how many names lord shiva has ?

Answer 1

LORD SHIVA has many names. In the main Shiva Sahastranama 1008 names are given for the lord. But there are 8 such versions of Sahastranamas for Shiva-

There are at least eight different versions of the Shiva sahasranama. The version appearing in Book 13 (Anuśāsanaparvan) of the Mahabharata is considered the kernel of this tradion. The eight versions analyzed by Ram Karan Sharma are:

1. Mahabharata 13.17.30-150 (Anuśāsanaparvan Version)
2. Linga Purana (version 1, LP 1.65.54-168) is close to the Mahabharata Anushasanaparvan version.
3. Linga Purana (version 2, LP 1.98.27-159) has some passages in common with LP version 1, but also with other sources
4. Shivapurana 4.35.1-131.
5. Mahabharata (Śāntiparvan version). The critical edition of the Mahabharata does not include this version, relegating it to Appendix 28 to Śāntiparvan. It does appear in the text of the Gita Press edition as 12.284.68-180.
6. Vayu Purana (1.30.179-284) is almost the same as the Mahabharata Śāntiparvan version.
7. Brahmanda Purana (38.1.1-100) is almost the same as the Vayu Purana version.
8. Mahābhāgavata Upapurana (67.1-125) appears to be of comparatively recent origin.

In the version that occurs in book thirteen of the Mahabharata, Krishna recites the 1,008 names of Shiva to Yudhisthira. Yudhisthira had asked Bhishma the names of Shiva but Bhishma admitted his ignorance and requested him to ask Krishna. Interestingly, the thousand names of Vishnu, or Vishnu sahasranama, also occurs in the same chapter. Some overlapping of names with the Vishnu sahasranama has led Adi Shankara to conclude that Shiva and Vishnu are both identical, as both forms of one personal God, or Saguna Brahman, a conclusion that is a central tenet of Advaitan or Smarta Hinduism. In fact, one of the names of Shiva, recited in the Mahabharata version states, that "He is in form of Vishnu who floats on the waters after the universal dissolution."-

Answer 2

Master SHIVA has numerous names. In the primary Shiva Sahastranama 1008 names are given for the ruler. At the same time, there are 8 such forms of Sahastranamas for Shiva-

There are no less than eight distinct forms of the Shiva sahasranama. The variant showing up in Book 13 (Anuśāsanaparvan) of the Mahabharata is viewed as the piece of this tradion. The eight forms dissected by Ram Karan Sharma are:

1. Mahabharata 13.17.30-150 (Anuśāsanaparvan Version)

2. Linga Purana (adaptation 1, LP 1.65.54-168) is near to the Mahabharata Anushasanaparvan variant.

3. Linga Purana (variant 2, LP 1.98.27-159) has a few sections in the same manner as LP form 1, additionally with different sources

4. Shivapurana 4.35.1-131.

5. Mahabharata (Śāntiparvan rendition). The discriminating release of the Mahabharata does exclude this rendition, consigning it to Appendix 28 to Śāntiparvan. It does show up in the content of the Gita Press release as 12.284.68-180.

6. Vayu Purana (1.30.179-284) is just about the same as the Mahabharata Śāntiparvan adaptation.

7. Brahmanda Purana (38.1.1-100) is just about the same as the Vayu Purana adaptation.

8. Mahābhāgavata Upapurana (67.1-125) has all the earmarks of being of nearly late starting point.

In the adaptation that happens in book thirteen of the Mahabharata, Krishna recounts the 1,008 names of Shiva to Yudhisthira. Yudhisthira had solicited Bhishma the names from Shiva yet Bhishma conceded his obliviousness and asked for him to ask Krishna. Interestingly, the thousand names of Vishnu, or Vishnu sahasranama, likewise happens in the same part. Some covering of names with the Vishnu sahasranama has driven Adi Shankara to reason that Shiva and Vishnu are both indistinguishable, as both manifestations of one individual God, or Saguna Brahman, a determination that is a focal fundamental of Advaitan or Smarta Hinduism. Indeed, one of the names of Shiva, presented in the Mahabharata form expresses, that "He is in form of Vishnu who floats on the waters after the universal dissolution".