Meaning and elaboration
Meaning: Salutations To The one who is dear Salutations To The generous and bountiful Indra (Maghavan).
Elaboration
The name Maghavatpriyāya is a compound of Maghavat and Priya.
Maghavat: This is an epithet primarily associated with Indra, the king of the devas (gods). The term "Maghavan" (Maghavat in its nominal form) literally means "bountiful," "generous," or "wealthy." It refers to Indra's role as the giver of rain, prosperity, and victory, often invoked for his munificence and power. Indra, as Maghavan, is a powerful deity representing the material and celestial dominion, often associated with the thunderbolt (Vajra) and the destruction of obstacles.
Priya: This Sanskrit word means "dear," "beloved," "pleasing," or "favorite."
The Beloved of Indra Thus, Maghavatpriyāya translates to "the one who is dear to Maghavan (Indra)." This signifies a special relationship of favor, reverence, or closeness between Shiva (in his Bhairava form) and Indra.
Symbolic Interpretations:
Subservience of Celestial Powers: This name underscores Bhairava's supreme position even above the king of the gods. While Indra is a powerful Vedic deity, his reverence for Shiva/Bhairava highlights Shiva's ultimate cosmic authority. It implies that even the celestial rulers, who bestow boons and control cosmic forces, hold Bhairava in high esteem and acknowledge his superior power. It establishes a hierarchy where Shiva is the ultimate sovereign, and Indra, as a powerful celestial entity, is affectionate towards or respects this ultimate power.
Cosmic Order and Cooperation: In some Puranic narratives, Indra and Shiva have a complex relationship, sometimes involving conflict but often ending in reconciliation and Indra's acknowledgement of Shiva's supremacy. This name suggests a harmonious aspect of their relationship, where Indra, as Maghavan, holds Bhairava in affection. This can symbolize the cooperation of various divine forces under the overarching will of the Supreme Being.
Bhairava's All-Encompassing Nature: Bhairava, as an aspect of Shiva, embodies the totality of existence, including both the fierce and benevolent, the mundane and the transcendental. By being dear to Indra (Maghavan), who represents prosperity, rain, and the material well-being of the cosmos, Bhairava also indirectly assures these boons to his devotees. While Bhairava is often associated with darker, more chthonic aspects, being "Priya" to the giver of wealth and rain indicates his sway over all aspects of creation, including those controlled by other deities.
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