Shloka 4

He is everything and exists everywhere. The quality of the nirguṇa Brahman is being explained here. He is omnipresent and He is inconceivable. All that exists everywhere is nothing but His images. Everything is created by Him, sustained by His power and dissolved unto Him. This nāma affirms that this Sahasranāma teaches advaita philosophy. Advaita...Read More

NAME 26

Śarvaḥ शर्वः

He is the One who destroys the universe at the time of annihilation, known as pralaya. There are four types of dissolution and they are eternal or nitya, natural or prākṛta, occasional or naimittika and ultimate or ātyantika. The first three are caused by the cessation of the past work and the fourth one happens...Read More

NAME 27

Śivaḥ शिवः

He is benevolent, auspicious and gracious. MāṇḍūkyaUpaniṣad (7) says, prapañcopaśamaṁśāntaṁśivamadvaitaṁcaturth aṁmanyantesaātmāsavijñeyaḥ प्रपञ्चोपशमंशान्तंशिवमद्वैतंचतुर्थंमन्यन्तेसआत्मासविज्ञेयः ‘The embodiment of peace, the sum total of all that is good (śivam), one without a second, the fourth state of turya. Think this turya to be the Self, and this Self has to be realised.’ This nāma subtly conveys the essence of...Read More

NAME 28

Sthāṇuḥ स्थाणुः

Sthāṇu means steady. In the present context it means the One without modification. The Brahman is without out modifications. The previous nāma said that He is the Brahman and this nāma says that He is the one without modifications, referring to nirguṇa Brahman or the Brahman without attributes. Only the Brahman without attributes is pure...Read More

NAME 29

Bhūtādiḥ भूतादिः

He is the cause of entire creation. This is the quality of the Brahman. His origin is unknown. That is why the Brahman is called ādi (beginningless) and anādi (without parentage, created on Its own). Kṛṣṇa says (Bhagavad Gita X.8), “I am the source of all creation and everything in the world moves because of...Read More

NAME 30

Nidhiravyayaḥ निधिरव्ययः

Nidhi means treasure and avyaya means imperishable. He is the imperishable treasure. This nāma does not mean the material wealth and the Brahman has no connection to material wealth. At the time of annihilation or the deluge, all the beings get absorbed into the Brahman till the next creation is made. All the beings take...Read More

NAME 31

Saṁbhavaḥ संभवः

He incarnates to destroy the evil forces that act as deterrent factors to uphold dharma. His incarnations happen only out His free will. Free will of the Brahman is different from the free will of human. Free will of the Brahman is His own power of autonomy that nobody else possesses. The entire universe is...Read More

NAME 32

Bhāvanaḥ भावनः

He administers the universe through the ‘law of karma’. One’s enjoyment or sufferings is only due to his own thoughts and actions. The Brahman does not cause a person to act as He remains only as a witness. Actions unfold only due to individual karmas accumulated over several births. Brahma Sūtra (III.ii.38) says, “phalamatupapatteḥ” which...Read More

NAME 33

He is the supporter of the universe. Kṛṣṇa says (Bhagavad Gita IX.18), “I am the supreme goal, the supporter, the Lord…” ŚvetāśvataraUpaniṣad (VI.6) uses the term, “viśvadhāma” to describe His support to the universe. Without His support, there can be neither creation nor any activity. The universe revolves around Him. Kṛṣṇa says (Bhagavad Gita IX.18)...Read More

NAME 34

Prabhavaḥ प्रभवः

Prabhava means excellence, the Supreme Creator. He is the source of the great elements like, ether, air, fire, water and earth. TaittirīyaUpaniṣad (II.1) says, “from the Self came space; from space, air; from air, fire’ from air, fire; from fire, water; from water, earth….” The universe evolves from Him in stages. This also endorses the...Read More

NAME 35

Prabhuḥ प्रभुः

Prabhu means capable, mighty, powerful etc. This nāma reaffirms His supremacy conveyed through the previous nāma. It is necessary for a ruler to be not merely excellent, but also should have the capabilities to effectively administer his kingdom. These two nāma-s say that the Brahman has both these qualities. ३५. ॐ प्रभवे नमः। 35. Om...Read More

NAME 36

Īśvaraḥ ईश्वरः

Īśvara means the master. This nāma says that Viṣṇu is the master of the universe. As per Sāṃkhya philosophy, Īśvara is the stage of attainment of knowledge. There is difference between the Brahman and Īśvara. Brahman is incomprehensible. Brahman is realised only through His power of projection known as Īśvara. It is only Īśvara, who...Read More