Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
शिवस्य विश्वव्याप्तिः—अष्टमूर्तिः पञ्चब्रह्म च | Śiva’s Cosmic Pervasion: Aṣṭamūrti and the Pañcabrahma Forms
ईशानः पुरुषो ऽघोरो वामः सद्यस्तथैव च । ब्रह्माण्येतानि देवस्य मूर्तयः पञ्च विश्रुताः । ईशानाख्या तु या तस्य मूर्तिराद्या गरीयसी । भोक्तारं प्रकृतेः साक्षात्क्षेत्रज्ञमधितिष्ठति
īśānaḥ puruṣo 'ghoro vāmaḥ sadyastathaiva ca | brahmāṇyetāni devasya mūrtayaḥ pañca viśrutāḥ | īśānākhyā tu yā tasya mūrtirādyā garīyasī | bhoktāraṃ prakṛteḥ sākṣātkṣetrajñamadhitiṣṭhati
Īśāna, Puruṣa, Aghora, Vāma und Sadyojāta—diese gelten weithin als die fünf Mūrtis des Herrn, seine fünf Brahman-Formen. Unter ihnen ist die Mūrti namens Īśāna die erste und erhabenste; sie waltet über den kṣetrajña, den Kenner des Feldes, den unmittelbar Erfahrenden innerhalb der Prakṛti.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Role: liberating
FAQs
It identifies Śiva’s five renowned manifestations (Pañcabrahma) and highlights Īśāna as the supreme aspect that presides over pure consciousness (kṣetrajña), pointing to Śiva as the highest Lord (Pati) who governs the soul’s experience within nature.
In Śaiva worship, the Liṅga and Śiva’s saguna forms are contemplated through the Pañcabrahma aspects; meditating on Īśāna as the highest principle helps the devotee see the Liṅga not merely as a symbol, but as the living presence of the Lord who rules the inner knower.
A practical takeaway is Pañcabrahma-bhāvanā: during japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” meditate on Śiva’s five aspects, especially Īśāna as the indwelling ruler of awareness; this aligns well with Śaiva daily practice alongside bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa when observed.