LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
शिवा (53)
Shiva (53)
Meaning:
Devi, in this namah, is addressed as Lord Shiva, her consort. The word Shiva has various meanings such as auspicious, elegance, fortunate and so on. Some scholars affirm it to mean the pure one.
Interpretation:
Origin of the word Shiva is perhaps the Yajur Veda which contains the famous Sri Rudram and Chapter VIII of it contains the most sacred Panchakshara Mantra Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya. As can be seen aksharams 3 and 4 combine to give us the name Shiva.
[Special Note: With my profound interest - call it passion - towards both Saiva Siddhantham and Ancient Tamil Literature, I am working on a separate research to establish that the base / root of the word Shiva is the Tamil word Sivappu (சிவப்பு) meaning the Red colour. More about it later - SSM ]
यथा शिवः तथा शक्ति
यथा शक्ति तथा शिवः
Yatha Shiva Tatha Shakti
Yatha Shakti Tatha Shiva
From the above saying it can be clearly understood that wherever there is Shiva there is Shakti and vice versa.
There are three types of Shaktis – Ichcha Shakti, (desires), Gnana Shakti (knowledge) and Krriya Shakti (action). Since Lord Shiva is above all, above everything, (he is the Parabrahmam), he does not have any desires. Hence, it is Devi who represents the Ichcha Shakti form of the Lord.
Adi Shankara makes a slight grammatical correction and addresses Devi as Shivayai instead of Shiva. He maintains the basic concept that both are one and the same.
(Quote from Ardha Nareeswara Stotram by Adi Shankara - concluding verse)
शिवान्वितायै च शिवान्विताय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय ||
Shivan Vithaayai Cha Shivan Vithaya, Nama Shivayai Cha Namah Shivaya.
My Salutations to Devi (Shivayai) who is divinely merged with Lord Shiva and to Lord Shiva who is divinely merged with Devi (Shivayai).
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