Sahasranama position 512 of the 1,000 names

Matarishvane

मातरिश्वने

Mātariśvane

What Matarishvane means

Matarishvane is name 512 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The an who is the cosmic breath, moving in the celestial space like the wind god Matarishvan.

Also spelled

  • Matarisvane
  • Matarishwane
  • Source transliteration: MAATARISHVANE

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 an who is the cosmic breath, moving in the celestial space like the wind god Matarishvan.

Elaboration

The name Mātarishvane is derived from Mātarishvan, an ancient Vedic deity, specifically a name for Vāyu, the god of wind. It encapsulates profound philosophical and cosmological concepts in relation to Kalabhairava.

Cosmic Breath and Life Force Mātarishvan literally means "he who swells in the mother" or "he who moves in the atmosphere/space." This identifies him as the cosmic breath of the universe. In Hindu thought, breath (prāṇa) is synonymous with life itself. As Mātarishvan, Kalabhairava is the very life force that pervades all creation, animating every being and every particle of existence. Without this cosmic breath, nothing can exist or move.

Lord of Space and Movement This name also associates Kalabhairava with movement (vāyu) and the vast expanse of space (ākāsha). The wind moves freely and everywhere without restraint, just as the divine energy of Kalabhairava permeates all dimensions and realms. He is the dynamic principle that causes all motion, growth, and change within the cosmos. This aspect highlights his omnipresence and omnipotence.

Upholder of Cosmic Order In the Vedic tradition, Mātarishvan is often described as carrying Agni (fire) and establishing it among humans. This symbolizes the conveyance of divine knowledge, energy, and warmth to the world. Therefore, as Mātarishvan, Kalabhairava not only initiates movement but also sustains and orchestrates the cosmic rhythms and natural laws, playing an essential role in maintaining universal order.

Destructive and Creative Power Just as the wind can be a gentle breeze or a devastating storm, Mātarishvan represents both the gentle, life-giving flow and the fierce, destructive power of nature. This perfectly aligns with Kalabhairava's dualistic nature as both the terrifying destroyer of ignorance and evil and the benevolent protector who grants liberation. He is the force that blows away the old to make way for the new.

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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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