BHAVA

Shiva is known as Bhava because he is the prime substance behind everything, mat it be animate or inanimate. This world is nothing but your manifestation only, so you are named as Bhava. Shatrudra Samhita defines Bhava as water—

संजीवनं समस्तस्य जगतः सलिलात्मकम्।
भव इत्युच्यते रूपं भवस्य परमात्मनः॥

Water is the source of life on this planet. All creatures survive on water, and these five gross elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) are manifested from you, so you are called Bhava. Sadashiva is adored as an embodiment of water—Bhavaya Jalamoortaye Namah. Kalidas also offered prayers, which says that your eightfold deity is the subject of direct realization—

या सृष्टिः स्रष्टुराद्या वहति विधिहुतं या हविर्या च होत्री
ये द्वे कालं विधत्तः श्रुतिविषयगुणा या स्थिता व्याप्य विश्वम्।
यामाहुः सर्वबीजप्रकृतिरिति यया प्राणिनः प्राणवन्तः
प्रत्यक्षाभिः प्रपन्नस्तनुभिरवतु वः ताभिरष्टाभिरीशः॥

Entire creation exists within whom or from whom, that is called Bhava. Bhava is one who is the cause of all causes and honored by all. Bhaskar Roy defines the word ‘Bhava’ as under—

सत्तामात्रमधिष्ठानमुपादानमसि विश्वस्य।
सलिलस्याधिष्ठात्री मूर्तिस्तव तेन विश्रुतोऽसि भवः॥

Purport: You are ultimate existence, you are material cause and prime support of creation, you are the presiding deity of water element called Bhavamoorty, so you are named as Bhava. One should realize that nothing is separated from Lord Bhava. Practice of total negation is the true form of worship of Bhava.