Śiva Sahasranāma (Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā)

This is the Śiva Sahasranāma of the Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa: a hymn of one thousand names of Bhagavān Śiva. It is part of that Saṃhitā’s teaching of the greatness of Śiva (Śiva-māhātmya), which shows his nature through his names.

It is a separate text from the Śiva Sahasranāma in the Anuśāsana Parva of the Mahābhārata and from the versions in the Liṅga Purāṇa and elsewhere.

The setting

The Śiva Sahasranāma comes in the Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā’s teaching of the supremacy of Bhagavān Śiva and of the practice of worshipping him. Like every sahasranāma (hymn of a thousand names), it states in one thousand names the whole nature of the deva, and it is also a text for worship and recitation.

The kinds of names

The thousand names show Śiva’s many sides, from the cosmic (Brahmā, Vishṇu, Rudra), to the devotional (Śambhu, Śaṅkara, Mahādeva), the fierce (Bhairava, Mahākāla, Kāla), the gracious (Śiva, Śivakara, Śānta), and the all-seeing (Viśvatomukha, Sarvadarśī, Mahāśvara).

Cosmic names

These names show Śiva as the forces and principles of creation.

  • Names that join Śiva with Brahmā (the creator), Vishṇu (the sustainer) and Rudra (the destroyer).
  • Names that join him with fire (Agni), wind (Vāyu), water (Jala), earth (Pṛthivī) and ether (Ākāśa).
  • Names of Śiva as the source of all the tattvas.

Names of auspiciousness

These names show the gracious and protecting side.

  • Śiva, the auspicious one.
  • Śambhu, the source of happiness.
  • Śaṅkara, the giver of auspiciousness.
  • Śivakara, the one who makes auspicious.
  • Śānta, the peaceful.

Names of the fearsome side

These names show the destroyer, the master of death and time.

  • Bhairava, the terrifying.
  • Mahākāla, the Great Time.
  • Kāla, Time or Death.
  • Ugra, the fierce.
  • Mahābhairava.

Names from his form and his deeds

  • Trisūladhārī, the bearer of the trident.
  • Jaṭādhari, the bearer of matted locks.
  • Candraśekhara, the one crowned with the moon.
  • Gaṅgādhara, the bearer of the Gaṅgā.
  • Pañcānana, the five-faced.

Names of the highest, formless being

  • Nirguṇa, beyond the three guṇas.
  • Nirākāra, without form.
  • Paramātman, the supreme Self.
  • Brahman, the absolute.

Use in worship

The Śiva Sahasranāma is recited in daily and special pūjā. The Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā also teaches the worship of the pārthiva liṅga (a liṅga made of earth). The Sahasranāma goes with that act. While the hands make the pārthiva liṅga and offer worship, the mouth recites the thousand names.

Sources

  • Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā