Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19
शिवस्य विश्वव्याप्तिः—अष्टमूर्तिः पञ्चब्रह्म च | Śiva’s Cosmic Pervasion: Aṣṭamūrti and the Pañcabrahma Forms
भूम्यंभोग्निमरुद्व्योमक्षेत्रज्ञार्कनिशाकराः । अधिष्ठिता महेशस्य शर्वाद्यैरष्टमूर्तिभिः । चराचरात्मकं विश्वं धत्ते विश्वंभरात्मिका । शार्वीर्शिवाह्वया मूर्तिरिति शास्त्रस्य निश्चयः
bhūmyaṃbhognimarudvyomakṣetrajñārkaniśākarāḥ | adhiṣṭhitā maheśasya śarvādyairaṣṭamūrtibhiḥ | carācarātmakaṃ viśvaṃ dhatte viśvaṃbharātmikā | śārvīrśivāhvayā mūrtiriti śāstrasya niścayaḥ
Terre, eau, feu, vent, éther, le Kṣetrajña (le connaisseur intérieur du champ), le soleil et la lune : sur tout cela préside Mahēśa par Ses huit mūrtis, à commencer par Śarva. Par cette puissance qui soutient l’univers, le monde entier—mobile et immobile—est maintenu. L’Écriture conclut avec certitude qu’il s’agit de la forme Śārvī, également nommée « Śiva ».
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva, as Pati (the Supreme Lord), pervades and governs the cosmos through eight presiding manifestations, sustaining all beings and elements while remaining the conscious ground within (kṣetrajña).
The verse supports Saguna upāsanā by identifying Shiva’s immanent forms in the elements and luminaries; Linga worship gathers these cosmic functions into one sacred symbol, focusing devotion on the one Mahesha who presides over all.
Meditate on Shiva as Aṣṭamūrti—earth, water, fire, air, space, sun, moon, and the inner witness—while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water and bhasma with the insight that all supports rest in Him.