Animiṣa (Animisha) is one of the names of Śiva (Siva). The Sanskrit word nimiṣa (nimisha) or nimeṣa (nimesha) means ‘to bat the eyelids’ as well as ‘the time it takes to bat the eyelids’. Therefore, literally animiṣa refers to the one who does not bat his eyelids or never closes his eyes. Śiva as the father and protector of the world keeps a close watch on well-being of every creature. Not even an action of a second can evade his eye, as he never closes his eyes. If the word nimiṣa is taken as a term signifying a measure of time, then animiṣa refers to the one above or beyond time. The Supreme Being is eternal, existing from before the very conceptualisation of ‘time’ itself and would continue to exist even after the cosmos is destroyed. This essence of timelessness which he illustrates cannot be encapsulated within the small confine of time. Out of this very concept, Śiva, the Supreme Being manifest, has come to be known by the name of Animiṣa. Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the famous critic, explains both of these meanings of the name Animiṣa with the help of Vedic and Upanishadic texts.