Anama

Anama

अनामा, anāmā

Anama literally means "nameless". For Shaivites, in particular for Nathas, this is the epithet of the Absolute – Nirguna Shiva, transcendent to any limited qualities, forms and names (anama).

According to the root text of Natha-sampradaya "Siddha-siddhanta paddhati", at the beginning of creation of Universe, the Absolute manifests itself as a single nameless (anama) self-effulgent (sva-prakasha, svayam-jyoti) pure Being (sat-matra). In such a state, nothing distinguishes Existence from Non-Existence, therefore the Supreme Reality is described as shunya (emptiness).

There is another meaning of the term “anama" in relation to the brahmins – the highest varna in Indian society – means "greeting not others, but only gods" or "one who answers greetings with his blessing."