Sahasranama position 996 of the 1,000 names

Shriyamvaraya

श्रियाम् वराय

Śriyām Varāya

What Shriyamvaraya means

Shriyamvaraya is name 996 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is the best and most excellent of all glorious beings.

Also spelled

  • Shriyamvara
  • Sriyam Varaya
  • Shriyam Varaya
  • Source transliteration: SHRIYAAMVARAAYA

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 best and most excellent of all glorious beings.

Elaboration

The name Shriyāmvaraaya is a profoundly descriptive epithet that encapsulates Kalabhairava's supreme position and inherent glory. It is derived from a compound of three Sanskrit elements: Shriyā, Am, and Varaaya, which when combined, signify his ultimate excellence and preeminence.

Shriyā (श्रीया): This term is rooted in "Shirī" (श्री), which denotes glory, radiance, splendor, prosperity, beauty, and auspiciousness. It refers to the divine effulgence or the inherent majesty that characterizes the divine. In the context of Kalabhairava, "Shriyā" speaks to his intrinsic and unparalleled divine attributes, his inherent magnificence, and the radiant aura that surrounds his being. It's the very essence of divine beauty and prosperity, both spiritual and material.

Am (अम्): This is a grammatical particle often used to form the superlative degree in Sanskrit, indicating "of all" or "among." When appended to adjectives or nouns describing qualities, it elevates them to the highest possible degree.

Varaaya (वराय): "Vara" (वर) means "excellent," "best," "supreme," "most distinguished," or "choicest." It signifies the zenith of quality, the most desired, or the most meritorious. "Varaaya" is the dative case of Vara, meaning "to the best" or "to the excellent one."

Synthesized Meaning: The Best of All Glorious Beings When these elements are combined, Shriyāmvaraaya therefore means "the best among all who possess glory" or "the most excellent of all glorious beings." This name emphatically places Kalabhairava at the pinnacle of all divine manifestations and enlightened entities. It declares that even among those who are considered glorious, radiant, and supreme, Kalabhairava stands out as the ultimate and most distinguished.

This title recognizes his absolute supremacy not only as a fierce deity but as the embodiment of ultimate splendor and perfection. He is not merely glorious, but the very essence and standard of glory, making him the most worshipful and revered. This name honors his transcendental majesty, positioning him as the epitome of all divine attributes and the supreme object of adoration.

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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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