About this reading
Explore sixteen names of Shiva and the traditional imagery of meditation, compassion, the Ganga and Mount Kailasa.
This is a name invocation collection. The explanations below are concise reading aids, rather than a complete word-by-word translation. Recitation traditions can differ.
Original text and meaning
1. शिवाय
ॐ शिवाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ śivāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva, the auspicious one.
2. महेश्वराय
ॐ महेश्वराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ maheśvarāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva as the great Lord.
3. शम्भवे
ॐ शम्भवे नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ śambhave namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva revered as Shambhu.
4. पिनाकिने
ॐ पिनाकिने नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ pinākine namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva who bears the Pinaka bow.
5. शशिशेखराय
ॐ शशिशेखराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ śaśiśekharāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva with the moon in his hair.
6. वामदेवाय
ॐ वामदेवाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ vāmadevāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva in the form called Vamadeva.
7. विरूपाक्षाय
ॐ विरूपाक्षाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ virūpākṣāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva of the distinctive eyes.
8. कपर्दिने
ॐ कपर्दिने नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ kapardine namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva with matted locks.
9. शङ्कराय
ॐ शङ्कराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ śaṅkarāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shankara, the auspicious benefactor.
10. शूलपाणये
ॐ शूलपाणये नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ śūlapāṇaye namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva holding the trident.
11. अम्बिकानाथाय
ॐ अम्बिकानाथाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ ambikānāthāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva, the consort of Ambika.
12. भक्तवत्सलाय
ॐ भक्तवत्सलाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ bhaktavatsalāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva who is affectionate toward devotees.
13. गङ्गाधराय
ॐ गङ्गाधराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ gaṅgādharāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva who bears the Ganga.
14. जटाधराय
ॐ जटाधराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ jaṭādharāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva who wears matted hair.
15. कैलासवासिने
ॐ कैलासवासिने नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ kailāsavāsine namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva who dwells on Kailasa.
16. सदाशिवाय
ॐ सदाशिवाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ sadāśivāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Sadashiva, the eternally auspicious.
Reading and repetition
- Read the text slowly and understand its meaning first. You may begin with one name or one prayer.
- Sit comfortably and repeat at a natural pace. Clear, attentive reading matters more than a count; no number is prescribed for every reader.
- Roman text is a reading aid. It does not encode Vedic pitch accents or replace instruction in your recitation tradition. Follow appropriate guidance for a formal ritual.
- The accompanying artwork is a symbolic devotional depiction. Use it to connect the name being read with its subject.
Text reference
Consult the Sanskrit text reference
The collection uses selected names and short traditional texts. The explanations and reading guidance above were written for this collection.
