The Names Of Shiva

In this book I will explain the meaning of 108 names of Shiva which is given in shiva-rahasya-khanda of Skanda purāna. The hymn is initiated by lord Nārāyana to Mother Gauri. (Pārvati)

There are many hymns in purānas, āgamas and Tantras listing the names of lord Shiva. This particular hymn is considered one of the most important hymns of Shiva. We can find authentic commentaries on this hymn by many great scholars of Purāna, and mantra shāstra.

There are two important works found explaining the meaning of this hymn in detail. One is Shiva Tatva Rahasya of Neelakantha Deekshita – a profound Shaivate scholar, a great Vaidika and a great Agama and mantra shāstras scholar which is an elaborate commentary of the hymn and the other work is Shivanāmakalpalata of Bhaskara Raaya – A profound Shākta and a great scholar of, puranas, Agamas and mantrashāstras.

The work Shivanāmakalpalata is in the form of a poetic hymn rather than a commentary. The hymn shows us the meaning of each name of Shiva ashtottara shatanāma stotra through each Shloka.
We can also find explanations of the names of Lord Shiva in various texts, like in Mahabharata, in commentaries of Shree Rudra Prashna and commentaries of Vedas, in āgamas and purānas.

This book is an effort of explaining the meaning of the names based on all these sources in simple English.