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Shiva Sahasranama is a "list of a thousand names" of Shiva, one of the most important deities in Hinduism.

Is there any eligibility for a person to recite it? If yes, what is the eligibility to do stotram?

In short, who is eligible to recite Shiva sahasranama stotram?

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  • "The" gives the impression that there is only one such Stotra but there are 4 from Itihasa-Purana only (AFAIK but may be more) and many more from the Tantras.. So I hv changed "The" to "A "..
    – Rickross
    Commented Dec 31, 2018 at 6:03
  • @Rickross Okay, but is there any difference in eligibility among them?
    – hanugm
    Commented Jan 3, 2019 at 6:20
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    Well sahsranamas has Anga-Kara Nyasa which have Mantras (like Om, Swaha etc) .. so those portions clearly can not be chanted by uninitiated people.. or Sudras... the answer does not take into consideration all that..
    – Rickross
    Commented Jan 3, 2019 at 6:23
  • @Rickross Sorry I didn't see your comment. Can you re-edit this?
    – user9969
    Commented Jan 3, 2019 at 17:08

1 Answer 1

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Mahabharata: Anushasana Parva, SECTION XVII

Upamanyu said

These names [Shiva sahasranama] fraught with auspiciousness, leading to advancement, destructive of Rakshasas, and great cleansers should be imparted to only him that is devoted to the great Lord [Shiva], to him that has faith, to him that believes. Unto him that has no faith, him that is an unbeliever, him that has not subjugated his soul, it should never be communicated.

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  • So if a Sudra or a Chandala is devoted to Lord Shiva can it be imparted to him?
    – Rickross
    Commented Dec 31, 2018 at 6:05
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    That is what it implies from the passage. The devotion towards God will remove all the impurities @Rickross
    – Sarvabhouma
    Commented Dec 31, 2018 at 6:54
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    @Rickross As this Shiva sahasranam version is part of Mahabharata so there seems no restriction for cast/gender. Related hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/30439/12304
    – YDS
    Commented Dec 31, 2018 at 7:31

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