Ashtamurti () refers to the iconographic representation of the eight attributes of the Hindu deity Shiva.
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
Shaivites tradition. Rudra's identification with Shiva was put in writing for the first time in Shvetashvatara Upanishad and later in
Yajurveda linked Taittiriya Samhita (S.4.5.1), in the Shata Rudriya section. The Vajasneya samhita (S. 3.63) also co-equals Shiva with Rudra by citing the mantra, “
tam Shiva namasi”, meaning “I bow to you, Shiva”. The Shathapatha Brahmana notes that Shiva is also called referred to as
Bhava,
Shiva,
Sharva,
Pashupati, Ugra and
Ishana. These are typically the forms of water, fire, sacrifice, sun, moon, ether, earth, and air.
Ancient Sanskrit linguist and grammarian Pāṇini in his
Astadhyayi (S.1.49, S.3.53, S.4.100, S.5.3.99) also notes that Rudra is called variously as Mrida,
Bhava,
Sharva,
Grisha,
Shiva, and Tryambaka. Rishi
Patanjali, propounder of
Yoga system, in Mahabashya also provides for various icons of 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.
Brahmanas
The concept of Ashtamurti is seen in the
Brahmana of the
Rigveda (6.1):
Thus, as per this text, water, fire, air, Medicines, the sun, the moon, food, and Indra are the eight forms of Shiva.Later Shaiva philosophies, namely, the Shaiva Siddhanta (Shaiva doctrine) and the Pashupati Mata (Pashupati doctrine), stream recognise the Ashtamurti iconography in the Agamas. However, these texts put greater emphasis on the Panchabrahman attribute in comparison to the Vedic Ashtamurti ascription.
Shiva Mahimna Stotram
The
Puranas Shiva Mahimna Stotram, dedicated to Shiva, and 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 individually expound. My salutations are to the dear abode in which these names are laid i.e. to one who bears these names."
Bhagavata Purana
The Bhagavata Purana (S. 3.12.12) mentions the following names of
Shiva:
-
Manyur manur mahinaso
-
Mahāñ chiva rtadhvajah
-
Ugra-retā bhavah kālo
-
Vāmadevo dhrtavratah
The Bhagavata Purana states that Brahma gave Rudra eleven other names; Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahān, Śiva, Rtadhvaja, Ugraretā, Bhava, Kāla, Vāmadeva, and Dhrtavrata. Many names from the Bhagavata Purana appear in the Ashtamurti ascription.
See also
