Sahasranama position 214 of the 1,000 names

Jiviteshvaraya

जीवितेश्वराय

Jīviteśvarāya

What Jiviteshvaraya means

Jiviteshvaraya is name 214 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is the supreme lord and master of all life.

Also spelled

  • Jiviteshvara
  • Jivitesvaraya
  • Jiviteshwaraya
  • Source transliteration: JIIVITESHVARAAYA

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: Salutations To The one who is the supreme lord and master of all life.

Elaboration

The name Jīviteśvarāya is a profound epithet formed from two Sanskrit words: Jīvita (life) and Īśvara (Lord, Controller, Master).

The Lord of Life Jīvita refers to "life" in its broadest sense: existence, animate being, and vitality. It encompasses all living creatures, from the smallest organism to the most complex being. It represents the very principle of animation and the energy that sustains all existence.

Supreme Controller and Master Īśvara denotes a supreme ruler, controller, or master. It implies not just an owner but one who has full authority, power, and sovereignty over that which they govern.

The Source and Sustainer of All Life Therefore, Jīviteśvarāya identifies Kalabhairava as the supreme Lord and master of all life. He is the ultimate source from which all life emanates, the force that sustains it, and the power that ultimately reabsorbs it. This includes not only the biological aspect of life but also the spiritual vitality that animates existence. In this role, he embodies the cosmic principle of animation and vitality.

Philosophical Implication This name highlights his role as the master of the life force, akin to Prāna, the vital breath that pervades and enlivens the universe. By acknowledging him as Jīviteśvara, devotees recognize his absolute dominion over the cycle of birth, life, and death, and seek his grace for the continuation, quality, and ultimate liberation of life. He is the very essence of existence, the animating principle behind all that lives and breathes.

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Text and sources

The name list follows the Kalabhairava Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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