Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31
शिवस्य विश्वव्याप्तिः—अष्टमूर्तिः पञ्चब्रह्म च | Śiva’s Cosmic Pervasion: Aṣṭamūrti and the Pañcabrahma Forms
यथेह पुत्रपौत्रादेः प्रीत्या प्रीतो भवेत्पिता । तथा सर्वस्य संप्रीत्या प्रीतो भवति शंकरः । देहिनो यस्य कस्यापि क्रियते यदि निग्रहः । अनिष्टमष्टमूर्तेस्तत्कृतमेव न संशयः
yatheha putrapautrādeḥ prītyā prīto bhavetpitā | tathā sarvasya saṃprītyā prīto bhavati śaṃkaraḥ | dehino yasya kasyāpi kriyate yadi nigrahaḥ | aniṣṭamaṣṭamūrtestatkṛtameva na saṃśayaḥ
Wie ein Vater sich an der liebevollen Zuneigung erfreut, die man seinen Söhnen, Enkeln und den übrigen erweist, so wird auch Śaṅkara durch Wohlwollen und liebevolle Achtung gegenüber allen Wesen erfreut. Wird irgendein verkörpertes Geschöpf ungerecht bedrückt oder eingeschränkt, so ist dieser Schaden ohne Zweifel dem Herrn der Acht Gestalten (Aṣṭamūrti) selbst zugefügt.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Ethical-pilgrimage teaching: pleasing Śaṅkara is inseparable from universal goodwill (sarva-saṃprīti); ahiṃsā and protection of beings become a form of Śiva-ārādhana.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that devotion to Śiva is inseparable from compassion: pleasing or harming beings directly affects Śiva because He pervades them as Aṣṭamūrti. Universal goodwill becomes a form of bhakti aligned with Shaiva dharma.
Linga-worship is not limited to ritual offerings; it must be supported by right conduct. Since Saguna Śiva pervades the world as the Eight Forms, honoring the Linga while injuring beings contradicts the very presence of Śiva in creation.
Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the vow of ahiṃsā and kindness; let daily conduct—non-oppression, protection of the vulnerable, and goodwill—be the accompanying ‘inner offering’ to Śiva.