Dear Scholars,

I have a couple of questions on the conventions regarding Śaiva initiation names. Is an initiation name supposed to be a stand-alone name? In other words, should it be presented only as an alias and not as part of a full name along with a gotra name and a given name?

In a related vein, we know of the initiation name Śrīkaṇṭhaśiva. But has anyone come across Kaṇṭhaśiva as an initiation name?

I appreciate any insight into the onamastics of the Śaiva initiation names.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Palaniappan