bodies) and souls
82. Om Kshetrapaya Namah — Kshetrapa: Protector of all fields of existence
83. Om Kshetraya Namah — Kshetra: The field itself; the body of the universe
84. Om Sarvabhutaharaya Namah — Sarvabhutahara: Remover of all sorrows from beings
85. Om Pranaya Namah — Prana: The life force itself; cosmic breath
86. Om Pranayamana — Pranada: Giver of the life-force; source of prana
87. Om Vasave Namah — Vasu: Excellent; one who dwells in all beings
88. Om Vaivasvata Manave — One connected to the solar lineage
89. Om Sthanu Namah — Sthanu: The pillar; immovable; the column of light (Lingam)
90. Om Niyamine Namah — Niyami: The regulator; controller of all cosmic law
91. Om Niyamashritaya Namah — One who supports all regulation and dharma
92. Om Sarvakarmanibandhane Namah — One who binds all actions to their fruits
93. Om Chandaya Namah — Chanda: The fierce, impetuous, passionate
94. Om Satyadharmane Namah — Satyadharma: One of truth and dharma
95. Om Anantaya Namah — Ananta: The infinite; without end or boundary
96. Om Tarkshyaya Namah — Tarkshya: Swift as Garuda (cosmic speed)
97. Om Suvigyeyaya Namah — Suvigyeya: Easily known through devotion and discrimination
98. Om Susharnathaya Namah — Master of the golden peak
99. Om Brahmachariye Namah — Brahmachari: The eternal celibate ascetic
100. Om Vedabhya Namah — Vedabhya: One from whom all Vedas emerge
101. Om Akshobhyaya Namah — Akshobhya: Unshakeable; not disturbed by anything
102. Om Hari Namah — Hari: One who removes (sin and suffering); related to Vishnu also
103. Om Brahmadhipaya Namah — Brahmadhipa: Lord above Brahma; ultimate authority
104. Om Ishvaraya Namah — Ishvara: The supreme controller; personal God
105. Om Sarvadevamayaya Namah — Sarvadevamaya: Made of all the gods; containing all deities
106. Om Achintya Namah — Achintya: Inconceivable; beyond all thought
107. Om Sahasrakshaya Namah — Sahasraksha: Thousand-eyed; omniscient perceiver
108. Om Mahadevaya Namah — Mahadeva: The greatest god; Lord of all lords
How to Chant the Ashtottara Shatanamavali
The 108 names are traditionally chanted as part of the archana (floral offering) ritual. A flower or bilva leaf is offered to the Shivalinga with each name. During festivals, sacred substances like milk, honey, ghee, yogurt, and sugarcane juice (collectively called Panchamrit) are poured over the lingam with each name — this is the abhisheka ritual. The complete recitation takes about 10-15 minutes and is considered equivalent in merit to a full Shiva Puja lasting several hours.
“One who recites the thousand names of Shiva at dawn gains health, wealth, and liberation. One who recites even the 108 names with devotion is freed from all sins.” — Shiva Purana
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are exactly 108 names recited in Hindu worship?
108 is considered a sacred number in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions for multiple reasons. Astronomically, the distance from Earth to the Sun is approximately 108 times the Sun’s diameter, and the distance from Earth to the Moon is approximately 108 times the Moon’s diameter. In Vedic astrology, there are 12 zodiacal signs and 9 planets — 12 × 9 = 108. The human body has 108 marmas (vital energy points). There are 108 Upanishads and 108 names in most Puranic deity compilations. Malas (prayer beads) traditionally contain 108 beads for this reason.
What is the difference between the Ashtottara Shatanamavali and the Sahasranama?
The Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names) is the shorter, more commonly used form for daily worship and archana. The Shiva Sahasranama (1000 names) appears in the Mahabharata’s Anushasana Parva and the Shiva Purana and is used for more elaborate puja occasions. The Sahasranama provides greater detail and depth about Shiva’s nature, while the 108-name version is more accessible for daily practice.
Each of Shiva’s names is a mantra in itself. Choosing one name — whether Mrityunjaya, Shambhu, Mahadeva, or Neelakantha — and meditating on its meaning is itself a complete spiritual practice. The names are not just identifiers but concentrated capsules of divine qualities that expand in consciousness through sustained repetition (japa).
Chanting the 108 Names: A Complete Practice Guide
The 108 names of Shiva are traditionally chanted as part of Rudrabhisheka — the sacred ritual bath of the Shivalinga. Each name is offered alongside a Bilva leaf, a flower, or a drop of water. The complete ritual, performed by a trained priest, can take two to three hours; a simplified home practice of chanting the names alone takes approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes. The ritual is most powerful on Mondays (Shiva’s day), on Pradosha (the 13th lunar day), and on Mahashivratri.
Many of the 108 names carry direct philosophical instruction. “Niranjana” (unstained) teaches non-attachment; “Anantadrishti” (infinite vision) teaches omniscience; “Gambhira” (unfathomable depth) teaches that Shiva’s nature cannot be exhausted by intellectual analysis. “Dakshinamurti” — Shiva as the Guru who teaches in silence — is perhaps the most philosophically rich name, representing the paradox that ultimate wisdom transcends language. The Dakshinamurti Stotra composed by Adi Shankaracharya elaborates this name into a complete philosophical treatise on consciousness.
Regional Variations in Shiva’s Names
Beyond the standard 108 names, Shiva carries thousands of regional epithets reflecting his worship across the subcontinent. In Tamil Nadu, the Nayanmars composed thousands of verses in Tamil addressing Shiva by hundreds of regional names — Tillai Nataraja (Lord of Chidambaram), Kailasanathan (Lord of Kailash), Thillai Ambalam (one who dances in the Chidambaram hall). In Kerala, Shiva is often called Guruvayurappan in contexts where he merges with Vishnu. In Kashmir, the Shaivite tradition addresses him as Paramashiva, the transcendent absolute consciousness. This linguistic diversity of Shiva’s names reflects the god’s unique ability to be simultaneously universal — the Absolute — and intensely local, the deity of a specific village, mountain, or river bend.
