Prabha (f) Prabhavan (m)

Prabha means the light, one who is luminous with the universal light. This is the light that is the eternal light of the Self. Ancient religions prayed at dawn when the sun rose because this is the great light, the rising of all energy. The same tremendous energy of all-nourishing light is in the body of each and every one and each and every being. The universal light is the light of the purest love, truth and highest consciousness.

In the Shiva Purana, Mahadeva (Shiva, the great god) says know that you are light and remember it at all times - when awake and even when sleeping or dreaming. The connection with Shiva and Prabha goes even further. Prabha is also the name of the streaming light rays that radiate from the head of Lord Shiva in His dynamic dancing form of Natarajah, the King of the universal dance of existence and destruction in readiness for regeneration.

Prabha is also a name of the Divine Mother in her beneficent form of Lakshmi, the goddess who grants us spiritual wealth and many other benefits. You can find Prabha listed in the traditional 108 names of the goddess.

"You can visibly see that light emanating from the face of one who is master of the Self. That great light of the Self, the light of the spiritually bright mind, shines through his eyes. That Light of the Self is Shiva. It is absolute auspiciousness and splendour. It is so powerful that just one look; one glance from the spiritual master is enough to kindle the fire of devotion, the universal light, of the aspirant. He gives spiritual knowledge that is itself like a lamp removing the darkness of unawareness."

Swami Premananda, Premananda Satsang volume 5