Shloka 1
Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
सूत उवाच । श्रूयतामृषयः श्रेष्ठाः कथयामि यथा श्रुतम् । विष्णुना प्रार्थितो येन संतुष्टः परमेश्वरः । तदाहं कथयाम्यद्य पुण्यं नाम सहस्रकम्
sūta uvāca | śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ kathayāmi yathā śrutam | viṣṇunā prārthito yena saṃtuṣṭaḥ parameśvaraḥ | tadāhaṃ kathayāmyadya puṇyaṃ nāma sahasrakam
Sūta said: “Listen, O best of sages. I shall relate exactly as I have heard—by which sacred recitation, when prayed to by Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord Parameśvara Śiva became fully pleased. Therefore, today I will proclaim that meritorious thousandfold of Names.”
Suta Goswami (Sūta)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: General phala-śruti framing: Viṣṇu’s successful prayer to Parameśvara through the nāmasahasra; not tied to a specific jyotirliṅga locale.
Significance: Hearing the nāmasahasra is presented as puṇya-producing; by Śaiva Siddhānta logic, it disposes the paśu toward Śiva’s anugraha (prasāda) and loosening of pāśa (bondage).
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) and paramparā (received tradition) as authoritative, and introduces a sacred Sahasranāma whose recitation is said to delight Parameśvara Śiva—indicating that sincere bhakti expressed through divine names leads to Śiva’s grace.
A Sahasranāma is a Saguna mode of worship—approaching Śiva through His auspicious names, qualities, and lordship—commonly paired with Liṅga-pūjā as name-recitation (nāma-japa/arcana) that supports concentration and devotion.
Regular recitation/listening of the Shiva Sahasranāma with bhakti—ideally alongside Liṅga worship, offering bilva leaves, and japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a simple sādhana for purity and Śiva-anugraha (grace).