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*Ashtamurti – the eight forms of Lord Shiva*


Ashtamurti ( ’eight forms’) refers to the iconographic representation of the eight attributes of Shiva. These are Rudra, Śarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Aśani, Bhava, Mahādeva, and Īśhāna.

*Literature*

In the Vedas, the deity Rudra, (who was subsequently assimilated with Shiva) has multiple attributes and numerous titles, among which eight are significant to the conceptualization in the Shaiva tradition. Rudra’s identification with Shiva was first expressed in Shvetashvatara Upanishad and later in Yajurveda linked Taittiriya Samhita (S.4.5.1). The Vajasneya samhita (S. 3.63) almost equates Shiva with Rudra through the mantra, “tam Shiva namasi”, meaning “I bow to you, Shiva”. In the Puranic era, Rudra completely merged with Shiva and joined the Trimurti (the merged form of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) and represented the destroyer of evil.

*The eight forms*

The Puranic Shiva Mahimna Stotram, attributed to Gandharva Pushpadanta, invokes the Ashtamurti form, and distinctly enumerates the eight names of Shiva in stanza 28.
bhavaḥ śarvo rudraḥ paśupatirathograḥ sahamahān
tathā bhīmeśānāviti yadabhidhānāṣṭakamidam |
amuṣmin pratyekaṁ pravicarati deva śrutirapi
priyāyāsmaidhāmne praṇihita-namasyo’smi bhavate || 28 ||
“Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, also Ugra with Mahan, furthermore Bhima and Ishana, these are eight appellations of the Lord, each of them the srutis individually expound. My salutations are to the One who bears these names.”

These eight forms of Lord Shiva are connected to the following Kshethras in India & Nepal and worshipped in their primal form without any special idols representing them.

1.Sarva :- Bhoomi Linga, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu : This form of Lord Śhiva consists the earth that holds the entire universe of the mobile and immobile beings.

2.Bhava :- Jala Linga, Thiruvanaikaval, (Jambukeswaram), Tamil Nadu: This form of the Supreme Soul, consisting of water that enlivens the entire world.

3,Rudra:- Agni Linga, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu: This particular form of Shiva, the great Soul is all pervasive.

4.Ugra: – Vayu Linga, Sri Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh. . This form of Śhiva that holds the outer and inner universe and throbs by itself.

5.Bheema: – Akaasha Linga, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu : This form consisting of the firmament that pervades everything and affords space to all: it splits and differentiates the group of elements.
*The above five are also classified as Pancha Bhutha Shiva temples which we explored between 12th and 17th April, before Shivaratri. I feel we need not have a re-look of their details again.*

6. Pasupati: – Yajamana (Lord) Linga, Kathmandu, Nepal. This form of Śhiva is the support of individual souls, and abiding therein splits the bondage that encircles them.

One of the most sacred Hindu temples of Nepal , Pashupatinath Temple, is located on the banks of Bagmati River on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. The earliest evidence of the temple’s existence dates back to 400 A.D. The current main temple of Pashupatinath complex was built in the end of the 17th century to replace the previous one, destroyed by termites. This main temple is built in the Nepali pagoda style of architecture. This temple was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Pashupatinath is a place where century-old Hindu rituals are practiced in their astonishing initial form, giving a chance to the visitors to feel the unique spirit of Hindu traditions of life, death and reincarnation.

7.Mahadeva: – Chandra Linga, West Bengal. The moon of nectar-like rays that strengthens and fattens the universe to satiety, is the form called Mahādeva.

Chandranatha Linga is situated in Hetampur village, Birbhum District,West Bengal. The octagonal temple with its navarathna (nine) octagonal pinnacles is one of the rarest temple designs found anywhere in India. Each pinnacle has a figure with its arms positioned to convey some message which no one has been able to decipher yet.

8.Ishana (Eashana), Surya Linga, Konark Temple, Orissa. Brightening the entire universe in the form of the sun, the form of Śiva, Īśhāna, moves about in the heaven.

This Kshetra is in Orissa state near Puri Jagannath Kshetra about 35 kms from Puri and 65 kms from Bhubaneswar, Konark is now in ruins and the temple is in fragments and now, devotees cannot see any deity here. The legend says that Sri Krishna’s son Samba suffered once from leprosy and was cured by worshipping the Surya and the Linga here and since then this Kshetra became a centre for remedy for all diseases.

In Section 3 of Śatarudra-saṃhitā,Nandīśvara advises everyone who seeks glory to worship the eightfold forms of Śhiva with all devotion.

*Hara Hara Mahadeva !*