Where does “Shiva” come from?
Shiva derives from Sanskrit शिव, which is related to Sanskrit शी and ultimately traces to Proto-Indo-European ḱey-, though the precise semantic connection remains unclear.
Shiva (English): The god of destruction and transformation, and together with Brahma and Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Within Shaivism he is viewed as the Supreme deity, whereas in other branches of Hinduism such as the Smarta tradition he is worshipped as one of the six manifestations of the Div
Definitions
- The god of destruction and transformation, and together with Brahma and Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Within Shaivism he is viewed as the Supreme deity, whereas in other branches of Hinduism such as the Smarta tradition he is worshipped as one of the six manifestations of the Div
Ancestry of “Shiva”, step by step
Shiva traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Sanskrit शिव
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanskrit | शिव | auspicious, favourable; happy, fortunate; m... |
| 2 | Sanskrit | शी | to lie down |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱey- | to be lying down; to settle |
via Hebrew שִׁבְעָה
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrew | שִׁבְעָה | seven |