Muni मुनी

Sanskrit word Muni (Sanskrit मुनि) means a sage, saint or holy man. Muni also refers to devotee, thinker, enthusiast or ascetic.

Reference of Muni is found as feminine and masculine. Reference of Muni is found in the Mahabharata (महाभारत) and Purans where Muni is the name of a daughter of Daksha (दक्ष) and wife of Kashyap (कश्यप). This name is also referred in the Epic Harivansh (हरिवंश) as the mother of a class of Gandharv (गन्धर्व) and Apsara (अप्सरस्). Muni also founds reference in Unadi-Sutra (उणादि-सूत्र) as a female saint.

Reference of masculine Muni found in Rig Veda, where it means anyone who is moved by inward impulse, an inspired or ecstatic person or enthusiast. Also in the Mahabharata Muni was name of a son of Kuru (कुरु). And a son of King Dyutimat as per Markandeya-Purana (मार्कण्डेय-पुराण). As per other references, Muni was another name for Vyasa, Agastya and Bharata.

Lord Shiva is the greatest ascetic and the observer of silence, hence Muni is another name of him.