Sahasranama position 71 of the 1,000 names

Kshobhanaya

क्षोभनाय

Kṣobhanāya

What Kshobhanaya means

Kshobhanaya is name 71 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who causes agitation, shaking beings out of ignorance and inertia.

Also spelled

  • Kshobhana
  • Ksobhanaya
  • Source transliteration: KSHOBHANAAYA

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 causes agitation, shaking beings out of ignorance and inertia.

Elaboration

The name Kṣobhaṇāya is derived from the Sanskrit root "kṣubh," which means "to tremble," "to shake," "to agitate," or "to disturb."

Causing Agitation and Disturbance In a cosmic sense, Kṣobhaṇa refers to the primordial agitation that sets creation into motion. Before creation, there is a state of equilibrium. Kalabhairava, as Kṣobhaṇa, is the force that disturbs this equilibrium, initiating the dance of manifestation. He is the cosmic shaker that stirs the unmanifest into manifest existence, causing the subtle elements to coalesce and form the universe. This refers to the dynamic principle that prevents stagnation and ensures continuous cosmic activity.

Shaking Beings out of Ignorance On an individual spiritual level, Kṣobhaṇaāya signifies the divine power that agitates or disturbs the human mind and consciousness. This agitation is not negative but serves a crucial purpose: to shake individuals out of their spiritual inertia, ignorance (avidyā), attachment (rāga), and delusion (moha). It's the disruptive force that breaks through complacency and forces introspection.

Forcing Transformation This "agitation" can manifest as challenging life circumstances, internal unrest, or a sudden spiritual awakening that compels a person to confront their limited perceptions and push beyond their comfort zones. It's the divine impetus that compels a seeker to question, to seek truth, and to strive for liberation. By causing this internal and external disturbance, Kalabhairava acts as a catalyst for profound transformation, ultimately leading to higher awareness and spiritual growth. He dismantles the structures of false identity and worldly attachments, thereby clearing the path for genuine self-realization.

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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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