Sahasranama position 520 of the 1,000 names

Manomayaya

मनोमायाय

Manomāyāya

What Manomayaya means

Manomayaya is name 520 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is formed of pure consciousness and whose nature is of the mind.

Also spelled

  • Manomaya
  • Source transliteration: MANOMAYAAYA

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 formed of pure consciousness and whose nature is of the mind.

Elaboration

The name Manomayāya, derived from the Sanskrit term Manomaya, signifies a profound aspect of Kalabhairava's nature, pointing to his integral connection with the mind and pure consciousness.

Composed of Mind/Consciousness Manomaya is a compound of "Manas" (mind) and "Maya" (formed of, consisting of, having the nature of). Thus, Manomaya directly translates to "formed of mind," or "whose nature is of the mind." This isn't merely the individual, empirical mind, but the cosmic, universal Mind or Consciousness. It suggests that Kalabhairava is not a physical being in the conventional sense, but rather an embodiment of thought, intention, and pure awareness.

Source of Mental Faculties He is the fundamental substratum from which all mental faculties manifest—intellect (buddhi), ego (ahamkara), and the lower mind (manas) itself. All thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and cognitive processes ultimately emanate from and subside into this supreme Manomaya principle.

Beyond Dualities Being Manomaya means he transcends the limitations of gross physical forms. His form is subtle, luminous, and directly accessible through meditative states. This aspect highlights his nature as pure चित् (Chit - absolute consciousness) – the all-pervading awareness that illuminates existence.

The Object of Meditation For practitioners, meditating on Kalabhairava as Manomaya means focusing on his inner, non-physical reality. It encourages the aspirant to go beyond external rituals and connect with the deity through introspection, purification of the mind, and the development of inner awareness. He is the ultimate object of mental transcendence, leading the devotee to a state beyond the fluctuating mind into pure Shivaconsciousness.

-

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 →

About the author · Contact and corrections · Privacy policy