Garland of Divine Names
Nāmāvali (Sanskrit: nāma = name + āvali = row/garland; 'a garland of names') is the liturgical form of worship in which a series of Bhagavān's names — each followed by namaḥ (obeisance) or svāhā — are recited in sequence. The most well-known forms are:
- Aṣṭottara-śata-nāmāvali — the 108-name liturgy (for each major deity)
- Sahasra-nāmāvali — the 1000-name recitation based on Viṣṇu Sahasranāma
108 Names
The number 108 is sacred in the tradition (aṣṭottara-śatam): 108 Divya Deśams, 108 mahā-tiruvaḍi-sampannam (devotees touched by the Lord's feet), 108 repetitions of specific mantras. The aṣṭottara-śata-nāmāvali for each deity is customized — each name reveals a specific divine quality or myth.
Recitation Practice
During a nāmāvali recitation, devotees typically offer a flower, tulasī leaf, or handful of water with each name — a form of arcana that combines name-worship (nāma-saṅkīrtana) with physical offering. This practice makes the abstract names concrete through bodily engagement.