Shankar is named as Shivaapriya because he is very dear to Goddess Shivaa, who is personification of Brahmavidya (Science of self realization). None can claim to be the knower of Brahman (Absolute Truth) without favor of Brahmavidya viz. Shivaa. Shankar is greatly devoted to Uma, still Uma exceeds in her wholehearted love towards Shankar. She never delays in performing severe austerities and penances in order to attain Shankar. She is resolute even in most difficult tests and finally Lord Shiva has to appear with the words of admiration that—“I am wholly sold to your devotion and dedication. I have become your slave and in your separation I feel a single moment equal to an era. O Darling! Please proceed now towards Kailash mountain.” But apart from devotion, Shivaa is cautious about social customs. Folks should not blame that Shankar made her his wife by abduction. So social and family consent is necessary and Shankar also agrees about it happily. Though Shivaa is eternal consort of Shankar, still exposition of ethics is highly regarded as an exemplary code of conduct.

Another definition is that Goddess Shivaa is dearest wife of whom, that Shankar is Shivaapriya. He holds his blessing potency just to grace his devotees, because Uma is mercy and compassion personified.

In spiritual science Uma is the efficient cause of cosmic creation. Efficient cause creates the world for the sake of God’s pleasure. Therefore Lord Umeshwar is Shivaapriya.

It can be concluded that if Ambikanath and Shrikantha represent the governing power of the Lord, then Shitikanth and Shivaapriya extol his blessing powers. It is comprehended by omissions and exceptions also. Shivaa is non-different to scientific powers. Bhaskar Ray is describing this scientific form of Shivaa as under—

मतिर्धृतिः कृतिर्बलं शरीरमिन्द्रियं मनः।
समस्तमेव ते शिवा भवानतः शिवाप्रियः॥

Purport: Your intelligence, patience, efforts, prowess, body, senses, mind etc. are identical with Shiva, so you are Shivapriya. Here body is master, mind is nature, intelligent is majesty, action is ego, five sensory tools are strength, senses are organs and patience is gross material element. All these are none other than the illusory potency viz. Shivaa. You are known as Shivaapriya due to your affection for all these factors.

All the personal attributes of the Lord are actually Shivaa itself. Desire is inferred by intelligence and similarly support by patience, efforts by manifestation, controlling power by prowess, illusion by body, prime sponsor of finance by senses, prime authority of knowledge by mind, should be inferred.

Considering ascending order stronger than descending order, it can be interpreted like this— Purusha (master) is one who identifies with body, so it is reckoned as body here. Nature is the material cause of mind, so it is reckoned as mind here. Being the transformation of nature, intelligence is majestic here. Being the cause of intelligence, the action is ego. Five sensory tools are called strength as they have capacity to create the visible world. Senses are titled by word ‘Swa’ that means the self. Gross material elements sustain entire cosmic manifestation, therefore they are called by the word ‘dhriti’ i.e. patience. All these are nothing else but Maya (illusion) only. The enjoyer of all these elements is also Maya, because Principal’s illusiveness is certified by sheer exposure of dependents. This is the true form of worship of Shivaapriya.