Parameshwara and Parameshwari

This regal name is that of the great Goddess Durga, the Divine Mother Shakti who pervades all life at every level of existence. Parama is the basis of many soul names and it stands for the supreme, the highest. There is no concept or idea that is higher than this. It is the ultimate beyond duality, beyond thought and beyond qualities. Ishwara means the supreme Lord who has a royal and ruling nature. Ishwara is God in the aspect of pervading all beings and thus is the underlying energy that is the cause of all energies and manifestations. Parameshwara is Lord Shiva, the great Lord of the entire universe and Parameshwari is His divine consort, His active energy or Shakti, also called Parashakti, the Lord's supreme power. She is God's force and infinite strength represented in a form as an all-powerful, sovereign Goddess who reigns over all the worlds. Parama also means supreme glory, resplendence and radiance that is so powerful that it can give life and form to all beings everywhere. Swamiji says, "If we reach within ourselves, leaving behind the external world, we can reach Parameshwara and Parameshwari in our hearts where they reside as one as Paramatma, the supreme and true Self. This Self is beyond karma, is infinite, everlasting, totally pure, ever in super-consciousness and free of all bondages."