Sahasranama position 599 of the 1,000 names

Lokanathaya

लोकनाथाय

Lokanāthāya

What Lokanathaya means

Lokanathaya is name 599 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is the supreme lord and protector of all the worlds.

Also spelled

  • Lokanatha
  • Source transliteration: LOKANAATHAAYA

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 protector of all the worlds.

Elaboration

The name Lokanātha is derived from two Sanskrit words: Loka and Nātha.

Loka: This term refers to "worlds," "realms," "universes," or "planes of existence." In Hindu cosmology, there are numerous Lokas (like Bhūr-loka, Bhuvar-loka, Svar-loka, Mahar-loka, Jana-loka, Tapo-loka, Satya-loka), representing different states of consciousness and material existence, from the grossest to the subtlest. It can also broadly mean "people" or "all beings" inhabiting these worlds.

Nātha: This signifies "Lord," "Master," "Protector," "Controller," or "Patron."

Supreme Lord of All Worlds As Lokanātha, Kālabhairava is depicted as the paramount ruler and sovereign over all conceivable universes and their inhabitants. This implies his omnipresence and omnipotence; there is no realm or dimension where his authority does not extend. He is the ultimate orchestrator of all cosmic events across these myriad worlds.

Protector and Sustainer Beyond mere rulership, Nātha also implies protection. Kālabhairava, in this aspect, is the divine guardian who ensures the order and balance within and between all these Lokas. He protects all living beings within these worlds from physical dangers, cosmic imbalances, and spiritual decay. He actively sustains the dharma (righteous order) in each world.

The Cosmic Governor This name underscores his role as the cosmic governor, administering justice and maintaining the laws that govern creation, preservation, and dissolution in countless realms. He is the one who monitors the karma of all beings across all worlds and metes out appropriate consequences.

Symbol of Unity Lokanātha also symbolizes the underlying unity of all diverse realms and beings under a single, supreme consciousness. Despite their differences, all Lokas are ultimately pervaded and governed by the singular power of Bhairava.

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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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