108 Shiva Names for Puja on Mahashivratri (Ashtottara Shatanamavali)

If you are setting aside dedicated time this Mahashivratri, chanting the Ashtottara Shatanamavali - the 108 names of Lord Shiva - is one of the most complete and traditional ways to worship him. These shiva names for puja can be chanted once as a full offering, or repeated through 11 complete cycles if time and stamina allow.

Keep your focus steady, pronounce each name clearly, and accompany the recitation with a simple offering, even if it is only water.

This guide gives you a calm, practical plan, how to chant, when to chant, how to stay steady through all 108 names, and how to use the names in a simple home puja. Each name points to a quality of Shiva, protection when you feel shaky, transformation when you’re ready to change, and inner stillness when your mind won’t slow down.

What are the 108 names of Shiva (Ashtottara Shatanamavali), and why chant them on Mahashivratri?

Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a set of 108 sacred names that praise one deity through many angles. Think of it like walking around a mountain and seeing it from every side, the mountain stays the same, but your view deepens with each step.

Why 108? In Hindu practice, 108 is a number linked with completeness. It’s also why many malas have 108 beads, so your counting becomes part of your meditation, not a distraction. If you want a clear reference list and the standard ordering, Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Lord Shiva is a helpful anchor.

Mahashivratri is often treated as a night for deeper prayer and inner reset. Chanting the 108 names of shiva fits that mood because it’s both devotional and structured, you don’t have to invent a practice, you just have to show up for it.

What each Shiva name really does (how to chant with meaning, not just speed)

The names aren’t random. Each one points to an attribute, a story, or a lived experience of Shiva: the still one, the fierce protector, the one who dissolves what’s false, so what’s true can remain.

A good pace is one that lets meaning land. Every 9 or 12 names, pause for one breath. Let the sound settle in your body, like ripples settling on a lake.

One simple way to keep it real is to choose one name as a “home base.” For example, if a name reminds you of protection, let it soften your shoulders and relax your jaw. You’re not just reciting, you’re practicing a state of mind.

A simple intention for the full namavali (so your chanting feels focused)

Before you begin, pick one intention. Keep it plain and honest. These three work well for most people:

Inner peace: “Let my mind get quieter tonight.”

Release fear and negativity: “Help me put down what I’ve been carrying.”

Devotion and gratitude: “Let my heart stay open, even if life feels hard.”

If your tongue stumbles or your mind drifts, it’s fine. Consistency and sincerity matter more than perfection.

How to chant the 108 names of Lord Shiva during puja (step by step)

You don’t need an elaborate temple setup. A simple home space works, as long as it feels clean and respectful.

A simple home setup (5 minutes)

Choose a quiet spot and tidy it. Then gather what’s easy:

A lamp or candle

A small bowl of water

Flowers (optional)

Bilva leaves (optional, if available)

A photo of Shiva or a Shiva lingam (if you have one)

If you’re not sure about the basic puja flow, you can also glance at a simple overview like Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali for context. Keep it simple, you’re building steadiness, not staging a performance.

Step-by-step order you can follow

1) Sankalpa (a simple vow)

Sit down and say, in your own words: “On Mahashivratri, I’m chanting the 108 names of Shiva with devotion. May this practice purify my mind and guide my choices.”

2) Set your breath (30 to 60 seconds)

Inhale through the nose. Exhale slowly. Do 5 slow breaths. Let your exhale be slightly longer than your inhale.

3) Invocation (short and direct)

You can say “Om Namah Shivaya” 3 or 9 times. Or simply bow your head and begin.

4) Chant the full namavali (the main practice)

Chant each name clearly, not rushed. If you’re offering something physical, you can offer after each name, or after every 3 names to keep it manageable. This is where the shiva names for puja become very practical: the names themselves guide the rhythm of worship.

5) Closing prayer (1 minute)

When you finish, bring your palms together and sit quietly. Offer a final “Om Namah Shivaya” 3 times, then rest in silence.

A helpful mindset: treat the 108 names like 108 small steps across a river. One step at a time, no jumping.

Best time and rhythm on Mahashivratri (one long session vs smaller rounds)

There’s no single “correct” timing, but these options tend to work well:

Evening start: Good if your home is busy later.

Midnight focus: Traditional for many devotees, the world is quieter.

Pre-dawn quiet: The mind is often calmest before sunrise.

One full round of 108 names usually takes 12 to 25 minutes, depending on your pace. If that feels long, split it into four sets of 27 names, with a sip of water and one slow breath between sets.

For families or groups, call-and-response chanting is powerful. One person leads, everyone repeats. It keeps attention steady, even for beginners.

Using a mala, counting tips, and what to do if you lose your place

A mala usually has 108 beads plus one larger “guru bead.” You start next to the guru bead and count one name per bead. When you reach the guru bead again, you stop, or you turn the mala around if you’re continuing.

No mala? Try one of these:

A printed list, with a light pencil checkmark every 10 names

12 tally marks, each mark equals 9 names

A simple checklist on your phone

If you lose your place, pause, take one breath, and restart from the last name you remember. Don’t punish yourself. Clear pronunciation matters, but devotion matters most.

Offerings while chanting (water, bilva, flowers), and a beginner-friendly script

Offerings can be physical or mental. If you have little time or few items, a small spoon of water is enough.

A simple pattern:

Say the name + “Namah” + offer.

For example, your inner script can be:

“Om [Name] Namah,” (offer water or a flower)

If you have nothing to offer, offer mentally. Imagine placing a flower at Shiva’s feet. The point is steadiness and sincerity, not supplies.

Make the 108 names feel personal: themes you can chant for healing, calm, and clarity

A long chant can feel “big” at first. One way to stay present is to hear the names in themes, like beads that carry different colors of meaning.

Many people use Shiva chants to steady the mind, clear heavy thoughts, and rebuild inner strength during change. Mahakatha’s community often returns to Shiva mantras during stress, grief, anxiety, or transition, not because life becomes perfect, but because the mind becomes quieter and more workable. That quiet is a kind of freedom.

Shiva is also known as Neelakantha, the blue-throated one. The story says he took in poison to protect the world, holding pain without spreading it. Whether you treat that as myth, symbol, or both, it’s a strong Mahashivratri lesson: you can hold difficulty with awareness, then transform it.

If you want to study meanings name by name, a reference like 108 Names of Lord Shiva: The Lyrics & Meanings can help you connect attributes with your own life.

For first timers, a chanting of the 108 Names of Shiva can be hugely helpful. It helps you find a rhythm to chant Shiva’s names to. Mahakatha has one that you can listen to and return to, as you further your practice of chanting.

Chanting for protection and fear release (when you feel heavy or anxious)

Devotional repetition can calm the nervous system. It gives the mind one clean job, listen, speak, repeat. Racing thoughts often slow down when they aren’t being fed.

Two practical tips that make a difference:

Sit with a straight spine, so breath moves freely.

Keep your exhale longer than your inhale, even by one second.

Mahakatha’s mantra work is built around this kind of simple repetition. Millions of listeners use these chants for calm and protection because the sound creates a steady inner “rail” to hold onto when emotions surge.

Chanting for inner stillness and steady focus (when your mind will not stop)

Shiva is both stillness and change. If your mind keeps looping, let the chant be your anchor. Don’t fight your thoughts. Just return to the next name.

A method that works well on Mahashivratri:

Chant the full 108 once.

Choose 9 names that felt calming and repeat just those 3 times, slowly.

End with 2 minutes of silence.

If you want a single-name practice that evokes a spacious, sky-like mind, Om Vyomakeshaya Namah is a beautiful companion after the namavali, especially when you need quiet clarity.

Chanting as a complete Mahashivratri practice (pair with one core mantra)

After the 108 names, keep your closing simple. Two strong options:

Option A: Om Namah Shivaya for 5 to 10 minutes

This mantra is widely used to purify the mind and soften negativity through steady repetition.

Option B: Sit in silence

Set a timer for 3 to 7 minutes. Let the chant echo inside you without adding more sound.

If you like structure, the Panchakshari is the five-syllable form (Na Ma Śi Va Ya). Many beginners stick with it because it’s easy to remember and feels balancing for mind and body. For chanting along with the full namavali, use 108 Names of Shiva chant lyrics and meaning.

108 Secrets of Shiva

As your practice deepens, you start noticing something: the “secret” of Shiva worship is often simple. You meet your own mind, you watch what rises, and you offer it back with humility.

In Mahakatha’s approach to Shiva, the heart of the practice is stillness, transformation, and inner freedom. Shiva isn’t only a figure on an altar. He also represents the part of you that can stay calm while life changes, the part that can release old patterns so renewal can happen.

If you’re chanting on Mahashivratri, consider this your quiet takeaway: each name is a reminder to live with more truth and less noise.

Conclusion

On Mahashivratri, chanting the Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a full and simple way to worship Shiva, even at home, even with minimal items. When you chant with steady attention, the practice can support calm, courage, and clearer choices. Set one intention, chant all 108 names once, and keep your pace unhurried. Then sit for a few quiet minutes and let the sound fade into stillness. Choose your time window now, and give the night the respect it deserves.

FAQ: 108 names of Shiva chanting on Mahashivratri

Do I need to chant all 108 names, or is chanting a few enough?

Chanting all 108 names is a complete offering, and it has a special “whole cycle” feeling. But a smaller set still counts when it’s done with full attention. If you’re short on time, start with 27 names (one quarter of the cycle). Next year, build to 54, then 108. It’s better to chant fewer names with steadiness than to rush through all 108.

Can I chant the 108 names without doing a full puja?

Yes. A full puja is helpful, but not required. A mini practice works well: (1) sit in a clean spot and light a candle, (2) take 5 slow breaths, (3) chant the names once, then sit quietly for 2 minutes. If you want, place a small bowl of water in front of you as a simple offering. Keep your phone away, and let the chant be the main event.

What if I cannot pronounce some names correctly?

Do your best, go slow, and stay calm. Listen to a guide once, then repeat at your own pace. If a word feels hard, break it into parts and say it carefully. Don’t quit mid-way out of frustration. A slightly imperfect chant done with devotion is better than perfect pronunciation done with tension. Over time, your mouth learns the sounds naturally, like a song you start humming without effort.

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