अभयंकर

Meaning

The Bestower of Fearlessness. This is one of the most comforting names of Shiva. Most protection is reactive, but Abhayankara works on the root cause of all suffering: fear itself. He doesn't just protect you from external enemies; he protects you from your own mind's terrors. He is the one who raises his hand in the 'Abhaya Mudra' (the 'Fear Not' gesture), signaling that under his gaze, fear cannot exist. He is the protector of your psychological wellbeing, removing the shadows of doubt and anxiety.

Story · From tradition

In the Shiva Purana, whenever the gods were terrified by seemingly invincible demons, Shiva would appear and simply tell them, 'Ma Bhaishi' (Do not fear). His mere presence was enough to dissolve their terror. The name Abhayankara is also associated with his form that protects devotees from the 'terrors of the forest'—both the literal forest and the metaphorical forest of the world (Samsara). By conquering death and dissolution, he proves that there is ultimately nothing to fear. Source: Shiva Purana and Atharva Veda.