Sahasranama position 253 of the 1,072 names

Svabhavini

स्वभाविनी

Svabhāvinī

What Svabhavini means

Svabhavini is name 253 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. She who is self-existent, abiding inherently in her own nature.

Also spelled

  • Source transliteration: SVA-BHAVINI

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: She who is self-existent, abiding inherently in her own nature.

Elaboration

SVA-BHAVINI The name Sva-Bhavini joins the Sanskrit words "Sva," meaning "self" or "one's own," and "Bhavini," meaning "she who exists," "she who brings into being," or "she who abides by her own nature." Thus, Sva-Bhavini may be understood as "She who is self-created," "She who exists inherently in her own nature," or "She whose very nature is pure being."

Self-Existence and Aseity This name emphasizes Kali's absolute independence and completeness in herself. She does not arise from any external cause, nor does she depend on anything outside herself for existence. In Western philosophical language, this kind of self-existence is called "aseity." In Shakta understanding, she is Parabrahman, the Supreme Reality, beyond all categories of creation and causation. Her existence is not separate from her essence.

The Source of All Being As Sva-Bhavini, she is the primordial source from whom all existence flows, while she herself remains uncreated and undiminished. The cosmos arises from her, abides in her, and finally returns to her. All forms, names, and phenomena derive their being from her own Sva-Bhava, her inherent nature.

Transcendence of Cycles This aspect of Kali stands beyond the cycles of creation (sṛṣṭi), preservation (sthiti), and dissolution (saṃhāra). She is the power that governs these movements while remaining untouched by them. She is beyond conditioned existence, truly anādi (beginningless) and ananta (endless).

Immanent yet Transcendent Nature Sva-Bhavini also reveals her twofold nature: she is the transcendent reality, beyond the grasp of the ordinary mind, and the immanent reality, present in every particle of existence. Her "own nature" is pure consciousness, absolute power, and unbounded freedom, and from that reality the entire universe is manifested.

Text and sources

The name list follows the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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