Sivasahasranama Stotra Ratnam

Language: Sanskrit Text With Transliteration and English TranslationPages: 290Back of The BookIn the Mahabharata (considered as the fifth Veda), Lord Krsna, acceding to the request of Grandsire Bhisma, narrates to Yudhisthira the 1008 names of Lord Siva, which He had received from the great Sage Upamanyu in the form of spiritual instruction long ago. This divine hymn bestows material success and spiritual unfoldment upon every sincere seeker who chants these names.The Translation and explanation of each name given by Vidvan Sesachala Sharma will add the much needed clarity of thought, which when coupled with purity of mind and nobility of purpose, will liberate the seeker, who chants these names with devotion, from all bondages of delusion and sorrow. PrefaceAn ancient verse goes as follows:Vidyasu srutir-utkrsta rudraikadasini srutautatra pancaksari tasyam siva ityaksara-dvayam'Among all disciplines of knowledge, the Vedas are valued the most. Among the Veda mantras, the Rudra- Namaka having eleven sections is the best. Among the mantras of this Namaka, the string of five letters ina-mah- si-va-ya) is pre-eminent. There again, the pair of syllables si-va are the most precious.' We have the line namali sivaya ca sioataraua ca in Sri Rudra-Namaka. The five-syllabled mantra picked up from there is thus said by the Veda.In the Vedas are found, in Sri Rudra-Namaka, a large number of glories of Siva described and so are 'salutations to Siva' and 'synonyms of Siva's holy name'. We do not find such large numbers in the case of other God-forms such as Visnu in the body of the Vedas. To the question, 'Chanting what is the way to liberation?' Sri Yajfiavalkya replies in the Jabala-Upanisad, 'These indeed,