Shiva
True awakening of knowledge dispels total cosmic illusion and thus remains the most auspicious form of Divine, that Divine is called Shiva. Shiva means the topmost beneficent. This name is kept at priority among all names of God, because it clearly indicates His divine personality. Though all the names of God are highly auspicious but this name is best among all. Shiv-Rahasya शिव रहस्य tells something very interesting in this regard—
सर्वाणि शिवनामानि मोक्षदान्येव सर्वदा।
तेष्वप्युत्तमं नाम शिवेति ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्॥
शिवेतिनाम विमलं येनोच्चारितमादरात्।
तेन भूयो न संसारसागरः समवाप्यते॥
There is no doubt that all the names of Shiva bestow liberation, but this name “Shiva” specifically expounds the path of transcendental state i.e. self-realization. Who-so-ever chants this holy name, he never falls in the cycle of death. These two syllables of “Shiva” are the two holiest wings to achieve supreme goal. They are like two peripheries to keep this material ocean under control. These are like seed for the growth of spiritual knowledge. These are the secret agents to reveal the Vedic truths. Ultimately these are two grinding stones to crush the root of the material existence. It is worth to listen the saying of Acharya Bhaskar—
शिवेति द्वौ वर्णौ परपदपतद्धंसगुरुतौ तटौ संसाराब्धेः स्वविषयकबोधाङ्कुरदले।
श्रुतेरन्तर्गोपायिततररहस्यब्रुवचरौ घरट्टग्रावाणौ भवविटपिबीजौघदलने॥
All initiatives to achieve liberation are carried out with the help of these two syllables “Shi” शि and “Va” व. Therefore these are mentioned as two wings. Shiva is the cause of beginning and the end of this creation. Not knowing Shiva is the cause of worldly bondage, while knowing Shiva is the end of worldly affairs, so “Shi” and “Va” are taken as the two different edges of worldly ocean. When the seed of self knowledge sprouts, then everything in the world appears as a form of Shiva. Vedas hide the absolute truth within, but ‘Shi’ and ‘Va’ expose that absolute, so they are called as secret agents. The work of a secret agent is to expose the hidden secret. Moreover, these two syllables crush the ignorance along with unlimited heart-burning desires, so these are called as two upper and lower mill-stones of a grinding machine. Shiva name is uttered in the middle of Veda, so it is taken as the heart of Veda. Yajur Veda is in the middle of three Vedas called Rik, Yajuh and Sama, and Yajurveda contains Shat-Rudri शतरुद्री. Shat-Rudri has the section of ‘Namah Somaya-anuvak’ नमः सोमाय अनुवाक and there we find ‘Shivaya Namah’ शिवाय नमः . This is actually a mantra of five syllables called ‘Panchakshari Mantra’ पञ्चाक्षर मंत्र and there we find the holy name “Shiva”. Therefore this is the heart of all Vedas and this is known as ‘Tarak Mantra’ तारक मंत्र, the mantra of deliverance. Acharya Bhaskar defines this name as below—
प्रकृत्त्या नैर्मल्यादमलगुणयोगादपि शमा-
ज्जगत्याधारत्वाद्भजदमृतदानाच्च भवतः।
बलादिच्छाशक्तेः प्रथितपुरि भद्नश्रव इति
प्रतीतस्त्वंलिंगे त्रिपुरहर!तस्मादसि शिवः॥
You are Shiva by your name and nature, because you are free from all contaminations, you are embodiment of all goodness, you ever remain in utmost peace, you are the founder of cosmic creation, you bestow nectar upon your worshiper and you are the shelter of total will-power. If “Vashi” (the servant) is turned opposite, it becomes “Shiva” (the master).
