Sahasranama position 790 of the 1,000 names

Sarvapapaharaya

सर्वपापहराय

Sarvapāpaharāya

What Sarvapapaharaya means

Sarvapapaharaya is name 790 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is the supreme remover and destroyer of all sins.

Also spelled

  • Sarvapapahara
  • Source transliteration: SARVAPAAPAHARAAYA

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 remover and destroyer of all sins.

Elaboration

The name Sarvapāpahārāya is a profound Sanskrit compound term that directly refers to Lord Bhairava's ultimate power to eradicate all transgressions and their karmic consequences.

Sarva: "All," "every," "complete." Pāpa: "Sin," "demerit," "evil deed," "transgression," "the karmic consequences of unrighteous actions." Hāra: "Remover," "destroyer," "taker away."

The Supreme Destroyer of Sins This name unequivocally positions Kalabhairava as the ultimate dispeller of all forms of sin and the karmic burden they generate. In Hinduism, "pāpa" is not merely a moral transgression but an action (mental, verbal, or physical) that goes against dharma, resulting in negative karmic imprints that Bind the individual to cycles of suffering and rebirths. Devotion to Bhairava, particularly through mantra repetition and sincere offerings, is believed to absolve devotees not only of current sins but also of past karmic accumulations.

Purification and Liberation His fierce aspect is not solely for punishment but also for rigorous purification. By consuming or destroying sins, he cleanses the individual, paving the way for spiritual liberation (moksha). This act of removing pāpa is a profound act of divine grace, allowing the soul to transcend its limitations and move closer to its true, pure nature. He is the divine incinerator of all negative karma.

Dispelling Obstacles to Spiritual Progress Sins and their karmic effects act as formidable obstacles on the spiritual path. By removing these, Bhairava effectively clears the path for devotees to attain higher states of consciousness, inner peace, and ultimate union with the Divine. He is therefore invoked by those who seek not only worldly well-being but also spiritual purification and emancipation.

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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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