Trilokesha — 108 Names of Shiva

Trilokesha signifies Shiva's sovereignty over the three planes of existence: Bhurloka (the physical earth), Bhuvarloka (the intermediate astral plane), and Svarloka (the celestial heavens). More deeply, these three worlds represent the three states of consciousness: Jagrat (waking), Svapna (dreaming), and Sushupti (deep sleep). As Trilokesha, Shiva is the master of all these realms, ensuring cosmic order (Dharma) across all levels of reality. He is the bridge between the mundane and the divine, the visible and the invisible. This name highlights his role as the supreme administrator of the law of Karma, overseeing the journey of the soul as it transmigrates through different spheres. In the practice of Yoga, the three worlds can also refer to the three main nadis (Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna) or the three knots (Granthis) that the practitioner must pierce. By invoking Trilokesha, the seeker asks for the grace to navigate all levels of their own psyche and the external world. To contemplate this name is to recognize that nothing is outside of Shiva’s jurisdiction. Whether we are active in the world, dreaming at night, or resting in the void of deep sleep, we are always under his watchful and compassionate gaze. He is the master of totality.