What Is the Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali?
The Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a litany of the 108 names (ashta + uttara + shata = 108) of Lord Shiva. Each name (namavali) is chanted with the prefix Om and the suffix Namah, for example Om Shivaya Namah.
Shiva is the boundless one - destroyer of evil, the great ascetic of Kailash, the loving Bholenath, and the cosmic dancer Nataraja. No single name can hold him, so the tradition offers 108, each a window into one of his qualities. Reciting the full namavali is a complete act of worship that touches every aspect of the Lord.
A Selection of Key Names with Meaning
Below is a representative selection from the full 108; each is traditionally chanted as Om ... Namah.
- शिव (Shiva) - the auspicious one
- महादेव (Mahadeva) - the great god of gods
- शंभु (Shambhu) - source of joy and well-being
- शंकर (Shankara) - giver of bliss and peace
- रुद्र (Rudra) - the fierce remover of suffering
- नीलकण्ठ (Neelkanth) - the blue-throated one who drank the poison
- त्र्यम्बक (Tryambaka) - the three-eyed lord
- गंगाधर (Gangadhara) - bearer of the Ganga in his locks
- चन्द्रशेखर (Chandrashekhara) - crowned with the crescent moon
- पशुपति (Pashupati) - lord of all living beings
- विश्वनाथ (Vishwanatha) - lord of the universe
- नटराज (Nataraja) - the king of cosmic dance
- भोलेनाथ (Bholenath) - the innocent, easily-pleased lord
- दिगम्बर (Digambara) - clothed in the directions, free of all
- गिरीश (Girisha) - lord of the mountains
- उमापति (Umapati) - consort of Uma (Parvati)
- त्रिपुरारी (Tripurari) - destroyer of the three demon cities
- औघड़ (Aughar) - the unconventional, carefree ascetic
- कपाली (Kapali) - bearer of the skull, beyond death
- महेश्वर (Maheshwara) - the supreme lord
- सोमनाथ (Somanatha) - lord of the moon and nectar
- हर (Hara) - the one who takes away sins and sorrow
This is a selection from the traditional 108; reciting the complete Ashtottara Shatanamavali covers all the names.
Significance of the 108 Names
The number 108 is sacred across Sanatan tradition - it appears in the 108 beads of a mala, and is linked to the cosmos in many ways. Chanting 108 names of Shiva is a complete journey through his many forms.
Each name is also a teaching. Neelkanth reminds us that the great hold poison in their throat to protect the world. Bholenath shows that the supreme is also the most loving and forgiving. Nataraja reveals creation and dissolution as a single dance. To recite the namavali is to meditate on the whole truth of Shiva, from his fierce destruction of evil to his boundless compassion for devotees.
Benefits & How to Chant
Benefits:
- Peace of mind and freedom from fear
- Removal of obstacles, sins and negativity
- Strength, courage and steadiness in hardship
- Deepening devotion and a calm, focused heart
- The grace of the easily-pleased Bholenath
How to chant: 1. Best days: Monday (Somvar), Pradosh, Shivratri and the whole month of Sawan (Shravan) are most auspicious. 2. Setup: Sit before a Shivling or Shiva image, light a ghee lamp and offer bilva (bel) leaves, water and white flowers. 3. Recite the full Ashtottara Shatanamavali, chanting each name as Om ... Namah, ideally with a rudraksha mala. 4. If short of time, chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' 108 times and read a selection of the names. 5. Abhishek: Offer water or panchamrit to the Shivling while reciting, then conclude with Shiva aarti.
A quiet, devoted recitation pleases Bholenath far more than an elaborate but distracted one.
Quick Answers
How many names are in the Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali?+
There are 108 names. 'Ashtottara Shatanamavali' means the litany of one hundred and eight (ashta + uttara + shata = 108) names, each chanted as 'Om ... Namah', such as Om Shivaya Namah.
What do names like Neelkanth and Nataraja mean?+
Neelkanth means 'the blue-throated one', after Shiva drank the cosmic poison to save the world. Nataraja means 'king of dance', the form in which Shiva performs the cosmic dance of creation and dissolution.
When is the best time to chant Shiva's 108 names?+
Monday (Somvar), Pradosh, Maha Shivratri and the whole month of Sawan are most auspicious. Reciting before a Shivling with a ghee lamp and bilva leaves, ideally with a rudraksha mala, is the traditional way.
Can I chant just a few names instead of all 108?+
Yes. While reciting the full namavali is ideal, chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya' 108 times and reflecting on a few names like Mahadeva, Shankara and Bholenath is also a sincere and accepted form of worship.
About the author
Acharya Vinaya Kapoor · M.A. Sanskrit, Mantra & Stotra Studies
Acharya Vinaya holds an M.A. in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and writes the mantra and stotra commentary on Vandnaa. Her focus is on accurate pronunciation, traditional context, and helping modern readers connect with classical texts.
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