Shloka 44
देवस्तुतिः—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्वं, मायाशक्तिः, कर्मफलप्रदातृत्वं च
Devas’ Hymn: Śiva as Parabrahman, Māyā-Śakti, and Giver of Karmic Fruits
यतो बिभर्षि सकलं विभज्य तनुमष्टधा । अष्टमूर्तिरितीशश्च त्वमाद्यः करुणामयः
yato bibharṣi sakalaṃ vibhajya tanumaṣṭadhā | aṣṭamūrtiritīśaśca tvamādyaḥ karuṇāmayaḥ
Because you sustain the entire universe by dividing your own being into an eightfold manifestation, you are called the Lord of the Eight Forms (Aṣṭamūrti). O Īśa, you are the primordial One, overflowing with compassion.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, within the Satī narrative context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Mantra: yato bibharṣi sakalaṃ vibhajya tanumaṣṭadhā | aṣṭamūrtiritīśaśca tvamādyaḥ karuṇāmayaḥ
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches that Shiva is Pati (the supreme Lord) who compassionately sustains all existence by manifesting in an eightfold cosmic way (Aṣṭamūrti). For a seeker, this unites devotion (to Saguna Īśa) with the insight that all realms are upheld by one primordial, merciful consciousness.
Aṣṭamūrti is a Saguna expression of Shiva’s all-pervading lordship; Linga worship concentrates this vastness into a single sacred focus. Thus, honoring the Linga is honoring the same Īśa who appears as the eight cosmic supports and yet remains the one compassionate origin.
Meditate on Shiva as Aṣṭamūrti—seeing the elements and cosmic functions as his forms—while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.” In worship, offer water, ash (Tripuṇḍra/bhasma), and bilva with the भावना (intent) that all creation is upheld by his compassion.