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108 names of Shiva with meaning
The Shri Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali gives 108 names of Shiva, each an epithet that recalls a quality, a deed or a form. Every name below comes with its transliteration and a short meaning written for this site.
All 108 names of Shiva with meaning
Numbered in the order they are recited. The first column gives the name and the line it is offered with; the second, its transliteration.
| # | Name (Sanskrit) | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | शिव ॐ शिवाय नमः | Shiva Om Shivaya Namah | The auspicious one |
| 2 | महेश्वर ॐ महेश्वराय नमः | Maheshvara Om Maheshvaraya Namah | The great lord |
| 3 | शम्भु ॐ शम्भवे नमः | Shambhu Om Shambhave Namah | Source of happiness and well-being |
| 4 | पिनाकी ॐ पिनाकिने नमः | Pinaki Om Pinakine Namah | Bearer of the Pinaka bow |
| 5 | शशिशेखर ॐ शशिशेखराय नमः | Shashishekhara Om Shashishekharaya Namah | Who wears the moon on his crest |
| 6 | वामदेव ॐ वामदेवाय नमः | Vamadeva Om Vamadevaya Namah | The gracious, lovely god; one of his five faces |
| 7 | विरूपाक्ष ॐ विरूपाक्षाय नमः | Virupaksha Om Virupakshaya Namah | Whose eyes are uncommon, being three |
| 8 | कपर्दी ॐ कपर्दिने नमः | Kapardi Om Kapardine Namah | Wearer of coiled matted hair |
| 9 | नीललोहित ॐ नीललोहिताय नमः | Nilalohita Om Nilalohitaya Namah | Blue-throated and red in hue |
| 10 | शङ्कर ॐ शङ्कराय नमः | Shankara Om Shankaraya Namah | Maker of welfare |
| 11 | शूलपाणि ॐ शूलपाणये नमः | Shulapani Om Shulapanaye Namah | Holding the trident in hand |
| 12 | खट्वाङ्गी ॐ खट्वाङ्गिने नमः | Khatvangi Om Khatvangine Namah | Bearer of the khatvanga, the skull-topped staff |
| 13 | विष्णुवल्लभ ॐ विष्णुवल्लभाय नमः | Vishnuvallabha Om Vishnuvallabhaya Namah | Dear to Vishnu |
| 14 | शिपिविष्ट ॐ शिपिविष्टाय नमः | Shipivishta Om Shipivishtaya Namah | Pervaded by rays of light |
| 15 | अम्बिकानाथ ॐ अम्बिकानाथाय नमः | Ambikanatha Om Ambikanathaya Namah | Lord of Ambika (Parvati) |
| 16 | श्रीकण्ठ ॐ श्रीकण्ठाय नमः | Shrikantha Om Shrikanthaya Namah | Whose throat is glorious, marked by the poison |
| 17 | भक्तवत्सल ॐ भक्तवत्सलाय नमः | Bhaktavatsala Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namah | Tender and loving towards devotees |
| 18 | भव ॐ भवाय नमः | Bhava Om Bhavaya Namah | Existence itself, the source of all being |
| 19 | शर्व ॐ शर्वाय नमः | Sharva Om Sharvaya Namah | Who destroys all at the end of time |
| 20 | त्रिलोकेश ॐ त्रिलोकेशाय नमः | Trilokesha Om Trilokeshaya Namah | Lord of the three worlds |
| 21 | शितिकण्ठ ॐ शितिकण्ठाय नमः | Shitikantha Om Shitikanthaya Namah | Whose throat is dark blue |
| 22 | शिवाप्रिय ॐ शिवाप्रियाय नमः | Shivapriya Om Shivapriyaya Namah | Beloved of the goddess Shivaa (Parvati) |
| 23 | उग्र ॐ उग्राय नमः | Ugra Om Ugraya Namah | The fierce, formidable one |
| 24 | कपाली ॐ कपालिने नमः | Kapali Om Kapaline Namah | Who carries a skull |
| 25 | कामारि ॐ कामारये नमः | Kamari Om Kamaraye Namah | Enemy of Kama, the god of desire |
| 26 | अन्धकासुरसूदन ॐ अन्धकासुरसूदनाय नमः | Andhakasurasudana Om Andhakasurasudanaya Namah | Slayer of the demon Andhaka |
| 27 | गङ्गाधर ॐ गङ्गाधराय नमः | Gangadhara Om Gangadharaya Namah | Bearer of the Ganga in his hair |
| 28 | ललाटाक्ष ॐ ललाटाक्षाय नमः | Lalataksha Om Lalatakshaya Namah | With an eye on the forehead |
| 29 | कालकाल ॐ कालकालाय नमः | Kalakala Om Kalakalaya Namah | Death even to Death |
| 30 | कृपानिधि ॐ कृपानिधये नमः | Kripanidhi Om Kripanidhaye Namah | Treasure-house of compassion |
| 31 | भीम ॐ भीमाय नमः | Bhima Om Bhimaya Namah | The awe-inspiring one |
| 32 | परशुहस्त ॐ परशुहस्ताय नमः | Parashuhasta Om Parashuhastaya Namah | Holding an axe in hand |
| 33 | मृगपाणि ॐ मृगपाणये नमः | Mrigapani Om Mrigapanaye Namah | Holding a deer in his hand |
| 34 | जटाधर ॐ जटाधराय नमः | Jatadhara Om Jatadharaya Namah | Wearer of matted locks |
| 35 | कैलासवासी ॐ कैलासवासिने नमः | Kailasavasi Om Kailasavasine Namah | Dweller on Mount Kailasa |
| 36 | कवची ॐ कवचिने नमः | Kavachi Om Kavachine Namah | Clad in armour |
| 37 | कठोर ॐ कठोराय नमः | Kathora Om Kathoraya Namah | Stern and unyielding |
| 38 | त्रिपुरान्तक ॐ त्रिपुरान्तकाय नमः | Tripurantaka Om Tripurantakaya Namah | Destroyer of Tripura, the three demon cities |
| 39 | वृषाङ्क ॐ वृषाङ्काय नमः | Vrishanka Om Vrishankaya Namah | Whose emblem is the bull |
| 40 | वृषभारूढ ॐ वृषभारूढाय नमः | Vrishabharudha Om Vrishabharudhaya Namah | Riding on the bull |
| 41 | भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रह ॐ भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाय नमः | Bhasmoddhulitavigraha Om Bhasmoddhulitavigrahaya Namah | Whose body is smeared with sacred ash |
| 42 | सामप्रिय ॐ सामप्रियाय नमः | Samapriya Om Samapriyaya Namah | Fond of the Sama Veda chants |
| 43 | स्वरमय ॐ स्वरमयाय नमः | Svaramaya Om Svaramayaya Namah | Made of sacred sound and musical notes |
| 44 | त्रयीमूर्ति ॐ त्रयीमूर्तये नमः | Trayimurti Om Trayimurtaye Namah | Embodiment of the three Vedas |
| 45 | अनीश्वर ॐ अनीश्वराय नमः | Anishvara Om Anishvaraya Namah | Who has no lord above him |
| 46 | सर्वज्ञ ॐ सर्वज्ञाय नमः | Sarvajna Om Sarvajnaya Namah | The all-knowing one |
| 47 | परमात्मा ॐ परमात्मने नमः | Paramatma Om Paramatmane Namah | The Supreme Self |
| 48 | सोमसूर्याग्निलोचन ॐ सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनाय नमः | Somasuryagnilochana Om Somasuryagnilochanaya Namah | Whose three eyes are moon, sun and fire |
| 49 | हविः ॐ हविषे नमः | Havih Om Havishe Namah | The sacrificial offering itself |
| 50 | यज्ञमय ॐ यज्ञमयाय नमः | Yajnamaya Om Yajnamayaya Namah | Embodiment of sacrifice |
| 51 | सोम ॐ सोमाय नमः | Soma Om Somaya Namah | Soma; also read as 'together with Uma' |
| 52 | पञ्चवक्त्र ॐ पञ्चवक्त्राय नमः | Panchavaktra Om Panchavaktraya Namah | The five-faced one |
| 53 | सदाशिव ॐ सदाशिवाय नमः | Sadashiva Om Sadashivaya Namah | Who is ever auspicious |
| 54 | विश्वेश्वर ॐ विश्वेश्वराय नमः | Vishveshvara Om Vishveshvaraya Namah | Lord of the universe |
| 55 | वीरभद्र ॐ वीरभद्राय नमः | Virabhadra Om Virabhadraya Namah | Heroic and auspicious; Virabhadra |
| 56 | गणनाथ ॐ गणनाथाय नमः | Gananatha Om Gananathaya Namah | Lord of the ganas, his attendant hosts |
| 57 | प्रजापति ॐ प्रजापतये नमः | Prajapati Om Prajapataye Namah | Lord of all creatures |
| 58 | हिरण्यरेताः ॐ हिरण्यरेतसे नमः | Hiranyaretah Om Hiranyaretase Namah | Whose seed is golden |
| 59 | दुर्धर्ष ॐ दुर्धर्षाय नमः | Durdharsha Om Durdharshaya Namah | Invincible, hard to assail |
| 60 | गिरीश ॐ गिरीशाय नमः | Girisha Om Girishaya Namah | Lord of the mountains |
| 61 | गिरिश ॐ गिरिशाय नमः | Girisha Om Girishaya Namah | Who dwells on the mountain |
| 62 | अनघ ॐ अनघाय नमः | Anagha Om Anaghaya Namah | Sinless and pure |
| 63 | भुजङ्गभूषण ॐ भुजङ्गभूषणाय नमः | Bhujangabhushana Om Bhujangabhushanaya Namah | Adorned with serpents |
| 64 | भर्ग ॐ भर्गाय नमः | Bharga Om Bhargaya Namah | Radiant splendour that burns away sin |
| 65 | गिरिधन्वा ॐ गिरिधन्वने नमः | Giridhanva Om Giridhanvane Namah | Whose bow is a mountain (Meru) |
| 66 | गिरिप्रिय ॐ गिरिप्रियाय नमः | Giripriya Om Giripriyaya Namah | Fond of the mountains |
| 67 | कृत्तिवासाः ॐ कृत्तिवाससे नमः | Krittivasah Om Krittivasase Namah | Clad in an animal hide |
| 68 | पुराराति ॐ पुरारातये नमः | Purarati Om Purarataye Namah | Foe of the three cities (Tripura) |
| 69 | भगवान् ॐ भगवते नमः | Bhagavan Om Bhagavate Namah | The glorious lord |
| 70 | प्रमथाधिप ॐ प्रमथाधिपाय नमः | Pramathadhipa Om Pramathadhipaya Namah | Lord of the pramathas, his attendants |
| 71 | मृत्युञ्जय ॐ मृत्युञ्जयाय नमः | Mrityunjaya Om Mrityunjayaya Namah | Conqueror of death |
| 72 | सूक्ष्मतनु ॐ सूक्ष्मतनवे नमः | Sukshmatanu Om Sukshmatanave Namah | Of subtle form |
| 73 | जगद्व्यापी ॐ जगद्व्यापिने नमः | Jagadvyapi Om Jagadvyapine Namah | Pervading the whole world |
| 74 | जगद्गुरु ॐ जगद्गुरवे नमः | Jagadguru Om Jagadgurave Namah | Teacher of the world |
| 75 | व्योमकेश ॐ व्योमकेशाय नमः | Vyomakesha Om Vyomakeshaya Namah | Whose hair is the sky |
| 76 | महासेनजनक ॐ महासेनजनकाय नमः | Mahasenajanaka Om Mahasenajanakaya Namah | Father of Mahasena (Kartikeya) |
| 77 | चारुविक्रम ॐ चारुविक्रमाय नमः | Charuvikrama Om Charuvikramaya Namah | Of graceful valour |
| 78 | रुद्र ॐ रुद्राय नमः | Rudra Om Rudraya Namah | Rudra, the fierce one who drives away sorrow |
| 79 | भूतपति ॐ भूतपतये नमः | Bhutapati Om Bhutapataye Namah | Lord of all beings and spirits |
| 80 | स्थाणु ॐ स्थाणवे नमः | Sthanu Om Sthanave Namah | Firm and motionless as a pillar |
| 81 | अहिर्बुध्न्य ॐ अहिर्बुध्न्याय नमः | Ahirbudhnya Om Ahirbudhnyaya Namah | Ahirbudhnya, the serpent of the depths |
| 82 | दिगम्बर ॐ दिगम्बराय नमः | Digambara Om Digambaraya Namah | Clothed only by the directions |
| 83 | अष्टमूर्ति ॐ अष्टमूर्तये नमः | Ashtamurti Om Ashtamurtaye Namah | Who has eight forms |
| 84 | अनेकात्मा ॐ अनेकात्मने नमः | Anekatma Om Anekatmane Namah | Who exists as many selves |
| 85 | सात्त्विक ॐ सात्त्विकाय नमः | Sattvika Om Sattvikaya Namah | Of pure, sattvic nature |
| 86 | शुद्धविग्रह ॐ शुद्धविग्रहाय नमः | Shuddhavigraha Om Shuddhavigrahaya Namah | Whose form is pure |
| 87 | शाश्वत ॐ शाश्वताय नमः | Shashvata Om Shashvataya Namah | The eternal one |
| 88 | खण्डपरशु ॐ खण्डपरशवे नमः | Khandaparashu Om Khandaparashave Namah | Bearer of the cleaving axe |
| 89 | अज ॐ अजाय नमः | Aja Om Ajaya Namah | The unborn one |
| 90 | पाशविमोचक ॐ पाशविमोचकाय नमः | Pashavimochaka Om Pashavimochakaya Namah | Who frees souls from their bonds |
| 91 | मृड ॐ मृडाय नमः | Mrida Om Mridaya Namah | The gracious one who gives joy |
| 92 | पशुपति ॐ पशुपतये नमः | Pashupati Om Pashupataye Namah | Lord of all bound beings |
| 93 | देव ॐ देवाय नमः | Deva Om Devaya Namah | The shining, divine one |
| 94 | महादेव ॐ महादेवाय नमः | Mahadeva Om Mahadevaya Namah | The great god |
| 95 | अव्यय ॐ अव्ययाय नमः | Avyaya Om Avyayaya Namah | The imperishable one |
| 96 | हरि ॐ हरये नमः | Hari Om Haraye Namah | Who takes away sins |
| 97 | पूषदन्तभित् ॐ पूषदन्तभिदे नमः | Pushadantabhit Om Pushadantabhide Namah | Who broke the teeth of Pushan |
| 98 | अव्यग्र ॐ अव्यग्राय नमः | Avyagra Om Avyagraya Namah | Ever calm, never agitated |
| 99 | दक्षाध्वरहर ॐ दक्षाध्वरहराय नमः | Dakshadhvarahara Om Dakshadhvaraharaya Namah | Destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice |
| 100 | हर ॐ हराय नमः | Hara Om Haraya Namah | The remover, who takes all back |
| 101 | भगनेत्रभित् ॐ भगनेत्रभिदे नमः | Bhaganetrabhit Om Bhaganetrabhide Namah | Who destroyed the eyes of Bhaga |
| 102 | अव्यक्त ॐ अव्यक्ताय नमः | Avyakta Om Avyaktaya Namah | The unmanifest one |
| 103 | सहस्राक्ष ॐ सहस्राक्षाय नमः | Sahasraksha Om Sahasrakshaya Namah | Who has a thousand eyes |
| 104 | सहस्रपात् ॐ सहस्रपदे नमः | Sahasrapat Om Sahasrapade Namah | Who has a thousand feet |
| 105 | अपवर्गप्रद ॐ अपवर्गप्रदाय नमः | Apavargaprada Om Apavargapradaya Namah | Giver of final liberation |
| 106 | अनन्त ॐ अनन्ताय नमः | Ananta Om Anantaya Namah | The endless one |
| 107 | तारक ॐ तारकाय नमः | Taraka Om Tarakaya Namah | Who carries beings across the sea of rebirth |
| 108 | परमेश्वर ॐ परमेश्वराय नमः | Parameshvara Om Parameshvaraya Namah | The supreme lord |
How the 108 names of Shiva are recited
- Sit before an image of Shiva, or simply face east, after a bath if you can.
- Say each line in turn — Om, the name, namah — and if you are doing an archana, offer a flower, a leaf or a few grains of rice with each name.
- Keep an even pace. A name said with attention is the point of the practice; speed is not.
- Close with a moment of silence, and with aarti if it is part of your worship.
Source of this list of Shiva's 108 names
श्रीशिवाष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः — Collated from the Shivashtottarashatanama Stotram, which sanskritdocuments.org places in the Shiva Rahasya (part 7, chapter 13, verses 203-215) as spoken by Vishnu (Narayana) to Parvati; a commentary by Nilakantha Dikshita says it is 'said to be from' the Skanda Purana, which the editors mark as unverified.
The Sanskrit is traditional and in the public domain. We compared two independently published editions name by name and settled every difference against a third; the editions are listed below. The meanings are written for this site.
- sanskritdocuments.org — श्रीशिवाष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः १
- vignanam.org — शिव अष्टोत्तर शत नामावलि
Where editions differ, this page follows the reading most sources give; the other reading is noted:
- 20. त्रिलोकेशाय — also read as त्रिलोकीशाय
- 25. कामारये — also read as कौमारये
- 90. पाशविमोचकाय — also read as पाशविमोचनाय
- 96. हरये — also read as प्रभवे
A short meaning cannot hold everything an epithet carries; where a name has several senses, the commonest is given.
108 names of Shiva: common questions
What is the Shri Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali?
A traditional list of 108 names of Shiva. In worship each is offered as 'Om … namah' — 'Om, salutation to …' — often with a flower or a few grains of rice for each name.
How often are the 108 names of Shiva recited?
There is no fixed rule. Many recite them every morning in daily worship; others keep them for the deity's weekly day or festival.
What are the first and last of the 108 names of Shiva?
The list opens with Shiva and closes with Parameshvara.