Sahasranama positions 377 and 392 of the 1,000 names

Parayanaya

परायणाय

Parāyaṇāya

What Parayanaya means

Parayanaya is names 377 and 392 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is the ultimate and final refuge for all souls.

Also spelled

  • Parayana
  • Source transliteration: PARAAYANAAYA

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.

Name 377: PARAAYANAAYA

Meaning: Salutations To The one who is the ultimate and final refuge for all souls.

Elaboration

The name Parāyaṇa (Parayaṇāya) is a profound Sanskrit term that signifies the ultimate destination, the highest goal, and the final refuge. It is a compound word derived from 'Para' (supreme, ultimate) and 'Ayana' (going, resting place, support, path).

The Ultimate Goal and Destination As "the ultimate goal," Parāyaṇa means that Kalabhairava is the supreme end toward which all spiritual endeavor is directed. He is not merely a means to an end, but the very purpose of existence and spiritual practice. Reaching Him signifies the cessation of the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and the attainment of liberation (moksha).

The Final Refuge and Shelter The term also denotes "the final refuge" or "the supreme shelter." For those caught in the travails of worldly existence, facing suffering, fear, and uncertainty, Kalabhairava offers complete and unwavering protection. He is the shelter where souls find true peace, solace, and security, a haven beyond the reach of material fluctuations and dualities. This implies a complete surrender to His will and grace, knowing that He will guide and protect His devotees.

Support and Foundation Parāyaṇa can also be understood as the ultimate support or foundation upon which all existence rests. He is the bedrock of reality, the unchanging principle amidst change, providing stability and meaning to the cosmos. For a spiritual seeker, He is the firm ground that sustains their faith and practice.

Philosophical Significance In a philosophical sense, acknowledging Kalabhairava as Parāyaṇa is to recognize Him as the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate reality that is both immanent in all creation and transcendent to it. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end—the alpha and omega of all existence, and the ultimate abode to which all beings ultimately return.

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Name 392: PARAAYANAAYA

Meaning: Salutations To The one who is the supreme goal and the ultimate sanctuary.

Elaboration

Parāyana is a profound term that encapsulates the ultimate nature of the Divine as the end point, the supreme refuge, and the highest pursuit of all existence.

The Supreme Goal (Ultimate Destination) Parāyana literally means "the highest resort," "the ultimate goal," or "the supreme destination." For a spiritual seeker, this refers to the ultimate aim of all spiritual practices: union with the Divine. In the context of Kalabhairava, he is not merely a path, but the very culmination of the journey—the state of liberation (moksha), self-realization, or eternal bliss that devotees strive for. He represents the final destination beyond which there is nothing further to achieve or aspire to.

The Ultimate Sanctuary (Supreme Refuge) "Parāyana" also signifies "the ultimate refuge" or "the supreme support." When a devotee takes refuge in Kalabhairava, it implies a complete surrender and trust in His protective power. He becomes the unshakeable foundation and shelter in the face of all difficulties, fears, and the impermanence of the world. This refuge transcends temporary shelters, offering a permanent and absolute sense of security.

The Transcendent (Beyond All) Philosophically, Parāyana points to that which is beyond all conditional existence, all limitations, and all dualities. It is the transcendental reality that underpins everything, yet is distinct from it. Kalabhairava, as Parāyana, is the one who is supreme over all other deities, cosmic forces, and even the cycle of time (Kāla), having Himself originated from and transcended Kāla. He is the ultimate reality (Para) that is the foundation (Ayana) of everything.

In essence, Parāyanaāya offers reverence to Kalabhairava as the final answer to all questions, the end of all quests, and the safest haven in the entire cosmos.

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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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