Ishana

Ishana (sanskr. Īśāna) - name of aspect of Shiva.

The name Ishana is also mentioned in Shiva Mahapurana as one of five names of the god. Īśāna has its roots in the word "ish", which means the invisible power that governs the universe. The wielder of this power, or this power itself, is "Īśāna". It is synonymous with Ishwar, which means "The Lord". In Hindu Scriptures this is a name given to Shiva. As per Hindu scriptures Shiva has five heads, each denoting one of the five tattvas (elements) namely Fire, Earth, Air, Water and Ether (also called as Sky-element or akash-tattva in sanskrit) that make up the universe. This fifth head of Shiva faces the upward direction, towards the sky.

Īśāna signifies the subtle and ethereal form of Shiva that represents transcendental knowledge. This dimension is reinforced by Vaastu Shastra,^[1] which says that Ishanya-disha (north-eastern direction) represents Prosperity and Knowledge. So Īśāna also has a symbolic meaning. In Hindu customs, north represents wealth and happiness while the east symbolizes knowledge and peace; Īśāna is a combination of both. It is also considered to be the name of the god of Vastu Śāstra. the Brahman splits into male (Parashiva) and female (Parasakti) and manifests as the universe. The Parashiva has five aspects:

1. Sadyojata - west aspect that propagates manifest Brahman-associated with brahma - represents earth.
2. Vamadeva - north aspect that sustains manifest Brahman - associated with Vishnu - represents water
3. Aghora - south aspect that rejuvenates manifest Brahman - associated with Rudra - represents fire
4. Tatpurusha - east aspects Rishi, Muni, Jnani, yogi - represents air
5. Isana - internal aspect that conceals - associated with all that exist - represents ether

References

Shaivism
History	History of Shaivism
Deities	Shiva (Bhairava * Ishana * Sadyojata * Vamadeva) Devi Durga Kali Parvati Sati Ganesha Kartikeya Nandi Virabhadra
Texts	Shvetashvatara Upanishad Shivarahasya Purana Shiva Purana Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta
Mantra/ Stotra	Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Om Namah Shivaya Shiv Chalisa Shiva mahimna stotram Shri Rudram Chamakam Shiva Sahasranama Shiva Tandava Stotram
Philosophies	Shiva Advaita Pashupata Shaivism Kashmir Shaivism Shaiva Siddhanta Lingayatism
Jyotirlingas	Bhimāśankara Ghuṣmeśvara Kedāranātha Viśveśvara Mallikārjuna Mahākāleśvara Nāgeśvara Omkāreśvara Rāmeśvara Somanātha Tryambakeśvara Vaidyanātha
Temples	Amarnath Brihadeeswarar Kailash Mansarovar Katasraj temple Lingaraj Temple Meenakshi Tirunelveli Pancha Bhoota Stalam Annamalaiyar Ekambareswarar Jambukeswarar Kalahasti Thillai Nataraja Panch Kedar Kedarnath Tungnath Rudranath Madhyamaheshwar Kalpeshwar Pancha Sabhai Ratna Sabai Pon Sabai Velli Sabai Thamira Sabai Chitira Sabai Tiruchengode Thirukutralam Vadakkum Nathan List of Shiva temples in India
Traditions	Kanwar Yatra Lingam Rasalingam Maha Shivaratri Pradosha Shiva Puja Siddha Vibhuti Other names
Category